Whereas by an act of Congress passed March 3^d 1790,2 there was granted to the French Villages of Cahokia, and Prairie due Pont, in St Clair County, a large tract of land about five thousand acres in quantity including those villages (which ^had^ been before that time used by the inhabitants of said villages as a common) to be appropriated to the use of the said villages respectively as a common, until otherwise disposed of by law:

And whereas said tract of land, thus appropriated is exempt from taxation, sale[,] or lease by the laws of this State, and much inconvenience has resulted from this tenure, and injoyment by the said inhabitants, inasmuch as said tract of land is located in part opposite the city of St Louis, and the ferry thereto so that difficulties are experienced in relation to the construction of the Vincennes road and the repair thereof; And whereas great benefit in the opinion of this Legislature would result to the people of the state in these respects, and by having a grant of one hundred and sixty acres, of the land so appropriated, for [these?]purposes and to facilitate the and extend the ferry privileges; and improve said road;

Therefore Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, that our Senators and Representatives be disired to use their exertions to procure the passage of a law in Congress granting to the county of St Clair, One hundred and sixty acres of said land, for the purposes [aforesaid] to be located in a part of said appropriated land under the direction of the County Commissioners Court of said County.3