THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ,,<r*C
 

 
 OUR RULERS AND 
 
 OB, 
 
 OUTLINES 
 
 OP THB 
 
 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; 
 
 ITS 
 
 ORIGIN, BRANCHES, DEPARTMENTS, INSTITUTIONS, 
 OFFICERS, AND MODES OF OPERATION. 
 
 BT 
 
 ANSON WILLIS. 
 
 SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 N. TIBBALS & CO., 37 PARK ROW. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PARMELEE & CO., 738 SANSOM ST. 
 1 363.
 
 Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1868, by 
 
 ANSON WILLIS, 
 
 to the Clerk's office of the District Court for the Southern District of 
 New York.
 
 tJK 
 
 JFTJWPTW. 
 
 THEEE is no sentiment that ever gained more universal 
 acceptance among the people of this country, than that 
 contained in the following words, " If our form of govern- 
 ment can be preserved, it must be done by the intelli- 
 gence and virtue of the people." 
 
 Few, if any, have ever gainsaid this proposition, or 
 doubted its truth ; yet many have doubted the perma- 
 nence of our institutions ; and these doubts arise from 
 their lack of confidence in the intelligence and rectitude 
 of a majority of the people. 
 
 These fears are not entirely groundless, in view of the 
 common rule of judging the future by the past; for every 
 observer of the political actions of our people, knows that 
 many things have been done by parties and individuals, 
 that demonstrate the lamentable destitution of one, if not 
 
 50283
 
 2 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT* 
 
 both these elements of safety. Some have intelligence 
 but very little virtue, others have virtue but very little 
 intelligence, and some have neither. Now when either of 
 these classes, or all of them combined, bear rule, mischief 
 must follow, and a complete overthrow may be the result. 
 
 A general knowledge of the principles and operations 
 of our government, is a part but by no means all of 
 that intelligence which is so universally admitted to be 
 necessary to the preservation of it. 
 
 But it is no easy task for a young man to gain such an 
 understanding of these things, as will qualify him to act 
 his part well, when he arrives at the age which allows him 
 to enter upon his duties as a citizen of the republic, to 
 hold, it may be, official positions in it, or at least to 
 vote understandingly for those who shall administer its 
 affairs. 
 
 And it is matter of some surprise that no one has taken 
 it in hand long before this, to write something of the na- 
 ture of a text book, in which these things may be found 
 arranged and explained, in so simple and plain a form, as 
 to give the reader a general and comprehensive idea of the 
 structure, institutions, and plan of operating the goveni- 
 ment under which he lives. In no country is such know- 
 ledge of so great importance as in ours, where every citi- 
 zen may make his influence felt in the administration of
 
 INTRODUCTION. 3 
 
 public affairs, and where that influence always tells for 
 good or evil Our education is very deficient if it does 
 not embrace a knowledge of the scheme of government ; 
 and it seems to us that it is as proper a subject for the in- 
 struction of the school-room as many others which are 
 taught there. But if this is neglected, certainly the young 
 man ought not to be left to pick up this knowledge, here 
 a little and there a little, in detached portions, as he may 
 chance to find it scattered through books, newspapers, 
 public speeches and casual conversations ; yet these are 
 the only sources from which nine-tenths of the people have 
 gained all they know of the political affairs of their own 
 country ; and what is thus gained is rarely acquired till 
 middle life, and in a majority of cases not until a later 
 period. 
 
 By these reasons we have been prompted to write the 
 book before you, in order to place these matters, in com- 
 pact and methodical form, within the reach of every one 
 who desires to understand them. We have aimed 
 throughout at plainness and perspicuity ; not avoiding re- 
 petition whenever the subject treated of could be made 
 plainer by its use. Statements will be found in one con- 
 nection, and again hi another, whenever the fact stated 
 appeared to be especially applicable to the subject under 
 consideration.
 
 4 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 We think that an attentive perusal of these Chapters 
 will give the reader a correct idea of the organization and 
 mode of operating the United States Government, together 
 with an insight into the machinery by which it is done. 
 "When this is acquired, it becomes an easy task to under- 
 stand the government of the thirty-seven States which 
 compose one great Confederated Union, and to compre 1 
 hend the fact that every person in the United States lives 
 under two separate and distinct governments, and is 
 amenable to two different codes of laws ; first, that of the 
 State in which he resides, and secojid, that of the United 
 States, commonly termed the General Government. Much 
 in both is analogous, especially the legislative and judicial 
 proceedings. The wisdom of the framers of our Constitu- 
 tion adjusted these IMPERII ix IMPEKIO governments 
 within a government, so that all work harmoniously, and 
 with very little friction, or conflict of authority. 
 
 "VVe have not treated of the State governments, nor 
 could we have done so without going far beyond the limits 
 assigned to this work. Each State is noticed, however, in 
 some remarks, as to the time of its entrance into the^ 
 Union, its size, population, circuits and districts, as pre- 
 scribed by the laws of Congress. But this is to show 
 their relations to the entire Union, and the relative influ- 
 ence and power they have as various parts of one great 
 whole.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Academy, Military 237 
 
 Naval 240 
 
 Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction 101 
 
 Agriculture, Bureau of 292 
 
 Alabama, State of- 327 
 
 Ambassadors and Foreign Ministers 160 
 
 Arkansas, State of- 329 
 
 Armories and Arsenals 242 
 
 Army and Navy 244 
 
 Articles of War 250 
 
 Assay Office 231 
 
 Attorney General U. S. 59 
 
 Attornies, District 93 
 
 Banks, National- 233 
 
 Bonds 189 
 
 Buildings, Public and Commissioner of 282 
 
 Cabinet, the 62 
 
 California, State of 330 
 
 Census 119 
 
 Chaplains 253 
 
 Chronology of the U. S. 461 
 
 Clerk of the House of Rep. and Sec. of the Senate . 107 
 
 Coast Survey 258 
 
 Columbia, District of- 322 
 
 Commissioners 304 
 
 Congress 16 
 
 " Acts of. 110 
 
 Congressmen 103 
 
 Congressional Districts 105
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Pag. 
 
 Connecticut, State of 332 
 
 Constitution, The 10 and 415 
 
 Amendments of 430 
 
 Consuls 164 
 
 Copy Rights 269 
 
 Courts, The United States 77 
 
 Court, The United States Supreme 78 
 
 Courts, The Circuit '. 83 
 
 The District 87 
 
 Court of Claims 90 
 
 Custom Houses and Custom House Officers 202 
 
 Cutters, Revenue 225 
 
 Declaration of Independence 409 
 
 Delaware, State of 334 
 
 Duties and Tariffs 219 
 
 Elections 137 
 
 Presidential 141 
 
 Electors 157 
 
 Flag of the United States 124 
 
 Florida State of- 336 
 
 Georgia, State of 337 
 
 Hospitals and Asylums 276 
 
 Illinois, State of 339 
 
 Impeachment 312 
 
 Internal Revenue 198 
 
 Indians 294 
 
 Indian Territory 395 
 
 Indiana, State of 340 
 
 Iowa, State of- 342 
 
 Jury, Grand 97 
 
 Kansas, State of 343 
 
 Kentucky, State of- 344 
 
 Lands, the Public 209 
 
 Land Warrants, and Bounty Lands 117
 
 CONTENTS. Hi 
 
 Page 
 
 Laws of the United States 126 
 
 Letters of Marque and Reprisal 181 
 
 Library, Congressional and Law 284 
 
 Light Houses, Buoys and Beacons 260 
 
 Louisiana, State of- 346 
 
 Maine, State of 348 
 
 Marshals, United States 95 
 
 Maryland, State of- 350 
 
 Massachusetts, State of. 352 
 
 Mason and Dixon's Line 316 
 
 Michigan, State of 354 
 
 Minnesota, State of 355 
 
 Mint 227 
 
 Mississippi, State of. 357 
 
 Missouri, State of- 359 
 
 Missouri Compromise 314 
 
 Naturalization Laws 131 
 
 Neutrality Laws 135 
 
 Nebraska, State of- 360 
 
 New Hampshire, State of 361 
 
 New Jersey, State of- 363 
 
 New York, State of 365 
 
 North Carolina, State of- 368 
 
 Nevada, State of 370 
 
 Oaths 192 
 
 Observatory, the Naval 255 
 
 Ohio, State of. 371 
 
 Oregon, State of 373 
 
 Patent Rights, Patent Office, and Com. of Patents- -265 
 
 Pennsylvania, State of 374 
 
 Pensions, Pension Office, and Com. of Pensions 272 
 
 Passports 299 
 
 Political Divisions 319 
 
 Post Office, Post Office Department, Post Master Gen- - -52 
 
 President, The 23 
 
 The Vice 28 
 
 Printing Office, The Government 287
 
 v CONTENTS. 
 
 Pag, 
 
 Prisons 290 
 
 Proclamations 308 
 
 Ratio of Representation 113 
 
 Reports 302 
 
 Religion 306 
 
 Revenue 196 
 
 Internal 198 
 
 Register, the Official 286 
 
 Rhode Island, the State of 376 
 
 Rules of the House of Representatives 435 
 
 Seals 186 
 
 Secretary of State, and the State Department 31 
 
 " of Treasury and 36 
 
 of War and " ' 41 
 
 of Navy and " 45 
 
 of the Interior and 52 
 
 Smithsonian Institution 263 
 
 South Carolina, State of 378 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives 108 
 
 Suffrage 183 
 
 States 324 
 
 Tennessee, State of 380 
 
 Territories 392 
 
 Texas, State of 382 
 
 Tonnage 224 
 
 Treaties 167 
 
 Extradition 177 
 
 Treason 310 
 
 United States, the 5 
 
 Vermont, State of 384 
 
 Virginia, State of 386 
 
 Wars of the United States 398 
 
 West Virginia, State of 389 
 
 Wisconsin, State of 391
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 The United States. 
 
 ON the fourth day of July, 1776, a mimber of delegates 
 from thirteen British Colonies in North America, assem- 
 bled together in Philadelphia, and after some deliberation 
 upon the oppression and wrongs which the mother country 
 had for many years inflicted, drew up and signed a paper, 
 in which they enumerated the various acts of the King of 
 England, George the Third, by which he and his ministers 
 had deprived the people of these Colonies of their just 
 rights, and oppressed them by acts of tyranny and injus- 
 tice. They declared that these acts had been continued 
 lot several years, that they had become intolerable, and 
 that the King and his ministers would neither hear their 
 just complaints, listen to their remonstrances, nor regard 
 their petitions for redress ; and that all their acts combin- 
 ed, constituted a just cause for the Colonies to rebel against 
 the authority of England, and to maintain their rights by 
 force of arms, as they found it impossible to obtain them 
 in any other way. They also declared that a Sovereign 
 who would so rule and govern his subjects was utterly un- 
 worthy to rule over them, and that they had the right to 
 throw off his authority and to establish a government for 
 themselves. These declarations they printed, and sent 
 forth to the world on the day before named, in justifica-
 
 6 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 tion of the accompanying DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ; 
 after this they positively refused any further obedience to 
 him or to the laws of England. The 4th of July 1776, has 
 for this reason been styled the birth-day of our nation, and 
 has since been celebrated as such on every annual return 
 of it. For seven years after this event, the people under- 
 went a hard and bloody struggle to maintain the position 
 they had taken; nor was it until the year 1783, that our 
 independence was acknowledged by England, or that we 
 were recognized by other governments as one among the 
 family of nations. Not until 1789, did the people of these 
 Colonies, [now States] organize a government, and take 
 rank among the other governments of the world, with all 
 the attributes, powers and rights of a distinct political 
 power. 
 
 Here are three events : First, the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence ; Second, the close of the Revolutionary war ; 
 and Third, the Inauguration of the United States Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 It is now but ninety years since the first, eighty-three 
 since the second, and seventy-seven since the third. The 
 longest period is less than a century, and is but as an hour 
 in the world's history. 
 
 And now, without tracing the successive steps by which 
 this nation has advanced from thirteen feeble Colonies to 
 thirty-seven States, [some of which have more wealth, 
 population, and power, than the whole thirteen had in 
 1776,] and from less than four, to thirty-five millions of 
 people, with equally rapid strides in the arts, sciences, 
 education, inventions and general progress, no thought- 
 fill mind can refrain from looking into the causes of such 
 unprecedented advancement. A few feeble Colonial sub- 
 jects, in less than a century, becoming one cf the great 
 powers of the world, v. itli the prospect of attaining tiic-
 
 THE UNITED STATES. 7 
 
 highest place among the nations, in much less time than it 
 has taken them to gain their present position. 
 
 That we have a very extensive territory is true ; that 
 we have a diversified climate, a productive soil, with many 
 long and navigable rivers on which to float our produc- 
 tions to market, and that we have inexhaustible mines of 
 coal and minerals of almost every kind, including gold 
 and silver, is true. But we might have all these, and still 
 remain an insignificant people among the families of the 
 earth, for all these have been possessed by nations who 
 have retrograded instead of advanced. 
 
 In our case, a wise, just and liberal government has been 
 the principal cause of our progress, and our present and 
 prospective greatness. 
 
 No human government is perfect, neither can exact and 
 equal justice be done in every case by human laws. But 
 the scope and design of our legislation and jurisprudence is 
 to dispense justice to all, to place all on an equality before 
 the laws, and to give the same rights to the rich and to 
 the poor. No privileged class is known to our laws, and 
 the lowest may aspire to the highest places of distinction 
 and honor; many have done so, and have reached the 
 most exalted positions. The fullest religious liberty is 
 granted to all; every man may worship as he pleases, 
 when and where he pleases, without molestation or fear. 
 He is not as in many other countries taxed to support a 
 church established by law. He may pay for religious pur- 
 poses as much or as little as he pleases, and to any church 
 he prefers, or he may pay nothing, and no one can call him 
 to account or use any compulsion whatever in this matter. 
 
 Every man has a vote for the choice of his rulers, and 
 through his representatives a voice in making the laws by 
 which he is governed. 
 
 As to his business or calling, he may do that which best
 
 8 OUTLINES OF TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 suits his interests or his tastes. He may go when or where 
 he desires, he may stay in the country or leave it without 
 restraint or hindrance ; in short, he may do whatsoever 
 seemeth good to him, provided he does iiot infringe on the 
 rights of others. 
 
 To this liberty, to these equal rights, privileges and ad- 
 vantages do we attribute our rapid growth and power. 
 The advantages and benefits of so wise, so liberal and so 
 beneficent a government are not unknown to the people of 
 other countries where they do not enjoy so much freedom ; 
 and this accounts for the wonderful immigration to the 
 United States from nearly every country in Europe. This 
 flow has continued for more than three quarters of a cen- 
 tury, and is still unabated. It has added many millions to 
 the natural increase of our population, while very few of 
 our own people ever leave their own country with the hope 
 of bettering their condition, or of finding a government 
 under which they can enjoy more liberty or better protec- 
 tion. To gain a clearer conception of the intimate connec- 
 tion between a good government and the prosperity of a 
 country, let us, for example, place Mexico in contrast with 
 the United States. Mexico was settled long before the 
 United States, and in climate and mineral wealth has the 
 advantage of us ; yet the ever unsettled condition of its 
 government, together with intolerance of any but the 
 Catholic religion, has prevented any increase of population 
 or any advancement in any thing which gives a nation re- 
 spectability, greatness or power. 
 
 Let us draw another contrast by considering Ireland. 
 A.i oppressive government has diminished the population, 
 prevented any advancement, and impoverished the coun- 
 trj . "We might draw many such contrasts between the 
 United States arid other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa,
 
 THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 and South America, which would convince any one who 
 has the power to trace causes to effects, and effects to 
 causes, that a just and liberal government is an essential 
 condition upon which the prosperity of any country de- 
 pends. 
 
 But after all the good we find inhering in our republi- 
 can institutions, we have to admit that some things are 
 wrong ; that like all other human institutions, errors and 
 imperfections are found in them. Yet what friend to hu- 
 manity would raise an impious hand to overthrow that in 
 which so much good is found ? Let him rather labor to 
 preserve the good, and to correct the remaining evil. 
 Neither our constitution nor our laws are like the laws of 
 the Medes and Persians, which change not ; but may bo 
 altered whenever a majority of the people desire it. 
 
 And if our people grow in intelligence, wisdom, and 
 patriotism, is it not to be hoped that they will preserve 
 what is good, correct what is wrong, and thus perfect and 
 perpetuate our government until it shall become a model 
 worthy of imitation by the people and nations of the whole 
 earth. 
 
 A*
 
 10 OUTLINES OF U. a. GOVEliXMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER IL. 
 The Constitution. 
 
 After the Seven Years' War, spoken of in the foregoing 
 Chapter, (generally known by the name of the Revolution- 
 ary War,) was over and peace restored, the people found 
 themselves without any government, or if the Confederation 
 under which the Colonies had managed to act together 
 during the war, might be called a government, it was 
 certainly inadequate to the wants of a people who had just 
 become independent ; and who needed a stronger bond of 
 union than that which had held them together during the 
 struggle for liberty, when a common danger and a com- 
 mon enemy served as a bond during their perilous condi- 
 tion. To supply this want a convention from all the States 
 was called together to draw up a Constitution, which 
 should form such a union, and at the same time be a basis 
 which would support a well organized government. This 
 convention met and performed the task assigned. It 
 framed the Constitution of the United States, about which 
 we subjoin the following remarks. 
 
 1. The Constitution of the United States was finished 
 and signed on the 17th day of September, 1787. It was 
 framed by a convention of the greatest and wisest men in 
 the nation at that time, or perhaps at any time. They were 
 chosen for that express purpose and represented every
 
 TJIE CONSTITUTION. 11 
 
 one of the 13 States excepting Rhode Island, which had no 
 representation in the convention, and sat several months 
 deliberating on the great work before them. George 
 Washington was the president of the convention ; and in 
 the constitution a clause was inserted declaring that the rati- 
 fication of it by nine States should be sufficient to establish 
 its authority over all : for although made by the men 
 chosen for that purpose, it was not considered binding up- 
 on the people, until it had been sanctioned by three-fourths 
 of the States. This was subsequently done, and the work 
 of the convention became the charter of our liberties, and 
 the great foundation stone of one of the most magnificent 
 structures ever erected by the genius and wisdom of man. 
 
 2. The ratification of the constitution by the several States 
 necessarily required time. Hence the government estab- 
 lished by its provisions did not go into operation till March, 
 1789. In the mean tune General Washington had been 
 chosen the first President of the United States, and a Con- 
 gress had been elected in conformity with the provisions of 
 the new and as yet untried constitution. The President was 
 inaugurated, the first Congress assembled in the City of 
 New York, and the government of the United States was 
 put into operation. 
 
 3. Bat before the first session of Congress closed, it was 
 thought by a majority of the body, that the constitution 
 in the shape in which the convention had left it, was 
 defective, and that there should be several additions, or 
 amendments made to it. In conformity with this opinion 
 ten amendments were proposed and passed in the manner 
 provided in the instrument itself ; to wit, by a vote of two- 
 thirds of both houses. These ten amendments were sub- 
 sequently ratified by the requisite number of States (three-
 
 12 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 fourths,) and became a part of the constitution. In tho 
 same manner the llth amendment was proposed, passed, 
 and adopted in 1794, and the 12th in 1803. From this 
 last date the Constitution remained unchanged until Janu- 
 ary 31 , 1865, when the House passed a resolution in favor 
 of another amendment , the Senate passed the same resolu- 
 tion during the previous session. 
 
 4. In order to show more fully how the Constitution is 
 amended, and what proceedings are taken in order to do it, 
 we here insert the Resolution, and the subsequent doings 
 of all the parties, who must act upon it to consummate the 
 proposed amendments. This example will show how 
 all the amendments have been made, and how others may 
 hereafter be made. 
 
 THE RESOLUTION. 
 
 5. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
 two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following ar- 
 ticle be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States 
 as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
 which when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislature 
 ohall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of 
 said Constitution, viz. : 
 
 Article 13. First, neither slavery nor involuntary servi- 
 tude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party 
 shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the Uni- 
 ted States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 
 
 Second. Congress shall have power to enforce this ar- 
 ticle by appropriate legislation. 
 
 This as numbered above made the l3th article of the
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 13 
 
 amendments, 12 having been made as before stated. [See 
 the Constitution and amendments as inserted in the latter 
 part of the book.] 
 
 6. After this resolution had passed both Houses of Con- 
 gress and after the proposed amendment had been ratified 
 by the requisite number of States, the Secretary of State, 
 as the laws direct him to do, caused the resolution and 
 the amendments to be published in all the States and Ter- 
 ritories, and declared it to be valid as a part of the Con- 
 stitution of the United States. 
 
 This Thirteenth Article of the amendments to the Con- 
 stitution as it now stands, is one which has probably re- 
 ceived more public attention, and caused more discussion 
 than any other article in the whole document : because by 
 it slavery in all the dominions of the United States has 
 been constitutionally abolished. 
 
 7. We will make one other remark in relation to this 
 13th article ; to wit, it grew out of the results of the war 
 between the North and South. President Lincoln had on 
 Jan. 1, 1863, by virtue of his authority as Commander 
 in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, issued 
 his proclamation, declaring slavery to be abolished in all 
 the States which had seceded from the Union, but this 
 did not touch slavery in the slave States which had not 
 seceded, viz. Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Delaware, 
 and West Virginia. Moreover there were doubts as to the 
 constitutionality of Mr. Lincoln's act in this respect. But 
 this amendment superseded that question, and made a 
 clean sweep of the whole matter, both in the seceded and in 
 the loyal States. 
 
 8. The framers of the Constitution undoubtedly borrowed 
 many ideas incorporated therein from the Laws of England, 
 under which they had formerly lived; they constituted Con-
 
 14 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 gress with two Houses, the same as the English Parliament, 
 the House of Lords answering to our Senate, and the House 
 of Commons to our House of llepresentatives. Many 
 other analogies between the two governments can be 
 traced. 
 
 9. But while this is true, they as studiously avoided ev- 
 ery thing in the English laws which they deemed inconsist- 
 ent with the principles of a free republican government. 
 
 In article 3, section 3, we find the following 
 
 " No attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood 
 or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attaint- 
 ed." 
 
 This is precisely the opposite of the English law in rela- 
 tion to treason ; for when a man is there guilty of treason, 
 his children cannot inherit the father's titles or property. 
 The parent being corrupted by treason his children are con- 
 sidered corrupted also ; this is what is meant by " corrup- 
 tion of blood" in the language of the Constitution, It then 
 declared that no such thing should be allowed in the Uni- 
 ted States : in other words, it follows the law of God, which 
 expressly declares, " The son shall not bear the iniquity 
 of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of 
 the son." Which do you like best, the English or the 
 American law ? 
 
 The Constitution of the United States has served in some 
 respects, as a model for the State Constitutions ; and no 
 State would be admitted into the Union, whose constitu- 
 tion contained any thing contrary to that of the United 
 States. It extends its authority over every State and Ter- 
 ritory, restraining them from making a constitution, or 
 enacting any laws inconsistent with any of its provisions. 
 It is the supreme law of the land. It binds the Executive, 
 the Legislative and the Judicial branches of the government
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 15 
 
 as much as the humblest individual. It should be carefully 
 read and understood by every one who lives under it, es- 
 pecially by every one who exercises the elective franchise. 
 ^t teaches us our rights, our exalted privileges and our du- 
 ties as citizens of the republic. 
 
 10. Throughout our work, we have so often alluded to 
 it and its provisions, that we have thought it advisable to 
 append the whole document to this work, that the reader 
 may at any time turn to its pages, and consult its provis- 
 ions on any point upon which he may desire information. 
 
 Read, learn and digest its meaning ; keeping in mind 
 that it is the supreme law of the land. Its provisions are 
 binding upon every officer and every citizen ; upon Con- 
 gress, upon every state legislature, and upon every court, 
 from the supreme court of the United States down to the 
 lowest state tribunal. All are bound to act, legislate, and 
 adjudicate in conformity with the principles of the Consti- 
 tution.
 
 13 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVRNME;\"T. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Congress. 
 
 1, THE legislative branch of our government is styled 
 Congress ; in that of England it is denominated Parlia- 
 ment; and in that of France, the Corps Legislatif. Our 
 Constitution places the power of enacting laws in Con- 
 gress ; no other branch of the government can do it. It is 
 emphatically a representative body. Its members repre- 
 sent the people, and are supposed to do just what the en- 
 tire mass of the people would do, if it were practicable for 
 them to assemble in one great body, and there to discuss, 
 and then pass the laws by which they are willing to be 
 governed. 
 
 2. It consists of two parts, or Houses, as these parts are 
 called ; the Senate and House of Representatives.* Both 
 assemble at the same time, in Washington, on the first 
 Monday of December in each year, for the transaction of 
 business. The meeting at this time is called the regular 
 session ; regular, to distinguish it from extra sessions 
 which the President may call if he deems it necessary. 
 This division of the National Legislature into two branches 
 was undoubtedly borrowed from the English government ; 
 for the law-making power in England is divided into two 
 
 * The Legislatures of all the States and Territories are formed 
 after the model of Congress ; that is, all have a Senate and a lower 
 House, called in sonic States by one name, and in others by another, 
 but all meaning the lower branch of the legislative body.
 
 CONGRESS. 17 
 
 branches ; the House of Lords, answering to our Senate, 
 and the House of Commons, quite analagous to our House 
 of Representatives. Indeed it was quite natural for the 
 framers of our government to imitate that of the English. 
 Anterior to the revolution, which separated us from 
 England, our fathers had lived under its institutions and 
 laws, many of which were good, and were subsequently 
 incorporated with the new fabric. Whatever was incom- 
 patible with a republican form of government, and that 
 equality of rights which they determined to bestow upon 
 every citizen, was rejected. 
 
 THE SENATE. 
 
