The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-02-15
(,onst,fus,on.l- Convention.

tons offered by Mr. Purple, of the Com
mittee on Banks and Currency. These
resolutions are, in substance, that whereas
! the Constitution requires all laws autho-
rizing banking in this State to be submit
ted to the people; and whereas, since the
passage OF the general banking law in
| 1850, amendments have been made to that
law by the legislature entirely changing
its character without submitting them to
the people, said amendments being hence,
unconstitutional, therefore resolved that
4 the Auditor be instructed to ISSUE no MOI g
bills to any bank unless it can prove that
it has complied with all the requirements
of the general banking law as originally
passed. AS no bank in the State can
make such proof, of course this would put
q stop to the issue of any more notes to
banks in Illinois 1t is said the Auditor
declares he will pay no more attent on to
the resolutions than if passed by town
meeting.
In regard to the Article proposed to be
inserted In the new Constitution in refer.
ence to Banks, and which includes many
radical provisions, and in which some
progress had been made the whole subject
latter adopting Wentworths amendment
which would close up all the Banks in the
State, and then reconsideriug it,) has been
recommitted to the Committee on Banks
and Currency.
Aside from the subject Of Banks, the
Convention has spent the greater part OF
the week on the Article in reference to
the Legislative Department Up to Sec
10, was disposed of last week. Up to Sec
%, the sections adopted are substantially
copied from the present Constitution. Sec.
% requires all bills to be read at large on
3 separate days in each house before they
can pass, and before the last reading to
be printed-private bills at the expense of
those for whose benefit passed; no bill
shall contain any subject not in the title
and no bill to be amended by its title, but
must be set out and re-enacted in the
| amending act. Sec "a allows members 81
per day for first GO days, and one dollar
/ per day thereafter; and no newspapers or
postage. Sec % 10 "a were adopted, sub.
stantially as in present Constitution. To
/ Sec 81 Mr.. Thornton offered an amend.
ment that the legislature shall make no
provision for bringing suits against the
State. But this was rejected, and provision
made for bringing suits in the Sangamon
Circuit Court against the State, subject to
appeal to the Supreme Court, in certain
cases. Sec Sc, against lotteries. or char
tering State Bank, or any other bank
was adopted To Sec 81 Mr. Edwards
offered an amendment proposing to appro-
pirate 81 100000 TO the families OF soldiers
of this State killed in the war, which
Mr.. Allen characterized as demagogueism,
. leading to an acrimonious debate between
! the gentlemen. The amendment was lost
and the section adopted. Secs. % and 80
we're also adopted, the former prohibiting
counties, cities, &c, from loaning their
! credit to railroad companies.
! The Committee on Executive Depart
ment have reported an article, providing
/ in substance for Governor, AZ 5000
! salary; an Auditor, Secretary, Treasurer,
and Attorney General at $1,000 salary
each, to hold office for four years The
article has not yet come up for considera
/ ton.
An important ordinance was introduced
by Mr.. Hacker on Saturday, in substance
giving the assent Of this State to the
Corwin amendment to the Constitution
adopted by the last Congress against inter
iering with slavery in the States The
ordinance was made the special order for
Monday and then for Tuesday, when after
day s debate, it was adopted. The i'm
portant question involved was not the
propriety of the Constitutional amend
ment itself so much as whether the Con-
vention had legislative powers, the require
ments being that the amendment shall be
approved by the legislatures of the
various States. The Convention thus de
clared itself possessed of legis lative powers.
The ordinance was afterwards reconsider
ed to give members a further opportunity
to express their views, but its ultimate
adoption is beyond question.
Resolutions of Glorifcation over the
victory at Fort Henry were introduced on
Friday, by Mr.. Anthony, but having been
objected TO on account OF their " Fourth OF
July style, were laid over until Monday,
- L,, No..
was unanimously adopted "pledging our
lives, our fortunes, dc, to the support OF
the government in suppressing the rebel
lion.
The Auditor sent in report on Saturday
stating that the Penitentiary at Joliet has
cost, thus far, s5SS,97l30
Mr. Vandever, from the Committee on
Railroads and Corporations, reported on
Monday a provision forbldding the legis
lature to relieve, in any way, the Illinois
Central Railroad Company from any OF
the obligations of its charter. The report
was adopted unanimously.
Mr.. Alexander offered resolution, on
the same day, which was adopted. that
the Governor furnish an account of the
number of troops enlisted from every
county in the State.
Mr.. Quartermaster Wood OH Tuesday
transmitted a statement of purchases made
by him, from which it appears lat the
amount of goods purchased by contract is
S3,4SI Ala; the amount purchased other
wise is 1922, 70S; total, 3,7l4,70S; of which
amount not one item was advertised for
This report is said to be the worst com
ment on the course of the State admins
tra.ion which has vet been produced.