Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Caleb Burchall, Thomas Lewis, Edmund R. Wiley, William D. Herndon, Simeon Francis, George R. Weber, Walter Davis, George Wood and R. F. Coflin, and their associates and successors, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body politic and corporate, under the name of the “Springfield Mechanics’ Union,” for the purpose of affording relief to the sick and disabled members thereof, and to the widows and orphans of deceased members; for the establishment of a common school and a public library, and for the promotion of literature, science, and the mechanic arts; and for no other purpose whatever.

Sec. 2. The said corporation, on the establishment of their common school, shall receive from the school commissioner of the county the same amount of money, in the same proportion, and apply the same to such tuition, in the same manner as other common schools are paid and kept: Provided, That the teachers or instructors of said school, shall be selected by the corporation, and be under the control of its by-laws.

Sec. 3. The said corporation, by the name of the “Springfield Mechanics’ Union,” is declared and hereby made capable, in law, to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, to have a common seal, and the same to alter or renew at pleasure; to make and adopt a constitution and by-laws for the government of the corporation, not inconsistent with the laws of this State, or the constitution of the United States, and the same to alter or amend whenever it may be deemed necessary: Provided, That ths said corporation shall not hold more than five acres of land, with the improvements thereon, for a longer term than one year, except such as may be donated to, and for the sole use and behoof of, the corporation.

Sec. 4. The officers of this corporation shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and a board of seven directors, who shall continue in office for the term of one year, and until their successors are elected, together with such other officers as may be provided for by the constitution and by-laws of the corporation. The duties, rights, privileges

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and liabilities of the aforesaid officers to be defined by the constitution and by-laws of said corporation.

Sec. 5. All fines and forfeitures for non-attendance, delinquency, imposed by the constitution and by-laws provided for in the third section of this act, not exceeding twenty-five dollars in any individual case, shall be recoverable by action of debt, before any justice of the peace of the proper county by the said company, in their corporate capacity, which shall be for the use of the corporation.

Sec. 6. This corporation shall not be dissolved, nor a dividend made of its funds, while there are seven resident members in favor of its continuance.

Sec. 7. The Legislature hereby reserves the right to amend or repeal this act whenever, in their opinion, the public good may require it.

Sec. 8. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, February 3, 1840.