 3. This branch of the National Legislature is constitut- 
 ed very differently from the House of Representatives. It 
 is composed of two members from each State, without re- 
 gard to the size or population thereof. New York, now 
 the most populous State in the Union, has but two sena- 
 tors in Congress, while the least populous state has the 
 same number. They are not elected like the members of 
 the lower House, by the people, but by the Legislatures of 
 the respective States which they represent. They are also 
 elected for a longer term than the members of the House 
 of Representatives ; a Senator is chosen for six years, while 
 a Representative in the other House is elected for only 
 two. 
 
 4. The word Senate is derived from the Latin word 
 senatus, which signifies old ; and older men are generally 
 selected for the Senate than for the House of Representa- 
 tives. Indeed the Constitution declares that a Senator 
 shall be thirty years of age at the time of his election, and 
 that he must have been a citizen of the United States for
 
 18 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 nine years ; whereas a member of the House is eligible at 
 the age of twenty-five, if he has been a citizen seven years. 
 
 5. The Senate, like the House of Lords in England, is 
 often styled the upper House ; while the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, for the sake of brevity, is generally styled 
 " the House." The Senate is considered the higher and 
 more dignified of the two, because men of age, talent, wis- 
 dom and experience are generally selected for this exalted 
 position. Again, the Senate has powers which the House 
 does not possess. When acting in their legislative capaci- 
 ty, both have equal powers ; but the Senate in connection 
 with the President has the power to ratify treaties. It 
 alone confirms or rejects the Presidents' nominations to of- 
 fices, and also acts as a high court to try cases of impeach- 
 ment. These important duties and prerogatives belong 
 exclusively to the Senate without the concurrence of the 
 House. All bills, (the draft of all laws when presented to 
 a legislative body for its approval or disapproval are called 
 bills, excepting those for raising revenue,) may originate 
 either in the Senate or the House ; yet much the larger 
 number of bills do originate in the House, because it has 
 about three times the number of members which the Sen- 
 ate has, and because the members of the House are more 
 immediate representatives of the people than the Senators. 
 A greater number of the people know them, and usually 
 send their petitions and make their wants known to them, 
 and from these wants of the people, laws originate. 
 
 6. When the Senate convenes for the purpose of con- 
 sidering the nominations made by the President for the 
 various offices to which he has the right of appointment 
 by and with their consent, it is called an executive session. 
 A vote of approval by a majority, gives the consent of 
 this body ; not so, however, when they vote upon the rati-
 
 CONGRESS. 19 
 
 fication of a treaty; for in this case the Constitution re- 
 quires a vote of two-thirds of all present. A two-thirds 
 vote is also necessary to give a judgment in case of the 
 impeachment of any officer of the government who may 
 be arraigned before them for trial. 
 
 The Vice President is the President of the Senate ; but 
 in case of a vacancy in this office, it then chooses a Presi- 
 dent from its own members, as it does its Secretary and 
 other subordinate officers. We next come to the 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 7. This is often styled " the lower House." It has equal 
 power with the Senate in the enactment of all laws ; for 
 no bill can become a law unless it receives a majority of 
 the votes of both Houses, and in one particular it has a 
 power which the Senate does not possess : it has the sole 
 power of impeachment. "We have stated that the Senate 
 has the power to try impeachments, but this it never does 
 until the House has first impeached some officer of the 
 government for an alleged crime, after which the Senate 
 resolving itself into a court, tries the accused party, and 
 Determines his guilt or innocence. The part which the 
 House takes in cases of impeachment is very analagous to 
 the action of a grand jury, which does not try the accused 
 party, but only says after examining the charges, upon 
 what evidence it has, that he or she ought to be tried in a 
 court of law so with the House. It declares that the ac- 
 cused party should have a trial before the Senate. This 
 decision of the House is denominated an impeachment. 
 
 8. The members of the Senate, as before stated, are 
 elected by the Legislatures of the respective States which 
 they represent ; but the members of the House are elected 
 by the people, by popular vote as it is commonly said
 
 20 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 for any body in any State may vote for a member of th j 
 House of Representatives who has the right to vote at all. 
 In the two chapters on Congressmen and Congressional 
 Districts, more may be seen on the subject of electing 
 members to the lower House. After a bill has passed one 
 House it must be sent to the other, where it is referred to 
 a committee, reported, debated, and finally voted upon 
 exactly as in the other House. 
 
 9. But bills for the purpose of raising revenue must 
 originate in the House of Representatives, never in the 
 Senate, although these bills, like all others go to the Sen- 
 ate for its concurrence, where they may be amended by 
 adding to, or striking out such parts as are not approved. 
 No money can be drawn out of the Treasury of the Unit- 
 ed States for any purpose whatever, unless authorized and 
 appropriated by an act of Congress. 
 
 10. This is the order, and these the forms through which 
 every bill must pass before it becomes a law, and they 
 show the care taken to prevent bad laws from being enact- 
 ed, and the wisdom of the framers of the Constitution, in 
 dividing the legislative power of the government into two 
 branches, to check any hasty and inconsiderate legislation 
 which might be pushed through one branch, by the cooler 
 and more deliberate action of the other. 
 
 11. The House of Representatives has no President like 
 the Senate. Its presiding officer is called "The Speaker." 
 He is chosen by the votes of the members, at the begin- 
 ning of each Congress, which lasts two years ; consequent- 
 ly he holds his office two years. The Clerk of the House 
 is also elected by its members, as are all its minor officers. 
 
 12. Correctly speaking, both the members of the Senate 
 and of the House, are members of Congress, but by cus- 
 tom, Representatives only are called members of Con-
 
 CONGRESS. 21 
 
 gress [abbreviated into M. C.] and the members of the 
 Senate, Senators, 
 
 As there are 37 States now, the Senate has 74 members, 
 and by a law of 1863, the number of Representatives was 
 fixed at 241; but if a new State comes into the. Union, 
 after an apportionment, her member or members may be 
 added to the 241 and so continue until the next apportion- 
 ment. 
 
 COMPENSATION. 
 
 13. Senators and members of the House of Representa- 
 tives receive the same compensation, the amcun" of which 
 has been increased three times. It had always been Eight 
 Dollars per day, down to 1856, when it was increased to 
 Three Thousand Dollars per session. Then in 1866 it was 
 again raised to Five Thousand Dollars per session, and as 
 there are always two sessions to every Congress, each 
 member receives Ten Thousand Dollars during his full 
 term. 
 
 14. Mileage is an additional compensation. This has 
 always remained the same, and is forty cents per mile 
 reckoned from the residence of the member to Washington 
 by the usual roads or routes between the two places. 
 " The laborer is worthy of his hire," is a maxim from the 
 highest a\ithority, and is so manifestly just that nobody 
 questions its truth. But giving members of Congress forty 
 cents per mile for travelling expenses when it does not 
 cost them four, [in these days] is as manifestly unjust as 
 the maxim is true. It is robbery by law ; and how the 
 majority of Thirty-nine Congresses have consented to let 
 this swindle go on, and still continue, is a matter of aston- 
 ishment to every one who believes that " Righteousness 
 cxalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." 
 
 Tbe monstrous inequality tliis law makes in the compen- 
 sation of members adds to the wonder that it has existed
 
 22 OUTLINES OF U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 so long. Those who live near "Washington do not receive 
 a hundred dollars for mileage, while those living at the 
 greatest distance pocket Twelve Thousand Dollars of the 
 people's money for what costs them Five Hundred. 
 
 15. During the revolutionary war, and up to the time 
 that the Constitution went into operation, (April 30, 1789) 
 the thirteen Colonies sent delegates who met whenever the 
 exigencies of the times required their action, and whenevei 
 their safety and convenience dictated. These delegates 
 without much power or authority, did such things as seem- 
 ed necessary to be done to carry on the war and to keep 
 things in order. Their acts generally met with the ap- 
 proval of the people ; for in times of such common danger, 
 they were little inclined to question the authority of those 
 who they believed were acting for the general good ; and 
 as to their constitutional powers to do any thing, we have 
 only to say, there was no Constitution then but the wishes 
 of the people. 
 
 This body of men denominated the " CONTINENTAL CON- 
 GRESS," ceased to exist after the adoption of our present 
 Constitution, which made provisions for a constitutional 
 Congress, whose election, power, authority and duties are 
 all clearly defined in the instrument itself. 
 
 16. The first Congress after the adoption of the Consti- 
 tution met in New York, where two sessions were held, 
 It then removed to Philadelphia, where it remained till 
 1800, when in conformity with an act of Congress, it re- 
 moved to "Washington, where it has remained to this day. 
 
 As a Congress continues two years, if at any time we 
 wish to know how many Congresses there have been, or 
 will be up to the time required, reckon the number of 
 years from 1789 the beginning of the first to the year 
 in question ; then divide the sum of the years by two, and 
 the quotient will give the exact number.
 
 THE PRESIDENT. 23 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 The President. 
 
 1. " THE executive powers of the government shall 
 be vested in a President of the United States of Amer- 
 ica/' Thus reads the first line of the first section of the 
 second article of the Constitution. This article is devo- 
 ted exclusively to the highest officer in the government. 
 The Executive and the President are in the Constitution 
 synonymous terms. He is likewise denominated " the 
 chief magistrate of the nation." He is himself one of 
 the co-ordinate Branches of the government. These 
 are three in number ; first, the Legislative [Congress] ; 
 second, the Executive [the President] ; third, the Judi- 
 ciary [the Judges of the United States Courts.] These 
 constitute the whole civil power of the nation. Con- 
 gress enacts the laws, and the President must see that 
 they are faithfully executed ; which he does through 
 the various executive departments, and the different 
 courts. He and the Senate appoint the heads of these 
 departments, and the judges of tho courts, and they ex- 
 ecute the laws. The heads of departments act under 
 the general direction of the President.
 
 24 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 2. The Presidents are elected for four years, and are 
 eligible to re-election. Several times they have been 
 re-elected, and have consequently held the office eight 
 years. The term always commences on the fourth day 
 of March, and terminates on the same day of the 
 month. The presidential elections, the most important 
 and exciting of all elections, occur every four years, and 
 now take place in all the States on the same day, early 
 in November. It is said the President is chosen by the 
 people, and yet the}' do not directly vote for him at all. 
 
 The people elect Electors, and these elect the Presi- 
 dent and Vice-President. Turn to the third section of 
 the second article of the Constitution, and then to the 
 twelfth article of the Amendments of it, where you will 
 find the whole process properly described. He must 
 be a native citizen of the United States, and must be 
 thirty -five years of age when elected. And in case of 
 his death, removal, resignation, or any disability to dis- 
 charge the duties of the office, the" Vice-President then 
 becomes President. 
 
 He receives a salary of $25,000 a year for his services^ 
 besides the use of the presidential mansion, (commonly 
 called the "White House,) and the furniture in it, and is 
 debarred from the receipt of any other emolument. 
 
 4. Before entering upon the duties of his office, he 
 must take the following oath or affirmation : 
 
 " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithful- 
 ly execute the office of President of the United States, 
 and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and 
 defend the Constitution of the United States." 
 
 In addition to his civil power, he is Commander-in-
 
 THE PRESIDENT. 25 
 
 Chief both of the Army and Navy, and may grant re- 
 prieves and pardons, except in cases of impeachment. 
 
 He by and with the advice and consent of two- 
 thirds of the Senate may make treaties with foreign 
 powers. He has the power, and it is his duty to nomi- 
 nate, and by the advice and consent of the Senate, to 
 appoint ambassadors and other public ministers, con- 
 suls, judges, and in short all other officers of the govern- 
 ment, whose appointments are not otherwise provided 
 for. 
 
 5. It is also made his duty from time to time, to lay 
 before Congress information respecting the state of the 
 country, and to recommend to their notice such meas- 
 ures as he may deem proper and beneficial to the in- 
 terests of the nation. His principal and most important 
 communication, however, is that made to Congress at 
 the commencement of each session. This is called the 
 " President's Message," and is always looked for with 
 much interest, both at home and abroad ; for it, more 
 than any other public document, shows the condition of 
 the government and the country, both in their domestic 
 affairs and in their foreign relations. At other times 
 the President sends messages to Congress upon some 
 special matter, which he considers it important for that 
 body to know, or which he is requested to lay before it 
 for information. 
 
 He may call extra sessions of Congress on extraordi- 
 nary occasions. And when it passes any bill which he 
 does not approve, and he refuses to sign it, it cannot 
 become a law unless it goes back to Congress, and is
 
 20 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 again passed by two-thirds of both Houses. This is 
 called his " veto power." 
 
 6. He, with all civil officers of the United States, 
 may be impeached, and removed from office, for trea- 
 son, bribery, and other high crimes. 
 
 The foregoing powers and duties are conferred upon 
 the President by the Constitution ; but Congress has, at 
 every session it has ever held, increased these powers 
 and duties until he is overwhelmed with them ; and we 
 cannot but think that he now possesses more power than 
 the framers of the Constitution ever designed to trust 
 in any one man's hand. 
 
 The following are the names of all the Presidents, from 
 Washington, the first, down to the present incumbent : 
 
 George Washington, Va., 30th April, 1789, to 4th 
 March, 1797 8 years. 
 
 John Adams, Mass., 4th March, 1797, to 4th March, 
 18014 years. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, Va., 4th March, 1801, to 4th March, 
 1809-8 years. 
 
 James Madison, Va., 4th March, 1809 to 4th March, 
 18178 years. 
 
 James Monroo, Va.,4th March, 1817, to 4th March, 1825 
 8 years. 
 
 John Quincy Adams, Mass., 4th March, 1825, to 4th 
 March, 18294 years. 
 
 Andrew Jackson, Tenn., 4th March, 1829, to 4th March, 
 18378 years. 
 
 Martin Van Buren, N.Y., 4th March, 1837 lo*4th March, 
 18414 years. 
 
 William H. Harrison,Q., 4th March, 1841, to 4th April, 
 18411 month.
 
 THE PRESIDENT. 27 
 
 John Tyler, Va., 4th April, 1841, to 4th March, 1845 
 3 years and eleven months. 
 
 James K. Polk, Tenn., 4th March, 1845, to 4th March, 
 18494 years. 
 
 Zackary Taylor, La., 4th March, 1849, to 9th July 1850 
 - 1 year, 4 months, and 5 days. 
 
 Millard Fillmore, N.Y., 9th July, 1850, to 4th March, 
 18532 years, 7 months, and 26 days. 
 
 Franklin Pierce, N.H., 4th March, 1853, to 4th March, 
 18574 years. 
 
 James Buchanan, Pa., 4th March, 1857, to 4th March, 
 18614 years. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, 111., 4th March, 1861, to April, 1865 
 4 years, 1 month, and 8 days. 
 
 Andrew Johnson, Tenn., April, 1865. to; 
 
 Of these, William H. Harrison died 4th April, 1841, 
 just pne month after his inauguration. On the death of Har- 
 rison, Tyler, the'Vice-President, became Acting President, 
 Taylor died July 9, 1850, and Fillmore, Vice-President, 
 became Acting President. Lincoln was assassinated on 
 the 12th April, 1865, one month and eight days after he 
 was inaugurated upon his second term ; and Andrew John- 
 son, the Vice-President, became Acting President; this 
 being the third time that such an event has occurred since 
 the government went into operation.
 
 28 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Vice- President. 
 
 1. THE high sounding title of this officer, would lead 
 one who is but little acquainted with our government 
 to think that, he stands next to the President himself in 
 dignity and power ; that on his shoulders rested a large 
 amount of the duties and responsibilities of administra- 
 tion. Such, however, is not the case. He is, in fact, 
 nearer a cipher than any of the high officers of State. 
 He is merely the presiding officer of the Senate, with 
 not even the power to vote, except in case of a tie vote 
 in that body, when he may give the casting vote. It is 
 only in case of the death, resignation, impeachment, or 
 disability of the President to discharge his duties, that 
 the Vice-President becomes an officer of much power 
 or dignity. He is something like an heir apparent to a 
 throne. The Constitution provides that he shall take 
 the President's place in case -any of the foregoing con- 
 tingencies occur ; and up to this date this has happened 
 three times. 
 
 2. He is elected at the same time and in the same 
 manner as the President, and for the same term, and 
 must possess the same qualifications ; that is, he must be 
 a native citizen of the United States, and of the age of 
 35 years.
 
 THE VICE-PRESIDENT. 29 
 
 The following is a list of the names of all who have 
 filled this office, from John Adams, the first, down to 
 Andrew Johnson, the last, [at this time 1867,] with the 
 dates of entrance upon their duties : 
 John Adams, Mass., 30th April, 1789, to 4th March, 
 
 1797 eight years. 
 Thomas Jefferson, Va., 4th March, 1797, to 4th March, 
 
 1801 four years. 
 Aaron Burr, N. Y., 4th March, 1801, to 4th March, 1805 
 
 four years. 
 George Clinton, N. Y., 4th March, 1805, to 20th April, 
 
 1812 seven years, one month, sixteen days. 
 Elbridge Gerry, Mass., 4th March, 1813, to 23d Nov., 
 
 1814 one year, seven months, nineteen days. 
 Daniel D. Tompkins, N. Y., 4th March, 1817, to 4th March, 
 
 1825 eight years. 
 John C. Calhoun, S. C., 4th March, 1825, to 4th March, 
 
 1833 eight years. 
 Martin Van Buren, N. Y., 4th March, 1833, to 4th March, 
 
 1837 four years. 
 Richard M. Johnson, Ky., 4th March, 1837, to 4th March, 
 
 1841 four years. 
 John Tyler, Va., 4th March, 1841, to 4th April, 1841 
 
 one month. 
 George M. Dallas, Pa., 4th March, 1845, to 4th March, 
 
 1849 four years. 
 Millard Fillmore, N. Y., 4th March, 1849, to 9th July, 
 
 1850 one year, four months. 
 William R. King, Ala. 
 John C. Breckinridge, Ky., 4th March, 1857, to 4th March, 
 
 1861 four years. 
 Hannibal Hamlin, Me., 4th March, 1861. to 4th March, 
 
 1865 four years.
 
 30 OUTLINES OP V. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Andrew Johnson, Tenn., 4th March, 1865, to 12th April, 
 1865 one month, eight days. 
 
 Of these, Clinton died April 20, 1812 ; from -which time till 4th 
 March, 1813, the Vice Presidency was vacant. 
 
 Gerry died Nov. 23, 1814 ; from which time till 4th March, 1817, 
 the Vice-Presidency was vacant. 
 
 Tyler became acting President upon the death of President 
 Harrison ; and until March 4th, 1845, the Vice-Presidency was va- 
 cant. 
 
 Fillmore became acting President upon the death of President 
 Taylor, 9th July, 1850 ; and until March 4th, 1853, the Vice-Presi- 
 dency was vacant. 
 
 King was elected with President Pierce in 1853 ; but died 18th 
 April, 1853. He never took his seat, and the Vice-Presidency was 
 vacant till 4th March, 1857. 
 
 Johnson became acting President upon the death of President 
 Lincoln, 12th April, 1865 ; and the Vice-Presidency again became 
 vacant, and must remain so till 4th March, 1869.
 
 STATE DEPARTMENT. 31 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 State Department, and Secretary of State. 
 
 1. THE Constitution makes no mention of this depart- 
 ment of the government, or of any such officer as Secre- 
 tary of State, or indeed, of any other of the Executive 
 Departments, or of their official heads. They were all 
 created by acts of Congress ; and when it first met, the 
 Constitution was the only guide it had for its action-^ 
 but that clothed it with all the legislative power of the 
 government. Consequently, at its very first session it 
 passed such acts as were necessary to put the new gov- 
 ernment into operation. Several departments were 
 created, and the officers for their management were ap- 
 pointed. This was the first of all the Executive depart- 
 ments created by Congress. In the outset it was found 
 necessary to correspond and negotiate with Foreign 
 Governments, and to have some duly authorized official 
 to conduct such correspondence. Hence, this depart- 
 ment of the government was established, and at first de- 
 nominated " the department of Foreign Affairs ;" and 
 the principal officer at its head was denominated " the 
 Secretary for the department of Foreign Affairs." But 
 before the close of this session of Congress, for some rea- 
 son it was determined to change the denomination of it, 
 from that of "Department of Foreign Affairs," to that
 
 32 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 of " Department of State ;" and that of the Secretary, to 
 u Secretary of State ;" and by these names they have 
 ever since been known. 
 
 2. The Secretary of State in our government, is the 
 highest officer after the President. He is what in other 
 governments is called the Prime Minister. In monarch- 
 ical governments all the high officers of State are call- 
 ed Ministers ; but in ours they are known by the modest 
 name of Secretaries. 
 
 By a law passed in 1853, the office of Assistant Sec- 
 retary of State was created. The incumbent acts under 
 the direction of the Secretary. Previous to this act, the 
 principal inferior officer in the State Department was 
 the Chief Clerk, who is appointed by the Secretary. 
 
 3. The great Seal of the United States is in the cus- 
 tody of the Secretary of State, and it is his duty to affix 
 it to all civil commissions, to officers of the United States 
 who are appointed by the President and Senate, or by 
 the President alone. 
 
 4. Under the direction .and instruction of the Presi- 
 dent, the law makes it his duty to hold correspondence 
 and give instructions to our Foreign Ministers and Con- 
 suls, and also to hold correspondence with public Min- 
 isters from Foreign Governments, and to do all other 
 things relating to Foreign matters which the President 
 shall direct him to perform. 
 
 5. It is also made his duty to keep in his office the 
 original copies of all acts, resolutions and orders of Con- 
 gress. Tie must also deliver to each Senator and Rep- 
 resentative in Congress, and to the Governor of each 
 State, a printed copy of the same; and during the ses-
 
 STATE DEPARTMENT. 33 
 
 sion ol each Congress lie 'must publish the acts and reso- 
 lutions passed by it in one newspaper in the District of 
 Columbia, and in not more than two in each State'and 
 Territory of the United States. He must also publish 
 in like manner all amendments of the Constitution, and 
 all public treaties made and ratified between the United 
 States and any Foreign State, Prince or Power, or with 
 any of the Indian tribes. 
 
 6. And at the close of each session of Congress he 
 must cause to be published 11,000 copies in book form 
 of all the laws, &c., as before stated ; and to distribute 
 the same as directed by law to the President and Yice- 
 President, and to every Ex-President ; to all the mem- 
 bers of the Senate an,d House of Representatives^ to all 
 the heads of the various Departments and Bureaus; to 
 all the Judges of the United States Courts, their Clerks 
 and Marshals; to all our Foreign Ministers, Consuls 
 and Public Agents ; in short, to all the important Offi- 
 cers of the government at home and abroad ; in order 
 that all who are in government employ may know what 
 the laws are, and what changes have been made in acts 
 formerly existing. The remaining copies are distributed 
 to the States and Territories according to the number of 
 Representatives in Congress from each of them. 
 
 f. It is also made the duty of the Secretary of State 
 to give passports to our own citizens who wish to travel 
 in Foreign countries; to cause passpoits to be issued 
 by such Diplomatic or Consular officers of the United 
 States as the President shall direct ; to give such in- 
 formation to our people through the newspapers as he 
 may from time to time receive from our Diplomatic
 
 34 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 and Consular agents abroad aa he may deem import- 
 ant to the nation, respecting our commercial interests 
 in foreign countries, and to prepare a form of passport 
 for American ships and vessels of the United States. 
 
 8. In the execution of extradition treaties between 
 us and foreign governments, it is lawful for the Secre- 
 tary of State, under his haud and seal of office, to issue 
 an order for the rendition of any person who has been 
 found guilty of crime in a foreign country, to any prop- 
 erly authorized person ; that such criminal may be taken 
 out of the United States to the country where the crime 
 was committed. 
 
 9. We have thus sketched the principal duties ol 
 this high officer of State, and can readily see that they 
 are arduous. Those which relate to foreign aifairs are 
 exceedingly responsible ; for peace or war may often 
 depend on the skill and wisdom with which he man- 
 ages our affairs with foreign governments. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing duties, he is a member 
 of the Cabinet, and hence is one of the President's 
 advisers and counsellors : and in relation to foreign 
 matters, he has more influence than any other member 
 of that body. He is appointed by the President, by 
 and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He is 
 appointed for four years ; that is, during a Presidential 
 term ; but may be removed by the President at any 
 time. This however is rarely done. He receives a 
 salary of $8,000 per annum. 
 
 10. As a matter of historical reference, we append 
 the names of all the statesmen who have filled this 
 high office, commencing with the first, and placing them
 
 STATE DEPARTMENT. 35 
 
 in the order of the dates of their appointments, together 
 with the States from which they came : 
 
 SECRETARIES OF STATE. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, Va., Sept. 26, 1789. 
 Edmund Randolph, Va., Jan. 2, 1794. 
 Timothy Pickering, Mass., Dec. 10, 1795. 
 John Marshall, Va., May 13, 1800. 
 James Madison, Va., March 5, 1801. 
 Robert Smith, Md., March 6, 1809. 
 James Monroe, Va., April 2, 1811. 
 John Quincy Adams, Mass., March 4, 1817 
 Henry Clay, Ky., March 7, 1825. 
 Martin Van Buren., N. Y,, March 6, 1829. 
 Edward P. Livingston, La., May 24, 1831. 
 Louis McLean, Del., May 29, 1833. 
 John Forsyth, Ga., June 27, 1834. 
 Daniel Webster, Mass., March 5, 1841. 
 H. S. Legard, S. C., May 9, 1843. 
 A. P. Upsher, Va., June 24, 1843. 
 John Nelson, Md., Feb. 29, 1844. 
 John C. Calhoun, S. C., March 6, 1844. 
 James Buchanan, Pa., March 5, 1845. 
 John M. Clayton, Del., March 7, 1849. 
 Daniel Webster, Mass., July 20, 1850. 
 Edward Everett, Mass., Dec. 9, 1851. 
 William L. Marcy, N. Y., March 5, 1853. 
 Lewis Cass, Michigan, March 6, 1857. 
 Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., Dec. 14, 1860. 
 William H. Seward, N. Y., March 5, 1861.
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Secretary of the Treasury; 
 
 1. IF any department of the government should ever 
 be abolished, it certainly will not be this ; for without 
 it, or some institution very similar in its plan, the gov- 
 ernment itself would crumble into its original elements, 
 individual persons. Without money, no government 
 could be sustained. The Treasury is the place into 
 which the money flows, and from which it flows. 
 
