Total number of votes cast for representatives in the General Assembly...444,860 One-half of this vote is... Total vote cast for convention. 222,430 223,124 704 The returns have been carefully canvassed by the Secretary of State, and show that a majority of all the electors of the State voting for representatives have voted for a convention. It becomes necessary, therefore, for the present General Assembly to call a convention, to meet within three months after the election of its members. The time at which the election for members of the convention shall be held, will also be fixed by your honorable body. It would seem the public mind is fully impressed with the belief that the constitution ought to be materially changed. The large affirmative vote given can leave no doubt upon this question. I can see no good reason for postponing the election to a distant day. The reforms that are expected by amending the present constitution cannot come too soon. Freedom from political excitement, abatement of prejudices engendered by the war, and universal tranquility seem to point to the present as a suitable time for the discussion of those questions of fundamental importance usually settled by constitutional law. CONCLUSION. I have thus, gentlemen, in some sense, gone over the various subjects to which it has been deemed necessary to call your attention, and am now about to restore the grave trust committed four years ago to my keeping. In severing this relation with the State, I am sensibly conscious how far I have fallen below a proper standard for the responsible position. That I have earnestly striven to discharge its duties, from a sense of obligation to the public good, and have at all times been as prudent as I have known how, in considering all questions of public concern, and have desired to serve them faithfully to the end of my official term, is the judgment and reward I shall most appreciate from. a considerate, indulgent and generous people. It is a pleasant reflection that the Executive Department is to be intrusted to an experienced and worthy citizen, long familiar with our political and domestic history, who has served the nation with distinction in the field, and the State with ability in her councils. Wise, prudent and patriotic, he will ever be found a faithful guardian of the public welfare. It would be unjust to my own feelings, in closing this communication, not to frankly acknowledge my obligations to the other officers and their assistants in the Executive Department, for uniform courtesy, kindly assistance and hearty cooperation in our official relations. Confident that your deliberations will be productive of substantial benefit to the State-profoundly hopeful that we shall have a long and uninterrupted career of peace and prosperity, and fervently desirous that the future may be as auspicious and happy as the past has been prosperous and satisfactory, I invoke upon you, the State, and the whole people, the continued favor of Almighty God. RICHARD J. OGLESBY. The committee on printing beg leave to report: That they have carefully examined the existing contract for fur nishing paper, between the State and George W. Chatterton. That it appears, from the evidence in the case, that the advertisement published by the Secretary of State, inviting bids for paper, was defective in not giving the specifications required by law. That the award of the contract to said George W. Chatterton, was illegal, in this: That although the law manifestly requires that the award shall be public, and be made at the opening of the bids, in the presence of the Auditor and Treasurer, yet the Secretary of State did, in fact, take time, and made his award privately, after some days, and not in the presence of the Auditor and Treasurer, nor of the bidders. That it appears that bona fide bids for paper, entirely satisfactory in quality, and from persons of acknowledged standing in business, were on file, and opened and read, at sums very much below the bid of George W. Chatterton. That the contract price for the paper, as awarded to Chatterton, was ten dollars and eighty-eight cents ($10 88) per ream. That such paper as is now in the hands of the Secretary of State, delivered under said contract, is and was then worth only from $7 20 to $7 50 per ream, according to the testimony of persons who have long been engaged in the manufacture and sale of paper. That the paper delivered by Chatterton under this contract, is greatly inferior in quality to the sample submitted with his bid. That one of the bidders, a dealer in paper, offered to furnish paper, by his bid, at $7 20 per ream; which paper conformed to the quality and requisitions made in the advertisement for proposals. That estimating the probable amount of paper that will be required under this contract, the difference in the cost of the same to the State, under the existing contract, and the lowest responsible bid herein before mentioned, would amount to at least fourteen thousand dollars. Your committee can have no doubt that the awarding of the contracts to said George W. Chatterton, under the facts proven in this case, is a gross wrong upon the State, and has all the elements which warrant the State in annulling the contract. Your committee recommend the adoption of the joint resolution herewith submitted. E. H. TALBOTT, Chairman. H. B. MILLER, FRANCIS MUNSON, ANSEL B. COOK, JAMES DINSMOOR, ALEX. ROSS, JOHN W. ROSS. JAMES E. DOWNING. |