we can establish the kingdom, erect the standard and dwell in peace, and have our own laws.
said he would much rather hear others speak than speak himself. The transit of his feelings are such that he hardly knows how to express himself. But yesterday he had his seat in the Legislative Hall enacting laws for the welfare of a multitude of beings. To day I take my seat in another Legislative Hall to enact laws for the eternal salvation of mankind, not only in time but to all eternity. We are making laws not to be repealed at our next session but to exist and be in force to all eternity, because if our laws originate from God they will form a part of the government not only in time but in eternity. My feelings are peculiar. I look around on this honorable body and see no party feeling, no Whigs nor Democrats no party measure to be carried out which would [p. [11]]
Babbitt represented Hancock County in the Illinois House of Representatives. (Journal of the House of Representatives . . . of Illinois, 2 Dec. 1844, 4.)
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 and Weber, 1844.