 2. The United States Treasury is the receptacle of all 
 the funds, [or an account of them] collected from what- 
 ever source, for carrying on the various operations of 
 the government. It was established by a law of Con- 
 gress in 1T89 ; and with such modifications of the law 
 as experience has proved to be necessary, it remains to 
 this day. We embrace in our account of the Treasury 
 department, its head, the Secretary of the Treasury, 
 and his duties ; for it would be difficult to describe one 
 without the other. This office was created at the same 
 time with the department itself. It is one of great re- 
 sponsibility, and the incumbent should be thoroughly 
 skilled in the science and management of finances ; for 
 no man in the United States has such vast sums to pro- 
 vide for, receive, and disburse, as the Secretary of the
 
 SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 37 
 
 Treasury. During the late civil war they amounted to 
 hundreds of millions a year. 
 
 3. He is appointed, like all other heads of departments, 
 by the President and Senate ; holds his office for four 
 years, unless sooner removed ; is a member of the Cabinet ; 
 and receives $8,000 a year as salary. Connected with him, 
 as aids in the discharge of his duties, are an assistant Secre- 
 tary, a Comptroller, and second Comptroller, five Au- 
 ditors, Treasurer, and his assistant, a Register and his as- 
 sistant, a Commissioner of Customs, a Comptroller of the 
 Currency, and a deputy and a Solicitor of the Treasury ; all 
 these officials are appointed by the President and Senate. 
 
 4. These, with several hundred clerks, constitute the 
 officials and machinery by which this great department 
 of the Government is operated. It would be quite too 
 tedious, and of doubtful utility, to describe the particular 
 duties of each of these officials. Suffice it therefore to say, 
 that each one has his specific duties to perform, without 
 any interference with others : and perhaps the world could 
 not show another establishment, where such a vast 
 amount of business is transacted with more order, skill and 
 accuracy than at this office. 
 
 5. Here the accounts of all receivers and disbursers of 
 Government money, are presented and settled ; after having 
 been examined and approved by several of the above 
 named officials, who are charged with this duty. 
 
 t>. The Commisioner of Customs attends to the accounts 
 of Collectors of duties imposed on imported goods. The 
 First Comptroller must collect debts due to the United 
 States, and superintend the adjustment and preservation 
 of the public accounts.
 
 38 OUTLINES OF U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The First Auditor receives all accounts coming into 
 the department; the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth 
 Auditors, each examine the accounts of such department 
 as is assigned to them respectively. 
 
 It is not necessary to go further in detailing the partic- 
 ular duties of the officers of this department. We have 
 only noticed a few of them, merely as examples of the sys- 
 tem of conducting the business of this great branch of the 
 Government. 
 
 7. Let it not be understood that all the monies col- 
 lected and disbursed by the United States are received, 
 and paid out at the Treasury building at Washington, 
 which is only the principal office at the seat of Govern- 
 ment, for in addition to this there are Sub-troasuries in 
 several of the large cities, where the public monies are 
 received and disbursed. The head officers of these Sub' 
 treasuries, are termed Assistant Treasurers. 
 
 The law also makes the Treasurer of the Mint at Phil- 
 adelphia, and the Treasurers of some of the branch mints, 
 Assistant Treasurers, for they have public monies in their 
 keeping, and if so ordered by the Treasury department at 
 Washington, they disburse it as directed. The same or- 
 ders are sometimes also given to Collectors, Post-masters, 
 Receivers of the Land offices, &c., and they disburse as 
 well as receive Government funds ; but the accounts of all 
 these must be sent to, and settled in the office of the Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury. 
 
 8. Any one would readily suppose that men intrusted 
 with the receipt and disbursement of such large sums of 
 the people's money, should give security for their fidelity 
 to their trusts. This the law requires, and this they must
 
 SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 39 
 
 do, before they enter upon their respective duties. But in 
 spite of all precautions, dishonest men get into those 
 places ; and public defaulters are not rare specimens of 
 humanity, among office holders. 
 
 9. The folio whig are the names of all who have been 
 Secretaries of the Treasury, from 1789, down to the present 
 time 
 
 SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY. 
 
 Alexander Hamilton, N. Y., Sept, 12, 1789. 
 Oliver Wolcott, Ct., Feb. 4, 1795. 
 Samuel Dexter, Mass., Dec. 31, 1800. 
 Albert Gallatin, Pa., May 14, 1801. 
 George W. Campbell^ Tenn., Feb. 9, 1814. 
 Alexander J. Dallas, Pa., Oct. 6, 1814. 
 William H. Crawford, Ga., Oct. 22, 1816. 
 Richard Rush, Pa., Mar. 7, 1825. 
 Samuel D. Ingham, Pa., Mar. 6, 1829. 
 Louis McLane, Del., Aug. 8, 1831. 
 William A. Duane, Pa., May 29, 1833. 
 Roger B. Taney, Md., Sept. 23, 1833. 
 Levi Woodbury, N. H., June 27, 1834. 
 Thomas Ewing, 0., Mar. 5, 1841. 
 Walter Forward, Pa., Sept. 13, 1841. 
 John C. Spencer, N. Y., Mar. 3, 1843. 
 George M. Bibb, Ky., June 15, 1844. 
 R >bert J. Walker, Miss., Mar. 5, 1845. 
 W. M. Meredith, Pa., Mar. 7, 1849. 
 Thomas Corwin, O., June 20, 1850. 
 James Guthrie, Ky., Mar. 5, 1853. 
 Howell Cobb, Ga., Mar. 6, 1857.
 
 40 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Philip F. Thomas, Md., Dec. 10, 1860. 
 John A. Dix, N. ., 1861. 
 Salmon P. Chase, O., Mar. 5, 1861. 
 'William P. Fessenden, Me., July, 186*. 
 Hugh McCulloch, Ind., the present incumbent.
 
 SECRETARY OF WAR. 41 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The War Department, and Secretary of War. 
 
 1. THE name of this department sufficiently indicates 
 the design and object of its creation, and the kind of pub- 
 lic business committed to its care and management. The 
 Secretary of War is the head of it, its principal officer. 
 He is one of the great officers of State, and a member of 
 the Cabinet. He, like all the heads of departments, is ap- 
 pointed by the President and Senate. Four years is the 
 time for which he is appointed, but he may be sooner re- 
 nfoved by the President if he sees fit to do so. He receives 
 $8,000 per annum as his salary. In military authority he 
 ranks next to the President. 
 
 2. As stated hi another place, the Constitution makes 
 no specific provision for this, or any other of the depart- 
 ments into which the Government is divided. They are 
 all the creations of Congress, and exist by enactments of 
 law. The War Department, with several others, were 
 created at the first session of the first Congress, which 
 met after the Government went into operation, under the 
 Constitution in 1789. 
 
 3. We can convey no better idea of the object of estab- 
 lishing this department and the officer at its head, than 
 by quoting the first section of the act by which they were 
 created. " There shall be an executive department to be
 
 42 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 denominated the Department of War; and there shall be 
 a principal officer therein, to be called the Secretary for the 
 Department of War, who shall perform and execute such 
 duties as shall from time to time be enjoined on, or en- 
 trusted to him by the President of the United States, 
 agreeably to the Constitution, relative to military commis- 
 sions or to the land forces, ships, or warlike stores of the 
 United States ; or to such other matters respecting mili- 
 tary affairs, as the President of the United States shall as- 
 sign to the said department ; and furthermore, the said 
 principal officer shall conduct the business of the said de- 
 partment in such manner as the President of the United 
 States shall from time to time order or instruct." 
 
 4- According to the act by which this department was 
 fistablished, a Chief Clerk, appointed by the Secretary, 
 was the second officer in authority in it, and acted in his 
 etead in case of vacancy in the Secretaryship. But in 
 1861, Congress passed an act, authorizing the President to 
 appoint an Assistant Secretary of War ; and in 1862, ano- 
 ther act was passed, authorizing the appointment of two 
 additional Assistants. This, however, was intended as a 
 temporary arrangement ; to last only during the existence 
 of the lamentable civil war which was at the time in prog- 
 ress ; and which necessarily greatly increased the business 
 of the departm* nt. 
 
 5. The Secretary of War has in his keeping all books, 
 records, and papers, relating to military affairs. Here are 
 to be found the names of all officers and men in the army, 
 whether in the regular army or in the volunteer service. 
 Connected with the War Department, are a number of 
 sub-departments, or bureaus, as these sub-departments are
 
 SECRETARY OF WAR. 43 
 
 commonly called ; among which are the Commissary, the 
 Quartermaster's and Ordnance Departments. These are 
 all under the general supervision and direction of the Sec- 
 retary. 
 
 6. In time of peace the War Department attracts no 
 particular public notice. But in time of war it draws 
 around it more attention than any other branch of the 
 Government ; for on its good or bad management the 
 weal or AVOC of the nation depends. 
 
 Hence the Secretary of "War should be a man well 
 acquainted with military affairs, of sound judgment, and 
 of undoubted integrity. In this department all accounts 
 relating to military matters are kept and adjusted. 
 
 In addition to the Assistant Secretaries, the President 
 and Senate were authorized in 1863 to appoint a Solicitor 
 in the War Department. These, with a large clerical 
 force, transact the business of this important branch of 
 the Government. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of all who have filled 
 the office of the Secretary of War, from the first down to 
 the present incumbent, with the dates of their appoint- 
 ment, and the States in which they lived. 
 
 SECRETARIES OF WAR. 
 
 Henry Knox, Mass., Sept. 12, 1789. 
 Timothy Pickering, Pa., Jan. 2, 1795. 
 James McHenry, Md., Jan. 27, 1796. 
 James Marshall, Ya., May 7, 1800. 
 Samuel Dexter, Mass., May 13, 1800. 
 Roger Griswold, Ct., Feb. 3, 1801. 
 Henry Dearborn, Mass., March 5, 1801. 
 William Eustis, Mass., March 7, 1809.
 
 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 John Armstrong, K. Y., Jan. 13, 1813. 
 James Monroe, Va., Sept. 27, 1814. 
 William H. Crawford, Ga., March 2, 1815. 
 Isaac Shelby, Ky., March 5, 1817. 
 G. Graham, Va., April 7, 1817. 
 John C. Calhoun, S. C., Oct. 8, 1817. 
 James Barbour, Va., March 7, 1825. 
 Peter B. Porter, N. Y., May 26, 1828. 
 J. H. Eaton, Tenn., March 9, 1829. 
 Lewis Cass, Mich., Aug. 1, 1831. 
 Benjamin F. Butler, N. Y, March 3, 1837. 
 Joel K Poinsett, S. C., March 7, 1837. 
 John Bell, Tenn., March 5, 1841. 
 John McLean, O., Sept. 13, 1841. 
 John C. Spencer, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1841. 
 James W. Porter, Pa., March 8, 1843. 
 William Wilkins, Pa., Eeb. 15, 1844. 
 William L. Marcy, N. Y., March 5, 1845. 
 George W. Crawford, Ga., March 6, 1849. 
 Charles M. Conrad, La., Aug. 8, 1850. 
 Jefferson Davis, Miss., March 5, 1853. 
 John B. Floyd, Va., March 6, 1857. 
 Joseph Holt, Ky., Dec. 30, 1860. 
 .Simon Cameron, Pa., March 5, 1861. 
 Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Jan, 13, 1862.
 
 SECRETARY OF TEE NAVT. 4.5 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Department, and Secretary of the Wavy. 
 
 1. THE navy and the army are the two strong arms 
 of the nation. By these we preserve order at home 
 and protect ourselves against wrongs abroad or inva- 
 sions of onr rights by any foreign power, whether at 
 home or elsewhere. They may be termed the bel- 
 ligerent parts of the Government ; and if we institute a 
 comparison between them, it is not easy to determine 
 which is the strongest arm, or which is the most effi- 
 cient agent of national defence. 
 
 2. The Navy Department, like the War Department, 
 was established at an early period after the adoption of 
 the Constitution. The office of Secretary of the Navy 
 was created at the same time that the department itself 
 was. He is appointed by the President and Senate, 
 is one of the highest officers of the Government, one of 
 the seven members of the Cabinet, and receives a salary 
 of $8,000 per annum. 
 
 As the President is Commander-in-Chief as well of 
 the Navy as of the Army, the Secretary of course acts 
 under his direction. It is made his duty to execute 
 the President's orders relative to the procurement of 
 naval stores and materials, and the construction, arma- 
 ment, equipment and employment of vessels of war, and
 
 46 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 all other matters connected with the naval establish- 
 ment. 
 
 3. As in the War Department, a head clerk -was 
 formerly second in rank and authority in this ; but in 
 the year 1SG1, by an act of Congress, the office of As- 
 sistant Secretary of the Xavy was created. Its incum- 
 bent fills the second place, and acts as Secretary in the 
 absence of that officer. 
 
 Formerly there were five bureaus in this department, 
 but in 1862 three more were added, making eight, as 
 follows : 
 
 1. A Bureau of Yards and Docks. 
 
 2. A Bureau of Equipment and Kecruiting. 
 
 3. A Bureau of Navigation. 
 
 4. A Bureau of Ordnance. 
 
 5. A Bureau of Construction and Repairs. 
 
 6. A Bureau of Steam Engineering. 
 
 7. A Bureau of Provisions and Clothing. 
 
 8. A Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. 
 
 The President and Senate appoint all the heads of 
 these bureaus, and select them principally from officers 
 of high rank in the navy. They are all appointed for 
 four years, and each receive a salary of $3,500 per an- 
 num. 
 
 4. The Secretary appoints all the clerks in each of 
 these bureaus, and distributes such duties to each as he 
 thinks proper. They all act under his direction. lie 
 must annually report to Congress the state and condi- 
 tion of his department, and the expenditures of the
 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAYY. 47 
 
 same, specifying the amounts expended for the items of 
 building, repairing, wages of mechanics, laborers, 
 equipping vessels of the navy, &c. y &c. 
 
 SECRETARIES OF THE NAVY. 
 
 The following list embraces the names of all the Sec 
 retaries of the Navy, from George Cabot, the first, to 
 Gideon Welles, the present incumbent. 
 
 George Cabot, Mass., May 3, 1798. 
 Benjamin Stoddard, Mass., May 21, 1708. 
 Robert Smith, Md., July 15, 1801. 
 J. Crown ingshield, Mass., May 3, 1805. 
 Paul Hamilton, S. C., March 7, 1809. 
 William Jones, Pa., Jan. 12, 1813. 
 B. W. Crowningshield, Mass., Dec. 17, 1814. 
 Smith Thompson, K Y., Nov. 9, 1818. 
 John Rogers, Mass., Sept. 1, 1323. 
 S. L. Southard, N. J., Sept. 16, 1823. 
 John Branch, N. C., March 9, 1829. 
 Lcvi Woodbury, N. II., May 23, 1831. 
 Mahlon Dickerson, N. J.-, June 30, 1834. 
 J. R. Paulding, N. Y., June 20, 1838. 
 G. P. Badger, N. C., March 5, 18-11. 
 Abel P. Upsher, Ya., Sept. 13, 1841. 
 David ITenshaw, Mass., July 24, 1843. 
 T. W. Gilmer, Ya,, Feb. 12*, 1844. 
 John Y. Mason, Ya., March 14, 1844. 
 George Bancroft, Mass., March 10, 1845. 
 John Y. Mason, Ya., Sept. 9, 1846.
 
 48 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 William B. Preston, Ya., March 7, 1849. 
 William A. Graham, N. C., July 20, 1850. 
 J. P. Kennedy, Md., July 22, 1850. 
 J. C. Dobbin, N. C., March 5, 1853. 
 Isaac Toucey, Ct, March 6, 1857. 
 Gideon Welles, Ct., March 5, 1861.
 
 SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 49 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 Interior Department and Secretary of the Interior. 
 
 1. A LITTLE reflection will enable any one to under- 
 stand that there must necessarily be a constantly in- 
 creasing amount of business to be done by a govern- 
 ment whose territory and population have increased as 
 rapidly as they have done in the United States. In 
 every department there has been an accumulation of 
 work to be done and of duties to be performed. 
 
 2. In consequence of this state of things, Congress, in 
 1849, passed an act creating a new executive depart- 
 ment, called " the Department of the Interior," which 
 act also provided for the appointment of a head to this 
 new branch of the government, called the Secretary of 
 the Interior. He is appointed like all the other Secre- 
 taries, is one of the high officers of the Government, is 
 a member of the Cabinet, and in compensation and 
 dignity ranks with the Secretaries or heads of the other 
 departments. 
 
 3. In this act it was provided that the Secretary of 
 the Interior should perform all the duties heretofore de- 
 volving on the Secretary of State in relation to the 
 office of Commissioner of Patents ; in other words, the 
 Bureau of the Patent Office was transferred from the 
 Department of State to that of the Interior.
 
 50 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 In the same manner the General Land Office was 
 transferred from the Treasury Department to this. 
 
 The supervisory power heretofore exercised by the 
 Secretary of the Treasury over the accounts of the 
 marshals, clerks, and other officers of all the courts of 
 the United States, was thereby placed in the hands of 
 the new Secretary. The office of the Commissioner of 
 Indian Affairs, heretofore attached to the War Depart- 
 ment, was also transferred to this ; and the powers and 
 duties of the Secretary of War, in relation to Indian 
 affairs, were devolved on the Secretary of the Interior. 
 
 4. The Secretaries of War and of the Navy were by 
 the same act relieved of their duties in regard to the 
 Commissioner of Pensions, and those duties were there- 
 after to be performed by the Secretary of the new de- 
 partment. 
 
 The Census Bureau, heretofore attached to the State 
 Department, and the duties of the Secretary of State in 
 relation thereto, were also transferred to this depart- 
 ment. 
 
 To the Secretary was also given the supervisory 
 power over the lead and other mines belonging to tho 
 United States, heretofore executed by the Secretary of 
 the Treasury. 
 
 The powers of the President over the Commissioners 
 of Public Buildings were also transferred to him. 
 
 5. He was also charged w:th the control over the 
 Board of Inspectors and AVarden of tho Penitentiary of 
 the District of Columbia. 
 
 The Secretary of the Interior has the same power in
 
 SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 51 
 
 appointing and removing clerks and other subordinates 
 in his department that the Secretaries of the other de- 
 partments had over these several bureaus before they 
 were transferred to this department. 
 
 This office has a seal, which must be affixed to the 
 commissions of all its subordinate officers. 
 
 The President and Senate appoint the Assistant Sec. 
 retaries. 
 
 From the foregoing it is easy to understand what 
 branches of the public service are conducted in this 
 office, and what are the duties of its Secretary. 
 
 SECRETAEIES OF THE INTERIOR. 
 
 6. The following is a list of all who have filled the 
 office of Secretary of the Interior since the establish- 
 ment of the department : 
 
 Thomas H. Ewing, Ohio, March 7, 1849. 
 Alexander H. II. Stuart, Ya., Sept. 12, 1850. 
 Eobert McClelland, Mich., March 5, 1853. 
 Jacob Thompson, Miss., March 6, 1S57. 
 Caleb B. Smith, Ind., March 5, 1861. 
 John P. Usher, Ind., Jan. 7, 1863. 
 James Harlan, Iowa, 1865. 
 Orville H. Browning, 111., 1866.
 
 52 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, AND POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 
 
 1. THE Post Office Department, is one of the most im- 
 portant in the Government ; and one with -which the peo- 
 ple have more intercourse, and with which they are bet- 
 ter acquainted than any other. A Post-office establish- 
 ment is an institution by which the Government undertakes 
 to transmit letters and other mailable matter, to the places 
 where directed, for the people; instead of leaving them to 
 do this business for themselves, in the best way they can. 
 It is by no means peculiar to our Government, but is found 
 in every civilized country, and dates from ancient times. 
 
 2. To find the basis of our own establishment, we have 
 to look at the Constitution. There, in Art. 1, Sec. 8, we 
 shall find the words, " Congress shall have the power to 
 establish post-offices, and post roads." These few words 
 are the foundation of all our laws relating to post offices, 
 post masters, post roads, transportation of the mail, and 
 everything else appertaining to the subject. 
 
 3. Post-offices existed in this country before our Gov- 
 ernment did; for while we were in a colonial state 
 under the English Government, it had established them 
 at all important points, and also a tolerable mail sys- 
 tem for that day and age. These were continued dur- 
 ing the revolution, which resulted in the separation of
 
 POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 53 
 
 this country from England. After our present Govern- 
 ment became established, it enacted laws and made 
 provisions for a Post Office department ; and this, with 
 such alterations and amendments as experience and the 
 growth of the country required, has remained and is in 
 operation at the present day. 
 
 4. By law, a Postmaster-General is placed at the head 
 of this department, who is appointed for four years by 
 the President and Senate; his office is in the General Post 
 Office at Washington ; his salary is $8,000 a year, he is a 
 member of the Cabinet, and ranks as one of the high 
 officers of State. He has three assistants, who are ap- 
 pointed in the same manner as himself. He has a seal of 
 his office, an impression from which must be affixed to the 
 commission of every postmaster in the United States ; and 
 also to all transcripts of papers and documents which may 
 be wanted from his office. The seal establishes their au- 
 thenticity, and makes them proof of the same degree as the 
 original papers. He must give bonds for the faithful per- 
 formance of his duties, and take the usual official oath be- 
 fore he can enter upon those duties. 
 
 HIS DUTIES. 
 
 5. The laws of the department make it his duty to ap- 
 point all other postmasters (who are styled in law, Deputy 
 Postmasters, but in common language, simply Postmas- 
 ters), whose compensation is less than 01,000 per annum. 
 All others are appointed by the President and Senate, or, 
 as ho is, himself. It is also his duty to establish post-offices 
 wherever he may deem it necessary ; to provide for the 
 transportation of the mail on all the post-roads in the 
 United States ; and to foreign countries by sea. He must
 
 54 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 give all deputies their instructions respecting their duties 
 and receive from them their accounts of the receipts and 
 expenditures of their respective offices ; pay all expenses 
 for the transmission of the mails, and all others which re- 
 late to the management of his department ; and once in 
 three months render a quarterly account of all receipts and 
 expenditures of the post office department ; and finally 
 must superintend, control, and direct all deputy post- 
 masters, agents, mail contractors, and employees in the 
 mail service. 
 
 THE MINOB POST OFFICES. 
 
 6. The centre of this great machine is at Washington, 
 the capital of the nation ; but its branches extend like the 
 veins and nerves of the human body, in every direction 
 and to every part. Post offices, for the accommodation of 
 the people, arc found in every city, village, town and 
 neighborhood, throughout the length and breadth of the 
 land. 
 
 During the late civil war, a great many of them were 
 discontinued in the Southern States; some of which have 
 been re-established since the close of the war. For thia 
 reason we are not able to state the exact number of post 
 offices in the United States, at the present time ; but from 
 the number known before the war, we judge there are not 
 far from thirty thousand. Each has its postmaster, and 
 when necessary, its assistants and clerks. This affords 
 some idea of the vastness of this great Government institu- 
 tion for the diffusion of intelligence among the people. It 
 not only reaches out its arms to the remotest boundaries 
 of our own country, but by the agency of ships, they
 
 POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 55 
 
 stretch over the seas, and extend to every part of the hab- 
 itable earth. 
 
 POST KOADS. 
 
 7. It is the business of Congress to say what roads shall 
 be post roads, and post routes, and whether the mails 
 shall be carried by land or by water. In the exercise of 
 this power it has declared that all railroads shall be post 
 roads. Post routes, are also established between this 
 country and foreign countries, by ships. The Postmaster 
 General is empowered to contract with the owners of ships 
 going to foreign countries, to carry the mails to and from 
 the places of their departure and destination. Thus the 
 ocean is made into numerous mail routes. 
 
 KATES OF POSTAGE. 
 
 8. Cheap postage is of recent date. England first tried 
 the experiment, by making one penny the uniform rate of 
 postage on single letters, to all parts of that kingdom. 
 This was very acceptable to the people, and worked so 
 well, that the United States followed her example. Here 
 it has proved equally satisfactory to the people, and a per. 
 feet success. 
 
 In establishing the present rates of postage, two objects 
 were aimed at; first, to diminish the cost of sending let- 
 ter?, and second, to make the rates uniform to all parts of 
 the country irrespective of distance. Formerly the rates 
 were much higher, and were made to depend on two cir- 
 cumstances, first, the distance over which the letter was to 
 be sent, and this varied from six to twenty-five cents :
 
 56 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 second, the number of pieces on which the letter was writ- 
 ten, counting every piece of paper as a letter. 
 
 But by recent laws, this has all been changed ;. any dis- 
 tance within the United States, makes no difference in the 
 rate or charge for carrying ; and instead of counting the 
 pieces of paper used, weight is made the basis of charge. 
 Half an ounce is reckoned a single letter, and every half 
 ounce more, or a fraction of it, is counted as another- 
 Three cents is the rate of a single letter, and an addition 
 of three cents more for every additional half ounce or frac- 
 tion of it. The uniformity consists in disregarding dis- 
 tance in the computation of the rate charged for transpor. 
 tation. The charges for carrying newspapers, and other 
 printed matter, were also greatly reduced from former 
 rates. Formerly, under the old system, postage might bo 
 prepaid, or paid upon delivery of the letter, and the Gov- 
 ernment lost the postage on all letters never called for. 
 But under the present system, all mailable matter, except 
 newspapers and regular periodical publications sent to sub- 
 scribers, must be prepaid by postage stamps. 
 
 FRANKING PRIVILEGE. 
 
 9. This means the right to send letters, documents, <fcc., 
 through the post office, free, or without paying postage 
 therefor. This privilege was so abused that the law was 
 changed, and restricted to a certain class of officers of the 
 Government, when sending or receiving official communi- 
 cations, those which related to the business of their re- 
 spective offices, and to the President, Vice-President, 
 members of Congress, and chiefs of the several executive 
 departments. Petitions to Congress may also be franked.
 
 POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 57 
 
 DEAD LETTERS. 
 
 10. Dead Letters are those which are never called for 
 at the respective offices where sent. The law directs that 
 they shall be advertised three weeks in some newspaper 
 in, or near the post office where the letter is ; and if not 
 called for in three months thereafter, they must be sent to 
 the General Post Office at Washington, as Dead Letters. 
 There they are opened, and if they contain money or val- 
 uable papers they are returned to the writers, and the 
 money and papers are kept at the General Post Office, 
 where an account of them is kept, and will be returned 
 to the owners whenever they call for them. 
 
 As in the other departments, we append at the end of 
 this chapter, a list of all the heads of this department, 
 from the first down to the present time. 
 
 Without wearying the reader with a detailed statement 
 of the condition of the department for every year since its 
 establishment, we give the number of offices, and the 
 number of miles of post roads as they were every tenth 
 year. This will be found sufficient to show the wonderful 
 increase of business in this branch of the public service 
 since 1790, the first year after the Government was put 
 into operation. 
 
 In 1790 there were but 75 poet offices, and 1,875 m. of post roads. 
 
 1800 " 903 " 20,817 
 
 1810 2,300 36,400 
 
 1820 4,500 " 72,492 
 
 1830 8,450 " 115,176 " 
 
 1840 " 13,463 155,739 
 
 1850 18,417 178,672 
 
 18GO 28,498 240,594
 
 68 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 POSTMASTERS GENERAL. 
 
 Samuel Osgood, Mass., Sept. 26, 1789. 
 Timothy Pickering, Mass., Aug. 12, 1791. 
 Joseph Habersham, Ga., Feb. 25, 1795. 
 Gideon Granger, Ct., Nov. 28, 1801. 
 Reuben J. Meigs, 0., March 17, 1814. 
 John McLean, 0., June 25, 1823. 
 William J. Barry, Ky., March 9, 1829. 
 Amos Kendall, Ky., March 1, 1835. 
 John M. Niles, Ct., May 18, 1840. 
 Francis Granger, N. Y., March C, 1841. 
 Charles A. Wickliff, Ky., Sept. 13, 1841. 
 Cave Johnson, Tenn., March 5, 1845. 
 Jacob Collamer, Vt, March 7, 1849. 
 Nathan K. Hall, N. Y., July 20, 1850. 
 S. D. Hubbard, Ct., Aug 31, 1852. 
 James Campbell, Pa., March 5, 1853. 
 Aaron V. Brown, Tenn., March G, 1857. 
 Joseph Holt, Ky., March 14, 1859. 
 Horatio King, Jan. 1, 1861. 
 Montgomery Blair, Md., March 7, 1861. 
 "William Dennisnn, O., Oct. 1, 1864. 
 Alexander W. Randall, Wis., July 15, 1866.
 
 ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 59 
 
 CHAPTER XII.- 
 Attorney General. 
 
 THE Attorney-General of the United States, is one of 
 the high officers of the Government, and is a very re- 
 sponsible one. The law by which the office of Attorney- 
 Generarwas created we find in an Act passed as far back 
 as 1789, at the first session ever held by Congress; in 
 which his duties are thus defined : " Whose duty it shall 
 be to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme 
 Court, in Avhich the United States shall be concerned ; and 
 to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when 
 required by the President of the United States ; or when 
 requested by the heads of departments, touching any 
 matters that may concern their departments." 
 
 By an Act passed in 1801, he is charged with the gen- 
 eral superintendence of all the Attorneys and Marshals 
 in all the Judicial Districts in the United States and Ter- 
 ritories, as to the manner of discharging their duties. 
 
 He is appointed by the President and Senate, and holds 
 his office at the pleasure of the President. 
 
 He is a member of the Cabinet, and now receives a sal- 
 ary of eight thousand dollars per year. He has an as- 
 sistant, and clerks to aid him in the discharge of his duties. 
 
 His office is in Washington. 
 
 This, with the preceding six chapters, contains a brief 
 account of what are properly called Executive depart-
 
 60 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 ments of the Government ; Sub-departments are properly 
 termed Bureaus, while the three great divisions into 
 which the Constitution divides the Governmental powers, 
 viz., the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, should be 
 denominated branches. 
 
 ATTOKNEYS-GEKEEAL. 
 
 Edmund Randolph, Va., Sept. 26, 1789. 
 William Bradford, Pa., June 27, 1794. 
 Charles Lee, Va., Dec. 10, 1795. 
 T. Parsons, Mass., Feb. 20, 1800. 
 Levi Lincoln, Mass., March 5, 1801. 
 Robert Smith, Md., March 2, 1805. 
 John Breckenridge, Ky., Dec. 1806. 
 Caesar A?Rodney, Del., Jan. 20, 1807. 
 William Pinckney, Md., Dec. 11, 1811. 
 Richard Rush, Pa., Feb. 10, 1814 
 William Wirt, Md., Dec. 16, 1817. 
 John McPherson Berrian, Ga., Mar. 9, 1829. 
 Roger B. Taney, Md., July 20, 1831. 
 Benjamin F. Butler, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1833. 
 Felix Grundy, Tenn., July 7, 1838. 
 Henry D. Griffin, Pa., Jan., 11, 1840. 
 John J. Crittenden, Ky., Mar. 5, 1841. 
 Hugh S. Legare,C. S., Sept., 13, 1841. 
 John Nelson, Md., July 1, 1843. 
 John Y. Mason, Va., Mar. 5, 1845. 
 Nathan Clifford, Me., Oct. 16, 1846. 
 Isaac Toucey, Ct., Jan. 21, 1848. 
 Reverdy Johnson, Md., Mar. 7, 1849.
 
 ATTORNEYS- GENERAL. 
 
 John J. Crittenden, Ky., July 20, 1850. 
 Caleb Gushing, Mass., Mar. 5, 1853. 
 Jeremiah S. Black, Pa , Mar. 6, 1857. 
 Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Dee. 14, 1860. 
 Edward Bates, Mo., Mar. 5, 1861. 
 James Speed, Ky., Dec. 1864. 
 Henry Stanberry, O., July, 1866.
 
 62 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XHI. 
 The Cabinet. 
 
 1. THE Cabinet is composed of the Secretaries of State, 
 War, Navy, Treasury, and Interior, together with the 
 Postmaster-General and the Attorney-General. Seven in 
 all. They are ex-offido members of the Cabinet, and the 
 President's advisers. All of them are nominated to their 
 respective offices, as Secretaries, &c., by him ; but cannot 
 act, unless by the consent of the Senate. In this respect, 
 they arc like all other officers appointed by the President 
 and Senate, although in common parlance it is often 
 said the President chooses his own Cabinet. This might 
 seem to mean that he, and he alone chooses them, without 
 advice, or consultation with any body. 
 
 2. The Senate, rarely, if ever, refuses consent to the 
 nominations of the President, for these appointments; for 
 it is conceded that without some extraordinaiy objection, 
 such as notorious bad character, or unfitness for the posi- 
 tion, the President should have the selection of his own 
 advisers. 
 
 3. When they meet with the President, to consult 
 with him, on the affairs and administration of the govern- 
 ment, it is called " a Cabinet meeting." Our foreign af- 
 fairs and relations with other governments form the sub- 
 jects of much of their deliberations; in England, and in 
 most of the countries in Europe, the men who fill these 
 positions in these governments, are called ministers. In 
 England they also hold seats in Parliament, and debate
 
 THE CABINET. - 
 
 DO 
 
 and vote like other members ; but in the United States 
 Government, the members of tha Cabinet neither have 
 seats in Congress, nor take any part in its proceedings. 
 As Secretaries, and heads of their respective departments, 
 they annually report to Congress, what has been done in 
 and what is the state and condition of their departments. 
 They also suggest, or recommend to Congress, such legis- 
 lation, as in their judgment is required for that branch oi 
 the government under their supervision. 
 
 4. It is therefore easily understood, that the Cabinet is 
 not a body of officials chosen as the advisers of the Presi- 
 dent ; and that that is their only duty. Not so ; their 
 membership in the Cabinet only grows out of the offices 
 or places they hold in the government. The moment any 
 one ceases to hold that office, that moment he ceases to be 
 a member of the Cabinet. 
 
 5. To the foregoing, we will add a little of the history 
 of the Cabinet : under Washington's Administration it 
 consisted of but three members, viz: the Secretary of 
 State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of 
 "War. There was no Secretary of the Navy during his 
 Administration. The department of the Navy was not 
 established until 1798, when John Adams was President ; 
 under his Administration it consisted of four members, for 
 the Secretary of the Navy was added, and so it continued 
 down to Jackson's Administration (1829 1837,) when the 
 Postmaster-General was made a member ; so that it con- 
 sisted of five members. It stood at that number until 
 John Tyler became the acting President, from the death 
 of President Harnson, 1841 1845, when the Attorney- 
 General was made a member; and in 1849. on the third of
 
 64 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 March, the last day of Mr. Folk's administration, the de- 
 partment of the Interior was established, and the office of 
 " Secretary of the Interior" was created, and he also was 
 made a member of the Cabinet. Under President Taylor's 
 administration, which commenced on the fourth of March, 
 1849, and since, the number of Cabinet officers has been 
 seven. Whether it has reached its maximum, or not, de. 
 pends on what Congress may do hereafter in creating 
 other great departments of Government. If they do so, 
 their heads, or Secretaries, will probably be added to the 
 Cabinet. 
 
 6. As a piece of historical information, and for the con- 
 venience of ready reference, we here insert the names of 
 those who have been members of the Cabinet, under all 
 the adminstrations, from Washington's (the first), down to 
 the present year (1867): and for the purpose of showing 
 who was the Vice-President, with each President ; we in- 
 sert his name also, although he is never a member of the 
 Cabinet. By this it will be seen that several persons oc- 
 cupied the same positions under the same administra- 
 tions ; and that upon every change of the heads of de- 
 partments, the Cabinet was changed. 
 
 FIRST ADMINISTRATION, FROM 1789 TO 1797, 8 TEARS. 
 
 George Washington, Va., Resident. 
 John Adams, Mass., Vice-President. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretaries of State. 
 Thomas Jefferson, Va. 
 Edmund Randolph, Va.
 
 THE CABINET. 65 
 
 Timothy Pickering, Mass. 
 
 Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 Alexander Hamilton, N. Y. 
 Oliver Wolcott, Conn. 
 
 Secretaries of War. 
 Timothy Pickering, Mass. 
 James McHenry, Md. 
 Henry Knox, Mass. 
 
 SECOND ADMINISTRATION, 1797 TO 1801, 4 YEABS. 
 
 John Adams, Mass., President. 
 
 Vice-President. 
 Thomas Jefferson, Va. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretaries of State. 
 Timothy Pickering, Mass. 
 John Marshall, Va. 
 
 Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 Oliver Wolcott, Ct. 
 Samuel Dexter, Mass. 
 
 Secretaries of War. 
 James McHenry, Md. 
 Samuel Dexter, Mass. 
 Koger Griswold. 
 
 Secretaries of the Navy. 
 George Cabot, Mass. 
 Benjamin Stoddert, Md.
 
 66 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 THIRD ADMINISTRATION, 1801 TO 1809, 8 YEARS. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, Va., President. 
 
 Vice- Presidents. 
 Aaron Burr, N. Y. 
 George Clinton, N. Y. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretary of State, 
 James Madison, Va. 
 
 Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 Samuel Dexter, Mass. 
 Albert Gallatin, Pa. 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 Henry Dearborn, Mass. 
 
 Secretaries of Navy 
 "Benjamin Stock! ert, Md., 
 Robert Smith, Md. 
 
 FOURTH ADMINISTRATION, 1809 TO 1817, 8 YEARS. 
 
 James Madison, Va. President. 
 
 Vice Presidents. 
 George Clinton, N. Y. 
 Elbridge Gerry, Mass. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretaries of State. 
 Robert Smith, Md. 
 James Monroe, Va. 
 
 Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 Albert Gallatin, Pa.
 
 THE CABINET. 
 
 George W. Campbell, Tenn. 
 Alexander J. Dallas, Pa. 
 
 Secretaries of War. 
 William Eustis, Mass. 
 John Armstrong, N. Y. 
 James Monroe, Va. 
 William H. Crawford, Ga, 
 
 Secretaries of Navy. 
 Paul Hamilton, S. C. 
 William Jones, Pa. 
 B. W. Crowningshield, Mass. 
 
 FIFTH ADMINISTRATION, 1817 TO 1825, 8 TEAXS. 
 
 James Monroe, Va. President. 
 
 Vice President. 
 Daniel D. Tompkins, K Y. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 John Q. Adams, Mass. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury* 
 William H. Crawford, Ga. 
 Secretaries of War. 
 Isaac Shelby, Ky. 
 John C. Calhoun, S. C. 
 
 Secretaries of the Navy. 
 B. W. Crowningshield, Mass. 
 Smith Thompson, N. Y. 
 Sam'l L. Southard, N. J. 
 C
 
 C6 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 SIXTH ADMINISTRATION, 1825 TO 1829, 4 TEARS. 
 
 John Q. Adams, Mass., President. 
 
 Vice President. 
 John C. Calhoun, S. C. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 Henry Clay, Ky. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Richard Rush, Pa. 
 
 Secretaries of War. 
 James Barbour, Va. 
 Peter B. Porter, N. Y. 
 
 Secretary of Navy. 
 Samuel L. Southard, N. J. 
 
 SEVENTH ADMINISTRATION, 1829 TO 1837, 8 TEARS. 
 
 Andrew Jackson, Tenn.. President. 
 
 Vice Presidents. 
 John Calhoun, S. C. 
 Martin Van Buren, N. Y. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretaries of State. 
 Martin Van Buren, N. Y. 
 Edward Livingston, La. 
 Louis McLane, Del. 
 John Forsyth, Geo.
 
 THE CABINET. gg 
 
 Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 Samuel D. Inghara, Pa. 
 Louis McLane, Del. 
 William J. Duane, Pa. 
 Roger B. Taney, Md. 
 Levi Woodbuiy, N. H. 
 
 Secretaries of War. 
 John H. Eaton, Tenn. 
 Lewis Cass, Mich. 
 Benjamin F. Butler, K Y. 
 
 Secretaries of tJie Navy. 
 John Branch, N. C. 
 Levi Woodbuiy, N. H. 
 Mahlon Dickerson, N. J. 
 
 Postmasters- General, and for the first time considered 
 members of the Cabinet. 
 
 John McLean, O. 
 William F. Barry, Ky. 
 Amos Kendall, Ky. 
 
 EIGHTH ADMINISTRATION, 1837 TO 1841, 4 TEARS. 
 
 Martin Van Buren, N. Y., President. 
 
 Vice President. 
 Richard M. Johnson, Ky. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 John Forsyth, Geo.
 
 7() OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Levi Woodbury, N. H. 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 Joel R. Poinsett, S. C. 
 
 Secretaries of the Navy. 
 Mahlon Dickerson, N. J. 
 James K. Paulding, N. Y. 
 
 Postmasters- General. 
 Amos Kendall, Ky. 
 John M. Niles, Ct. 
 
 NINTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1841, TO APRIL 4, 
 1841. 
 
 William Henry Harrison, O., President. 
 
 Vice President. 
 John Tyler, Va. 
 
 Secretary of State, 
 Daniel Webster, Mass. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Thomas Ewing, O. 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 John Bell, Tenn. 
 
 Secretary of Navy. 
 George E. Badger, K C. 
 
 Postmaster- General. 
 Gideon Granger, N". Y. 
 
 TENTH ADMINISTRATION, APRIL 6, 1841, TO MARCH 4, 
 
 1845. 
 
 John Tyler, Va., (acting) President, by death of 
 Harrison.
 
 THE CABINET. 71 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretaries of State. 
 Daniel "Webster, Mass. 
 Abel P. Usher, Va. 
 John C. Calhoun, S. C. 
 
 Secretaries of the Treasiery. 
 Thomas Ewing, O. 
 Walter Forward, Pa. 
 John C. Spencer, N. Y. 
 George M. Bibb, Ky. 
 
 Secretaries of War. 
 John Bell, Tenn. 
 John C. Spencer, N". Y. 
 James M. Porter, Pa. 
 William Wilkins, Pa. 
 
 Secretaries of the Navy, 
 George E. Badger, 1ST. C. 
 Abel P. Upsher, Va. 
 David Henshaw, Mass. 
 G. W. Gilmer, Va. 
 John Y. Mason, Va. 
 
 Attorneys- General. 
 Hugh S. Legare, S. C. 
 John Nelson, Md. 
 
 Postmasters- General. 
 Francis G. Granger, 1ST. Y. 
 Charles A. Wickliffe, Ky. 
 
 ELEVENTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1845, TO MARCH 4, 
 1849, 4 YEARS. 
 
 James K. Polk, Tenn., President.
 
 72 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Vice-Presiden t. 
 George M. Dallas, Pa. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretary of State 
 James Buchanan, Pa. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Bobert J.Walker, Miss. 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 William L. Marcy, N. Y. 
 
 Secretaries of -ZVauy. 
 George Bancroft, Mass. 
 John Y. Mason, Va. 
 
 Postmaster- General. 
 Cave Johnson, Tenn. 
 
 Attorneys- General. 
 John Y. Mason, Va. 
 Nathan Clifford, Me. 
 Isaac Toucey, Ct. 
 
 TWELFTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1849, TO JULY 10. 
 1850, 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS. 
 
 Zachary Taylor, La., President. 
 
 Y'ic? President. 
 Millard Fillmorc, N. Y. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 John M. Clayton, Del. 
 
 Secretary of "War. 
 George W. Crawford, Geo. 
 
 Secretary of ilic Treasury. 
 "William M. Meredith, Pa,
 
 THE CABINET. . 73 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 William B. Preston, Va. 
 
 Secretary of the Interior. 
 Thomas Ewing, Ohio. 
 
 Postmaster- Gen eral. 
 Jacob Collamer, Vt, 
 
 Attorney- General. 
 Keverdy Johnson, Md. 
 
 THIRTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, JULY 10, 1850, TO MARCH 
 4, 1853, 2 YEAES AND 8 MONTHS. 
 
 Millard Fillmore (Acting) President, by death of Tay- 
 lor no Vice President 
 
 Daniel "Webster, Mass., Secretary of State. 
 Thomas Corwin, Ohio, Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Charles M. Conrad, La. War. 
 
 Wm. A. Graham, N. C., " the Navy. 
 
 Alex. H. II. Stuart, Va., " the Interior. 
 Nathan K. Hall, N. Y., Postmaster-General. 
 John J. Crittenden, Ky., Attorney-General. 
 
 FOURTEENTH ADMINISTRATION', MARCH 4, 1853, TO 
 MARCH 4, 1857 4 YEARS. 
 
 Franklin Pierce, N. H., President. 
 Wm. K. King, of Ala., who was elected Vice-Presi- 
 dent with Mr. Pierce, but died before he took his seat j
 
 74 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 and there was no Vice-Preside nt during Pierce's ad- 
 ministration. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 William L. Marcy, N. Y., Secretary of State. 
 James Guthrie. Ky., " the Treasury. 
 
 Jeflerson Davis, Miss., " of Wai-. 
 
 J. C. Dobbin. N. CL " the Navy. 
 
 Kobert McClelland, Mich., " the Interior. 
 James Campbell, Pa,, Postmaster-General. 
 Caleb Gushing, Mass., Attorney-General. 
 
 FIFTEENTH ADMINISTKATION, MARCH 4, 1857, TO 
 MAKCH 4, 1861. 
 
 James Buchanan, Pa., President. 
 John C. Breckinridge, Vice-President. 
 
 Lewis Cass, Mich., and Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., Sec- 
 retaries of State. 
 
 Howell Cobb, Ga., Philip F. Thomas, and John A. 
 Dix, N. Y., Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 
 John B. Floyd, Va., and Joseph Holt, Ky., Secreta- 
 ries of War. 
 
 Isaac Toucey, Ct, Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Jacob Thompson, Miss., Secretary of the Interior. 
 
 Aaron V. Brown, Tenn., Joseph Holt, Ky., and Ho- 
 ratio King, Postmasters-General. 
 
 Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., and Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., 
 Attorneys-General
 
 THE CABINET. 75 
 
 SIXTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1861, TO APRIL 12, 
 1865 4 YEARS, 1 MONTH, AND 8 DAYS. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, 111., President. 
 
 Hannibal Hamlin, Me., Vice-President, first term, 
 and Andrew Johnson, Term., Vice-President, second 
 term. 
 
 CABINET. 
 
 William H. Seward, N. Y.. Secretary of State. 
 
 Salmon P. Chase, Ohio, Wm. P. Fessenden, Me., 
 Huch McCulloch, Ind., Secretaries of the Treasury. 
 
 Simon Cameron, Pa., Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Secre- 
 taries of War. 
 
 Gideon Welles, Conn., Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 John P. Upsher, Ind., Secretary of the Interior. 
 
 Montgomery Blair, Md., William Dennison, O., 
 Postmasters-General . 
 
 Edward Bates, Mo., James Speed, Ky., Attorneys- 
 General. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, APRIL 12, 1865 TO MARCH 
 
 4:, 1869 IF THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT DIE, DOES NOT 
 
 RESIGN, OR IS NOT IMPEACHED. 
 
 Andrew Johnson, Acting President. 
 No Vice-President. 
 
 William H. Seward, K. Y., Secretary of State. 
 Hugh McCulloch, Ind., Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Secretary of War. 
 Gideon Welles, Conn., Secretary of the Navy.
 
 76 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 James Harlan, Iowa, Orville II. Browning, 111., Secre- 
 taries of the Interior. 
 
 James Speed, Ky., Henry Stanbery, Ohio, Attorneys- 
 General. 
 
 William Dennision, Ohio, Alexander W. Kandall, 111., 
 Postmasters-General.
 
 UNITED STATES COURTS. - :77 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 United States Courts. 
 
 1 . UNDER this caption, we need make but a few general 
 remarks ; for under the appropriate titles of the different 
 kinds of Courts we have treated of each, with considerable 
 detail. The legal tribunals created by acts of Congress, 
 and consequently called United States Courts, are known 
 by the names of the United States Supreme Court, the 
 Circuit Courts, the District Courts, and the Court of 
 Claims. To these, must be added the local courts in the 
 District of Columbia, and the Territorial courts. The 
 former are permanent institutions ; as much so as the 
 .Circuit or District Courts. But the latter are temporary ; 
 designed to last only during the time the Territorial 
 Government lasts ; for when the Territory is admitted as 
 a State, its former Government ceases to exist ; and as 
 the Courts are a part of the Government, they also pass 
 away, and State Courts are created in their places. 
 
 2. These brief remarks are merely introductory to the 
 four following chapters, in which the reader will find 
 a fuller account of the United States Courts ; and we hope 
 a better understanding of that branch of the Government 
 denominated the Judiciary. 
 
 Co 
 J
 
 7*8 OUTLINES OF U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Supreme Court. 
 
 1. WE have before stated that the Government of the 
 United States was divided into three branches or great 
 departments; the Legislature, the Executive and the Ju- 
 diciary. The two former -we have already described. 
 We come now to the third, which although the last, is by 
 no means the least part of the great machine by which the 
 people are governed, and their rights protected ; when 
 our Government is spoken of, in a figurative sense, as an 
 arch, the Judicial Department is very appropriately styled, 
 " the key stone of the Arch ;" for as the Arch would fall 
 without the key stone, so would our form of Government 
 fall without the Judicial branch ; for in all cases of dispute 
 or disagreement as to what the Constitution means, or how 
 the laws should be construed and interpreted, we look 
 to the Judicial decisions for the settlement of all such ques- 
 tions. 
 
 2. And especially do we look to the decisions of the 
 Supreme Court of the United States; for it is the highest 
 tribunal in the nation. Its decisions are final, for there 
 is no superior tribunal to which questions or causes 
 can be taken ; and when it has, in due form, declared how 
 the Constitution must be understood, or how the laws 
 should be interpreted and applied, this decision settles
 
 SUPREME COURT. 79 
 
 the matter and becomes the law of the land, as to the quesx 
 tions involved in the decision. 
 
 3. This Court at the present time has one Chief Justice 
 and nine associate Justices ; all appointed by the President, 
 by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. They 
 are appointed for life, or during good behavior ; they may 
 however be impeached for bribery, or other high crimes, 
 and then removed from office. They may also resign ; for 
 there is no power which can compel any man to hold office ; 
 but if they conduct themselves properly, and choose to re- 
 tain their offices, there is no power by which they can 
 be removed, except the power of death. The -Con- 
 stitution itself makes this provision, in order that the 
 Judges may be removed as far as possible from the influ- 
 ence of party pclitics. They have nothing to fear from 
 the success or defeat of any political party. It is there- 
 fore expected that their decisions will not be biased by 
 party or political considerations ; and it may not be amiss 
 to say that the provision for keeping the judges of the 
 United States Courts in office for life, meets with almost 
 universal approbation ; and has caused many to hope that 
 the States would alter their constitutions and adopt the same 
 plan ; believing it to be the surest way of preserving a 
 pure and independent Judiciary, on which depend the 
 rights and liberties of every citizen of the commonwealth. 
 
 4. This Court holds but one term in a year, which com- 
 mences on the first Monday of December, and sits until it 
 has disposed of the business before it ; its sessions are al- 
 ways held at Washington, the capitol of the Nation ; there 
 it has access to the Congressional and Law Libraries,
 
 80 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 and to all the departments and records of the Government, 
 when necessary. 
 
 There is a class of causes which may be commenced in 
 this Court. In these cases it has original jurisdiction. 
 They are such as affect ambassadors, other public minis- 
 ters, and consuls ; and those in which a State shall be a 
 party. In other cases it has only appellate jurisdiction. 
 The greater part of its business is to hear and determine 
 appeals from inferior courts, mainly from the United 
 States Circuit courts ; and in some instances from the 
 highest State courts. 
 
 5. It has not only original, but exclusive jurisdiction 
 in causes where a State is a party, and when proceedings 
 or suits against ambassadors, or other public ministers or 
 their servants are instituted. Its power to try appeals 
 from lower courts is called its appellate jurisdiction, and 
 gives it the position of the highest Court in the nation. 
 
