La Salle, Grundy and part of Kendall-WILLiam Reddick. Hancock-JACOB C. DAVIS. Koox and Mercer-JouN DENNY. Bond, Christian and Montgomery-OLIVER COUDY. Union, Pulaski and Alexander-JOHN DOUGHERTY. Pope, Johnson and Hardin-THOMAS G. C. DAVIS. Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll-LORENZO P. SANGER. IETER SWEAT presented a paper, purporting to be a certificate of his election to the office of Senator from the counties of Peoria, Stark and Bu eau. LINCOLN B. KNOWLTON also presented a paper, relating to the number of votes received by him and PETER SWEAT for the office of Senator from the counties of Peoria, Stark and Bureau. Which papers, on motion of Mr. Cavarly, were referred to a select com.mittee, composed of one Senator from each of the Judicial Circuits of this State. Messrs. Cavarly, Warren, Allen, Webb, Markley, Sanger, Judd, McRoberts and Boal, were appointed said committee. On motion of Mr. Judd, The Senate proceeded to the election of Secretary of the Senate. And the vote being taken on said nomination, those who voted for Mr. Moore, are, Messrs. Allen, Allison, Brown, Catlin, Cavarly, Constable, Coudy, Davis of Hancock, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Denny, Dougherty, Edwards, Henry, Judd, Killpatrick, Leviston. McMillan, McRoberts, Markley, Matteson, Miller, Morrison, Noble, Powers, Reddick, Sanger, Smith, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren, Webb and Wilcox-33. Those who voted blank, are, Messrs. Boal and Hanson-2. Tienry W. Moore, having received a majority of all the votes given, was, by the Speaker, declared duly elected Secretary of the Senate of the fifteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois. On motion of Mr. Matteson, NELSON D. EI WOOD, was unanimously elected Assistant Secretary of the Snate, and so declared by the Speaker. On motion of Mr. Warren, The Senate proceeded to the election of Sergeant-at arms. Mr. Wilcox nominated WILliam J. Cline. Mr. Constable nominated WILLIAM C. MURPHY. And the vote being taken on said nominations, those who voted for Mr. Cline, are, Messrs. Allen, Brown, Catlin, Cavarly, Coudy, Dennis, Dougherty, Judd, Leviston, McMillan, McRoberts, Markley, Matteson, Morrison, Reddick, Sanger, Smith, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren and Wilcox-21. Those who voted for Mr. Murphy, are, Messrs. Allison, Boal, Constable, Davis of Massac, Denny, Edwards, Hanson, Henry, Killpatrick, Miller, Noble, Powers and Webb-13. William J. Cline, having received a majority of all the votes given, was declared duly elected Sergeant-at arms of the Senate of the fifteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Mr. Cavarly moved that the Senate now proceed to elect an Assistant Sergeant-at-arms. Mr. Henry moved to lay the motion on the table; and the question being taken thercon, it was decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays, as follows: Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Allen, Allison, Boal, Brown, Catlin, Constable, Coudy, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Denny, Edwards, Hanson, Henry, Killpatrick, Miller, Morrison, Noble, Powers, Smith, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren and Webb-23. Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Cavarly, Davis of Hancock, Dougherty, Judd, Leviston, McMillan, McRoberts, Markley, Matteson, Reddick, Sanger and Wilcox-12. On motion of Mr. Dougherty, FINNEY D. PRESTON, was unanimously elected Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the Senate, and so declared by the Speaker. On notion of Mr. Killpatrick, The Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M. TWO O'CLOCK, p. m. Senate met, pursuant to adjournment. Hon. JOHN HARRIS, Senator from the counties of Macoupin and Jersey, appeared and took his seat. On motion of Mr. Constable, Resolved, That such reporters for newspapers as may desire it, be admitted to seats within the bar of the Senate, subject to such regulations as the Senate may adopt. On motion of Mr. Allen, Resolved, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that they have met and organized; have elected Henry W. Moore their Secretary, Nelson D. Elwood their Assistant Secretary, William J. Cline their Sergeant-at-arms, Finney D. Preston their Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk, and are now ready to proceed to Legislative business. By unanimous consent of the Senate, Peter Sweat and Lincoln B. Knowlton, contestants for the seat in the Senate, from the counties of Peoria, Bureau and Stark, were admitted to seats within the bar of the Senate, pending the determination of the contest. On motion of Mr. Constable, Resolved, That the Ministers of the Cospel, resident in the city of Springfield, be requested to open the daily sessions of the Senate with prayer. JOSEPH GILLESPIE, Senator elect from the county of Madison. appeared, presented a certificate of his election as such Senator, was qualified, and took his seat. On motion of Mr. Dougherty, Resolved, That the rules of the last Senate be adopted for the government of this Senate. On motion, The Senate adjourned. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1846. Senate met, pursuant to adjournment. Prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Bergen. Hon. SAMUEL DUNIAP, Senator from the counties of Crawford, Lawrence, Jasper, and a part of Richland, appeared and took his scat. Mr. McRoberts offered the following resolution, which, under the rule of the Senate, lies one day on the table: Resolved, That a select committee of three be appointed to establish the requisite number of standing committees for the Senate, and report thereon at their earliest convenience. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. McDonald, their Clerk: Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the Senate, that the House of Representatives have met and organized; have elected Newton Cloud, Speaker; John McDonald, Principal Clerk; William W. Pace, Assistant Clerk; A. J. Galloway, Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk; John A. Wilson, Principal and Isam G. Davidson, Assistant Door-keeper; and are now prepared to proceed to Legislative business. The House has also adopted the following resolution: Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That a joint select committee of five, three on the part of the House and two on the part of the Senate, be appointed to wait on his Excellency the Governor, and inform him that the two Houses have met and organized, and are now ready to receive any communication he may desire to make. The House have appointed Messrs. Denning, Sherman and Dana, the committee on its part. In the adoption of which resolution they ask the concurrence of the Senate. On motion of Mr. Cavally, The last resolution contained in the message from the House of Representatives was taken up, read and concurred in. Ordered, That Messrs. Cavarly and Judd, he a committee on the part of the Senate, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof. Mr. Cavarly offered the following resolution, which was read, and the rule having been dispensed with, was adopted: Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That