Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That S. M. Hurd, William Hamilton,Samuel L. McGill , Thomas McDow, Tarlton F. Brock, and John D. Gillam, are hereby constituted and declared a body politic and corporate by that name, to have perpetual succession; to sue and be sued, pleading and being impleaded; of acquiring, holding, and conveying property, both real and personal; of making contracts in execution of the powers hereby conferred; and of having and using a common seal; and with power to make and ordain such by-laws, rules, and regulations, as shall be deemed needful and proper for the government of said institution, together with all donations which have been made by Silas Hamilton for the purpose of erecting a seminary of learning, and providing for the support thereof, in the county of Greene: Provided the same be not inconsistent with the laws of this State.

Sec. 2. The said seminary incorporated by this act is now located in the county of Greene, and known by the name of “The Hamilton School-house,” and shall be permanently located there; and the powers and privileges hereby conferred shall be exercised and employed for the sole purpose of establishing a seminary of learning, and promoting education agreeable to the objects of the donation made by said Silas Hamilton, as well as generally to promote the objects of this act; and all gifts, grants, and donations, which have heretofore, and which may hereafter, be made for the purpose of establishing a seminary of learning as aforesaid, shall be received and held by the trustees of said seminary, and the proceeds thereof shall be appropriated in such manner as shall best promote the objects of this act, and advance the prosperity of the saidinstitution. That all donations which have or may be made for a particular purpose expressed in the grant, and accepted by the trustees of said seminary, shall be applied in conformity with the design of the donors; and, if not inconsistent with the objects of any such donations, it shall be loaned out by the trustees, at such rate of interest as in now allowed to be taken by individuals.

Sec. 3. The affairs of said institution shall be governed by five trustees; one of their number they shall elect president, who shall hold their office for one year, and until others are elected and qualified; and an election shall be held at said seminary on the first Monday in June next, and on the first Monday in June in each year thereafter, for the election of five trustees; and all persons entitled to vote for members of the General Assembly, residing in the same township in which said seminary is situated, may vote for said trustees; and a majority of trustees, when thus elected, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Sec. 4. Any three of the persons named in this act may act as judges of said election for trustees; and thereafter the trustees may make such regulations in regard to conducting the election of trustees as they may see proper.

Sec. 5. The trustees of said corporation shall have authority, from time to time, to prescribe and regulate the studies to be pursued in said seminary; to fix the rate of tuition and other academical expenses; to appoint instructors and such other officers and agents as may be necessary in managing the concerns of the institution; to define their duties, to fix their compensation, and to displace or remove them; to erect any necessary buildings; to purchase books, chemical and philosophical apparatus, and other suitable means of instruction.

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of said trustees to appoint a secretary and treasurer, the treasurer to give bond, with sufficient security, in such penal sum as the board of trustees may prescribe, conditioned for the performance of such duties as the by-laws may require of him.

Sec. 7. The said institution shall be open to all denominations of christians, and the profession of any particular religious faith shall not be necessary of those who become students; all persons, however, may be suspended, or expelled from said institution, by the trustees thereof, whose habits are idle or vicious, or whose moral character is bad.

Sec. 8. The real estate owned by said institution at any one time shall never exceed two hundred acres. This act to take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, February 28, 1839.