 It has power also to restrain, or to prohibit proceedings 
 in the United States District courts, when acting as 
 courts of Admiralty; or in cases of maritime jurisdiction. 
 The Judges of this Court hold the Circuit courts, and 
 allot themselves among the judicial Circuits. The Chief 
 Justice receives $6,500 per year salary, and the associate 
 justices $6,000. 
 
 The practice and rules of procedure in this Court, are 
 very similar to those of the Courts of Chancery, and 
 King's Bench in England. Issues of fact are tried by 
 jury, the same as in other Courts, against citizens of the 
 United States. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE COURT. 
 
 6. The officers of this tribunal are the Judges,
 
 SUPREME COURT. gi 
 
 the Attorney-General, a clerk, a crier, and a reporter. The 
 three last named are appointed by the Court. It is the duty 
 of the Marshal of the District of Columbia to attend this 
 Court, and to serve process issuing from it. 
 
 An Attorney or Counsellor-at-law, to be admitted to 
 practice in this Court, must have been such in the Supreme 
 Court of the State where he lives. 
 
 7. The following are the names of all the chief justices 
 f>f the Supreme Court of the United States, from its es- 
 tablishment to the present time ; with the dates of their 
 appointments and the States from which they were ap- 
 pointed. 
 
 John Jay, N. Y., Sept, 26, 1789. 
 John Kutledge, S. C., July 1, 1795. 
 William Cushing, Mass., Jan. 27, 1796 
 Oliver Ellsworth, Ct., March 4, 1796. 
 John Jay, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1800. 
 John Marshall, Va., Jan. 27, 1801. 
 Roger B. Taney, Md., Dec. 28, 1835. 
 Salmon P. Chase, O. 
 
 8. The following are the names of the associate justices, 
 with the dates of their appointments and the States from 
 which they were appointed. 
 
 John Rutledge, S. C., 1789. 
 William Cushing, Mass., 1789. 
 Robert H. Harrison, Md., 1789 
 James Wilson, Pa., 1789. 
 John Blair, Va., 1789. 
 James Iredell, N. C., 1790. 
 Thomas Johnson, Md., 1791. 
 William Patterson, N. Y., 1793
 
 83 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Samuel Chase, Md., 179G. 
 Bushrod Washington, Ya., 1798. 
 William Johnson, S. C., 1804. 
 Brockholst Livingston, N. Y., 1807. 
 Thomas Todd, Va., 1807. 
 Levi Lincoln,* Mass., 1811. 
 John Q. Adams,* Mass., 1811. 
 Gabriel Duvall, Md , 1811. 
 Joseph Story, Mass., 1811. 
 Smith Thompson, N. Y., 1823. 
 Robert Trimble, Ky., 1823. 
 John McLean, O., 1829. 
 Henry, Baldwin, Pa., 1830. 
 James M. Wayne, Ga., 1835. 
 Philip Barbour, Va., 1836. 
 John McKinley, Ala., 1837. 
 John Catron, Tenn., 1837. 
 Peter V. Daniel, Va., 1841. 
 Samuel Nelson, N. Y., 1845. 
 Levi Woodbury, N. H., 1845. 
 Robert C. Grier, Va., 1846. 
 Benjamin R. Curtis, Mass., 1851. 
 John A. Campbell, Ala., 1853. 
 Nathan Clifford,~Me., 1858. 
 Noah Swayne, O., 1862. 
 Samuel Miller, Iowa, 1862. 
 Stephen J. Field, Cal. 
 
 * Declined the appointment.
 
 CIRCUITS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Circuits and Circuit Courts. 
 
 1. IN the last Chapter we gave an account of the United 
 States Supreme Court. We now come to the United 
 States Circuit Courts, the next in dignity, power, and 
 jurisdiction. Unlike the Supreme Court, which, as 
 stated, is always held in Washington, the circuit courts 
 are held in every State, at such times and places as 
 Congress by law directs. It would add some interest 
 and utility to our work if they were inserted here, so 
 as to show when and where these courts are held. 
 But we omit this, because they are so often changed, 
 that what is now correct, might not remain so after an- 
 other session of Congress ; these changes are made to ac- 
 commodate the people in the State, or the judges of 
 the Court. As now arranged, the whole of the States 
 are divided into nine circuits, each circuit comprising 
 several States ; some more and some less, according to 
 the size and population of the States comprised in a 
 circuit. Then the Court is held in each State in the 
 circuit. This arrangement is made in order to bring 
 these courts within convenient reach of all the peoplo 
 in every part of the country. 
 
 2 The circuit courts are held by the judges of the 
 Supreme Court, who allot the circuits among them-
 
 84 OUTLINES OF U. S/ GOVERNMENT. 
 
 selves, and then travel each through his own circuit, 
 until he has visited and held a session in every State 
 which lies within it. A judge of the Supreme Court 
 is the presiding and supreme magistrate in every 
 circuit court, but the judge of the District Court of 
 the district in which the circuit is held, sits with the 
 judge of the Supreme Court, as Associate Justice. 
 
 JURISDICTION. 
 
 3. These courts have both original and appellate juris- 
 diction. Causes may be appealed from the district courts 
 to the Circuit. They also have concurrent jurisdiction 
 with the State courts, where the matter in dispute exceeds 
 the sum of $500, and the United States are plaintiffs ; or 
 where an alien is a party, or where the suit is between cit- 
 izens of different States. They have exclusive jurisdiction 
 in all cases of crimes against the laws of the United States, 
 except where the law especially confers the power on other 
 courts. It extends to all cases under the revenue laws of 
 the United States. 
 
 4. There is also a certain class of cases, (too tedious 
 to be described here in detail), which may be removed 
 from State and from District courts, into these courts, 
 and be tried and determined in the same manner as if they 
 had been commenced here. . 
 
 The officers of circuit courts are, first, the Judges ; sec- 
 ond, the District Attorney of the district in which the 
 Court is held ; third, the Marshal, of the District ; and 
 fourth, a clerk ; who is appointed by the court. 
 
 5. It may be interesting, and perhaps useful to kno-/ 
 how the different circuits are formed, and what States lie 
 in each. They have been from tune to time increased in
 
 CIRCUITS. 5 
 
 number, as the number of the States increased. In some 
 cases, States have been at first placed in one circuit, and 
 afterwards detached and placed in another. 
 
 6. By the Acts of 1862, and 1863, the circuits were Sir. 
 ranged as follows : 
 
 First Circuit, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and 
 New Hampshire, (by Act of 1820.) 
 
 Second Circuit, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, 
 (Act of 1837.) 
 
 Third Circuit, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 
 
 Fourth Circuit, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and 
 North Carolina. 
 
 Fifth Circuit, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mis- 
 sissippi and Florida. 
 
 Sixth Circuits-Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky 
 and Tennessee. 
 
 Seventh Circuit, Ohio and Indiana. 
 
 Eighth Circuit, Michigan and Illinois. 
 
 Ninth Circuit, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Min- 
 nesota. 
 
 Tenth Circuit, California and Oregon. 
 
 But in 1866 this arrangement of the circuits was again 
 changed; and this was done, we suppose, to make the 
 circuits approximate nearer to the number of the Asso- 
 ciate Justices, as reduced from nine to six, by the same 
 act : or, it was then enacted, that hereafter there should 
 be no more Associate Justices of the Supreme Court ap- 
 pointed, until they were reduced (by death or resignation,) 
 to six. 
 
 7. The circuits of this last Act were reduced to nine, and 
 were arranged as follows ; First and Second Circuits, to 
 remain as before.
 
 86 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The Third was made up of the States of Pennsylvania, 
 New Jersey and Delaware. 
 
 The Fourth, of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, 
 North Carolina, and South Carolina. 
 
 The Fifth, of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
 Louisiana and Texas. 
 
 The Sixth, of Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. 
 
 The Seventh, of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. 
 
 The Eighth, of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and 
 Arkansas. 
 
 The Ninth, of California, Oregon and Nevada. 
 
 We have inserted both of these circuit arrangements, 
 because one new State (Nebraska), hc.3 been admitted since 
 the Act passed. Others will soon come in, and very prob- 
 ably, the old number of circuits and judges will be re- 
 stored.
 
 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 87 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 Judicial Districts, and District Courts; 
 
 1. WE come now to the lowest grade of United States 
 courts, excepting the local courts in the District of Co- 
 lumbia, and the Territorial courts. A United States Dis- 
 trict court is held by a District Judge, in every district. 
 Every State constitutes at least one district, several of 
 the larger States are divided into two, and some into three. 
 There are at the present time 59 Judicial Districts, and 
 consequently the same number of District Judges, District 
 Attorneys, District Clerks and Marshals. The Judges, 
 Attorneys and Marshals are all appointed by the President 
 and Senate; the clerks by the respective courts. 
 
 TERMS. 
 
 2. By the law of 1789, every District Judge was re- 
 quired to hold four sessions a year, at such tunes and in 
 such places as Congress directed. This is done to this 
 day in a great majority of the States ; but by later laws 
 in some of the districts, only two or three sessions a year 
 are required, 
 
 JURISDICTION". 
 
 3. These courts have exclusive jurisdiction in all ad- 
 miralty and maritime causes. These relate to maritime 
 contracts, and to crimes against the laws of the United 
 States committed on the sea, and on navigable lakes and 
 rivers. It embraces in this country all contracts respect-
 
 88 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 ing vessels and navigation ; such as chartering, repairing, 
 and fitting them out, seamen's wages, &c., &c. They have 
 in some cases concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit 
 courts, in cases of piracy, and exclusive cognizance of cases 
 where seizures are made for a violation of the revenue 
 laws, or laws relating to imposts and navigation; and 
 causes against consuls and vice consuls where the amount 
 claimed does not exceed $100. In short, they have concur- 
 rent jurisdiction with the circuit courts, of all crimes 
 against the laws of the United States, the punishment of 
 which is not capital. The trial of issues of fact in all 
 causes, except civil causes of Admiralty and maritime 
 jurisdiction, must be by jury. 
 
 4. Appeals are taken from these courts to the circuit 
 Courts. The judges are appointed like those of the Su- 
 preme court, for life, or during good behavior, and receive 
 various amounts as salary, some more and some less, ac- 
 cording to the amount of services to be performed in their 
 respective districts. 
 
 5. When vessels are captured in time of war, either 
 by the public armed vessels, or by private armed ships, 
 the facts and circumstances of the capture must be brought 
 before a United States circuit or district court, for adju- 
 dication ; when the vessel and cargo, are either condemned 
 as a prize, or restored to their owners. When either of 
 these courts adjudicates such cases, it is called a Prize 
 Court. 
 
 6. For the same reasons, given for showing the compo- 
 sition of the Judicial Circuits, in a condensed form, we 
 will here give the number of Judicial Districts in each
 
 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 
 
 89 
 
 State as they now exist, and the 
 States. They are as follows : 
 
 Alabama, 3. 
 
 Arkansas, 2. 
 
 California, 2. 
 
 Connecticut, 1. 
 
 Delaware, 1. 
 
 Florida, 2. 
 
 Georgia, 2. 
 
 Illinois, 2. 
 
 Indiana, 1. 
 
 Iowa, 1. 
 
 Kansas, 1. 
 
 Kentucky, 1. 
 
 Louisiana, 2. 
 
 Maine, 1. 
 
 Maryland, 1. 
 
 Massachusetts, 1. 
 
 Michigan, 2. 
 
 Minnesota, 1. 
 
 District of Columbia, 1. 
 Total 
 
 total number in all the 
 
 Mississippi, 2. 
 Missouri, 2. 
 Nevada, 1. 
 New Hampshire, 1. 
 New Jersey, 1. 
 New York, 3. 
 North Carolina, 3. 
 Nebraska, 1. 
 Ohio, 2. 
 Oregon, 1. 
 Pennsylvania, 2. 
 Rhode Island, 1. 
 South Carolina, 2. 
 Tennessee, 3. 
 Texas, 2. 
 Vermont, 1. 
 Virginia, 1. 
 West Virginia, 1. 
 Wisconsin, 1. 
 69.
 
 OUTLINES OF tf. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XVHL 
 Court of Claims. 
 
 1. THIS Court was established by act of Congress in 
 1855. A brief extract from the law itself, will best 
 explain the object of its creation, its jurisdiction, powers 
 and duties. The law reads thus, "A Court shall be 
 established to be called the Court of Claims, to con- 
 sist of three judges, to be appointed by the Presi- 
 dent and Senate, and to hold their offices during good 
 behaviour ; and the said Court shall hear and determine, 
 all claims founded upon any law of Congress, or upon 
 any regulation of an executive department, or upon any 
 contract express or implied, with the government of the 
 United States ; which may be suggested to it by a 
 petition filed therein ; and also all claims which may 
 be refered to said Court by either house of Congress." 
 
 2. On the third of March, 1863, the jurisdiction of 
 this Court was enlarged, and two additional judges 
 appointed, [making 5,J from the whole number of 
 which, the President was authorised to appoint one a 
 chief justice for said Court . 
 
 3. The mode of commencing proceeding before this 
 tribunal is by petition ; in which the claimant must fully 
 set forth his claim, how it arose, its amount, and the 
 parties interested therein. After the case has been
 
 COURT OF CLAIMS. 91 
 
 heard and determined, the Court reports to Congress 
 what its decision is, and if favorable to the claimant a 
 bill is passed for his relief. 
 
 4 It holds one session a year, in Washington, com- 
 mencing on the first Monday in October, and continuing 
 as long as business before it requires. It not only tries 
 claims against the government, but by its enlarged 
 jurisdiction conferred in 1863, it also tries counter 
 claims, and sett-offs, which the United States may have 
 against the claimant. Appeals are taken from the 
 Court of Claims to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, when the amount in controversy exceeds $3,000. 
 
 5. Before the establishment of this Court, the only rem- 
 edy persons having claims upon the Government had, 
 was, by petition to Congress for relief; which experience 
 proved to be, a long tedious and expensive mode of ob- 
 taining their dues. The petition now goes to this Court, 
 where it is heard and adjudicated in the same form, and 
 by the same rules of procedure which are observed in 
 other courts ; for Congress has conferred upon it all the 
 powers commonly possessed by other courts of law. It 
 also has a seal. 
 
 6. It has greatly facilitated the settlement of claims 
 against the Government, and has relieved Congress of a 
 great amount of labor, which was urgently pressed upon 
 it at every session. 
 
 7. In addition to the five Judges, it has a Solicitor, an 
 Assistant Solicitor, and a Deputy Solicitor, all of whom 
 are appointed by the President and Senate ; and are 
 officers of the Court, whose duty it is faithfully to defend 
 
 D
 
 92 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the Unite'd States, in all matters and claims before thia 
 Court. 
 
 The Judges receive $4,000 per annum salary. The So- 
 licitor and Assistant Solicitor receive $3,500 each, and the 
 Deputy Solicitor $2,500 per annum. 
 
 A bailiff, a clerk, a crier and a messenger, all of whom 
 are appointed by the court, make up the remaining officials. 
 
 In order to give the reader a better idea of proceedings 
 in this tribunal, it may be stated that claimants stand in 
 the relation of plaintiffs, and the Government in that of 
 defendant.
 
 DISTRICT-ATTORNEYS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 District-Attorneys. 
 
 1. IN the twelfth chapter we spoke of the appointment, 
 position and duties of the Attorney-General of the United 
 States, and originally intended to place our remarks upon 
 the District- Attorneys, next in order j but subsequently 
 changed this plan, and determined to place them imme* 
 diately after those upon the courts ; for next to the judges, 
 they, the District- Attorneys are the highest officers in 
 both the circuit and district courts. By reading this and 
 the twelfth chapter consecutively, a better understanding 
 of both these classes of officials may be gained, and a 
 clearer insight into the judicial machinery of the Govern' 
 ment. 
 
 2. In another place we have spoken of the decision of 
 the United States (see political* divisions), into judicial 
 districts, in each of which there is held a district court, 
 and a District- Attorney is appointed for each court, in 
 the same manner that the Attorney-General is appointed. 
 He bears the same official relation to these courts, and ha? 
 Bimilar duties to perform in them, that the Attorney-Gen- 
 eral has in the Supreme Court. It is his duty " to prose 
 cute in such district all delinquents for crimes and offencel 
 cognizable under the authority of the United States, and 
 ail civil actions in which the United Stages shall be ccn-
 
 04 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 cerned." They are his clients, and he must enforce their 
 rights, and defend them, in the same manner that any 
 attorney protects and defends his client in any of the 
 State courts. In case of necessity he may appoint a sub- 
 stitute to act in his place. All fees over and above what 
 he is allowed as compensation for his services, he must 
 report and pay into the United States treasury. 
 
 3. He must defend collectors of the customs and other 
 revenue officers in his district, when suits are brought 
 against them in their official capacity, and must report to 
 the Solicitor of the Treasury the number of suits deter- 
 mined and pending in his district. And when prize cases 
 have been determined, or are pending in the district 
 court of his district, he must report the state and condi- 
 tion of each case to the Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 District- Attorneys are appointed for four years; but 
 may be removed at the pleasure of the President. Their 
 compensation depends on the amount of business to be 
 done in their respective districts. When important 
 ports of entry, such as New York or Boston, lie in their 
 district!?, their duties are very numerous, and they receive 
 a corresponding compensation.
 
 U. S. MARSHALS. ' 
 
 95 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 United States Marshals. 
 
 1. UNITED States Marshals, commonly called simply 
 Marshals, are the ministerial officers of the United States 
 courts. Their duties and responsibilities are very similar 
 and nearly identical with the duties and responsibilities 
 of sheriffs, in the courts of the several States. They are 
 appointed by the President and Senate, for a term of four 
 years. They appoint their own deputies, and their com- 
 pensation consists of fees instead of a salary ; and depends 
 entirely upon the amount of business they have to trans- 
 act. There is a Marshal in every judicial district in the 
 the United States, and there are fifty-nine of these dis- 
 tricts in all, as stated in another place. Every State 
 forms at least one district, while the larger States are de- 
 vided into two or three. 
 
 2. A district court is held in every district ; and it is 
 the Marshal's duty to attend the sittings of these courts, 
 and also those of the United States Circuit Courts when 
 they happen to sit in his district. The Marshal for the 
 District of Columbia must also attend the sittings of the 
 Supreme Court, and execute its precepts. "We have said 
 that they are the ministerial officers of the United States 
 courts ; for it is their duty to serve all writs and precepts, 
 emanating from them, whether of a civil or criminal char-
 
 96 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 acter ; and to execute the judgments and decrees of these 
 tribunals ; and for this purpose they are authorized by 
 law, (if necessary), to command such assistance as they 
 may need in the execution of their duties. Before they 
 enter upon the duties of their office, they must be bound 
 to the United States for the faithful performance of them, 
 and must solemnly swear to do them, without malice or 
 partiality ; and that they will take only lawful fees. They 
 are also held answerable for the delivery to their suc- 
 cessors of all prisoners who may be in their custody at the 
 time of their removal, or at the expiration of their terra 
 of office. 
 
 3. They also have the custody of all vessels and goods, 
 seized by any officer of the revenue. It is their duty also 
 to summons, and to pay jurors and witnesses in behalf of 
 any prisoner to be tried for a capital offence, under the 
 laws of the United States. In the remarks made under 
 the head " Census," we stated that it was made the duty of 
 Marshals to superintend and direct the enumeration of the 
 people ; and to collect such statistical facts as the law re- 
 quires. This they do through deputies whom they ap- 
 point for that special purpose. 
 
 The United States Marshal is also required, on the first 
 day of January and July, of each year, to make a return 
 of all the fees and emoluments of his office to the Secre- 
 tary of the Interior ; and if they amount to more than 
 $6,000 per year, he must pay the surplus over that 
 amount into the treasury of the United States.
 
 GRAND JURY. 97 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 Grand Jury. 
 
 1 . BY turning to the fifth article of the Amendments to 
 the Constitution, you will find these words, " No person 
 shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous 
 crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand 
 jury j except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, 
 or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war 
 or public danger." This constitutional provision makes 
 a grand jury, a very important agent or instrumentality 
 in the execution of the laws, and also a safeguard of the 
 liberties and rights of the people. It secures every per- 
 son from the expense and disgrace of a trial for infamous 
 crimes, unless a Grand Jury of his countrymen shall find 
 upon inquiry and investigation, that there are good 
 reasons for believing that the person so charged has com- 
 mitted the alleged offence. 
 
 2. This provision not only protects those who are 
 charged with these crimes against the laws of the United 
 States, but those also who may be charged with such 
 offences against the laws of any State ; for no State can 
 arrest and try any person for a capital or infamous crime 
 without these preliminary proceedings of a Grand Jury ; 
 and should it do so, the United States Supreme Court 
 would set its laws aside, as contrary to the Constitution
 
 98 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 of the United States. Here we see that the Government 
 is just as careful to protect its citizens from injustice, by 
 hasty judicial proceedings, as it is to punish them after a 
 fair and impartial trial. 
 
 3. A Grand Jury, when callecf to take cognizance of 
 violations of the laws of the United States, to find in- 
 dictments against those who are charged with them, is 
 summoned by a judge of a United States Court in tho 
 circuit or district, where the alleged crime has been 
 perpetrated ; and it must take notice of all crimes 
 against the laws of the United States, which may be 
 brought to its knowledge within the circuit or district 
 in which it sits. Hence, if ordered by a circuit judge, 
 its powers extend over all those States which lie in that 
 circuit. But when ordered by a district judge, its 
 powers extend only to that District in which it sits, and 
 a district never embraces more than one State, and in 
 many cases a State is divided- into two or three dis- 
 tricts. 
 
 4. This shows us how much more extensive is the ju- 
 risdiction of a Grand Jury, when acting under the laws 
 of the United States, than when acting under State 
 laws. In the former it extends generally all over a 
 State, and sometimes over several States. But in the 
 latter it is confined to the county in which it sits. 
 
 GRAND AND PETIT JURIES. 
 
 It may be interesting and useful to our young read- 
 ers, to explain here the difference between a Grand 
 and a Petit Jury, as they are commonly denominated. 
 First, a Grand Jury never acts but in criminal cases. 
 A Petit Jury acts in both criminal and civil cases. The
 
 GRAND JURY. 99 
 
 finding or conclusion arrived at by a Grand Jury is 
 called a presentment, or an indictment the finding of 
 a Petit Jury is called its verdict. 
 
 5. Second, a Grand Jury sits alone [not in the pres- 
 ence of the Court], and deliberates upon such matters 
 of a criminal character as it possesses knowledge of, or 
 which may be brought to its notice by the Court, or by 
 other persons ; and when it finds that great evils exist, 
 and wrongs have been perpetrated, it presents them to 
 the Court, and calls the attention of the law officers to 
 them ; which is equivalent to a recommendation that 
 judicial proceedings should be commenced to abate the 
 evil, or to punish the wrong doer. This is called a 
 presentment of the Grand Jury. 
 
 And when they find upon such evidence as they have, 
 that a great crime has been perpetrated, or that they 
 have good reason so to believe, arid that it has been 
 perpetrated by some person specified, they report their 
 finding or conclusion to the Court. This is called an 
 indictment by the Grand Jury ; after which the person 
 so charged is arrested, if at large, and can be found, 
 and is either imprisoned or held to bail for his appear- 
 ance at Court to stand trial. 
 
 6. A Grand Jury never tries a case. It only says to 
 the Court by its presentment or indictment, that the case 
 presented, or the person indicted, ought to be brought 
 before the Court, and tried for the alleged wrong or 
 crime. 
 
 A Petit Jury sits with the Court, hears the plead- 
 ings and arguments of counsel on both sides, listens to 
 the evidence of witnesses ; and then hears the charge 
 D2
 
 100 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 of the Judge, as to the law applicable to the case ; after 
 which they withdraw and deliberate alone upon the 
 case, and if they agree in a criminal case, their verdict 
 is, " Guilty," or, " Not Guilty :" if in a civil suit, they 
 say how much one party is indebted, (if any) to the 
 other. 
 
 '7. The object aimed at in that article of the Constitu- 
 tion which stands at the head of this chapter, is to pro- 
 tect persons from false charges of crime, and hasty ad- 
 judication of such charges ; for it substantially amounts 
 to a declaration, that no person shall be punished for a 
 capital or infamous crime, unless one jury before trial, 
 shall upon information and belief, charge him with the 
 offence ; and another, after trial, shall find him guilty 
 of the alleged crime. 
 
 The above remarks are as applicable to Grand and 
 Petit Juries, acting under State, as those which act 
 under the United States laws.
 
 ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME JURISDICTION. 1Q1 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction. 
 
 IN ancient times, and long before this government 
 existed, civilized and commercial nations had codes 01 
 laws, which related especially to transactions upon the 
 sea. Those respecting ships of war, and warlike opera- 
 tions at sea, were called the laws of Admiralty ; those 
 respecting vessels engaged 'in commercial affairs were 
 called Maritime laws; and the courts empowered 
 with jurisdiction to hear and try causes, or to take any 
 judicial proceedings in those cases, were styled courts of 
 Admiralty and Maritime jurisdiction. These laws, in 
 many respects, differed so materially from the laws re- 
 lating to affairs on land, that the authority and power 
 to take proceedings in, and adjudicate upon them, was 
 conferred upon a particular class of courts. Hence we 
 see the origin of the names of such tribunals. 
 
 In this country, the United States District Courts, 
 have been designated by the laws, as the courts which 
 shall have original and exclusive authority to adjudi- 
 cate this class of causes ; yet an appeal from the District 
 to the Circuit courts may be taken.
 
 1Q2 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 OF CASES. 
 
