Whereas the owners of lands lying withing this State who reside in other States have met with general ^great^ difficulties in obtaining the acknowledgment to conveyances of lands lying within the State of Illinois before the proper officers authorised to take such acknowledgments by the penal laws of this State for remedy whereof

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly that the Governor be and he is hereby authorised to nominate and by and with the advice and Consent of the Senate to appoint such number of persons not exceeding one for each city in each State of the Union residing therein as he may judge will be conducive to the general interest and convenience of the public, who are hereby authorised and required to receive and take the proof or acknowledgment of the execution of all deeds conveyances and other instruments in writing relating to lands lying within this State conformably to the provisions of the laws of this State now in force relative to such proof or acknowledgment of the executing[,] making[,] and signing there of ^and they shall be entitled to demand and receive therefor^ such fees as are allowed for similar services by the laws of the respective States in which the service may be rendered

Sec. 2. Such persons so appointed shall be commissioned by the Governor and shall hold their respective appointments during good behavior and the pleasure of the Executive of this State