ought to be kept within limits that will not be too burdensome to the tax payers of the State.

CANALS.

The Report of the Canal Commissioners, charged with the Improvement of the Illinois River, is submitted to the General Assembly. The Commissioners have prosecuted their work with commendable energy, and their report, with the accompanying explanations, will show the progress they have made. The Commissioners have clearly comprehended the spirit and object of the law under which they were appointed, and have judiciously and economically applied the appropriations under their control. The subject of the further improvement of the Illinois river will be presented to the General Assembly, and deserves the most attentive examination. The information contained in the report concerning the "Wabash River Improvement," is especially gratifying.

The Report of the Trustees of the Illinois and Michigan Canal will also be laid before you, and will afford clear information of the affairs of the canal. It is probable, that upon a careful examination of the act of February 16th, 1865, and of the information that will be furnished of the amount and character of work done under the authority of the city of Chicago, some further legislation will be necessary to protect the interests of the State.

ADJUTANT GENERAL.

The Adjutant General's report presents a statement of the condition of his office, and is submitted for the consideration of the General Assembly.

CONCLUSION.

In concluding a communication that is already extended to more than the usual length, and that yet only refers to a portion of the matters that will demand the attention of the General Assembly, I think it proper to say that the resentments and passions produced by the great events of the past decade having almost subsided, and the minds of the people being again turned to the peaceful and quiet duties of citizens of a free State, it may be hoped that their representatives will cordially unite in every measure for the correction of abuses, and for the establishment of the principles of economy and responsibility in every department of the Government.

But ten years have passed away since the commencement of the struggle that has cost so much, and that has produced such marvelous changes in our national life, and though the main results of the contest are such as must gratify every patriot, yet it must be confessed that while the attention of the people was engrossed in the contemplation of the momentous scenes that were being enacted in their presence, many abuses crept into the civil administration. The country, familiarized with the quick and decisive rule of armies, has become somewhat impatient of the slower and less energetic methods that characterize the reign of law, and the people, immersed in the pursuits

that promise wealth, have lost something of that passionate love of liberty, and that jealousy of power, which was once the characteristic of our countrymen.

The present General Assembly has convened at a time when all political reforms are still possible. It may remedy all wrongs within the reach of legislation; it may win back public confidence in the efficiency of wise and wholesome laws; it may contribute to revive the affection and respect of the people for the government of the States; it may check the usurpations of organized wealth; it may, by its influence as the representative electoral body of one-and not the least important of the States of the Union, influence the Federal Government to confine its action to the strict limits of the Constitution, to establish and enforce economy and uproot corruption in all the departments of its administration, to respect the rights of the citizens, and to refuse to submit to the demands of the greedy hordes who clamor to be enriched from the property and the labor of the people. In all the patriotic efforts of the General Assembly to advance the welfare of the State, I will be happy to co-operate, only anxious to share with them the approval of our common constituency.

JOHN M. PALMER.

The President of the Senate then made the following appointments: SENATORS: I have appointed the following named Pages of the Senate, to serve during good behavior during the present session :

The message was received and read, and placed on file.

On motion of Mr. Snapp,

The Senate, at 2 o'clock P. M., adjourned to 10 o'clock to morrow morning.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1871.

Senate met pursuant to adjournment, Lieutenant Governor Dougherty in the chair.

The journal of yesterday was being read, when,

On motion of Mr. Crawford,

The further reading of the same was dispensed with.

Justice Sidney Breese administered the oath of office to Senator McNulta.

Mr. Snapp offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That it is the understanding of this body that, according to the amended constitution, each member of the legislature is required to furnish, out of his own funds, all stationery which he makes use of, relating to his duties as such member.

Mr. Harlan moved the previous question on the adoption of the resolution.

The question being, "Shall the main question be now put ?"
The yeas and nays were ordered, and being taken,

So the motion, that the main question be now put, was agreed to. The question being on the adoption of the resolution,

The yeas and nays were ordered,

Which resulted as follows:

{Nays

Yeas...

...

Those voting in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Alexander,

Beveridge,

Messrs. Crawford,

Casey,

Bishop,

Donahue,

Boyd,

Dore,

Messrs. Early,
Eddy,
Edsall,

Epler,

.44

5

Not voting-Mr. Bush.

So the resolution was agreed to.

Mr. Vaughn.

The President announced to the Senate that he had appointed the following Senators a committee on rules, viz:

Senators Epler, Fuller, Snapp, Shephard, Beveridge, Alexander and Holcomb.

Mr. Van Dorston offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That all stationery and material necessary to be used by the Senate and Clerks of the committees, in their official capacity, shall be obtained by the Secretary of the Senate, and that he report the amount obtained, with the price thereof, to the committee on finance, from time to time, as requested by the Chairman of said committee, to the end that a law may be framed to obtain an appropriation for the payment of the same.

So the resolution offered by Mr. Van Dorston was laid on the table. Mr. Bishop offered the following resolution, which was read by the Secretary:

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to furnish to this Senate, as early as possible, the following information:

1. The actual cost to the State, for the years 1868 and 1869, of the registers and blanks distributed for the purpose of carrying out the election registry law. 2. The express charges thereon, if paid here; if not paid here, the estimated amount thereof.

3. The amount paid to the boards of registry and their clerks in this State, during those years, as nearly as can be estimated or ascertained.

4. All other expenses of operating said law.

Mr. Snapp offered the following resolution, which,

On motion of Mr. Pierce,

Was made the special order for Monday next, at 10 o'clock A. M: Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That a joint committee, of two on the part of the Senate and three on the part of the House, be appointed to take into consideration the subject of the official reporting of the proceedings of the present session.

On motion of Mr. Fuller,

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the Senate now proceed to assign seats to the Senators. That, in making such assignment, the Secretary place in a box the number of each senatorial district, and that when such number shall be drawn by a page, the Senators of such district shall select their seats. That, previous to such drawing, all the seats shall be vacated, the Senators withdrawing from the bar of the Senate.

The Senate, at 11 o'clock and 5 minutes A. M., proceeded accordingly to draw seats by lot, and at 11 o'clock and 25 minutes A. M., the President announced the Senate ready to resume public business. Mr. Epler called the attention of the Senate to the ventilation of the Senate Chamber.

Governor Dougherty presented the following report of H. Dilger, Adjutant General:

JANUARY 4TH, 1871.

Hon. JOHN DOUGHERTY, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois :

DEAR SIR-I have, at your request, examined the mode of ventilation in the present Senate Chamber.

It is as complete as possible, under the given circumstances. The registers open into an empty space above the ceiling, and the foul air escapes from them directly through the dome of the building. The porters have already been instructed to keep the scuttle in the lantern continually open, so as to increase the current of air. Any other way of ventilating is, with the present system of heating, (by steam), impossible; but if the fires are carefully regulated, and the room not over-heated, as it has so frequently occurred, there can be no danger for the members.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

On motion of Mr. Dore,

H. DILGER,
Adjutant General.

A committee of three was appointed to confer with the architect. The President appointed as committee to confer with General Dilger, Messrs. Dore, Epler and Tincher.

Mr. Tincher offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on judiciary, when formed, at its earliest convenience, be instructed to report a bill repealing as much of the registry law as re