 The word Maritime, designates that which relates to 
 the sea. Yet, in the United States, cases which come 
 within Admiralty and Maritime jurisdiction, are not 
 restricted to the sea, or to transactions relating to busi- 
 ness or crimes done on it, but are made to embrace 
 those which occur on navigable lakes and rivers, and 
 include seizures made for the violation of the laws 
 of impost, navigation or trade, suits for the recovery 
 of seamen's wages, contracts for building, repair- 
 ing or fitting out vessels, and, briefly, all contracts 
 where the subject-matter relates to the navigation of 
 the sea. The district courts have Admiralty and Mari- 
 time jurisdiction in all these cases, without regard to the 
 amount claimed, and in criminal as well as in civil 
 suits. 
 
 The foregoing remarks show the workings of our 
 judicial system, as it applies to business done, and 
 crimes committed upon the higU seas.
 
 CONGRESSMEN. 103 
 
 CHAPTER XXm. 
 Congressmen, 
 
 1. CONGRESSMEN, in the most comprehensive sense in 
 which the term may "be used, means any member in either 
 branch of that body. But there is a more restricted sense 
 in which it is most commonly used, and in this sense it is 
 generally understood ; that is, a member of the House of 
 Representatives, the lower of the two houses. These are 
 elected by the people, in each State, and in the Congres- 
 sional districts of that State ; and they are the only per- 
 sons either in the legislative, executive or judiciary 
 branches of the government, for whom the people vote 
 directly. They are elected by single districts, that is, 
 but one member is chosen in one district. They are 
 elected for two years, that is, during the term of a Con- 
 gress, which lasts two years, and always holds two sessions. 
 The President may call an extra session, if in his judgment 
 the exigencies of the country are such as to require its ac- 
 tion before the time of the regular meeting. This has 
 been done on several occasions. 
 
 2. The Constitution prescribes the qualifications of 
 members of the House of Representatives (which see). 
 They are also stated in Chapter III, where much other 
 matter relating to this subject may be found. The Con- 
 stitution is silent as to the number of members of which
 
 104 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the House shall be composed, excepting that it specified 
 how many each State should have, until the first enumera- 
 tion of the people in 1790 ; and since that Congress has 
 from time to time fixed the number, which is now 241, 
 to which must be added one for Nevada, and one for 
 Nebraska, which States were admitted since the last ap- 
 portionment.
 
 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. 2. 05 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 Congressional Districts. 
 
 WHENEVER the population of a State is so small that it 
 is entitled to only one representative in Congress, the 
 whole State forms but one Congressional District; but 
 whenever it is entitled to two or more, then it is divided 
 by its Legislature into as many districts as its population 
 entitles it to return members ; so that every member of Con- 
 gress is chosen by single districts. The act thus districting 
 the States was passed in 1862. In large cities, certain 
 sections or wards are constituted a Congressional District. 
 In the country, a county or several counties are formed 
 into a district ; but in all cases a district must consist of 
 contiguous territory, not scattered, a piece here and a 
 piece there, in different parts of the State, or country. 
 
 These districts must be re-arranged every ten years, and 
 as soon as may be, after the census is taken (which is every 
 ten years), and the population known and published. The 
 reason for this re-arrangement becomes apparent from the 
 fact that the number of the population is constantly 
 changing. In some States and counties it is rapidly in- 
 creasing ; in others increasing very slowly, or not at all, 
 or indeed may be decreasing. In new Western States, it 
 has increased uniformly so rapidly that at the end of every
 
 106 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 decade they have been entitled to an increase of repre- 
 sentatives ; while some of the older States, not increasing 
 so fast, have actually lost, so that what we state as the 
 number of representatives of each State now, may not bo 
 exactly correct after 1870, i. e., after the next census. 
 Hence we see that Congressional districts are not perma- 
 nent political divisions, but are liable to frequent changes. 
 If they were permanent, they would probably be laid 
 down in our common maps, as counties sometimes ai-e. 
 They are now generally designated by the ordinal num- 
 bers, as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, &c., Congressional districts of 
 such a State.
 
 CLERK OP THE HOUSE, AND SEC. OP SENATE. 10T 
 
 CHAPTER XXY. 
 
 fclerk of the House of Representatives, and Secretary 
 of the Senate. 
 
 1. The name of the first-mentioned officer indicates the 
 nature of his duties. He of course must keep a record of 
 the proceedings of the House of which he is Clerk. In 
 addition to the ordinary duties of his position, Congress 
 requires him to give bonds in the sum of twenty thousand 
 dollars, that he will faithfully apply and disburse the con- 
 tingent funds of the House, which may come into hia 
 hands. He, with the Secretary of the Senate, is author- 
 ized to advertise for proposals for supplying the Senate 
 and House of Representatives with stationery and 
 printing. 
 
 2. He must lay before Congress the names and compen- 
 sations of all clerks and messengers employed hi his office, 
 and a detailed statement of all expenditures from the con- 
 tingent funds of the House, together with a statement of 
 all appropriations made by Congress daring the last session, 
 and all new officers created by it, and their salaries. 
 
 3. He is chosen by the members of the House, holds his 
 office two years, and receives a salary of 83,000 a year. 
 He has the use of the Congressional library, and is entitled 
 to the franking privilege. 
 
 SECRETARY OF THE SENATE. 
 
 The duties, compensation, mode of election, powers and 
 privileges of this officer, are so much like those of the 
 Clerk of the House, that to describe them would be little 
 more than to reiterate the former part of this chapter.
 
 108 OUTLINES OP U. S. 'GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 Speakers of the Bouse of Representatives. 
 
 1. THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, is the 
 presiding officer thereof. He is chosen by the members of 
 that body, and is selected for this important position, in 
 view of his knowledge of parliamentary law and usages. 
 He is elected for the full term of the Congress which 
 chooses him. His compensation, by an act of 1856, was 
 fixed at double the amount received by other members of 
 the House; for his duties are much more arduous than 
 those of an ordinary member. 
 
 2. The law provides that in case of the death, resigna- 
 tion, impeachment, or any other inability to act, of both 
 the President and Vice-President, the President of the 
 Senate pro tern, must then act as President ; but in case 
 there happens to be no President of the Senate, then the 
 Speaker becomes Acting President. 
 
 3. The Speakership of the House of Representatives has 
 always been held, as a very respectable and honorable 
 position. The following are the names of all the Speakers 
 of the House, since the establishment of the Government, 
 down to the present time (1867). 
 
 Frederick A. Muhlenburgh, Penn., 1789 to 1791 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Conn., 1791 " 1793 
 
 Frederick A. Muhlenburgh, Penn., 1793 " 1797
 
 SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE. 109 
 
 Jonathan Dayton, N. J., 1797 to 1798 
 
 Theodore Sedgwick, Mass., 1198 " 1801 
 
 Nathaniel Macon, N. C., 1801 " 1807 
 
 JosephB. Varnam, Mass., 1807 " 1811 
 
 Henry Clay, Ky,, 1811 " 1814 
 
 Langdon Cheeves, S. C., 1814 1815 
 
 Henry Clay, Ky., 1815 " 1820 
 
 John W. Taylor, N. Y., 1820 " 1821 
 
 Philip R. Barbour, Va., 1821 " 1823 
 
 Henry Clay, Ky., 1823 1825 
 
 John W. Taylor, N. Y., 1825 " 1827 
 
 Andrew Stephenson, Va., 1827 " 1835 
 
 John Bell, Tenn., 1835 " 1837 
 
 James K. Polk, Tenn., 1837 " 1839 
 
 Robert M. T. Hunter, Va., 1839 " 1841 
 
 John White, Ky., 1841 " 1843 
 
 John W. Jones, Va., 1843 1845 
 
 John W. Davis, Ind., 1845 " 1847 
 
 Robert C. Winthrop, Mass , 1847 " 1849 
 
 Howell Cobb, Ga., 1849 1851 
 
 Lynn Boyd, Ky., 1851 " 1856 
 
 Nathaniel P. Banks, Mass., 1856 " 1858 
 
 James L. Orr, S. C., 1858 1859 
 
 William Pennington, N. J., 1860 " 1861 
 
 Galusha A. Grow, Penn., 1861 " 1863 
 
 Schuyler Colfax, Ind., 1864 " 1866
 
 110 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 Acts of Congress. 
 
 1. IN a comprehensive sense, an act of Congress is any act 
 done by it, whether it is the making a law, the passage of 
 a resolution, or any proceedings taken by it. But in a 
 more restricted sense, and what is usually meant by " an 
 act of Cngress," is a bill (as a proposed law, when laid be- 
 fore any Legislative body is called,) passed by both 
 Houses of Congress into a law, according to the forms and 
 prescribed rules, always adhered to, in the enactment of 
 laws, and afterwards signed by the President, or passed 
 by the votes of two-thirds of both Houses when the Presi- 
 dent refuses to sign it. 
 
 2. Hence every law of the United States is an act of Con- 
 gress, properly introduced, examined, and generally de- 
 bated, altered and amended if thought best, and then 
 voted for by a majority of the members of the House in 
 which it originated, after which it is sent to the other 
 House, where it goes through the same form, and, if ap- 
 proved by both Houses, it is then sent to the^ President 
 for his signature, and when signed by him the bill be- 
 comes a law, " an act of Congress." These laws are then 
 published in some of the newspapers in every State and 
 Territory ; also in pamphlet and book form, and distribu- 
 ted to every State and Territory, to the members of Con-
 
 ACTS OF CONGRESS. Ill 
 
 gress, and to all the principal officers of Government 
 at home and abroad, that the" people may know what the 
 laws are by which they are to be governed. 
 
 3. Every law passed by Congress is preceded by these 
 words : " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Re- 
 presentatives of the United States of America in Congress 
 assembled." This is called the enacting clause. 
 
 A resolution, when passed by Congress, although in 
 some instances of the same force as a law, is an act of 
 Congress of a very different character from those acts by 
 which laws are enacted, for these must all be done accord- 
 ing to established parliamentary usages and forms, such 
 as laying it (the proposed law) before Congress in the 
 form of a bill, printing it, referring it to an appropriate 
 Committee, to be afterwards reported by that Committee, 
 the placing it in its order upon the records of the House, 
 and the calling it up in its regular order, to be debated 
 and voted upon. 
 
 4. But resolutions are offered in writing, and often passed 
 on the spot, though they are sometimes laid over and re- 
 ferred to a Committee, then called up at the proper time, 
 and debated and passed or rejected. 
 
 Some of the most important work of Congress is done, 
 however, by means of resolutions ; for instance, its pro- 
 ceedings relative to an amendment of the Constitutiou is 
 done by the passage of a resolution through both Houses. 
 Many other matters upon which Congress acts are disposed 
 of in the same way. Its requirements of the President, 
 the Heads of Departments, and other officers of the Gov- 
 ernment, are made by resolutions, and have the binding 
 force of law ; for a disregard of these requirements or in- 
 structions, when made or given to any of these officers, 
 would be considered the same as a violation of law, and
 
 112 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 would render the official liable to censure, or perhaps to 
 impeachment, or removal from office. 
 
 5. Other resolutions are merely expressive of the senti- 
 ments or opinions of Congress, such as the thanks it fre- 
 quently votes to officers of the army and navy for brave 
 and gallant conduct in the discharge of their duty in peril- 
 ous situations. Such a recognition of the merits and good 
 conduct of any man in the public service is considered 
 highly honorable to him who receives it. 
 
 Some resolutions are concurrent that is, both Houses 
 of Congress must concur in or pass the same before they 
 have any power or validity. The Constitution prohibits 
 either House of Congress from adjourning for more than 
 three days without the concurrence of the other House. A 
 final adjournment, or any other, for more than three days, 
 would require the passage of a concurrent resolution. 
 
 6. Other resolutions may pass in only one House, but are 
 equally binding upon the members and officers of that 
 House which passes them ; but they do not bind the officers 
 of the other House : such, for example, as relates to ad- 
 journments for not more than three days ; to the order of 
 business in that House ; directions to the officers and em- 
 ployees of that body, &c., &c.
 
 RATIO OF REPRESENTATION. 113 
 
 CHAPTER XXYIII. 
 Ratio of Representation. 
 
 1. THE ratio of representation simply means the ratio 
 between the whole population of the United States, and 
 the whole number of their representatives in Congress , and 
 this of course includes the ratio between the people of any 
 individual State, and the representatives it is entitled to ; 
 both being estimated upon the same basis, and determined 
 by the same rule. 
 
 2. The distinctive characteristic of our Government is, 
 that it is a popular Government. Its power is vested in 
 the people. They elect their rulers, who are the servants of 
 the people, and these rulers are expected to carry out the 
 people's wishes. Upon such a system, it is a matter of the 
 first importance, to distribute this power equally among 
 all the people, and after having fixed upon the ratio be- 
 tween the whole population and the whole number of Ke- 
 presentatives ; or, in other words, after having determined 
 how many members shall compose the lower House of 
 Congress, the next step is to apportion these members 
 among all the States in the ratio of their population. If 
 one State has twice the number of inhabitants that another 
 has, it will be entitled to twice the number of representa- 
 tives in Congress. If one has ten times the inhabitants 
 that another has, it will be entitled to ten times the num- 
 ber of representatives and so on; with this one exception,
 
 114 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 which is, that by a provision in the Constitution, every 
 State, without regard to its population, is entitled to one 
 representative in the lower House. 
 
 3. The adjustment of this matter is all provided for in 
 the Constitution, that is, in its general features ; but it de- 
 volves upon Congress in every tenth year to readjust and 
 reapportion the representatives among the several States, 
 according to the population of each State as shown by the 
 last Census, which is taken every tenth year ; and when 
 the apportionment is once made, it remains the same for 
 the next ten years, when the Census is taken again,, and 
 a new apportionment is made. 
 
 4. Up to the present time [1867J, this has been done 
 nine times. It was done the first time by the Convention 
 which formed the Constitution. That apportionment is 
 found in the Constitution, and is as follows. 
 
 To New Hampshire, 3 
 Massachusetts, 8 
 Khode Island, 1 
 Connecticut, 5 
 New York, 6 
 New Jersey, 4 
 
 Pennsylvania, 
 Delaware, 
 Maryland, 
 Virginia, 
 North Carolina, 
 South Carolina, 
 
 8 
 1 
 6 
 10 
 5 
 5 
 
 Georgia, 3 
 
 By this it will be seen that the first Congress consisted 
 of but 65 members. 
 
 The Constitution also provided that the representatives 
 should not exceed one to every 30,000 people. The next 
 year after the Government went into operation, [1790], 
 the first census was taken, and as soon as the result was 
 known, a new apportionment was made. This was done
 
 RATIO Otf REPRESENTATION. 115 
 
 in 17^2 > anti was mado upon the ratio of one representative 
 to every 33,000 of representative* population. 
 
 5. In 1800, the second census was taken ; and when 
 Congress made the appointment, which was done in 1803, 
 it did not change the ratio, but left it at 1 representative 
 to every 33,000 of the representative population. 
 
 In 1810, the third census was taken, and in. 1811, the 
 ratio was fixed at 1 Representative for every 35,000 of 
 the population. 
 
 In 1820, the fourth census was taken, and in 1822 Con- 
 gress fixed the ratio at 1 Representative for every 40,000 
 of the population. 
 
 In 1830, the fifth census was taken, and in 1832 the ratio 
 was fixed at 1 representative to every 47,000 of the pop- 
 lation. 
 
 In 1840, the sixth census was taken, and hi 1842, Con- 
 gress again declared that the ratio should be 1 represen- 
 tative to every 70,000 of the population. 
 
 7. In 1850, the seventh census was taken, and in con- 
 formity with the law passed this year, the number of 
 members was for the first time limited ; the limit being 
 233 ; and the Secretary of the Interior was ordered to 
 take the census returns, and divide the whole representa- 
 tive population by the number 233, and to make the 
 quotient the ratio between .the representatives and the 
 people. 
 
 8. "We have never seen the result of the Secretary's es- 
 timate; but, taking the population of 1850, and dividing- 
 it by 233, would produce a quotient of nearly 94,000 ; and 
 this we take as the ratio, after the time when it was done, 
 
 * The representative population includes all free persons, 
 white or black ; to which (according to the provisions of the Con- 
 stitution), three-fifths of all the slave's were to be added. But this 
 proviso, now that slavery is abolished, has become a nullity.
 
 116 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 in 1852 ; that is, one representative to every 94,000 of 
 the population. 
 
 9. In 1860, the eighth and last census was taken, and 
 by the foregoing rule one representative was allowed for 
 every 127,000 of the population. 
 
 In 1850 Congress adopted the principle of perma- 
 nently fixing the number of members of Congress, to 
 save the trouble of doing it as heretofore every ten 
 years. An act was passed limiting it to 233 ; but not- 
 withstanding this limitation, it was provided that if any 
 new State came in, it should have its member, which 
 would add to the number 233. But this increase was 
 to continue no longer than until the next apportion- 
 ment, when the number was to fall back again to the 
 old figure. 
 
 .But in 1862 this law was modified, so as to make the 
 whole number of members to consist of 241 after the 
 3d of March, 1863, because it was found that by this 
 number a closer approximation to an equality between 
 the States, on the basis of their population, could be 
 attained than by the number 233. And here it stands 
 now at 241 with its numbers apportioned among the 
 several States as follows : 
 
 Alabama, 6 Mississippi, 5 
 
 Arkansas, 3 Missouri, 9 
 
 California, 3 New Hampshire, 3 
 
 Connecticut, 4 New Jersey, 5 
 
 Delaware, 1 New York, 31 
 
 Florida, 1 North Carolina, 7 
 
 Georgia, 7 Ohio, 19 
 
 Illinois, 14 Oregon, 1
 
 RATIO OF REPRESENTATION. 117 
 
 Indiana, 11 Pennsylvania, 24 
 
 Iowa, 6 Rhode Island, 2 
 
 Kansas, 1 South Carolina, 4 
 
 Kentucky, 9 Tennessee, 8 
 
 Louisiana, 5 Texas, 4: 
 
 Maine, 5 Vermont, 3 
 
 Maryland, 5 Virginia, 8 
 
 Massachusetts, 10 West Virginia, 3 
 Michigan, 6 "Wisconsin, 6 
 
 Minnesota, 2 
 
 12. Nevada and Nebraska have been admitted aa 
 States since this apportionment, with one member each, 
 BO that the Jlouse at present consists of 243 members ; 
 and if other new States should come in before 1 870. 
 they also will each bring in one member. But after 
 1870, according to the present law, the number will bo 
 brought back again to 241. But it must be borne in 
 mind that Congress has the power to alter all this, and 
 to enact that Congress shall consist of any other num- 
 ber of members, although it is not probable that this 
 will be done soon. 
 
 13. We have taken the pains to make all the fore- 
 going statements not so much to show how the House 
 of Representatives is now organized, as to show the 
 general plan upon which it is constituted, and to show 
 how the several States are constantly changing the 
 number of their representatives, and consequently their 
 relative power and influence in Congress. This can be 
 readily understood by remembering the fact that new 
 States come into the Union every few years, and that
 
 118 OUTLINES OF U. S.. GOVERNMENT 
 
 the population increases much, more rapidly in the 
 Western States than in the Eastern, and that, conse- 
 quently, the West is rapidly gaining power in Con- 
 gress, while the Atlantic States are losing it. 
 
 14. One other remark in regard to the number of 
 members of which the House is composed may prop- 
 erly be made here; and that is, that in the apportion- 
 ment no regard is had to the Territories or to their 
 population. In this adjustment, the States and their 
 population only are regarded, and the number of mem- 
 bers is all given to the States. Every representative 
 from a Territory is an addition to that number, but it 
 must be remembered that a Territorial member has no 
 right to vote on any question, but has only the right to 
 debate ; and for this reason he is not, in the fullest 
 sense, a member, and is not counted in adjusting the 
 number of which the Ilouse is made to consist
 
 CENSUS. l!9 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 Census. 
 
 1. A CENSUS is an enumeration, or counting, of the in- 
 habitants of any country. History informs us that this 
 was done in very ancient times. One of the books in the 
 Old Testament (Numbers) was named from the circum- 
 stance that it contains an account of the numbering of the 
 Israelites, by the order of Moses. That numbering was a 
 Census of the people, composing the Jewish nation. It 
 not only gives us the total number of the people, but that 
 of each tribe; much after our own mode of doing the 
 same thing. We take ours by States, and we find the 
 total of the whole nation. In ancient times, a Census 
 seems to have been taken more for military, than for any 
 other purpose. This is one of the objects in the present 
 day ; but in modern times many uses are made of a Cen- 
 sus. It not only shows the military power of a nation, 
 but when taken with the distinctions of sex, and age, with 
 an account of the births, marriages, and deaths during 
 each year, it throws much light upon a variety of inter- 
 esting topics ; such as the longevity, the rate of mortality 
 the ratio of increase and the average duration of human 
 life. These and many other important facts are obtained 
 by a Census. 
 
 2. In the United States the Census is the only mean
 
 120 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 by which Congress determines, the number of representa- 
 tives each State is entitled to have in that body. Hence 
 the Constitution itself makes provision for the enumera- 
 tion of the people once in ten years, called a decade. 
 The first was made in 1790, the next in 1800, and so on 
 every tenth year. If the number of any year ends with a 
 cipher, we know that the United States Census was taken, 
 or will be taken in that year, whether we look backward 
 or forward. 
 
 3. Up to the present time, (1867), according to the pro- 
 visions made in the Constitution, a Census has been taken 
 eight times, and under the head of recapitulation on 
 page 123 we find what it was each time. We also find 
 that from the first [1790], to the last [1860], the popula- 
 tion had increased, from 3,929,827, to 31,747,514. At the 
 present time it approximates nearly to 40,000,000 ; indi- 
 cating a growth, unparalleled by any nation in ancient 
 or modern times. 
 
 We will next state, how this great national work is 
 performed. The Constitution simply declares that it shall 
 be done, but the laws specify Jww it shall be done, and who 
 shall do it. 
 
 The Unite! States Marshals are the officers designated 
 by the law, as the persons who shall make the enumera- 
 tion of the people in each State and Territory ; in additioa 
 to which they arc also required to procure other statisti- 
 cal matter, as directed by Congress. 
 
 4. In order to accomplish this work, it is necessary to cm. 
 ploy a number of assistant marshals, each of whom must 
 visit every house in his district, and ascertain the number 
 of persons belonging to it, together with such statistical 
 information as is required. This is all returned to the
 
 CENSUS. 121 
 
 Marshal, and by him sent to the Department of the Interior 
 ao Washington, where under the direction of the Secretary 
 of the Interior it is made into a report, and then laid be- 
 fore Congress, to be used by it in apportioning to the 
 States their quota of representatives. This apportionment 
 is actually made in the department of the Interior, and 
 then laid before Congress, for its examination and ap- 
 proval. The Marshal appoints and commissions his de- 
 puties, who must be sworn to perform the duties assigned 
 to them to the best of their ability. 
 
 5. In the Department of the Interior, there is a Board 
 whose duty it is to superintend the work of taking the 
 Census. It prepares, prints, and sends to every Marshal 
 the blanks to be used by him and his assistants ; and when 
 they have made returns of their work, the Board arranges 
 them preparatory to laying them before Congress. After 
 this they are published, and make a very valuable work 
 of reference ; for they contain a vast amount of statistical 
 information ; such as the number of acres of land under 
 cultivation, the number of bushels of grain, of every kind 
 produced, in the year ; the number of horses, cattle, sheep, 
 swine, &c., raised ; the number of manufacturing establish- 
 ments, and the amount of their productions ; the number 
 of churches, schools, colleges &c. ; the number of deaf, 
 blind, idiotic and insane persons; together with much 
 other matter, quite too voluminous for insertion here. 
 
 6. All this is done, by order of Congress, and of course 
 paid for from the United States Treasury. 
 
 "We annex a tabular statement, of the population of each 
 State and Territory, at each time the Census has been 
 taken by the United States. It shows the increase at each 
 
 E
 
 122 
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 decade from 1 790 to 1860, together with the increase of 
 the number of States and Territories. 
 
 POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PEEIODS. 
 
 Alabama . . 
 Arkansas . . 
 California . 
 Conn 
 Delaware.. 
 Florida.... 
 Georgia... 
 Illinois .... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 127 ,901 
 14,255 
 
 309,527 
 30,388 
 
 690,756 
 97,574 
 
 771,623 
 203,897 
 92,597 
 870,792 
 91,53? 
 87,445 
 9C6.185 
 857,470 
 988,410 
 192,214 
 
 064,201 
 435,450 
 36S.439 
 460.147 
 112,215 
 140,425 
 1,057,183 
 1,711,051 
 1,350.423 
 674 913 
 107,105 
 1,155,684 
 708,002 
 6-8,279 
 87,049 
 1.231,068 
 '749,113 
 172 123 
 
 
 
 
 228.141 
 59,096 
 
 251,002 
 04,273 
 
 262,042 
 72,674 
 
 275,102 
 72,749 
 
 297,675 
 76,748 
 34,730 
 516,823 
 157,445 
 S4S,031 
 
 309,978 
 78,085 
 54,477 
 091,392 
 476,1G3 
 C85,3CG 
 43,112 
 
 82,548 
 
 162,101 
 
 252,43C 
 12,282 
 24,520 
 
 340,933 
 
 55,102 
 147,178 
 
 Indiana.... 
 
 
 4.876 
 
 Iowa 
 
 
 Ivansas 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kentucky . 
 Louisiana . 
 
