merged into those of Ohio and Indiana, and has not since been used.

By an act of February 3, 1809, all that part of Indiana territory, which lies west of the Wabash river, and a direct line drawn from that river and Post Vincennes, due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was constituted into a separate territory, by the name of Illinois; and the first grade of territorial government, as heretofore described, was established therein.

By the act of May 20, 1812, the right of suffrage was extended to the inhabitants of Illinois, without any property qualification; the territory passed from the first to the second grade of territorial government, and was empowered to send a delegate to congress.

On the 19th of April, 1816, the inhabitants of Indiana were authorized to form a constitution and state government, and to assume such name as they might deem proper; and were admitted into the Union by a resolution of congress of December 11, 1816.

The following are some of the points of the constitution of this state.

The term of service of the governor is three years, and he is not eligible for more than two terms successively.

The senators serve three years, and the members of the house of representatives one year.

The right of suffrage is extended to every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who has resided in

the state one year immediately preceding the election at which he claims to vote. Persons enlisted in the army of the United States, or their allies, are excluded from suffrage.

Elections to be by ballot.

The judiciary power is vested, both as to matters of law and equity, in one supreme court, in circuit courts, and in such other inferior courts as the general assembly may, from time to time, direct and establish. The supreme court consists of three judges, with appellate jurisdiction only.

The circuit courts consist, each, of a president and two associate judges, with original jurisdiction in common law, chancery, and criminal cases.

The judges of the supreme, circuit, and other courts, hold their offices during the term of seven years, if they shall so long behave well.

The judges of the supreme court are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate; the presidents of the circuit courts are appointed by joint ballot of both branches of the general assembly; and the associate judges are elected by the qualified voters in the respective counties. The supreme court appoints its own clerk; the clerks of the circuit court are elected by the qualified voters in the several counties. Slavery is prohibited.

The following provision is peculiar.

"Every twelfth year after this constitution shall have taken effect, at the general election held for governor, there shall be a poll opened, in which the qualified electors of the state shall express, by vote,

whether they are in favor of calling a convention or not; and if there should be a majority of all the votes given at such election, in favor of a convention, the governor shall inform the next general assembly thereof, whose duty it shall be, to provide by law for the election of members to the convention, the number thereof, and the time and place of their meeting; which law shall not be passed, unless agreed to by a majority of all the members elected to both branches of the general assembly; and which convention, when met, shall have it in their power to revise, amend, or change the constitution. But, as holding any part of the human creation in slavery, or involuntary servitude, can only originate in usurpation and tyranny, no alteration of this constitution shall ever take place, so as to introduce slavery or involuntary servitude in this state, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."

The diffusion of knowledge generally through the community, is recognized especially as being essential to the preservation of a free government. It is made the duty of the legislature to provide, by law, for a general system of education, ascending in a regular gradation from township schools to a state university, wherein tuition shall be gratis, and equally open to all.

"The general assembly, at the time they lay off a new county, shall cause at least ten per cent. to be reserved out of the proceeds of the sale of town lots, in the seat of justice of such county, for the use of a public library for such county.”

The legislature is prohibited from incorporating any bank except a state bank and its branches.

To Indiana, as well as to all the other new states, grants of land were made by congress for the support of schools, under similar conditions to those which have been mentioned in reference to Ohio.

It will be readily remarked, upon referring to the various acts relating to the admission of new states into the Union, that congress has invariably claimed, and exercised the power, of prescribing conditions of admission, to the people applicant. Whatever might be the decision in a case where such power was denied, as in the instance of the admission of Missouri, there can be no question, that where it is yielded, and the terms of admission agreed upon, they become binding upon both parties. A people suing for admission into the Union, may object to the conditions proposed by congress, and may rightfully obtain for themselves, admission on such terms, as suit their own views-in other words, make the best terms they can; but having gained admission by solemnly agreeing to any conditions which may have been proposed to them, we cannot for a moment indulge the belief, that they can, in good faith, violate such a compact.

The inhabitants of Illinois, were authorized to form a state government, by an act of April 18, 1818, and were admitted into the Union, December 3, 1818.

The conditions imposed on Illinois, in addition to those which had been already settled, by the cession from Virginia, and the ordinance of 1787, were as follows:

The United States give to the state, one section of land in every township, "for the use of the inhabitants of such township for the use of schools."

They grant to the state all salt springs, and the lands reserved for the use of the same, "provided, that the legislature shall never sell, nor lease the same, for a longer period than ten years, at any one time."

They give the state five per cent. of the net proceeds of all land sales within the state, "two-fifths to be disbursed under the direction of congress, in making roads leading to the state; the residue to be appropriated by the legislature of the state for the encouragement of learning, of which one-sixth part shall be exclusively bestowed on a college or university."

They give two entire townships for the use of a seminary of learning.

In consideration of the premises, the state of Illinois agrees to exempt all lands sold by the United States from taxation, for five years from the date of sale; to exempt, in like manner, the bounty lands, while they continue to be held by the patentees or their heirs, for three years from the dates of the patents; and that the lands of non-resident owners, shall not be taxed higher than the lands of residents. The following are some of the principal features in the constitution of that state.

The legislative authority is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate, the members of which are elected for four years, and a house of representatives elected for two years.