The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-15

hittuDt-
The proceedings of this body, at the present
time, are not particularly interesting. We select
however, such items as are Of general character
| SENArr-Dec. 3O--'rhc Joint resolution from
the house for the appointment of select COM
mitce to draft memorial to Congress, praying
the passage of law giving to actual settlers upon
the public lands tic right to enter an indefinite
number Of contiguous 40 acres, was read and re-
ierrcdto the Judiciary committee
The joint resolution from the house, providing
that at the next election the people be requested
to vote for Or against a convention for the amend
ment of the Constitution, was read, and on mo-
ton Of Mr. Staddcn laid on the table
JAv. 2 Bill in relation to the Public Square
in the original town of Ottawa, was read a second
time and referred to the judiciary committee.
4 communication from the Governor trans
hitting a letter from Mcssrs. Ncyins, Townsend
s. Co., N. y, communicating the intelligence Of
| the failure Of Wright & Co. London, agent for the
sale Of Illinois Bonds and also communicating
the further information that Magnac, Sm,lh &
! Co. have entered into an arrangement with our
fund commissioner, for the payment Of the Janu-
AIRY interest.
Mr.. Sargent introduced resolution directing
the committee on Elections to inluir. into the ex-
pcdicncy Of 50 amending the present plan of yo-
ting r,a roce as to provide for the voting hy bal
! lot
Mr. Gatewood introduced joint resolution
providing for a convention Of the two houses, on
the lth inst. at O'Clock, =. NJ. for the purpose OF
cec,ing a Fund Commissioner.
The Resolution was amended on motion Of Mr..
Snyder, ny striking out 9TH and inserting 9Th
iuscad-.nd thus amended passed.
JAS. 5.-Nr. Snyder brought up the Bill ior
the Reorganization of the Judiciary, which he
sustained in a mastery manner. The bill pro-
poses to increase the number Of Supreme Judges
to nine to require the Supreme Judges to hold
circuit courts in .hc several counties, dispensing
with the present system Of Circuit Courts. The
great change proposed consists in requiring the
Supreme Judges to perform circuit duties, as the
Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States
now perform. In 1926, in Congress, when the
present United States Judiciary system was eatab-
lishcd, il elected long and able discussion, which
viii be found in Gales and Sea,on's Register of
debates. Daniel Webster, Martin Van Buren,
Judge White, Col. Johnson, John Holmes, Col.
Benton, John Rowan and Elias X. Kane took
part in this debate, and advocated the system
which the bill brought in by Mr.. Snyder in our
Senate proposes to establish in Illinois, Requ-
ring supreme Judges to perform circuit duties,
says Judge White, brings them nearer the people
1t is mistake, says another Of these able men, to
suppose that Supreme Judge acquires more lc-
gal knowledge in the closet than upon the bench
A Judge will hear more law read at the bar in one
term, than he would read himself in year in his
closct,-Regiater.
| House. OF REpHEsENrArIvEs.--W notice
nothing in the proceedings of this body, which
are of general interest. Mr.. Dodge has presented
various petitions from citizens of this county, re-
speeding division of the same, but no action has
taken place upon them. The Governor presented
message TO the house, informing them that the
State would sustain no loss by the recent failure
of Wright & Co. Of London, who hold bonds of
this State.