 73,077 
 
 220,955 
 
 15'l',7i9 
 341,584 
 423.245 
 
 406,511 
 76,556 
 228,705 
 380,546 
 472,040 
 4,762 
 
 604,135 
 152,923 
 238,269 
 407,350 
 623,159 
 8,705 
 
 687,917 
 215,739 
 399,455 
 447,040 
 610,408 
 31,639 
 
 779,828 
 362.411 
 601J793 
 470,019 
 737,699 
 212,267 
 
 82.405 
 517,762 
 583,169 
 683,034 
 994,514 
 397054 
 6 077 
 
 Maine 
 Maryland.. 
 Mass 
 Michigan.. 
 Minnesota. 
 Mississippi. 
 Missouri 
 
 98,540 
 319,728 
 378,717 
 
 
 
 
 8,850 
 
 40,35: 
 20,845 
 214,300 
 245,555 
 959,049 
 555,500 
 230,7CO 
 
 75,448 
 66577 
 244,022 
 277,426 
 1,372,111 
 CSS ,829 
 681,295 
 
 136,021 
 140,455 
 269,328 
 320,823 
 1,918,608 
 737,987 
 937,903 
 
 875,651 
 383,702 
 284,674 
 373,308 
 2,4-28 ,921 
 753,416 
 1,519.467 
 
 1, '724,033 
 108,830 
 694,9S 
 829,210 
 
 606.52t> 
 682,044 
 317,976 
 489.555 
 3,097,394 
 869,039 
 1,980,329 
 13,294 
 2,311,786 
 147,545 
 668,507 
 1,002,717 
 212,592 
 314.1-20 
 1.42 1,661 
 305,391 
 
 7v>l,E03 
 1,182,012 
 * 26,073 
 672,035 
 3,880,735 
 992,622 
 2,339,511 
 62,465 
 2,905,115 
 174.C23 
 703,70i 
 1.108,801 
 C04.215 
 315.093 
 1,693,318 
 775,881 
 
 36,533 
 ?,576 
 8, 41 
 17,264 
 83,009 
 40,699 
 11, U8 
 
 75.0P'l 
 
 N. H"::: 
 
 y[. j 
 
 141,899 
 84,1S9 
 40,130 
 393,751 
 
 183,762 
 211,949 
 586.756 
 478,103 
 45,365 
 
 K Y 
 
 N.C::::::: 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 
 Penn 
 
 l-c 1 ::::::: 
 
 Tennessee . 
 
 34,373 
 66,110 
 49,073 
 35,791 
 
 602,361 
 69,122 
 245,591 
 105,602 
 
 810,091 
 7T,031 
 415.11f 
 261,727 
 
 1,047,507 
 83,015 
 502,741 
 422,761 
 
 1,348,233 
 97,109 
 681,185 
 681, 04 
 
 Vermont .. 
 Virginia... 
 Wisconsin . 
 Terrltor'* 
 
 85,416 
 48,308 
 
 154,465 
 880,200 
 
 217,713 
 974,622 
 
 236,749 
 1,065,129 
 
 280,652 
 1,211 ; 405 
 
 291 ,9? 8 
 1,239,797 
 30,945 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dakota . . . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nebraska. . 
 Nevada .... 
 N. Mexico. 
 Utah 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 61,547 
 11,380 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wash'gt'n. 
 DistofCol. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14,093 
 
 2 1, 01!' 
 
 33 0".o 
 
 89, 8fU 
 
 43.T12 
 
 M.687
 
 CENSUS. 123 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Total population in 1790 3,929.827 
 
 1800 6,305:937 
 
 1810 7.239.814 
 
 " " 1820 9,638.191 
 
 " " 1830 12,866.020 
 
 " " 1840 ..17,069,453 
 
 1850 23,191.876 
 
 " I860.... 31,443,322 
 
 To which add Indians and others iu the Indian territory, not 
 
 included in the Census 304,192 
 
 Grand total in 1860 31,747,514
 
 124 OUTMNES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 The United States Flag. 
 
 1. THE United States flag, " The stars and stripes," i\ 
 too familiar an object to require much description ; for 
 every body has seen it, and almost every one has admired 
 it. And no wonder, for it is the handsomest flag in the 
 world, " Red, White and Blue ;" those alternate red 
 and white stripes in beautiful contrast with the blue field 
 bedecked with stars ; as though a piece of the sky had 
 been taken to add more beauty to our national emblem 
 which makes it in truth, " The star-spangled banner." 
 
 May it forever wave 
 O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave." 
 
 2. But there is a little history about it, which it is well 
 to know. In 1794 when there were only 15 States, Con- 
 gress passed an act, declaring that the flag of the United 
 States, should consist of 15 stripes, alternate red and 
 white, and that the Union be 15 stars, white in a blue 
 field. The stars and stripes were by this act to be equal 
 in number. But this act was repealed by another, passed 
 in 1818, which declared that it should consist of only 13 
 stripes, alternate red and white ; and that the Union bo 
 20 stars ; and that upon the admission of every new State 
 into the Union, one star be added to the Union of the flag. 
 This has been done, and now there are 37 stars in the blue 
 field. By this arrangement our flag is and always will be
 
 U. S. FLAG. 125 
 
 emblematic of two things; the 13 stripes indicate the 13 
 original States, while the stars show, and will always 
 show, the number of States in the Federal Union. The 
 stars will continue to increase until the last State shall be 
 added ; and when thus completed, will probably form a 
 constellation of 50 or more stars, representing so many 
 States.
 
 123 OUTLINES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXL 
 The Laws of the United States. 
 
 1. A CLEARER and more comprehensive idea of the laws 
 under which we live, may be obtained by a sort of analy- 
 sis of them, or a division of them into their several kinds. 
 By this process we shall find four different laws, emanat- 
 ing from four different sources, or authorities ; each hav- 
 ing the power to enact, and to demand obedience to its 
 enactments. 
 
 The first of these is the Constitution of the United 
 States. This is considered as an enactment of the people 
 themselves ; for it was made by their representatives 
 chosen for that purpose, and afterwards ratified by them 
 through another body of their representatives, viz., the 
 Legislatures of the several States. In the Constitution 
 itself we find a large body of laAvs, and those of the most 
 important and essential character; for they not only bind 
 every person in the country, but they bind Congress itself, 
 which is the law-making power of the Government. 
 
 2. The whole body of the law found in the Constitution 
 is called " constitutional law." It is of the highest au- 
 thority, and paramount to all other laws, excepting tho 
 laws of God. Statute laws may be changed or repealed 
 at any time by the same power that enacted them, but 
 the Constitution cannot be changed but by a vote of two-
 
 LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. 127 
 
 thirds of both Houses of Congress, and after that by tho 
 approval of three-fourths of all the Legislatures of the 
 States in the Union. Thus it takes a long time to change 
 or amend it, and no one body of men can alter it ; but any 
 amendment must have the approval of all the legislative 
 bodies above named. Then it is deemed to have been 
 sanctioned by three-fourths of the people themselves, for it 
 is done by their immediate representatives. So much, for 
 one kind of law. 
 
 3. The next in order are the laws enacted by Congress. 
 These, like all laws made by legislative bodies are denom- 
 inated statute laws. These laws, while in force, are as 
 binding as those found in the Constitution. But this dis- 
 tinction must be observed ; the statutes as before stated 
 may be amended or wholly repealed at any time when 
 Congi'ess is in session, and may be set aside by the Su- 
 preme Court in case they are found to be contrary to any 
 of the provisions of the Constitution. All the Laws en- 
 acted by Congress, unless they are for some local object, 
 are equally binding in every State and Territory of the 
 United States ; and are uniformly applied and executed in 
 all, by the United States courts. The foregoing remark 
 shows us the wide difference between an act of Congress 
 which extends to, and embraces the whole national do- 
 main ; and an act of a State legislature, which has no au- 
 thority or power beyond the limits of the State where it 
 was enacted. 
 
 4. The laws contained in the Constitution are few in 
 number in comparison with the statute laws. These are 
 exceedingly numerous, and are made to meet the necessi- 
 ties and wants of the people in all their relations to tho
 
 128 OUTLINES OF U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Government and to each other; to regulate the army, tha 
 navy, our diplomatic intercourse with foreign nations, and 
 in short everything which requires legislative interference ; 
 while those relate only to the fundamental principles on 
 which the Government is based, and may be compared to 
 an outline map ; which only shows the boundaries and 
 some of the principal mountains, rivers, cities and other 
 prominent features of the country intended to be delin- 
 eated. 
 
 5. Thus much for constitutional and statute laws. We 
 will now notice another kind, quite different from either in 
 the mode of enactment, but just as binding on Congress, 
 the executive, the judiciary, and on every citizen as any 
 constitutional provision, or act of Congress. We mean 
 the various treaties made between us and foreign nations, 
 and Indian tribes. Treaties when made and ratified by 
 the respective Governments by which they are made, are 
 cf the same authority and as binding upon the citizens of 
 both countries, as any constitutional or statutory law 
 in existence; and any violation of the provisions of a 
 treaty between us and any foreign power is made punish- 
 able, as much as the violation of any statute upon the 
 books. This of course applies to individual citizens. If 
 the treaty be violated by either of the national authorities, 
 it then becomes a subject of diplomatic arrangement, or 
 may lead to a war between the Governments concerned. 
 We have thus disposed of the third kind of law, according 
 to our mode of division. 
 
 6. At the commencement of this chapter we spoke of 
 four kinds of laws to which the citizens of the United 
 States are subject. Tae three already noticed are by far
 
 LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. 129 
 
 the most important, whereas the fourth the laws of na- 
 tions are, so far as individuals are concerned, of minor 
 importance, as they relate rather to the duties of govern- 
 ments and their agents, to the duties and obligations of 
 armies, and of naval commanders in times of war. All 
 these, with many other matters, are regulated according 
 to the law of nations, which law is not a series of enact- 
 ments of any law-making power of any government upon 
 earth, but consists of rules laid down by the great writers 
 upon this subject as rules or laws which should regulate 
 the conduct of one nation towards another according to 
 the admitted principles of right and humanity, especially 
 in times of war. These laws and principles have been ap- 
 proved of and sanctioned by almost all civilized nations, 
 and hence have been denominated " the law of nations,'* 
 and are observed by all governments of civilized countries 
 who wished to sustain an honorable character among the 
 family of nations. The violation of the law of nations 
 exposes the violator to the condemnation of the world, 
 and to the danger of retaliation by war with the injured 
 nation. 
 
 7. While on the subject of laws, it will not be irrele- 
 vant to say that the United States courts, and especially 
 the Supreme Court, are the expounders of the laws of the 
 country, and of the " law of nations" whenever they apply 
 to matters in which our government or our citizens are 
 concerned. The courts themselves make no laws, but by 
 their decisions in cases adjudicated by them, they declare 
 what is the true meaning and intention of the Constitu- 
 tion and the laws. They declare how these should be un- 
 derstood, construed and applied. Hence the decisions of 
 
 E2
 
 130 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the courts are regarded with almost as much deference as 
 the laws themselves, determining, as they do, the interpre- 
 tation and true meaning of them. 
 
 8. In the foregoing remarks we have made no allusion 
 to the laws of the States, which have no authority or power 
 outside of the State by which they are enacted ; and shall 
 not do so now, as it would be foreign to the object of our 
 work. "We therefore will close the chapter on this sub- 
 ject with the addition of a single remark, that every per- 
 son in the United States lives under two distinct and sep- 
 arate governments and codes of law, viz. : First, the 
 United States Government and its laws ; and, Second, the 
 government and laws of the State where he resides. 
 
 9. But how is a conflict between the laws of the United 
 States and the laws of the States avoided ? 
 
 Answer By the following constitutional provision 
 found in the sixth article of that instrument, and in these 
 words : 
 
 " This Constitution, and the laws of the United States, 
 which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties 
 made or which shall be made under the authority of the 
 United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, and 
 the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything 
 in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary 
 notwithstanding." This answers the question. The Con- 
 stitution, treaties with foreign nations, and the laws 
 enacted by Congress, are supreme, and override any law 
 passed by any State, if it conflicts with any of these. The 
 United States courts, and the courts of any State, are 
 bound to disregard and set aside any State law in case it 
 is found to be contrary to the United States laws.
 
 NATURALIZATION LAWS. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 naturalisation Laws. 
 
 1. BY far the greater part of the people in the United 
 States are natives of the country, and are, consequently, 
 citizens by "birthright. They have all the rights and 
 privileges which the Government affords, without being 
 required to do anything to procure them. A native citi- 
 zen has the right to vote, the right to buy. hold, and sell 
 lands, and the right to protection by his Government 
 when in a foreign country or upon the high seas. But an 
 alien does not enjoy these rights. An alien is one who 
 was born in some foreign country, and before he can be 
 a citizen, he must remain in the country at least five 
 years; and then must, in addition to this, do such things 
 as our naturalization laws require of him. After he has 
 done this he becomes a citizen, and has all the rights of a 
 native, with this exception he never can be President or 
 Vice-President of the United States, because the Constitu- 
 tion positively declares that both of these high officers 
 shall be native citizens, and the one exception to this pro- 
 vision has no application now. 
 
 2. The United States have always pursued a very lib- 
 eral policy towards aliens, or foreigners, as they are some- 
 times called, for they have enacted laws easily complied 
 with, by which any alien may become a citizen, after
 
 132 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 which he possesses the same rights as a native, with the 
 exception before stated. 
 
 WHAT AN ALIEN MUST DO TO BECOME A CITIZEN. 
 
 3. The Constitution authorizes Congress to pass such 
 laws as it may judge right and proper on the subject of 
 naturalization. This it has done from time to time. The 
 first act of this kind was passed in 1790, since which va- 
 rious other acts have been passed modifying the first. 
 
 An alien, in order to become a citizen, must go before 
 some United States court, or some court of record of some 
 State, at least two years before his admission, and then 
 and there declare under oath that it is his intention to be 
 come a citizen of the United States, and must renounce all 
 allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, 
 State or sovereignty whatever, and particularly, by name?, 
 the prince, potentate, State or sovereignty whereof such 
 alien may, at the time, be a citizen or subject. 
 
 4. And at the time he is admitted he must, before somo 
 of the courts before named, again swear to the same things, 
 with the addition that he will support the Constitution of 
 the United States.~ When~all this is~done, the court be- 
 fore whom the oath is taken and the renunciation made 
 makes a record of the proceedings, and gives the person 
 naturalized a certificate that he was made a citizen by the 
 said court at the time and place therein named. This cer- 
 tificate gives him all the rights of citizenship in any State 
 or Territory in the United States. All laws relating to 
 naturalization are made by Congress. No State has the 
 right to pass any law on this subject. Yet Congress con- 
 fers authority on the State courts to naturalize an alien.
 
 NATURALIZATION LAWS. 133 
 
 Indeed, State courts naturalize more than the United 
 States courts. 
 
 5. In addition to what we have said on this subject, it 
 should be stated that an alien must, in all cases, have 
 lived in the country five years before he can be admitted 
 to citizenship. But in 1862 an act was passed. making an 
 exception to this requirement in favor of any person who 
 who Avas 21 years of age, and had enlisted, or who should 
 thereafter enlist, in the army, and be honorably discharged 
 therefrom. In such cases, a good moral character, with 
 one year's residence, without any previous declaration of 
 intention, was sufficient. Our naturalization laws require 
 good moral character in all cases of those who apply for 
 admission to citizenship. But the courts have been ex- 
 ceedingly remiss in this matter, and almost everybody 
 who makes application is admitted to this exalted privi- 
 lege without any regard to the character of the applicant. 
 
 The law requires that if an alien has borne any title of 
 nobility in the country from whence he came, he must re- 
 nounce such title before he can be made a citizen of tho 
 United States. 
 
 6. There is an exception to what is above stated in the 
 definition of an alien ; that is, that ho is one who was born 
 in some foreign country. A child may be born out of the 
 United States; yet if its parents, at tho time of its birth, 
 were citizens, the child is also a citizen by virtue of its 
 parent's citizenship, and, consequently, never needs nat- 
 uralization to possess all the rights it would have, had it 
 been born in the United States. 
 
 7. In this connection another provision of our natural- 
 ization laws should be noticed; and that is, that children 
 born in a foreign country, and of foreign parentage, be-
 
 134 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 come citizens of the United States -without personal nat- 
 uralization, upon the following conditions : First, that they 
 came into the country before they are 21 years of age ; 
 and Second, that their father became a naturalized citizen 
 "before they have reached that age that is, the naturaliza- 
 tion of the father makes all his children citizens who reside 
 in the country, and are under the age of 21 at the time of 
 the parent's naturalization. This is a very liberal pro- 
 vision of the law in favor of the minor children of those 
 who become citizens.
 
 NEUTRALITY LAWS. 135 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 Neutrality Raws. 
 
 1. THE Neutrality Laws of the United States, like those 
 of other nations who have enacted them, have the same 
 design; and are intended to accomplish the same object; 
 which is to preserve peace, and to maintain friendly re- 
 lations with other nations, States or Powers. It is the duty, 
 the interest, and should be the policy of all Governments, 
 to live in peace with other nations, whenever it can bo 
 done without the sacrifice of honor or of self preservation. 
 It is the duty of every Government so to control the ac- 
 tions of its own citizens or subjects, as not to allow them 
 to perpetrate such acts towards other Governments as 
 would tend to embroil the two countries in a war, or to 
 disturb their friendly relations and intercourse. 
 
 The most civilized and enlightened nations have for this 
 purpose enacted Neutrality Laws, x which if obeyed by the 
 citizens of the country who enacts them, do much to pre- 
 vent wars and unfriendly feelings between nations. 
 
 2. A single illustration will perhaps place the whole 
 scope, design and nature of Neutrality Laws in a clearer 
 light, than a verbose recital of, or commentary upon their 
 provisions. Our illustration may be thus put : A, B and 
 C, we suppose to be three different nations. A, and B, 
 are at war with each other, but both are on friendly terms
 
 OUTLINES 'OP Ursr GOVERNMENT. 
 
 C. Now C, by her^ neutrality laws, prohibits her 
 ?citizens or subjects, within her territory from enlisting, 
 or fittinglout men, or organizing any expedition by sea or 
 land to aid either of the belligerent nations, A, or B; be- 
 cause this would be a hostile act towards the other, and 
 might lead to a war between it and C. 
 
 The Neutrality Laws of the United States, now in force, 
 'were enacted in 1818, and are very similar in their pro- 
 visions to laws of other nations upon the same subject, 
 and are declaratory of the pre-existing laws of nations. 
 
 3. These laws, however, do not prohibit the citizens of 
 the United States from leaving their country, and then 
 enlisting or engaging in war upon either side. It does not 
 prohibit a citizen from leaving his country ; and after ho 
 has left it, the Government has no control over him. 
 Hence, in spite of neutrality laws, it is no uncommon thing 
 to find the subjects of Governments engaging in a war 
 against a nation with whom their own Government is at 
 peace. The violation of the law consists in accepting an 
 office, or enlisting, or procuring enlistments or fitting out 
 expeditions, by sea or land, while in the United States. 
 
 It is declared to be a high misdemeanor, and is punish- 
 able by tine and imprisonment. The President of the 
 United States is authorized to employ either the land or 
 naval force of the country to prevent any hostile expedi- 
 tion against any nation, state, colony or people, who are 
 at peace with us.
 
 ELECTIONS. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 Elections. 
 
 1. OXE of the cardinal principles upon which our Gov- 
 ernment is founded, and one to which the people adhere 
 with the greatest tenacity is, that governments derive 
 their just powers from the consent of the governed ; and 
 although all the people cannot in person be present to ap- 
 prove or to disapprove of the laws by which they are to 
 be governed, yet under our form of Government we ap- 
 proximate as nearly to such a condition of things as is 
 practicable. This is effected by the representative sys- 
 tem. A few are chosen who represent the wishes and sen- 
 timents of the many. 
 
 The men chosen to make and administer our laws, are 
 not so chosen, from the personal regard the people have 
 for them ; but for the principles they are known to enter- 
 tain, and which correspond with those of the people who 
 choose them. The representative is bound to carry out 
 the sentiments of those who elect him, and to do what they 
 would do, if they acted for themselves. 
 
 2. From this principle, it becomes a matter of the first 
 importance to know what the will of the people is, in re- 
 gard to the various questions which arise from time to 
 time, relating to the policy of the Government, and the 
 laws to be enacted to carry out that policy. The means
 
 138 OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 used to determine these questions are our elections. These 
 are looked to with great interest, and sometimes with 
 great excitement, as they furnish the only occasions in 
 wliich the mass of the people can act upon the Govern- 
 ment, by electing such men "as they want to make and 
 administer their laws. Hence at the close of our elections 
 it is pretty well known what measures are to be pursued 
 by the principles of the men elected. 
 
 3. These remarks, however, apply with greater force to 
 the State Governments, and to the election of State officers 
 than to the officers of the United States ; for Congress- 
 men are indeed the only officials in the general Govern- 
 ment for whom the people directly vote ; though it is 
 often said that the President is elected by them, this is 
 not strictly correct. The people do not vote directly for 
 either President or Vice-President. They vote for electors, 
 and these electors vote for those officers. This, it is true, 
 is but a circuitous way of reaching the same result ; for 
 the electors have always faithfully carried out the wishes 
 of their constituents, and voted for the same candidates 
 for whom the people would have voted if our constitu- 
 tional forms allowed them to vote directly for these candi- 
 dates, without the intervening and cumbrous machinery 
 of Presidential electors. We think a great improvement 
 in the modus operandi would be effected by such a change 
 in our Constitution, as would give the election directly to 
 the people. 
 
 4. There is some analogy between the election of the 
 President and the election of the United States Senators. 
 In the first instance the people choose electors, and these 
 elect the President ; in the latter, the people elect the mem- 
 bers of their Legislatures, and these elect the Senators.
 
 ELECTIONS. 139 
 
 Then, as to the other officers of the general Government, 
 ihey are appointed by their superiors : the most important 
 ones by the President, by and with the consent of the 
 Senate, and the minor ones by the head* of departments, 
 or some one higher in rank than the appointees. Thus 
 we see that, with the exception of the members of the 
 .House of Representatives, the people do not vote directly 
 for any of the officials of the United States Government. 
 Yet by this kind of proxy vote, about the same result is 
 obtained. 
 
 5. Of all our elections none is considered of so much 
 importance as the Presidential. These come as before said 
 every four years, because the Constitution provides that 
 the term for which a President is chosen shall be four 
 years. We have thought it would be quite interesting to 
 some of our readers, and at the same time would help to 
 preserve the political history of our nation, to give a brief 
 account of each Presidential election, together with the 
 names of the candidates and some of the prominent circum- 
 stances connected with them. This will be found in the 
 following chapter, and we hope will materially aid those 
 who wish to know something of the men and tunes gone 
 by. Our elections, both for the general and State Gov- 
 ernments are by ballot, instead of viv<.i voce, (the living 
 voice) as in some countries. 
 
 The ballot is a small piece of paper, with the name of 
 the candidate or candidates printed or written upon it, 
 and then folded in such a manner as to hide them ; so 
 that no one but the voter can tell what names are on his 
 ballot. A vote vivarvoce, is when the voter, in the pres- 
 ence of the inspectors of the election, audibly and clearly 
 calls out the name of the candidate for whom he votes, and
 
 140 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 thus proclaims in the hearing of all present how he votes 
 But the ballot enables the voter to vote secretly if he 
 chooses to do so. 
 
 6. Our elections for President, for Congressmen, for 
 Governors of the several States and their respective Leg- 
 islatures, are more exciting than those for other minor 
 officers. Much is said and much is written of a very in- 
 flammatory character. The liberty of the press, and the 
 liberty of speech are most shamefully perverted, sometimes 
 into abuse and slander. "When these vicious practices 
 shall cease, as we hope they will, the Government will 
 stand on firmer ground than it now does.
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 141 
 
 CHAPTER XXXY. 
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, WITH NOTICES OP FACTS AND 
 CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH THEM. 
 
 THE Convention which formed the Constitution of tha 
 United States, fixed upon the first Wednesday of January, 
 1789, for the election of the first Presidential Electors, and 
 the first Wednesday of February of the same year for the 
 election of the first President, and the first Wednesday of 
 March (which was the fourth), for putting the new govern- 
 ment into operation. The election of the Electors, and of 
 the President by them, were carried out to the letter ; 
 but the government did not get into operation until the 
 thirtieth of April, nearly two months after the specified 
 time, for the elected members of Congreess were tardy in 
 convening at New York (the place fixed \ipon for the first 
 session) ; and it was not nntil the thirtieth of April, that 
 Washington was inaugurated as President. But as the 
 fourth of March was the time at which it was intended 
 that it should take place, it was reckoned as the date from 
 which Washington's administration commenced ; and the 
 date both of the commencement and termination of every 
 Presidential term since. Hence, the fourth of March of 
 every fourth year is an important epoch in our political 
 history, as it is the time when a new administration comes 
 into power, or the commencement of the second term of 
 an incumbent who has been re-elected.
 
 142 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 FIKST ELECTION, 1789. 
 
 George Washington was unanimously elected President, 
 and John Adams, Vice-President. The Vice-Presidency 
 at this and at the three succeeding elections, was deter- 
 mined according to the provisions of the Constitution as it 
 then stood ; which were, that the candidate for President 
 who received the highest number of votes should be Presi- 
 dent ; and he who received the next highest should be 
 Vice-President. But this provision was changed by the 
 Twelfth Amendment, proposed in 1803, which went into 
 effect at the next election in 1804. Previous to that, wo 
 tear nothing of any candidates for Vice-President. By 
 the provisions of the said amendment, the electors vote one 
 name for President and another for Vice-President. But 
 previous to that, the electors voted for two candidates 
 without designating which for President, or which for Vice- 
 President, knowing that the one receiving the largest 
 number would have the first place, and the next highest 
 the second. This caused much confusion and uncertainty 
 as to the intentions of the electors. After four elections 
 conducted upon this plan, the Constitution was amended ; 
 since which, without change, all the elections have been 
 conducted as directed in this amendment. 
 
 In our comments upon the first election we may as well 
 notice another great change which has gradually taken 
 place in regard to the mode of choosing the electors. The 
 Constitution says that the Presidential electors shall bo 
 appointed, in each State, in such manner as the Legislature 
 thereof shall direct. Now this left the Legislature with 
 power to appoint them itself, or to order their appointment 
 or election in any other way. The electors for the first
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 143 
 
 Presidential election, we think (though we have seen no 
 historical record of the fact), were all chosen by the State 
 Legislatures ; but soon after we find that different methods 
 were used in different States. In some, the Legislatures 
 chose them ; in others they were elected by popular vote ; 
 aud it seems that this plan was the one most approved of, 
 for it finally became almost universal, and was adopted 
 by every State except South Carolina, which never did 
 give this election to the people (at least not anterior to the 
 Rebellion). For these reasons \ve cannot give the popular 
 vote of the earlier Presidential elections, as we have done 
 of those in later years ; because the people in several of the 
 States did not directly vote for electors. "When we have 
 given it, it must be remembered that South Carolina is 
 not included. 
 
