A Bill
For an an act to
1
Whereas resolutions have been presented passed by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin of w^hich the^ following are a copy
“Whereas the Southern Boundary of [this?] Territory and the State to be formed therein, is [fixed?] and established by the ordinance of May 13, 17872. on a line runing due west from the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan, to the Mississippi River
And Whereas, although said ordinance is declared to be unalterable unless by common consent, a large & valuable tract of country is now held by the state of Illinois, contrary to the manifest right and consent of the people of this Territory,
And Whereas it is inexpedient for the people of this Territory to form a constitution and State Government, or to ask admission into the union as an independent state, until the southern boundary to which they are justly entitled by said [ordinance?] [shall?] be fully recognized by the parties to the original contract
Therefore,
Resolved by the council & House of Representatives, of the Territory of Wisconsin That the inhabitants of this Territory qualified to vote for delegates to congress be required at
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the next general election, to be held on the fourth Monday of September next to choose delegates from the respective districts equal to the number of representatives in both houses of the Legislative assembly, to assemble in the capitol in Madison on the first Monday of November next, for the purpose of deliberating upon and adopting such lawful & constitutional measures as may seem to be necessary and proper for the early adjustment of the southern boundary and admission into the Union, of the State of Wisconsin on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever
2nd Resolved further that the inhabitants of the district of country now claimed by Illinois lying north no of the line running due west from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan, to the Mississippi River be and are hereby invited to choose delegates to the convention aforesaid, proportional to the Ratio of Representation in the Legislative assembly of this Territory, to act on the business of said convention on an equal footing with the other delegates
3d Resolved further that two thirds of all the delegates authorized by the first resolution shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
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action of Business
4th Resolved that the Governor cause to be transmitted to the Governor of Illinois one copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions & one copy to the county commissioners of each of the counties within the district of country to be represented in said convention”
And whereas the State of Illinois is willing that an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan in pursuance of the ordinance of 1787 should be the dividing line between said State and Territory, upon the said Territory of Wisconsin assuming and paying, or securing to be paid to this State all monies expended and liabilities incured by this State in the construction of so much of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Rail Roads, and improvements on the Rivers as are situated north of said line
Therefore be it enacted by the people ^Sec 1^ of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly that three commissioners be [appointed?] on the part of this State by a Joint [vote of ?] both Branches of this present General [assembly?] . . . [with?] an equal number [of?] [commissioners?] to be appointed by the Territory of Wisconsin to establish the dividing line between this State and said Territory, which shall be a line drawn through the southerly bend or Extreme of Lake Michigan extending west
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to the Mississippi River
Sec 2 And be it further enacted that [it?] shall be the duty of said commissioners [to?] make and State an account of all monies [expended?] and [liabilities?] incurred in the location and construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Central Rail Road and Rock [Ri?] the improvements of the navigation of Rock River as are situated north of said dividing line And also to make and State a just and true account of all monies received by this state for sales made of canal lands situated north of said line, and of the expenses attending such sales
Sec 3d And be it further enacted that when the said Territory of Wisconsin shall pay or secure to be paid to this State the Ballance of the ^said^ [monies?] and liabilities incured by this state for so much of the said works of Internal improvements as lies north of said dividing line as aforesaid, after deducting therefrom the nett avails received by this state for the sale of said canal lands; that then they shall be authorised to execute to the Territory of Wisconsin a release of all right[,] title[,] and claim to all that portion of Territory that lies
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north of said dividing line; & of all the canal lands and other property belonging to this State laying north of said line; and all debts and demands due and unpaid for any of the said lands or property sold by this state; provided always that the Legislature of Wisconsin shall by an act of her Legislature engage and obligate herself to complete that portion of the Illinois and michigan Canal so released to her as aforesaid as soon ^speedily^ as practicable: And provided further that the said Territory shall never charge a higher rate of tolls on said canal, than shall be charged by this State on that portion of the canal lying within this State

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[ docketing ]
Preamble and with A3 Bill for an act to ascertain the north Boundary of this State with Wisconsin Territory line between this state & Wisconsin Territory
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13
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[01]/[20]/[1840]
refused a second reading
1James Craig introduced HB 154 in the House of Representatives on January 20, 1840. The House refused to order the bill to a second reading by a vote of 11 yeas to 70 nays, with Abraham Lincoln voting nay.
Journal of the House of Representatives, of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Called Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December 9, 1839 (Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1839), 208-209.
2“1787” written over “1887”.
3“A” written over “a”.

Handwritten Document, 6 page(s), Folder 146, HB 154, GA Session 11-S, Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL) ,