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He went there for it, and was told it had never been sent in, and returned with the most unwelcome intelligence that he could not find the bill!

I then followed in his tracks in search of the bill, but no traces of it could be found anywhere!

I began to be suspicious that the enemy was again on my track, and had stolen the bill. But upon pursuing my investigations, I found that the engrossing clerks of the House Bills were in a hall across the street. Thither I went in search of the lost bill, where to my great relief and joy, I found that one of these clerks had copied Bill 608, as his record showed, and it had been sent over to the State-House the previous day, to a Committee in the Representatives room.

Thither I went at once, not satisfied until I had actually seen the bill.

Here I found it -- but was informed it could not be sent to the Governor until the Speaker of both Houses had first signed it.

The House Speaker, Mr. Corwin, then and there signed it; but Speaker Bross, of the Senate, had gone to Chicago and was not expected to return until the next week.

I waited until his return, and went for my bill, and was informed it had been sent in to the Governor, and taking my informant's advice, to go with it, myself, to the Governor for his signature, instead of getting Secretary Tyndal to go for me, I went into the Governor's ante-office, and here Mr. Harlan informed me, the bill was in his possession.

He looked for it, but could not find it!

He looked again and again and could not find it!

During this three-quarters of an hour he spent looking in vain for it, I had another mental conflict with doubt, suspense and suspicion. But relief came at last, as Mr. Harlan exclaimed:

"I have found the Personal Liberty Bill! and if you wish it, I will take it in and ask the Governor to sign it."

Most gratefully did I accept this kind offer; and after about one hour more of solicitude, lest he should not sign it, I at last heard his private secretary reading aloud my bill. Then I heard him exclaim, with emphasis:

"That is a good bill!"

"Yes, it is first-rate!" responded the Governor.

Hope revived, and in a few minutes Governor Oglesby came into the room, with the bill in his hand, which he handed me, saying:

"Mrs. Packard, your bill is signed!"

I then took his hand and said:

"In the name of the married women of Illinois, I thank you for this act. Please now, Governor Oglesby, accept one of my books."

"Thank you, Mrs. Packard, I and my wife will be glad to read it."

"The bill is now complete as it is, I conclude."

"No, the Secretary of State must also sign it."

I started for the door with my bill to take to the Secretary, when I was told:

"None but the appointed messenger can be the bearer of the bill."

I handed it to the messenger, and followed him into the office of the Secretary, and saw Mr. Tyndal sign his name and affix the seal of the State, by which it was made a law, to take effect in sixty days from date.

Mr. Tyndal very kindly gave me a certified copy of the bill in his own handwriting, free of charge. This was only one of the many favors I received at the hands of this, one of the best of nature's noblemen.

This copy I still retain as a memento of this noble philanthropist, and also as a record of my first attempt to serve the State of Illinois, as a member of the "Third House."

My only apology for giving so full and detailed an account of this winter's campaign is, that other novices in this work day learn something of the complicated machinery of legislation, before entering, ignorantly, as I did, upon the work of reforming the laws under which we live.

And if any other victim of bad laws is goaded on to undertake to remove this liability from others, as was the experience of the writer, they may hope that as their day is so shall their strength be.

CHAPTER XXVII.
The Personal Liberty Bill and its Application.

The following Act for the protection of Personal Liberty was passed by the Illinois Legislature of 1867, and approved by the Governor, March 5, 1867.

SECTION 1. -- Be it enacted by the People of the. State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

That no superintendent, medical director, agent or other person, having the management, supervision or control of the Insane Hospital at Jacksonville, or of any hospital or asylum for insane and distracted persons in this State, shall receive, detain or keep in custody at such asylum or hospital any person who has not been declared insane or distracted by a verdict of a jury and the order of a court, as provided by an act of the General Assembly of this State, approved Feb. 16, 1865.

SECTION 2. -- Any person having charge of, or the management or control of any hospital for the insane, or of any asylum for the insane in this State, who shall receive, keep or detain any person in such asylum or hospital, against the wishes of such person, without the record or proper certificate of the trial required by the said act of 1865, shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and liable to indictment, and on conviction be fined not more than one thousand dollars, nor less than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding one year, nor less than three months, or both, in the discretion of the court before which such conviction is had; provided, that one-half of such fine shall be paid to the informant, and the balance shall go to the benefit of the hospital or asylum which said person was detained.