Sect[Section]. 1^st Be it enacted by the People of the state of Illinois represented in the General assembly That Jonathan Trumbull Hudson[,] ^W. S. Sillman^ Jacob C. Bruner[,] William E. Starr[,] J. A. Townsend Nathaniel Buckmaster James Semple[,] William Martin and S. H. Anderson & Their associates and Successors and all persons who may hereafter acquire stock in the company shall be and are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, in fact and in name by the name of the “Illinois emigrants company” and by that name they and their assigns and successors shall and may have succession and be capable in law of suing and being sued and of pleading and being impleaded in all any event as natural persons may. and The said company may have a common seal and change the same at pleasure, and may and are hereby made capable of purchasing, holding, selling[,] or conveying real and personal estate within this State to any amount not exceeding their capital stock.

Sect. 2^d The great objects of this company

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being to afford facilities and means for those who wish to emigrate to the State of Illinois and who have not the means of doing so. In order to enable the said corporation to carry on the purposes of their institution the stock holders shall chose from among themselves five ^seven^ directors one of which shall be [selected?] as president by the board of directors and the said prisedent and directors ^or a majority of them^ shall have power to make all necessary by laws[,] rules[,] and regulations which may be necessary and proper for carrying on the business of the Company provided that no such by laws[,] rules[,] or regulations shall contrary to law of this state or of the united states.

Sec^t[Section]. 3^d The prisident and directors shall have power under the corporate seal or under the name and seal of the prisident of the board to appoint such ^officers^[,] agents[,] or attorneys as may be thought necessary for the objects of the

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corporation

Sect. 4^th All contracts or other evidences of indebitness which may be made or entered into by said corporation shall be subscribed by the president and attested by the Secretary and being so signed and attested shall be binding on the company without or with the seal of the said corporation, according to the tenor[,] true intent[,] and meaning thereof.

Sect. 5^th The capitol stock of said company shall be divided into one thousand shares of one hundred dollars each and each share shall be entitled to one vote at all meetings of the stockholders for the election of officers, provided that all the shares of the corporation shall be liable to be [taxed?] as personal property for all state and county purposes.

Sect. 6^th The persons named in the first section of this act shall be the first directors and shall continue in office until their successors shall be elected, as is hereinafter provided

Sect. 7^th The stock holders of said company shall meet in the town of Alton at such time in the year 1836 as shall be appointed by the first directors for the purpose of chosing by ballot seven directors for one year from the time of their election and shall in all cases continue in office until their successors are elected, public notice of the time and place of the meeting of the stockholders shall be given in some public news paper for at [least?] two weeks successively

Sect. 8 The first directors as herein

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provided ^or a majority of them^ shall open books at such times and places as they may think proper and keep the same open until the whole amount of the capitol stock shall be subscribed and whenever any person or persons shall desire to subscribe they shall pay to the said directors one p^er cent on the amount of such subscription, public notice of the time and place having been given

Sect. 9^th All such officers or agents as shall be appointed by the president and directors and shall be required to give bond by them shall give bond and security and all such bonds shall binding and effectual in law according to the true intent and meaning thereof.

Sect. 10. The company shall keep books in which shall be kept a true account of the transactions of the company which shall be at all times subject to the inspection of the stockholders, and it shall

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be the duty of the president and directors to declare an annual dividend of such of the profits of the said company as to them shall appear advisable.

Sect. 11. Whenever one half of the capital stock of said company shall be subscribed for they shall be allowed to commence operations and to make contracts, and shall thereafter keep the books aforesaid open for the subscription of stock as hereinbefore provided until the whole amount shall be subscribed, and whenever the said prisident and directors shall deem it advisable they may open books for an increase of the capitol stock of said company over and above the amount herein before authorised and may keep the said books open for such increased stock until four thousand shares shall be subscribed which together with the capital stock

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herein before authorized shall constitute the whole capital stock of said company.

Sect 12 The stock of said company shall be deemed personal property and shall be transferable on the books of the company but no person shall be permitted to transfer his stock who at the time shall be indebted to the company unless such transfer be made with the consent of the prisident and directors

Sect. 13 This act shall be taken and deemed a public act and shall be favourably construed for the purposes herein.

Sect. 14 That in the event of a vacancy in the office of director the other directors may fill the vacancy until the annual election of directors.