1
Resolved, That the committee on Finance be instructed to report a bill requiring that there
shall be elected in each county, one assessor, whose duty it shall be to assess all
the taxable property of such country[.]2
1John J. Hardin introduced the original version of the resolution in the House of Representatives on December 16, 1840. The House amended the resolution by striking out the provision
calling for county treasurers to perform the duties of assessors, and inserting in
lieu thereof provision for electing county assessors. The House adopted the resolution
as amended. The Committee on Finance, on which sat Abraham Lincoln, reported back the resolution on December 24, asking to be discharged from further
consideration, in which the House concurred.
Journal of the House of Representatives, of the Twelfth General Assembly of the State
of Illinois, At Their Second Session (Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1840), 124, 153.
2The original version of the resolution had the following words after the word “bill:”
“making the county Treasurer perform the duties of assessor, and requiring him to
assess all the property in his county.” On December 16, 1840, the House of Representatives
amended the resolution by striking out these words and inserting provision for the
election of county assessors.
Journal of the House of Representatives, of the Twelfth General Assembly of the State
of Illinois, At Their Second Session , 124.
Printed Transcription, 1 page(s), Journal of the House of Representatives, of the Twelfth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, At Their Second Session (Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1840), 124