tioned; no rational doubt, however, can exist upon the subject. A palpable change in the manners, the conversation, and the habits of those participant and attending, has often been produced. The gambling and the drinking shops have been deserted; the morals of a whole neighborhood been purified; "and those who came to mock," not unfrequently, "have remained to pray;" others have caught the infectious feeling, and become like little children, uttering exclamations of penitence. The moral world has thus frequently been shaken; and the seeds of moral virtue been sown broadcast throughout a country, where a stated ministry would have been powerless.* In perseverance and zeal, the Baptists are scarcely behind their brethren of the Methodist denomination; and by their efforts, the profane have often been reclaimed, the drunkards reproved, and the wanderers gathered together like chickens, under the wing of the Great Shepherd of their Salvation. The Catholics, also, are numerous and zealous, and being firmly united in spirit and interest, form a phalanx of great compactness, producing extraordinary effects. The Presbyterians are numerous, and increasing; and also the Episcopalians. Religion, therefore, without legislative protection, or even notice, under the patronage of its Divine Author, and by the efforts of its numerous friends and advocates, has hitherto progressed in the State of Illinois, with, perhaps, as much rapidity as in any of her sister States; and under the like patronage, and by the continuance of similar efforts, will, it is hoped, yet progress, until the Redeemer's name shall be known, and its influence felt on every prairie. Of learning, we have as yet but little to boast. The Jesuits once had a college at Kaskaskia, and it is said, though on doubtful authority, that the celebrated Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, the author of Telemachus, the friend of Louis XIV., and the tutor of his son, while a monk of the order of St. Sulspice, taught therein. Whether he did so or not, is immaterial. The Jesuit missionaries in this country were learned men. They were educated, however, in Europe, and we have no evidence that the college at Kaskaskia produced any such. It has long been in ruins. During the occupation of this State by the English, nothing was done to promote the cause of learning. The American Revolution which followed, and the anarchy, and Indian wars that succeeded, retarded, of course, its progress, until 1833; when, at the close of the Black Hawk * Flint. + Judge Martin, of New-Orleans, a French gentleman of learning, and a justice of the supreme court of Louisiana, in his history of that State, says: "That Fenelon was at Fort Frontinac, (Kingston,) and had some difficulty with Count Frontinac, then Governor of Canada, in consequence whereof, he was imprisoned. He returned afterward to France; rose to great distinction; became Archbishop of Cambray, and the confidant of Louis XIV. war, our prosperity may in truth and justice be said to have commenced. The progress of Illinois since has been onward. In 1825, a law was passed making provision for the incorporation of common schools. In its preamble, the great principles of legislative authority are established, and so beautifully expressed, that we cannot resist the temptation of inserting it at length. It is in these words: "To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must understand them. Their security and protection ought to be among the first objects of a free people. And it is a well established fact, that no nation has ever continued long in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom, which was not both virtuous and enlightened. And believing that the advancement of literature always has been, and ever will be, the means of developing more fully, the rights of man; that the mind of every citizen of every Republic, is the common property of society, and constitutes the basis of its strength and happiness; it is considered the peculiar duty of a free government like ours, to encourage and extend the improvement and cultivation of the intellectual energies of the whole. Therefore, be it enacted," etc. A subsequent Legislature, by repealing a portion of the act passed in 1825, and making other modifications therein, rendered it almost nugatory; and we regret exceedingly, that an efficient system in relation to common schools, has never been adopted. Divers acts have been passed upon the subject, but as yet, education here is still in its infancy. The time, however, is near at hand, when other views will prevail, and a system commensurate with our resources, will be adopted and sustained by the popular voice. Common schools will then succeed, education will then revive, and constitute an important link in the chain of our prosperity. No State in the Union, no country on the globe, has a more ample fund than Illinois. By the ordinance of July 13, 1787, three per cent. upon all lands sold within the State, from and after the first day of January, 1817, were appropriated for the encouragement of learning. On the 1st of January, 1842, the common school fund received from that source was A portion of the surplus revenue of the United States, (deposited with the State,) was added to this fund by an act of the Legislature; and amounted, on the day last aforesaid, to The college fund, on the same day amounted to $346,326 21 335,592 32 $681,918 53 69,249 20 56,917 66 · Making altogether, $808,085 39 This money has been borrowed by the State, and laid out in defraying its current expenses; and some special appropriations made by the Legislature. Its interest is now regularly paid, and distributed among the several counties according to law. The United States still own about seventeen millions of acres in Illinois, which is selling rapidly. Of course, a considerable addition to the above fund will be made hereafter. Two townships were also given to the State, on its admission into the Union, containing forty-six thousand and eighty acres, for the promotion of learning. A portion of the latter has been sold; a part, however, still remains, and is of considerable value. In addition to this, one thirty-sixth part of the whole State (being section No. 16 in each township,) was granted for the use of common schools. The avails of this section constitute a fund for the special benefit of those living within the surveyed township. The commissioners of public lands, in a report to Congress, made in April, 1832, estimated the sixteenth sections in the State of Illinois, at nine hundred and seventy-seven thousand for hundred and fifty-seven acres. Some of these lands are of great value, and all of them would be in time, if the people were wise, and would consent, for a few years, to forego the right to dispose of, or rather, to sacrifice them at inadequate prices. The school section adjacent to the original town of Chicago, after excepting a considerable portion thereof, was sold in 1836, for thirty thousand dollars and upward; and is worth, at the present day, more than five times that amount. A few acres in the city of New-York, given, long ago, to Trinity Church, then estimated at but little value, are now supposed to be worth thirty-five millions of dollars. If the school lands in Illinois could be protected from spoliation, and preserved for the uses intended without dilapidation, they would, in a few years, be worth several millions, and tend more to its aggrandizement than a thousand victories. They