Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force, Mar.[March] 2, 1839.

AN ACT to amend “An act in relation to religious societies.”
1

Societies may hold land.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That hereafter it may be lawful for any religious society, in this State, to purchase, or receive by a donation, and hold any real estate, not exceeding forty acres, for the purpose of camp-meeting ground and the lots necessary for the same.

In name of trustees.

Sec. 2. The title to said real estate shall be held by trustees appointed by said society; and the same may become incorporated according to the provisions of “An act concerning religious societies,” in force, March 1, 1835. This act to take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, March 2, 1839.

1On February 20, 1839, John J. Hardin introduced HB 355 in the House. On February 21, a select committee reported the bill back to the House with sundry amendments. Harmon Alexander then moved to postpone indefinitely the vote on the bill as amended, which was defeated by a vote of 9 yeas to 59 nays, with Lincoln voting nay. On February 26, the House passed the bill as amended, and referred it to the Senate. March 1, after initially rejecting the bill, the Senate voted to reconsider their earlier vote, and passed the bill without further amendment. On March 2, theCouncil of Revision approved the bill, and the act became law.
Journal of the House of Representatives, at the First Session of the Tenth General Assembly, of the State of Illinois (Vandalia, IL: William Waters, 1836), 457, 471, 487, 524, 581, 598, 603; Journal of the Senate, at the First Session of the Tenth General Assembly, of the State of Illinois (Vandalia, IL: William Waters, 1836), 437-38, 478, 487, 502.