the two Houses of the General Assembly meet in the Hall of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday the 8th instant, at 2 o'clock, P. M. and there canvass the returns of the votes given for Governor and Lieutenat Governor, at the last August election. Mr. McRoberts offered the following resolution, which was read, and on motion of Mr. Webb, the rule was dispensed with, and the resolution adopted: Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to furnish to the Senate an abstract, showing the number of votes returned for Representatives to the General Assembly, in the several counties of the State, as also the number of votes for a Convention to amend the Constitution of the State of Illinois. On motion, The Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M. Two o'clock, P. M. Senate met, pursuant to adjournment. Mr. Cavarly, from the joint committee appointed by the two Houses to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, reported that the committee. had performed the duty assigned them, and that his Excellency would communicate with the two Houses, at 2 o'clock, this day. A message from the Governor, by Thompson Campbell, Esq., Secretary of State, was received and read, as follows: Fellow-Citizens of the Senate, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, and House of Representatives: Springfield, December 7, 1846. Since the adjournment of the last session of the General Assembly, the loan of $1,600,000 for the canal, has been completed; the lands and canal property have been conveyed in trust for the payment or the canal debt; a board of trustees has been appointed and organized; the work on the canal for fifteen months. past, has been progressing as rapidly as could have been expected, considering the general sickness which has prevailed on the line; and there is now almost a certain prospect, that this important enterprise will be completed and in successful operation within a year from this time. The annual report of the trustees for this year, has not been received; for which reason I cannot now be more particular in stating the progress of the work. It is with much satisfaction that I am enabled to state, that the people called Mormons have removed from the State. The great body of them removed voluntarily; but, a small remnant were barbarously expelled with force, and in a manner which reflects but little credit on the State or its institutions. Much difficulty has ever existed between this people and the neighbors by whom they have been surrounded; from which it was apparent, that their continuance amongst us would have been the fruitful source of frequent wars and tumults, alike disgraceful to the State, above the power of the constituted authorities to suppress, demoralizing to the residue of the inhabitants, and encouraging, to a spirit of anarchy and disregard of law, subversive of republican government. The difficulties with the Mormons, and my proceedings as Fund Commissioner ex-officio, for the last two years, will be made the subject of special reports to the House of Representatives. During the past summer, when, upon the call of the President, volunteers were required to vindicate the rights and the honor of the nation, and to chastise an insolent power which had insulted us, nine regiments of our brave Illinoians rushed to the standard of their country; though four of them only could be taken. And such was the general alacrity for this patriotic service, that great discontent prevailed amongst those who were doomed to stay at home. As I am about to retire from office, to mingle again with my fellow-citizens in the pleasant walks of private life, and cannot, hereafter, assist officially in carrying any new measures into effect, I do not design to recommend any thing for the future. This task I leave to my successor in office, who is a gentleman in whom the people have justly reposed their confidence. His official relation to the State, and to the General Assembly, makes it more proper that such recommendations should come from him. But I hope to be indulged in a slight retrospection of the past. A review of our progress for the last few years, must minister the highest satisfaction to every patriot who is truly desirous of the welfare of his country. When I came into office, it was a time of the most disheartening depression, of both private and public affairs.. The State was in debt about fourteen millions of dollars, for moneys squandered and wasted upon internal improvements and banking; the domestic treasury of the State was in arrear three hundred and thirteen thousand dollars for the ordinary expenses of government; Auditor's warrants were freely selling at a discount of fifty per cent.; the people were unable to pay even moderate taxes to replenish the treasury, in which not one dollar was contained, even to pay postage on letters to and from the public offices; the great canal, which was more than two-thirds finished, after expending five millions of dollars on it, was about to be abandoned; both of the banks, upon which the people, had relied for a currency, had become insolvent; their paper had fallen so low as to cease to circulate as money; as yet no other money had taken its place, leaving the people wholly destitute of a circulating medium, and universally in debt; almost every one was indebted to the merchants, who were again indebted to the banks, or to foreign merchants; the banks owed every body, and none were able to pay; emigration to the State had almost ceased; real estate was unsaleable; the people abroad, terrified by the prospect of high taxation, refused to come amongst us for settlement; and our own people at home were no less alarmed and terrified at the magnitude of our debt, then apparently so much exceeding any known resources of the country. Many were driven to absolute despair of ever paying a cent of it; and it would have requir ed but little countenance and encouragement, in the then disheartened and wavering condition of the public mind, to have plunged the State into irretrievable infamy, by open repudiation. This is not an exaggerated picture of our affairs four years ago. In the last four years, matters have been very considerably changed for the better. The domestic debt of the treasury, instead of being three hundred and thirteen thousand dollars for the ordinary expenses of government, is now only $31,212; and there is $9,269 in the treasury, not counting the sum due from the U. S. to the school fund; and Auditor's warrants are at par, or very nearly 30; the banks have been put into liquidation; their circulation has been retired, and its place supplied by a reasonable abundance of gold and silver coins, and the paper of solvent banks in other States; the people have generally paid their private debts, and now stand upon the high platform of freemen, laboring for themselves and their own families, instead of being slaves to the demands of creditors; a very considerable portion of the State debt has been paid or provided for; about three millions of dollars has been paid by a sale of the public property, and by putting the banks into liquidation; and five millions more has been effectually pro |