would provide an ample fund for the conquest of human ignorance, and carry joy and gladness to millions yet unborn. It affords us great pleasure here to remark, that, in many townships, the school lands are preserved with great care, and that common schools have been established there on a respectable footing. In the city of Chi cago, nine public schools are sustained, at an annual expense of more than three thousand dollars. A college has been established at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan in this State, destined, we have no doubt, to be very respectable. Its situation is on a delightful eminence, about one mile west of the town, and overlooks a country of well-cultivated farms. The principal edifice is a hundred and four feet in length, forty in width, and four stories high, exclusive of the basement. In the latter, are accommodations for an extensive boarding-house, kitchen, etc. To the principal building there are two wings, for the accommodation of the faculty. In addition to the above, there is a separate building, sixty-five feet by thirty-eight, and two stories high, exclusive of the basement, for a chapel, lecture, and recitation rooms, and a library. The latter is respectable and increasing. In connection with the college, there is a farm of three hundred acres, well stocked, and under good improve ment, together with some workshops. Here the students who are inclined to do so, can, by manual labor-devoting a portion of each day only to that purpose-earn sufficient to defray their current expenses. A college has also been established under the patronage of Bishop Chase, near Peoria, called Jubilee College. Its prospects are flattering. (See note 1.) A medical college has recently been established in the city of Chicago, and during the last winter, (1843-4,) a course of lectures was delivered by each of its professors. From the character and talents of the faculty, much was anticipated; and it is with great pleasure we remark, that these expectations have been realized. It bids fair, in a short time, to be one of the most respectable institutions in our country. Other literary institutions, such as academies, high-schools, and female seminaries, abound in every part of the State. Mount Morris academy, Belvidere female seminary, and a literary institution at Alton, are of their number, and all of them respectable. The statutes of Illinois are full of incorporated colleges, academies, and other seminaries of learning. Something more, however, than mere acts of incorporation, is requisite to give them currency and fill them with pupils. Inasmuch, however, as counterfeit coin is evidence of the existence of real, and hypocrisy evidence that pure religion exists, so acts of incorporation, though trifling and unimportant, and sometimes even ridiculous, indicate a willingness to be learned, or a desire to be thought so. Fortunately for Illinois, neither its Constitution nor its laws tolerate slavery. The subject of slavery having within a few years excited great interest among us, and a signal tragedy growing out of it (the death of Bishop and Lovejoy at Alton,) having been acted in our midst; the origin, progress, and effects of this evil, so far at least as Illinois is concerned; and the State of Virginia, of which we at one time constituted a part; will not, it is hoped, be thought obtrusive. The ordinance of 1787, to which we have had occasion so often to refer, in the 6th article thereof, provides that: "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, (northwest of the Ohio, including Illinois,) other than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; provided, that any person escaping into the same, from whence labor or service is lawfully claimed, in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid." The 6th article of the Constitution of this State is in these words: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall hereafter be introduced into this State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes where of the party shall have been duly convicted; nor shall any male arrived at the age of twenty-one years, nor female person arrived at the age of eighteen years, be held to serve any person as a servant, under any indenture hereafter made, unless such person shall enter into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on condition of a bona fide consideration received or to be received for their service; nor shall any indenture of any negro or mulatto, hereafter made and executed out of this State, or, if made in this State, where the term of service exceeds one year, be of the least validity, except those given in cases of apprenticeship." Whether the Legislature of Illinois have, in every instance, carried into effect the benign intentions of the framers of our Constitution, or of the ordinance above referred to, is perhaps doubtful. Having interdicted slavery, they thought proper to exclude slaves from the State altogether, and free negroes so far as it was in their power. For that purpose, a variety of statutes were passed, some of which are apparently oppressive, and some of which, it is said, are unconstitutional. The first law upon the subject was passed in 1819, which enacts, that no black or mulatto person, shall be permitted to reside in this State, unless he shall first produce a certificate of his freedom, etc. By the second section of the act respecting negroes, passed January 17th, 1829, it is enacted that every black or mulatto person, having no such certificate, shall be deemed a runaway slave, and liable to be arrested and committed to jail, etc.; and by the third section of the same act, that no negro or mulatto person shall be joined in marriage, etc. with any white person, male or female. By the third section of the act concerning practice, passed February 2nd, 1827, it is enacted that, "A negro, mulatto, or Indian, shall not be a witness in any court, or in any case, against a white person-and that any person, having one-fourth part negro blood, shall be adjudged a mulatto." The second section of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States, having declared that, "The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States," it has been, and now is, held by many, that a free black, coming from the State of New-York, (for instance,) where he is a citizen, cannot by any act of the Legislature of this State, be deprived of any privilege or immunity he enjoyed there-that the right to reside in this State without molestation-the right to give testimony in a court of justice, and several other rights accompanying his person, are of such a nature and character, that he cannot be deprived of them by any legislative enactment, without violating the Constitution of the United States. As it is not our province to discuss constitutional questions, however important, we shall leave the subject, at present, (suggesting, however, a revision of our laws upon this subject, in some particulars,) for those who have more time and leisure to pursue it, and call the attention of our readers to the origin, progress, effects, and final abolition of slavery among us. Virginia, the asylum of freedom, in violation of her wishes, and in opposition to her will, became, at an early day, the abode of hereditary bondsmen. The mercantile avarice of the Dutch, and the mercenary policy of the English, disregarding the interests and wishes of the colony, (publicly and privately expressed,) have entailed the cruel—the unjust— |