show that any such building ever existed. Nothing of the sort had been inherited by the State or Territory, nor were any provisions made for the purchase or construction of such building.

It appears from the acts of the several territorial legislatures and of the first General Assembly of the State, that each assembly held its session in a different building, or else that the rented "capitol" was continually changing owners. The appropriation bills of the various assemblies show that, at the first session of the first assembly, an appropriation was made (December 26, 1812) "To Hugh H. Maxwell, agent for the heirs of Elijah Backus, deceased, for a house for the use of the Legislature during the present session, $1.00 per day for each day the same may have been occupied." At the second session of the same assembly no appropriation was made for house rent; but (December 11, 1813) there was appropriated to "John Hogue for certain repairs done to the court house of Randolph county for the use of the Legislature during the present session $15.00," and "To Pierre Menard for plank furnished for repairs on court house and for two tin pitchers, $10.40;" from which it seems that this session was held in the Randolph county court house. At the third session an appropriation was made (December 24, 1814) "To James Gilbraith for firewood and house rent. $1.25 per day during the present session." At the fourth session an appropriation was made (January 11, 1816) "To William Bennett for house room and firewood during the present session, $2.00 per day." Again at the fifth session an appropriation was made (January 13, 1817) "To William Bennett, $2.00 per day for rent and firewood for two days during the present session," and "To William Morrison, for house rent furnished the present session, $1.50 per day.' Again at the sixth and last session of the territorial legislature an appropriation was made (January 9, 1818) To John W. Gillis, $2.00 per day for each day the Legislature set in his house at this session."

At the second session of the first General Assembly of the State appropriations were made (March 29, 1819) to cover rent for the two sessions of the first General Assembly of the State as well as for the Constitutional Convention of 1818, as follows; "To George Fisher for the use of three rooms of his house during the present and preceding session, $4.00 per day; also for the use of one room during the sitting of the convention, $2.00 per day."

From these appropriation items it seems clear that, while the seat of government remained at Kaskaskia; neither the State nor Territory owned a Capitol building: that each Legislature was left to its own devices to provide a place of meeting; and that each session secured a different building or, at least, paid rent to a different landlord. If by the term "Capitol" or "State House" is meant any building in which the Legislative body holds its sessions, there may have been, and most probably were, several Capitols or State Houses at Kaskaskia. If, however, the term is restricted in its application to a building owned by the State and used for legislative assemblies and executive offices, the first Capitol or State House was erected at Vandalia, in 1819.

ILLINOIS AS A TERRITORY.

The Territory of Illinois was established by act of Congress, approved February 3, 1809, which provided as follows:

That from and after the first day of March next, all that part of the Indiana Territory which lies west of the Wabash river and a direct line drawn from the said Wabash river and Post Vincennes que north, to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called "Illinois."

The seat of government was fixed at Kaskaskia. The Territorial government was continued under the first grade from 1809 until 1812, when by a vote of the people the second grade was adopted. Under the first grade, the Governor and judges, who received their appointment from the President, constituted the Legislative Council, and enacted laws for the government of the people. The Governor possessed almost unlimited power in the appointment of officers; the Secretary of the Territory being the only officer not appointed by the Governor. Under the second grade, the people elected the Legislature, which was composed of a Legislative Council and a House of Representatives. The Legislative Council was composed of five members, and the House of Representatives of seven members.

The Legislature enacted the laws for the government of the people, but the Governor was possessed of the absolute veto power, and was therefore in a position to dictate the laws, if he chose to exercise the power.

The people also elected the delegate to Congress by popular vote.

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS,

The following is a complete roster of Territorial officers from 1809 until the organization of the State government in 1818. The term of the Governor's appointment was two years. Governor Edwards was reappointed from time to time, as his term expired, and served through the entire period of Territorial government:

Ninian Edwards, April 24, 1809, to December 6, 1818.

SECRETARIES,

Nathaniel Pope, March 7, 1809, to December 17, 1816.
Joseph Phillips. December 17, 1816, to October 6, 1818.

AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

H. H. Maxwell. 1812 to 1816.
Daniel P. Cook, January 13, 1816, to March 7, 1817.
Robert Blackwell, April 5, 1817, to August 28, 1817.
Elijah C. Berry, August 28, 1817, to October 9, 1818.

ATTORNEYS GENERAL.

Benjamin H. Doyle, July 24, 1809, to December, 1809.
John J. Crittenden. December 30, 1809, to April. 1810.
Thomas T. Crittenden, April 7, 1810, to October, 1816.
Benjamin M. Piatt, October 29, 1810, to June, 1813.
William Mears, June 23, 1813, to February 17, 1818.

John Thomas, 1812 to 1818.

TREASURER.

DELEGATES TO CONGRESS.

Shadrach Bond, December, 1812, to 1814.

Benjamin Stephenson, September 29, 1814, to 1817.
Nathaniel Pope, 1817 to 1818.

JUDGES.

Resigned.

Vice Stuart.

Obadiah Jones, March 7, 1809.
Alexander Stuart, March 7, 1809.
Jesse B. Thomas, March 7. 1809.
Stanley Griswold, March 16, 1810.
William Sprigg, July 29, 1813.
Thomas Towles, October 28, 1815.
Thomas Towles, January 16, 1816.
Daniel P. Cook (western circuit), January 13, 1818.
John Warnock (western circuit), June 8, 1818.
John McLean (eastern circuit), January 13, 1818.
Elias Kent Kane (eastern circuit), February 17, 1818.
William Mears (eastern circuit), February 17, 1818.
Jeptha Hardin (eastern circuit), March 3, 1818.

Declined.

ADJUTANTS GENERAL.

Elias Rector, May 3, 1809, to July, 1809,

Robert Morrison, July 18, 1809, to May 28, 1810.

Elias Rector, May 28, 1810, to October 25, 1813.

Benjamin Stephenson, December 13, 1813, to October 27, 1814.

William Alexander, October 27, 1814, to December, 1818.

FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE-1812-1814.

Convened at Kaskaskia the 25th day of November, 1812. Adjourned the 26th day of December, 1812. Second session convened Nov. 14, 1813, and adjourned.

SECOND TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE—1814-1816.

First session convened at Kaskaskia the 14th day of November, 1814. Adjourned Dec. 24, 1814. Second session convened Dec. 14, 1815. Adjourned

Ad

First session convened at Kaskaskia the 2d day of December, 1816. journed Jan. 14, 1817. Second session convened Dec. 1, 1817. Adjourned Jan. 12, 1818.

ILLINOIS AS A STATE.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

Under the Constitution of 1818 the elective officers were the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, who held office for four years. The election returns were transmitted by the returning officers, directed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose duty it was to open and publish them in the presence of a majority of each house of the General Assembly. In case of a tie, the choice was made by a joint ballot of both houses. The first election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor was held on the third Thursday of September, 1818. Thereafter the elections were held every four years, on the first Monday of August.

The Secretary of State was appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer and Attorney General were elected by the General Assembly, and held office for two years respectively. By the Constitution of 1848 all these officers were made elective by the people, except the Attorney General, which office was abolished. The term of office for each was four years. except the Treasurer, which was two years. The office of Attorney General was again created by law in 1867, and the term fixed at two years. The office was first filled by appointment by the Governor, and at the expiration of the term by election by the people.

The Constitution of 1870 provides that the executive department shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Attorney General, who shall each, with the exception of Treasurer, hold office for four years from the second Monday in January next after election. The Treasurer holds office for two years, and is ineligible for re-election until the expiration of two years. The first election under the Constitution of 1870 was held Nov. 5, 1872.

By a law passed in 1849 the Secretary of State was made er officio State Superintendent of Public Schools. In 1854 the law establishing a system of free schools created the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and provided for the appointment by the Governor, upon the taking effect of the law, of some person to hold office until the election in 1855, when a Superintendent of Public Instruction should be elected, and every two years thereafter.

The offices of Adjutant General. Insurance Superintendent, State Geologist. and Entomologist, etc., are created by law and filled by appointment.