Whereas many of the officers & old soldiers who served in the late war with Great Britain are now in their old age, laboring under pecuniary embarrassments, many of them without homes of their own, & whereas Government has an abundance of public land to dispose of:

Therefore your petitioners, the undersigned, citizens of Illinois would most respectfully pray your Honorable Body, to make for those officers & soldiers who served in the late war with Great Britain the same provisions or Donations in the public Domain, that are made to the officers & soldiers in the present war with Mexico for the like services.

Your petitioners would most Respectfully ask your honorable body this compensation to the aged soldiers, as a remuneration for their toils & labors in defence of their countries rights, & to place them on an equal footing with those who serve in the present war with the Republic of Mexico, as your petitioners shall ever pray.