The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-03
From the Peoria Press.
s.ewgiyl Of the Session.

1t was warmly urged by some of our
editorial brethren, before the meeting Of
the legislature, that the present session
should not continue over SIX weeks--that
all the business requiring Legislative ac-
ton could be faithfully attended to in that
length of time. We have never thought
so: We have always been Of opinion that
this time was not sufficient for the inter-
change of views and deliberaion neces-
sary to prepare and mature the bills which
are expected from their hands before they
adjourn. And there is one particular in
which the dnties Of the present legisla-
ture materially differ from those that went
before it. 1t is an easy matter to pass
bills approprating millions Of dollars out
of the treasury or when that don't afford
those sums to give directions for making
loans when credit is good and money
lenders plenty. But, to provide the way
and means for paying such debts is another
subject, especially when times are hard
and money can neither be borrowed nor
obtained through the tax collector. Such
is our condition at this time. Besides
the reduction Of the state debt, there were
other subjects Of no small importance or
magnitude, whose adjustment must Of ne
cessity consume a great deal of time, that
claimed the attention of the legislature.
The relief law, the canal bill, and the put
ting into liquidation of the State and
Shawneelown banks, are of this descrip-
ton, to say nothing Of the Judiciary ques-
lion which was brought up IN consequence
of vacancies to be filled on the bench Of
the supreme court. Our legislature III
past years, when the business and popu-
lation of the state were comparatively
small required three months to ge, through
the labors Of session. Now, when there
is a great increase of business, and it is
required of the general assembly to make
a general retrenchment Of expenditures
and devise ways and means to reduce the
immense debts of the state, it could not
be seriously expected that six weeks
session would suffice to do all the bust
ness that may come before them. TO do
justice to the subjects that call for legisla-
tive action we cannot see how they can
close their labors much before the first of
March. For one, we wish them to act on
every thing that comes before them if it
should detain them in Springfield four
months. Better, far better, to do this than
to have an extra session. Let every true
democrat set his face against letting any
business lie over for such a contingency.
An extra session would cost full as much
as regular one, and if things are properly
managed now, there is no probability that
the legislature need be convened again IN
few months after their adjournment
We have not forget how anxious the
wings were last year to have an extra or
called session. They hoped to get us
into difIiculties-,hat something might be
done that would render the democrats un-
popular they would have Pounced upon
almost any bill tina. could have been pass
ed. In fact, if nothing else had presented
itself for their censure, they would have
rallied against the mourning Of the expense