Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

1
Resolved, by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, that our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives requested, to use their best exertions to procure the adoption of the following amendment to the Constitution of the United States, to wit:

“No person shall, after the fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-five2hold the office of President of the United States longer than four years, in any term of eight years.”

1George Churchill introduced the resolution in the Senate on January 16, 1839. On January 17, the Senate adopted the resolution by a vote of 27 yeas to 9 nays. On January 25, the House of Representatives amended the resolution by striking out “1841,” and inserting in lieu thereof “1845.” The House adopted the resolution as amended by a vote of 65 yeas to 8 nays, with Abraham Lincoln not voting. The Senate concurred with the House amendment on January 29.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 3, 1838 (Vandalia,IL: William Walters, 1838), 232, 283-84, 309; Journal of the Senate of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 3, 1838 (Vandalia, IL; William Walters, 1838), 175, 182-83, 228, 243.

2The original resolution set the year at 1841. On January 25, 1839, the House of Representatives amended the resolution by striking out “1841” and inserting in lieu thereof “1845.”
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 3, 1838, 283.