The bill to abolish the Board of Public Works, and suspend all action and operation in the construction of railroads was then taken up.

The amendment offered to said bill by Mr. Robert Smith was laid on the table.

An amendment to “except the Central railroad north from Cairo,” and that all contracts on other railroads be transferred to the Central railroad, was laid on the table.

Mr. HAPPY moved to amend by adding a clause to “repeal the act to create and maintain the Internal Improvement system, and all the acts supplemental thereto.[”]

Mr. RAWALT moved to amend, by striking out all after the enacting clause, and inserting provisions to divide the roads into five classes, which should be voted on by the Senate and House of Representatives in joint meeting, the class obtaining a majority of all the votes to be first constructed, and the others in succession according to the votes they receive.

Mr. WALKER of Vermillion stated, that his colleague, and the gentleman from Sangamon (Mr. Lincoln) were absent from the House, and he therefore moved a call of the House. Mr. Lincoln entering during the proceedings under the call, said that he had been absent attending to his duties on the Banking investigating committee; that while the committee was progressing with that business, a call of the Senate had been ordered, and the Senate members of the committee leaving, they had not had a quorum left, and he had voluntarily come down to the house. Since he had entered he had been gibed by different members as absenting himself with a view to avoid voting; he therefore asked liberty to record his vote on the various propositions that had been before the House, declaring he was not afraid of voting on any question relating to Internal Improvements.

After the proceedings under the call were ended,

Mr. HENDERSON said, he had expected when the House met this afternoon, to have had an opportunity of offering some remarks on the amendment introduced by himself. But this new patent doctrine of the previous question by laying every thing on the table. convinced him that the majority were determined on their course. He would, therefore, file away his documents, as others had done, the House appearing to think they had information enough on the subject. And he would now call upon members to come up to the mark. Suspension is a mere mockery—there is something behind it which does not appear. He would much rather repeal the act, for then every one would understand what we are doing; and to suspend amounts to precisely the same thing. He insists that if we now suspend, no future legislature will dare to revive the works, or bring up any future project of the kind.

Mr. BAKER would say but two or three words on the subject, that he may have his position known. He desires to have it known, that when he votes for suspension, he does not favor repeal. He does not believe it will amount to that. He is in favor of classification. He believes we could finish one road, and we ought to do it. The journal will show that last year also, he voted for classification. But every proposition that has been introduced for that purpose has been voted down. Every gentleman has his favorite work or road, and every one adheres tenaciously to his favorite work Therefore it seems impossible for this Legislature to classify The next Legislature perhaps, may do it. The people will send men of larger views, who are not so wedded to their own opinions and preferences, and thoy may do what we cannot. It is most unwillingly that he votes for suspending. He is forced into that course by the Internal Improvement men. He could not go for the whole—he would go for a part—what that portion should be, he would leave to fortune, to destiny. He would ballot, he would draw straws for it. He would support a proposition to make any one road, except the Central railroad, that was too large, too expensive and magnificent for our resources, and in no event could he go for that,—with the exception he would join with members in constructing any one road. When one road is finished, if it be found profitable, it will be the very best argument in favor of making others; and if it be not profitable, but a loss and burden to the State, ought any one to desire that others should be made? He believes the State is able to make one road, and desires it should be done, but the friends of the system won[’]t agree to this, and the sin and the shame, if any there be, must rest upon those who will not give way at all.

The debate was continued by Mr. Walker of Vermillion, in opposition to suspending, and by Messrs.[Messieurs] Henderson and Baker, when, without taking any question, the House adjourned.