Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force, Feb. [February] 18, 1841.

An ACT for the relief of the Sheriff of Schuyler county.
1

Collector to settle with co.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John G. McHatton, collector of Schuyler, be allowed until the first day of April, A.D., one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, to settle as collector for said county; and it is hereby made the duty of the county commissioners of said county to settle with said collector, with the least possible delay and by the time above specified.

In case collector pays, Gov. to com[commission] him as sheriff.

Sec. 2. That if said collector shall well and truly pay over, both to the State and county, the amount of indebtedness as collector, by the time specified in the first section, the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized to commission said McHatton as sheriff of Schuyler county.2

Approved, February 18, 1841.

1On January 4, 1841, James H. Ralston introduced SB 86 in the Senate and Senate referred the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary. On January 11, the Senate passed the bill. On February 11, the House of Representatives passed the bill. On February 18, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 259, 372; Illinois Senate Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 135, 139, 153, 297, 323-24, 341.

2Voters in Schuyler county had elected John G. McHatton sheriff in August 1840, but McHatton failed to submit his quietus (settlement of debt) within the required thirty days, so he had been unable to assume office. Schuyler County held another election in November, and voters again elected McHatton. McHatton was apparently owed money for his work as collector, and he sought relief from both the County Commissioners Court of Schuyler County and the Auditor. Neither the County Commissioners Court nor the Auditor would settle the debt, each arguing that the other was responsible. Without settlement, McHatton could not get the necessary quietus to entitle him to his commission as sheriff.
Illinois State Register (Springfield, IL), 15 January 1841, 1:4.