Whereas the State of Illinois hath contracted a debt exceeding ten millions of dollars, the annual interest upon which will amount to more than six hundred thousand dollars: and whereas an annual revenue from all sources, notwithstanding the present increased rate of taxation, will not exceed two hundred thousand dollars: and whereas an annual deficit of above four hundred thousand dollars will thus be created, exclusive of the amount required to defray the ordinary expenses of the State Government: and whereas an increase of the present taxes upon the people of this State, sufficient to supply this deficit, would be an oppressive and intolerable exaction: and whereas the annual revenue of the United States, exclusive of the sales of public lands, exceed the sum of twenty-five millions of dollars: and whereas this amount is more than is necessary for an economical administration of the Federal Government: and whereas the Congress of the United States has already shown a willingness to distribute the proceeds of the sales of public lands among the several States: and whereas the apportionment of this surplus revenue among the several States, according to the ratio of representation, would in the words of President Jackson, in his first annual message to Congress “be the most safe, just, and federal disposition,” which could be made thereof:

Therefore, in order to secure economy in the expenditure of the Federal Government, and at the same time to protect the people of this State from oppressive and ruinous taxation:

Be it resolved, by the General Assembly of the People of the State of Illinois, that our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives be requested, at the present Session of Congress, to propose and use their most zealous efforts to procure the passage of a law, which shall provide for the distribution of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, upon equitable principles, among the several States of this Union:

And be it further resolved, That the Governor be, and he is hereby requested to transmit, to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, , a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution[.]