out, shall be the seat of government of this state for the term of twenty years. Should however the prayer of said petition not be granted, the general assembly shall have power to make such provi sion for a permanent seat of government as may be necessary and shall fix the same where they may think best.

Sect. 14. Any person of thirty years of age, who is a citizen of the United States, and has resided within the limits of this state two years next preceding his election shall be eligible to the office of lieutenant governor, any thing in the thirteenth section of the third article of this constitution contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Done in convention at Kaskaskia, the twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the independence of the United States of America, the forty-third.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.
JESSE B. THOMAS, President of the Convention,

and representative from the county of St. Clair. John Messinger,

James Lemen, jr.
George Fisher,
Elias Kent Kane,

B. Stephenson,
Joseph Borough,
Abraham Prickett,

St. Clair County.

AN ORDINANCE.

WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States in the act, entitled "An act to enable the people of the Illinois territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, passed the 18th of April, 1818," have offered to this convention for their free acceptance or rejection, the following propositions, which if accepted by the convention are to be obligatory upon the United States, viz:

"1st. That section numbered sixteen in every township, and when such section has been sold, or otherwise disposed of, other lands equivolent thereto, and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to the state for the use of the inhabitants of such township for the use of schools.

2d. That all salt springs within such state, and the lands reserved for the use of the same, shall be granted to the said state for the use of the said state, and the same to be used under such terms and conditions and regulations as the legislature of said state shall direct; provided the legislature shall never sell nor lease the same for a lon. ger period than ten years at any one time.

3d. That 5 per cent. of the nett proceeds of the lands lying within such state, and which shall be sold by Congress, from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen,after deducting all expenses incident to the same, shall be reserv. ed for the purposes following, viz: 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.

4th. That thirty-six sections or one entire township, which shall be designated by the President of the United States, together with the one heretofore reserved for that purpose, shall be reserved for the use of a seminary of learning, and vested in the legislature of the said state, to be appropriated solely to the use of such seminary by the said legislature."

And whereas, the four foregoing propositions are offered on the condition that this convention shall provide by ordinance, irrevocable, without the consent of the United States, that every and each tract of land sold by the United States from and after the first day of January, 1819, shall remain exempt from any tax laid by order or under the

authority of the state, whether for state, county, or township, or any other purpose whatever, for the term of five years, from and after the day of sale. And further, that the bounty lands granted, or here. after to be granted for military services, during the late war, shall, while they continue to be held by the patentees or their heirs, remain exempt as aforesaid from all taxes for the term of three years, from and after the date of the patents respectively; and that all the lands belonging to the citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than lands belonging to persons residing therein.

Therefore, this convention, on behalf of, and by the authority of the people of, the state, do accept of the foregoing propositions; and do further ordain and declare, that every and each tract of land sold by the United States, from and after the first day of January, 1819, shall remain exempt from any tax laid by order or under any authority of the state, whether for state, county or township, or any purpose whatever, for the term of five years from and after the day of sale. And that the bounty lands granted or hereafter to be granted, for military services, during the late war, shall, while they continue to be held by the patentees or their heirs, remain exempt as aforesaid, from all taxes for the term of three years, from and after the date of the patents respectively; and that all the lands belonging to the citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be tax. ed higher than lands belonging to persons residing therein. And this convention, do further ordain and declare, that the foreging ordi. nance, shall not be revoked without the consent of the United States. DONE in convention at Kaskaskia, the twenty-sixth day of August,in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the independence of the United States of America, the forty-third.

ATTEST,

WM. C. GREENUP,

JESSE B. THOMAS, President of the Convention.

Secretary to the Convention.