Sec[Section] 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly That Thomas Carlin[,] Daniel G Whitney [,] and Thomas Cole[,] of Adams County, Otway Wilkinson, Samuel D Lockwood, Joseph Duncan, Dennis Rockwell, William Thomas, ^v^ and Julian M Sturdivant of Morgan County, Richard F Barrett, and Samuel H Treat of Sangamon County[,] Cyrus Walker of M^c Donough County, Benjamin, F Morris of Hancock County, William E Withrow, and James M^cCrosky of Schuyler County and Thomas Worthington of Pike County, be and they are hereby created a body politic and corporate to be Styled and known by the name of the “President and directors of the Illinois Asylum for the Education of the deaf and dumb” and by that name and Style to remain and have perpetual succession, with power to sue and be sued[,] plead and be impleaded, in all courts of Law or equity, and they, and their successors in office may have and use a common seal, and may change and alter the same at their pleasure; and shall be capable in law, by the name and style aforesaid, of purchasing, holding, and conveying any real and personal estate for the purposes of this incorporation, and for none other.

Sec 2 The number of directors shall not exceed fif ^ nine ^ ^nine^ teen exclusive of the principal or Superintendant of said assylum who shall ex officio be a member of the board of directors, and exclusive of the President of the board.

Sec 3 The object of said corporation shall be to promote, by all proper and feasible means, the intellectual[,] moral, and physical culture of that unfortunate portion of the community, who by the mysterious dispensations of providence, have been born deaf, and of course, dumb, and by a judicious and well adapted course of education, to

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reclaim them from their lonely and cheerless condition, restore them to the rank of their species, and fit them for the discharge of the social and domestic duties of life.

Sec 4 Said asylum shall be located at any eligible site within four miles of the Town of Jacksonville: Provided said President and Directors can obtain a donation of Five acres of ground within said limits suitable for the use of the Same.

Sec 5 The President and directors aforesaid shall have power, from time to time, to prescribe and regulate the course of study to be pursued in said institution; to fix the rate of tuition, room rent, and other expenses; to appoint instructors, and such other officers and agents as may be needed in managing the concerns of the institution; to define their duties, powers, and employments[;] to fix their compensation; to displace and remove either of the instructors, officers, or agents, to fill all vacancies among the instructors, officers[,] and agents; to erect necessary buildings and work-shops in which to prosecute the intellectual, moral[,] and physical instruction of the pupils; to purchase books, maps, charts, and other necessary apparatus for the use of the institution; and to make such by laws as may from time to time be necessary, relative to the management of the affairs of the corporation, and the regulation of the persons exercising any of the offices aforesaid not contrary to law

Sec 6 The President and directors aforesaid shall faithfully apply the funds of the institution according to their best judgment, in erecting suitable buildings, in compensating the necessary instructors, officers[,] and agents, in procuring books, maps, charts, and other apparatus necessary in promoting the education of the deaf and dumb, and in maintaining and educating the indigent deaf and dumb children of this state

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gratuitously, so far as the funds of the institution will admit: and it shall furthermore be the duty of the said President and directors to present to the Speakers of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively at each regular Session of the Legislature, within the first week of the Session a statement of the funds and expenses of the institution, and of the number of children received and educated therein, designating the parts of the State whence they have come, and distinguishing between those who have been supported gratuitously, and others,

Sec 7 Whenever the parent, guardian, or nearest friend, of an indigent deaf and dumb person is desirous to have him or her instructed, application shall be made to two Justices of the Peace of the County wherein such deaf and dumb person shall reside, who shall certify to the inability of the parent or guardian to pay for his or her board and tuition; which certificate being produced, shall authorize the directors of the institution aforesaid, to receive such deaf and dumb person as a pupil; and each indigent pupil so received into the institution, shall be provided with board[,] lodging[,] and tuition gratuitously, so far as the funds of the institution will admit.

Sec 8 In order to aid the funds of said asylum the auditor of Public accounts is hereby authorized and required, annually, before making an apportionment and distribution of the interest upon the school, college[,] and seminary fund among the several counties of the state, to pay over to the said President and directors ^√ 7^ out of said interest, a sum equal to one half per cent, upon the whole amount of said school, college[,] and seminary fund.

Sec 9 The said directors, or a majority of them, when met, shall constitute a board, and shall have power to appoint a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and Secretary (the President and Vice President to be

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selected from their own body) and to proscribe their duties and fix their term of service; and said President and directors shall have power to fill all vacancies which occur in their own body by death, resignation[,] or otherwise.

Sec 10 The Legislature shall have power, from time to time, to alter and amend this charter, and to make such changes in the mode of conducting and managing the institution aforesaid, as to them shall seem best calculated to advance the interests of the same, and promote the objects of this incorporation.

Sec 11 This act shall be deemed and taken as a public act, and shall be in force from and after its passage