Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

The bill to abolish the Board of Public Works, and to suspend all action and operation in the construction of railroads came up. The question pending at the adjournment yesterday being on laying the amendment of Mr. Happy (which provides for a repeal of the acts creating the system of Internal Improvements,) on the table, it was decided in the negative; ayes31, noes 52.

The question was then taken on laying the bill and amendment on the table till the 4th day of July next, which was decided in the negative; ayes 27, noes 60.

Mr TURNEY moved the previous question.

Mr. BAKER moved to lay the motion for the previous question on the table, which was agreed to.

Mr. HARDIN moved to amend by striking out the first section of the bill, (which provides for a suspension, and for the creation of a Board or three Commissioner of Internal Improvement,) which was agreed to.

The amendment of Mr. HAPPY, with a proviso that legal contracts entered into by the State, shall not be affected by the repeal of the Internal Improvement acts, was agreed to; ayes 59, noes 27.

Mr. LOGAN moved to amend the bill by striking out all after the enacting clause, and inserting a bill with the following provisions, viz:

First—All operations on the railroads named in the Internal Improvement act shall be suspended, except on one road only.

Second—The Improvements of all the rivers to be completed.

Third—The two Houses to meet within three days of the passage of this act, and in joint ballot vote for the road to be constructed.

Fourth—To transfer existing contracts to the road which shall be so selected.

Laid on the table; ayes 50, noes 38.

Mr. CRAIN moved an amendment which provided for continuing the Central railroad.

Mr. LINCOLN said he had a word to say to the original friends of the system, and that is, if they will come forward and go for the above proposition, he will also go for it. In other words, he is willing to classify, if those gentlemen will agree upon that road.

Mr. WALKER of Vermillion, as one of the friends of the system, would say, he would go for the proposition, if it were put in proper shape.

Mr. ROBERT SMITH said, that being thus called on, as one of the original friends of the system, he could not feel justified in voting for the proposition.

The amendment was laid on the table.

Mr. BAKER moved to add a proviso, that one rail or other road, or river improvement, shall be selected by the Governor, within ten days after the close of this session, and he shall make his proclamation that he has made such selection; and said road so selected shall not be subject to the operations of the bill.

On motion of Mr. BAINBRIDGE, the above amendment was laid on the table.

Mr. CRAIG moved an amendment, which provides for excepting from the operations of the bill, the Central railroad north to Peru. The Alton and Mount Carmel railroad The Northern Cross railroad from the Wabash to the Illinois Rivers, and the improvements on the rivers.

The previous question was demanded, and ordered by the House.

Mr. Craig’s amendment was then lost; ayes 33, noes 56, and

The bill was ordered to he engrossed for a third reading; ayes 58, noes 30.