Charter and pass it. I have found the men of the North generally are our friends, but the members from the South part of the are our enemies. I have reflected much during the winter what course we had best pursue in relation to trying to sustain our charter in the higher courts. I am aware that the proceedings of the Legislature will strengthen the hands of our enemies. We have borne more persecution from the north than from the south. I attribute it to their education. I have had considerable feelings as to what would be our best policy. If I consult my own feelings I should, as says, be for whipping every scoundrel that comes among us. But the sober second thought says it would not be best. I have thought it would be best to make a proposition to the citizens of this to buy their property, or sell ours to them. I made a proposition to them that if they would agree to [p. [14]]
Jacob B. Backenstos introduced the alternate charter in the Illinois House of Representatives on 27 January 1845, and it was referred to a select committee of nine. The committee reported the bill on 7 February and it passed the house on 12 February. When the bill was read in the Illinois Senate on 21 February, it was tabled and no further action was taken. Babbitt obtained a leave from the legislature on 27 February and left Springfield, though the legislature remained in session until 3 March. (Journal of the House of Representatives . . . of Illinois, 27 Jan. 1845; 7, 12, and 27 Feb. 1845, 289–290, 367, 406–407, 562; Journal of the Senate . . . of Illinois, 21 Feb. 1845, 357.)
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Fourteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Regular Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Springfield, IL: Walters & Weber, 1844.
Journal of the Senate of the Fourteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Regular Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Springfield, IL: Walters & Weber, 1844.