Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

A Bill for

An act granting timbers of Internal Improvement System to the County of Vermilion for the purpose of building a Bridge, on the abutments erected for the Northern Cross Rail 1 ^Road^, over the Big Vermilion River, at Danville.2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly.

That so much of the timbers belonging to the Internal ^Improvement^ System, now lying exposed on the bluff of the Big Vermilion River at Danville, be granted to the County of Vermilion, as will be sufficient to build and complete, and for the purpose of building and completing—and for no other purpose—a Bridge across the said Big Vermilion River, on the abutments, erected in said River in the prosecution of the Northern Cross Rail Road.

Provided, however, that this grant shall not take effect, until the said County of Vermilion, by her County Commissioners shall execute a bond, and deliver the same to the Treasurer of the State, for the return of the same amount and quality of timbers to the State, in the event that the State shall renew operations on the said Northern Cross Rail Road, and need the said timbers for the purpose of making the Bridge for said Rail way.

Sec. 2. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Sec. 2. And scrip in the possession of holders as bove described, shall be receivable 3 in payment of taxes.

sec.[section] 2. This act to be in force from and after s its passage.4

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[ docketing ]
A Bill for An Act granting timbers of Internal Improvement System, to the County of Vermilion for the purpose of building a Bridge, on the abutments erected for the Northern Cross Rail Road, over the Big Vermilion River at Danville.

[ docketing ]
[01]/[30]/[1841]
laid on the table
Jany[January] 30 /41[1841]

1“Rails” changed to “Rail”

2John J. Brown introduced HB 153 in the House of Representatives on January 30, 1841. The House refused to table the bill by a vote of 34 yeas to 53 nays, with Abraham Lincoln voting nay. Representatives subsequently offered amendments, and the House tabled the bill and proposed amendments.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 302.

3“received” changed to “receivable”

4John J. Brown observed in introducing HB 153 that the bridge in question began as a state venture, therefore it seemed only reasonable that the timber, which would soon be rotten and useless, should be given to Vermilion County to complete the work. Richard G. Murphy argued that physical remnants of the internal improvement system should be distributed equally among the counties. As reported in the Illinois State Register, this led to a “torrent” of amendments from representatives requesting the donation of materials to their respective counties. Speaker William L. D. Ewing ruled these amendments out of order.
Illinois State Register (Springfield, IL), 12 February 1841, 4: 3-4.