The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-08
LEGISLATURE.

| The Illinois legislature Is dong absolutely
nothing, If we except the squabblIng which is
going on behind the scenes over the appor-
tlonment. So far AS any of the secret cogita-
tons on the subject have reached the light,
they indicate a tell purpose on the part of the
republicans, both in the congressional and
senatorial apportlonment, to perpetuate a dis
graceful and infamous gerrymander, no pro,
jet we have yet seen proposing to give the
democrats over five of the twenty congressman,
or 10 of the so state senators. There is this
consolation however, that the democrats are
strong enough in both houses to stave off, by
|illbustering, action on the infamy until fall,
if necessary.
There was no actual session of either house
from Friday OF last until Wednesday Of this
week. On the latter day Mr. Vaughey present.
ed the resolutions of the La Sale county
Board of Supervisors in favor of the Hennepln
canal and cedng the Illinois canal to the gen
eral government, and offered the following
resolutions, which were duly referred:
WHEREAS, The Governor has, in his procla'
nation converting the special session of the
Thirtysccond General Assembly, included in
said call the question OF submitting to the vote
of the people, at the next general election, the
ccding to the United States of the Illinois and
Michigan canal; and
WHEREAS Nature has seemed To form that
great valley lying between the gulf and the
lakes for an outlet to the ocean, it is an I'M
perative duty of the government to improve
the same, to meet the growth and production
OF the great northwest for the transportation OF
Its immense productions to the seaboard by an
easy and cheap water route; and
WHEREAS, 1t is almost Indispensable to the
safety of the government IN case OF a foreign
war, rs was foreseen as far back as the admin.
| istraton of President Madison, when he recon-.
mended its improvement for that purpose
| Therefore, be it
| ResoEced, BY the house of representatives
the senate concurring herein, that we hereby
recommend the ceding of the Illinois and
Michigan canal to the United States govern
ment upon the condition that they make 1t q
steamboat or ship canal by deepening, enlarg
ing and widening to capacity to float steam
boats or ships of heavy burden, connecting the
same with the now proposed route of Henne
pm canal, and be it further
| Res0lcGd, That the express condition of ced
lag the said canal to the United States govern
ment will be that the government Will have
| five years from date of cession to accept said
canal, and that the state of Illinois shall re
serve all of Its original rights and titles in and
to SAID canal and all of its lands and proper
ties given it by the government of the United
States until the United States government shall
have accepted it, and until congress shall make
the full and necessary appropriations to com
plete the work on said canal as aforesaid; and
IN the interim between the cesslon OF SAID
canal and the acceptance and the appropria
ton by the United States government, the
State OF Illinois shall exercise all OF Its au
thority over the canal, IN running and CONTROL
ing it as ii now does and also have full authori
ty to sue and obtain possession of all lands
and properties belonging to said canal; but
upon the acceptance and appropriation as
aforesaid by the United States, the State OF
Illinois will relinqulsh all claim against the
canal in accordance with the vote cast upon
such OCCASION otherwise to retain it as if nc
vote was had for its CessiOn.