 But eleven States participated in this election. North 
 Carolina and Rhode Island had not at this time ratified 
 the Constitution ; consequently they could take no part in 
 it. At this time political parties were very indistinctly 
 defined. The only noticable political difference consisted 
 in approval or disapproval of the new Constitution. Its 
 friends were called Federalists, among whom Washington 
 was numbered. Those who had opposed the adoption of 
 the Constitution were called anti-Federalists. At the first 
 election there were but sixty-nine electors. 
 
 SECOND ELECTION, 1792. 
 
 "Washington and Adams were both re-elected to the 
 same positions for a second term. Washington was again 
 unanimously elected. Vermont and Kentucky had both 
 been admitted into the Union since the last election;
 
 144 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 which, made fifteen States that took part in this. At the 
 second election there were one hundred and thirty-two 
 electors. 
 
 TI1IKD ELECTION, 179G. 
 
 There were four candidates in the field at this time for 
 the office of President of the United States, viz. : 
 
 John Adams. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, 
 
 Aaron Burr, 
 
 Thomas Pinckney. 
 Adams received 71 electoral votes. 
 Jefferson " 69 " 
 
 Pinckney 59 < 
 Burr " .38 " 
 
 This result made Adams President, arid Jefferson Vice- 
 President. 
 
 A new State Tennessee had been admitted since the 
 last election, which made sixteen in the Union at this 
 time. 
 
 FOURTH ELECTION, 1800. 
 
 The same four candidates were again in the field at 
 this election ; Adams and Pinckney as Federalists, and 
 Jefferson and Burr as Anti-Federalists, who about this 
 time took the name of Republicans. 
 
 Jefferson and Burr received 73 of the electoral votes. 
 
 Adams " 64 
 
 Pinckney 63 
 
 No one having received a majority, the election, accord- 
 ing to the provisions made in . the Constitution, went to
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 145 
 
 the Hous.e of Representatives for the first time. The re- 
 sult waa that Jefferson was elected President, and Aaroii 
 Bun-, Vice-President. 
 
 No new States had been admitted since the last election, 
 so there were but sixteen which participated in this. 
 
 The results of this election proved the complete over- 
 throw of the Federal party; and it never regained power 
 afterwards. 
 
 FIFTH ELECTION, 1804. 
 
 The twelfth amendment of the Constitution having 
 been duly ratified before this election, we now, in accord- 
 ance with its provisions, for the first time find candidates 
 for the Vice-Presidency brought forward. 
 
 Mr. Burr having been dropped, Thomas Jefferson and 
 George Clinton were put forth by the Republicans for 
 President and Vice-President, and Charles C. Pinckney 
 and Rufus King, by the Federalists, for the same positions. 
 
 Jefferson and Clinton each received 162 of the electoral 
 votes. 
 
 Pinckney and King only received 14 votes. 
 
 The admission of Ohio, in 1802, made seventeen States 
 in the Union at this election. 
 
 SIXTH ELECTION, 1508. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson, after having served two terms, retired ; 
 and James Madison was nominated by the Republican 
 party for President. With this change candidates were 
 the same on both sides as at the former election. 
 
 Madison received 122 electoral votes for President, and 
 Clinton 113 for Vice-Presideut.
 
 146 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEPNMENT. 
 
 The latter died April 20, 1812, and consequently did 
 not serve out his full second term. 
 
 Pinckney and King each received 47 electoral votes. 
 
 No new State had been admitted since the last election ; 
 consequently but seventeen States participated in 
 Madison's first election. 
 
 SEVENTH ELECTION, 1812. 
 
 Mr. Madison was re-elected President, and Elbridge 
 Gerry, Vice President. But he died on the twenty-third 
 of November, 1814, leaving the Vice-Presidency vacant 
 for the second time during Madison's administration. Mr. 
 Madison's second term was distinguished on account of 
 the second war with England, which continued from 
 1812 to 1815. 
 
 De Witt Clinton, and Jared Ingersoll, were run in op- 
 position to Madison and Gerry, who received each 128 
 electoral votes, Clinton 89, and Ingersoll 57. 
 
 There were eighteen States at this time. Louisiana had 
 been admitted since the last election. 
 
 EIGHTH ELECTION, 1816. 
 
 The same party which had twice elected Jefferson, and 
 twice elected Madison, now put James Monroe up as their 
 candidate for President, and Daniel D. Toinpkins, for 
 Vice-President. 
 
 A very feeble opposition was made by the Federalists, 
 who again nominated and ran Rufus King. But he only 
 received 34 votes, while Monroe received 183. 
 
 In the early part of this year, Indiana was admitted as 
 a State, making nineteen in the Union at this election.
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 147 
 
 NINTH ELECTION, 1820; - 
 
 Monroe and Tompkins were both re-elected without 
 opposition. Their terms of office did not expire until 
 the fourth of March, 1825, making twenty-four years in 
 succession during which the Republicans (who about this 
 time denominated themselves Democrats) had held the 
 reins of government in their hands. All three of the 
 Presidents held the office for two terms, and were all Vir- 
 ginians. 
 
 Between 1816 and 1820, four new States had been ad- 
 mitted, viz., Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, and Maine, 
 making twenty-three which took a part in Mr. Monroe's 
 second election. 
 
 TENTH ELECTION, 1824. 
 
 At this time there were four candidates for the office of 
 President, viz. : 
 
 Andrew Jackson, who received 99 of the electoral votes. 
 John Quincy Adams " 84 " " 
 
 William II. Crawford " 41 " " 
 
 Henry Clay " 31 " " 
 
 Neither of the candidates having received a majority, 
 the election for the second time went to the House, where 
 the vote was taken by States, Adams receiving 13, Jack- 
 son 7, and Crawford 4 votes. Mr. Adams was elected 
 President. 
 
 John C. Calhoun, against whom there had been very 
 little opposition, had been elected by the electors by a 
 large majority, 'Vice President. 
 
 Twenty-four States participated in this election, Mis- 
 souri having been admitted since the last. But only
 
 148 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 eighteen of them chose their electors by popular vote. 
 Six of them continued to elect them by their Legislatures. 
 
 ELEVENTH ELECTION, 1828. 
 
 At this election Andrew Jackson succeeded to the 
 Presidency, and John C. Calhoun was re-elected Vice- 
 President. 
 
 The opposition candidate for President was John Q. 
 Adams, and for Vice-President, Richard Rush. 
 
 Jackson received 650,028 of the popular, and 178 of the 
 electoral votes ; and Adams received 512,158 of the pop- 
 ular, and 83 of the electoral votes. This was perhaps the 
 most strongly contested, and most bitter election that ever 
 transpired in this country. 
 
 No new States had been admitted since 1824, so there 
 were *mt twenty-four States in the Union at this election. 
 
 TWELFTH ELECTION, 1832. 
 
 Andrew Jackson was re-elected President, and Martin 
 Van Buren, Vice-President, by the Democratic party. 
 
 Henry Clay was the opposing Whig candidate for the 
 Presidency, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, for the 
 Vice- Presidency. 
 
 Of the popular vote, Jackson received 682,502 
 Clay 550,189 
 
 Jackson's majority, 132,313 
 
 Of the electoral vote, Jackson received 219, and Clay 49. 
 There had been no increase of States since the last elec- 
 tion, so but twenty-four States voted at this.
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 149 
 
 THIRTEENTH ELECTION, 1836. 
 
 The Democrats nominated their Vice-President for the 
 office of President, and Richard M. Johnson, for that of 
 Vice-President at this election. 
 
 Gen William Henry Harrison, and several other candi- 
 dates, without concert of action, or unanimity of design, 
 were run hi opposition to Tan Buren, but he had a ma- 
 jority over all. 
 
 The popular vote stood for Van Buren, 762,149 
 For Harrison and others, 736,736 
 
 Van Buren's majority, 25,413 
 
 Michigan and Arkansas were admitted early in this year, 
 which made twenty-six States at the period of this election. 
 
 FOURTEENTH ELECTION, 1840. 
 
 The same candidates were again nominated at this 
 election that ran at the last ; with this exception, that the 
 Whigs dropped all others and concentrated on General 
 Harrison. 
 
 Hence the opposing tickets stood : 
 
 Whig William Henry Harrison, for President, and 
 John Tyler lor Vice-President. 
 
 Democratic Martin Van Buren, for President, and 
 Richard M. Johnson, for Vice-President. 
 
 The popular vote showed this result 
 
 For Harrison, 1,274,783 
 
 " Van Buren, 1,128,702 
 
 Harrison's majority, 46,081 
 
 This was one of the most excited elections ever known
 
 150 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 in the United States. The Whigs adopted the practice of 
 singing politic?! songs at their meetings. It was called 
 "The Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign," because the 
 Whigs built log cabins and held their meetings in them, 
 and drank hard cider, to burlesque the remark of a Demo- 
 crat, that General Harrison lived in a log cabin and drank 
 hard cider. 
 
 He lived only one month and two days after his inaug- 
 uration ; and John Tyler became acting-President, in con- 
 formity with the provisions of the Constitution, which 
 were now applied for the first time since the government 
 was established. 
 
 No new States had been added since 1836, so that the 
 same nmmber acted in this election, as took part in the 
 previous one, viz., 26. 
 
 FIFTEENTH ELECTION, 1844. 
 
 The Whig and Democratic parties placed themselves 
 in battle array, with Henry Clay as candidate for Presi- 
 dent, and Theodore Frelmghuysen for Vice- President, on 
 the side of the "Whigs ; and James K. Polk for Presi- 
 dent, and Geo. M. Dallas for Vice-President, on the Dem- 
 ocratic side. 
 
 The popular vote at this election showed the following 
 result. 
 
 For Polk and Dallas 1,335,834 
 
 " Clay and Frelinghuysen 1,297,033 
 
 Polk's majority 38,801 
 
 The Abolitionists ran Mr. Birney for President, and he 
 received 62,270 votes
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 151 
 
 This was the third time Mr Clay has been a candidate, 
 and the third time he had been deleated ; to the great 
 sorrow of a majority of the people of the United States, 
 for many who voted against him on purely party grounds, 
 really desired his election. 
 
 The most prominent question at issue between the con- 
 tending parties at this time was, the annexation of Texas, 
 which the Democrats favored, and the "Whigs opposed. 
 
 Mr. Folk's administration was distinguished by the war 
 between the United States and Mexico, which grew out of 
 the annexation of Texas. Since 1836, there had been no ac- 
 cessions of new States, and hence there were but 26 in the 
 Union at this election. 
 
 SIXTEENTH ELECTION, 1848. 
 
 The political tide turned at this election in favor of the 
 Whigs, or m the tnangular fight, Democrat slaughtered 
 Democrat, and Gen. Taylor won the field. The order of 
 battle was on this wise : the Whigs massed their forces 
 under Gen. Zachary Taylor while the Democrats divided 
 theirs into two divisions, with as much hostility to each 
 other, as to their old and common enemy the Whigs, Gen. 
 Lewis Cass was at the head ot the first and largest divis- 
 ion, while Mr. Van Buren commanded the second and 
 smaller division. 
 
 " When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war," 
 When Democrat meet* Democrat then comes defeat 
 
 But to drop military figures, the respective candidates 
 at this election were, Whig, Zachary Taylor for Presi- 
 dent, and Mil lard Fillmore for Vice-President , Democrat, 
 Lewis Cass for President, and William O. Butler of Ken-
 
 152 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 tucky for Vice-President. Free Soil Democrats, Martin 
 Van Buren for President, and Charles F. Adams for Vice- 
 President. 
 
 After the election, the popular vote showed this result 
 Taylor and Fillmore 1,362,024 
 
 Cass and Butler 1,222,419 
 
 Van Buren and Adams 291,678 
 
 Mr. Van Buren opposed the regular Democratic candi- 
 date on the ground that he (Van Buren), was opposed to 
 any further extension of slavery, while Mr. Cass and his 
 friends were not. 
 
 Gen. Taylor died on the 9th of July, 1850, after admin- 
 istering the Government 1 year, 4 months and 4 days, and 
 for the second time since the Government was put into 
 operation, the Vice-President became the Acting Presi- 
 dent. 
 
 Since the year 1844, 4 new States, viz., Texas, Florida, 
 Iowa and Wisconsin had been admitted ; which made 30 
 States in the Union at this election. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH ELECTION, 1852. 
 
 At this election the Democrats regained their lost power 
 with Franklin Pierce for their Chief Magistrate, and 
 William R. King* for the second^ 
 
 The Whigs put General Winfield Scott in nomination 
 for President, and William A. Graham of North Carolina 
 for Vice-President. 
 
 Pierce and King received 1,590,490 popular votes. 
 Scott and Graham " 1,378,589 
 
 Majority for Pierce and King 2 1 2,901 
 William R. King, of Alabama, died April 18, 1853, and never 
 took his seat
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 153 
 
 Perhaps no Presidential election ever occurred in the 
 United States, in wfiich there was less interest than in this; 
 for neither party appeared to be very well pleased with 
 their candidates. 
 
 This Whig defeat was so disastrous to that party that 
 it disbanded immediately afterwards and became extinct. 
 
 Since 1848 California had been admitted, making 31 
 States at the time of this election. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH ELECTION, 1S56. 
 
 The Presidential campaign of this year was opened with 
 three candidates for the Presidency in the field ; as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 James Buchanan, and John C. Breckenridge, for Presi- 
 dent and Vice-President, on the Democratic side. 
 
 As stated in our notice of the election of 1852, the 
 Whig party had become extinct. But a new one had 
 been organized, whose members called themselves Re- 
 publicans, for the purpose of opposing the further ex- 
 tension of slavery. 
 
 This party nominated John C. Fremont and William 
 L. Dayton, for President and Vice-President. 
 
 A fraction of the American party yet remained alive, 
 and they put Millard Fillmore and Andrew J. Donnelson 
 in nomination as their candidates. This party was organ- 
 ized in opposition to the election of foreigners to office. 
 
 The popular vote showed this result : 
 
 For Buchanan and Breckenridgo 1,803,029 
 
 " Fremont and Dayton 1,342,164 
 
 " Fillmore and Donnelson 874,625 
 
 Buchanan was elected, but only by a plurality vote,
 
 154 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Fremont and Fillmore together had a majority of 413,- 
 760 votes; 31 States, the same as at the last election, 
 participated in this. Mr. Buchanan's administration is 
 distinguished as the one under which the late icbelhon 
 broke out, and which was followed by our civil war. He 
 fell into disgrace by refusing to do anything to suppress 
 the rebellion. 
 
 NINETEENTH ELECTION, I860. 
 
 The period for another Presidential election returned in 
 November of this year, and four candidates were put into 
 the field. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln by the Republican party for President, 
 and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice-President. 
 
 Stephen A. Douglas, by the Northern Democrats for 
 President, and Herschel V. Johnson for Vice-President. 
 
 John C. Breckenridge, by the Southern Democrats for 
 President, and Joseph Lane for Vice-President. 
 
 John Bell by the American party for President, and 
 Edward Everett for Vice-President. 
 
 Three candidates against one, so divided the strength of 
 the opposition to Mr. Lincoln, that it insured his election ; 
 but only by a plurality vote. 
 
 The popular vote for Lincoln and Hamlin was 1,866,452 
 Douglas and Johnson 1,375,157 
 Breckenridge and Lane 847,953 
 Bell and Everett 590,631 
 
 The three latter, together had a majority of 947,289 
 votes over Lincoln. The whole vote was much larger 
 than any ever before given at a Presidential election, and 
 amounted to 4,680,193. By the census taken this year,
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 155 
 
 the whole population in the States, including slaves, and 
 excluding the Territories whose population cannot vote, 
 for President, was 31,148,048. Two new States, Minne- 
 sota and Oregon, had been admitted since the last elec- 
 tion, making 33 States, which voted at this. 
 
 The ostensible and prominent questions which divided 
 the supporters of these candidates at this election, were 
 as follows : 
 
 Lincoln's opposed the extension of slavery ; Brecken- 
 ridge's favored it. 
 
 Douglas's favored the submission of the question to the 
 new States to be admitted; leaving them to decide 
 whether slavery should be allowed in them or not. 
 
 Bell's ignored the whole question and called their plat- 
 form " The Constitution and the Laws." 
 
 TWENTIETH ELECTION, 18 64:. 
 
 The twentieth and last Presidential election (up to the 
 present time, 1867 } ) took place this year. Abraham Lin- 
 coln, was re-nominated by the Republicans, Mr. Hamlin 
 was dropped for Vice-President, and Andrew Johnson (a 
 Democrat,) was nominated in his place, on account of his 
 loyalty during the rebellion. 
 
 Gen George B. McClellan and Geo. H. Pendleton were 
 nominated by the Democratic party as their candidates for 
 President and Vice-President. 
 
 The popular vote for them was as follows : . 
 
 For Lincoln and Johnson 2,223,035 
 
 " McClellan and Pendleton l,811,7r,4 
 
 Total popular vote 4,034,780
 
 156 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 This shows more than half a million less votes than at 
 the election of 1860. The cause of this was that 11 of tho 
 Southern States had seceded from the United States in 
 1860 and 1861 ; and still continued in that condition ; and 
 consequently did not vote at this election. But two new 
 States had been added since the last election, viz., Kansas 
 and "West Virginia. These made 35 States hi all, but by 
 deducting the 11 seceded States, only 24 were left to vote 
 at this election. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's administration will long continue to be 
 one of the most distinguished on record, on account of 
 the civil war which raged during the whole period of it. 
 
 His assassination, within little more than a month after 
 he had entered upon his second term, filled the nation 
 with sincere mourners, and shocked the moral sense of 
 the world to an extent rarely felt at any antecedent event. 
 
 His death elevated the Vice-President to the position of 
 Acting President ; this being the third instance of the kind 
 in the history of our Government.
 
 ELECTORS. 157 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 Electors. 
 
 1. AN elector, in the broadest sense of the word, 
 means anybody who votes at an election for any person 
 for any office or position whatever it may be, and who 
 is generally styled a voter. JBut in a more restricted 
 sense, and that in which it is used here, elector means 
 a person chosen to elect the President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the United States. Two different methods have 
 been used to choose these electors, and both were in 
 conformity with the Constitution ; for it says " that each 
 State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature 
 thereof may direct, a number of electors equal to the 
 whole number of Senators and Representatives to which 
 the State may be entitled in Congress." Now this left 
 the Legislatures of the respective States to appoint the 
 electors themselves, or to direct their appointment in 
 any other way. Hence in some States the Legislatures 
 chose them, and in others they passed acts directing 
 their election by the people ; and as far down as 1824 
 m six of the States the Legislatures continued to ap- 
 point or elect them themselves ; while in all the re- 
 maining States their election was given directly to the 
 people, and this method has now become universal in
 
 158 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 all the States, and is the one which seems to be most 
 approved by the people. 
 
 2. These electors, when chosen, must meet in their 
 respective States on the first Wednesday of December 
 that is, when a Presidential election occurs (which is 
 every fourth year) ; and when assembled, they are de- 
 nominated the electoral colleges, and vote for one man 
 for President and for another for Yice-President ; after 
 which these votes are sent to the President of the Sen- 
 ate of the United States by a messenger selected for 
 that express purpose. When this is done, the duties of 
 the electors are done, and they have nothing more to 
 do in the matter. The college is dissolved, never to 
 meet again. But in four years, at the next Presidential 
 election, a new college will assemble for the same pur- 
 pose and to perform the same duty. 
 
 3. When these votes reach Washington, the Senate 
 and the House of Representatives assemble together on 
 the second Wednesday in February, and in their pres- 
 ence the votes are opened and counted, and it is then 
 declared who has been elected President and Vice- 
 President of the United States for the next four years. 
 Until quite lately, the Presidential elections were held 
 in different States on different days ; but by an act of 
 Congress, one day for this election is now designated 
 throughout all the States, and that day is the first Tues- 
 day after the first Monday in November. This is the 
 method which the Constitution has declared shall be 
 used in the election of the President ; but it is a clumsy 
 and cumbrous piece of machinery a wheel within a
 
 ELECTORS. 159 
 
 wheel and we hope it will soon be worn out, and tho 
 people be allowed to vote directly for the candidates 
 they prefer. This would enable them to vote for their 
 choice for Vice-President, which they cannot alwaj-s 
 now do, for the electors are bound to vote for the Vice- 
 President who runs on the ticket with the President. 
 Hence if a voter wishes to vote for a certain candidate 
 for President, he must vote for the Vice-President who 
 runs on the same ticket, whether he prefers him or not.
 
 160 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 Ambassadors, Foreign Ministers, Charge d Affaires. 
 
 1. FOREIGN Ministers are the representatives of one 
 nation to another, and are the agents used to regulate 
 their political relations, and commercial intercourse ; to 
 make treaties, and to settle disputes and misunderstand- 
 ings which may occur between them. The office of a 
 Foreign Minister is one of great dignity and honor. He 
 ought to have extensive knowledge of national affairs, 
 sound judgment, prudence and wisdom ; for by these he 
 may prevent contentions, strife and war. This officer is 
 not peculiar to our Government, or to our times. Nearly 
 all civilized nations of any standing or importance both 
 receive and send them, and did so in ancient times. 
 
 2. By the laws of nations, ambassadors are exempt from 
 arrest, imprisonment or prosecution ; because they are the 
 representatives of the sovereign or nation who sent them. 
 Even their servants are secure from arrest, and their prop- 
 erty exempt from seizure for debt. The laws of Congress 
 protecting Foreign Ministers to this country, is but an 
 enactment of what was before known to be the law of 
 nations, all over the civilized world ; and a violation of 
 this well recognized law, without reparation and satisfac- 
 tion, would be a cause of war against the offending party. 
 
 8. Our own foreign ministers of all grades are appointed
 
 AMBASSADORS. 161 
 
 by the President, by and with the advice and consent of 
 the Senate. They are not however the representatives of 
 the President, but of the Government of the United States. 
 We said of all grades, for there are grades of these offi- 
 cials, different jn dignity and power. They are distin- 
 guished also by different names which indicate their rank, 
 viz , Ambassadors, Envoys Extraordinary, and Ministers 
 Plenipotentiary, Ministers, Resident and Charge" d' Af- 
 faires. 
 
 AMBASSADORS. 
 
 4. This title in our country has no very specific mean- 
 ing. It designates, however, a minister of the highest 
 grade ; but does not distinguish between one who goes to 
 reside in the country whither he is sent ; and one who is 
 sent for some special purpose ; such as that of negotiating 
 a treaty of peace, or some other particular matter with 
 which he is charged, and when that is accomplished re- 
 turns home. In the latter case he is frequently styled a 
 Commissioner, because he was duly authorized, and com. 
 missioned by his Government to act for it; but in both 
 cases the officer is an Ambassador, for that word means a 
 person authorized and sent to transact business for his 
 Government. 
 
 ENVOYS EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY. 
 
 5. These titles designate ministers of the highest class ; 
 but generally refer to such as go to reside in the country 
 where sent, and with full power to act for their govern- 
 ment, in all matters and things of a diplomatic character. 
 
 Where negotiations become necessary between the two 
 nations, permanent ministers of this grade are only sent to
 
 162 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 great powers, governments of the higher class. At the 
 present time we have twelve foreign ministers of this class, 
 one in each of the following countries . Austria, Brazil, 
 Chili, China, France, England, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Prus- 
 sia, Russia, and Spain. Those to England and France, 
 receive in cash $17,500 per year salary, the one to Peru, 
 810,000, and each of the others $12,000. 
 
 MINISTERS RESIDENT. 
 
 6. These are not considered so high hi rank as those 
 termed Envoys Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipoten- 
 tiary. Yet they are clothed with nearly the same powers, 
 but are sent to countries of less importance, and receive 
 less salaries, viz., 87,500. 
 
 At this time we have twenty of this grade, one in each 
 of the following places : Argentine Confederation, Bel- 
 gium, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Guatemala, 
 Hawaiian Islands, Honduras, Japan, Netherlands, U. S. 
 of Colombia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Portugal, Rome, 
 Sweden, and Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Vene- 
 zuela. 
 
 COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 7. There arc a still lower grade of ministers (if we may 
 call them so), or Government agents, who reside abroad. 
 They are sent to look after the interests of our govern- 
 ment and its citizens in places of not much importance, and 
 where there is but little to do. They also receive but 
 Email pay. We have now but two of them, one in Hay ti, 
 and one at Liberia in Africa. 
 
 CHARGE D'AFFAIRES. 
 
 8. These officials rank as the lowest grade of ministers 
 or diplomatic officers, and are not clothed with much au-
 
 SECRETAEIES OF LEGATION. 163 
 
 thorily or power, excepting when authorized to act in the 
 room of a minister of higher rank, whose place is for the 
 time being vacant. In this case consuls hare been author 
 ized to act in place of ministers ; but not unless author- 
 ized to do so by the President of the United States. 
 
 SECRETARIES OF LEGATION. 
 
 9. Secretaries of Legation may with propriety be noticed 
 under the general head of ministers, although they are not 
 ministers of any grade, but are appointed by the same 
 power that appoints ministers, and accompany them 
 merely as their secretaries. In the absence of a charge 
 d'affaires, they are sometimes authorized to act in hia 
 place. The position is not one of great dignity, nor is the 
 compensation large.
 
 164 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVHL 
 Consuls. 
 
 1. CONSULS are officers not peculiar to our govern- 
 ment. They are known and employed by many, if 
 not all, ot the civilized nations of the world, and are 
 recognized by the law ot nations. Their duties and 
 fields of action are always in foreign countries never 
 at home. Although they are the agents of the govern- 
 ment that employs them, yet many of their duties re- 
 quire them to act for and in behalf of the private citi- 
 zens of their country who may happen to be within 
 their consulate. 
 
 2. The Constitution provides that the President and 
 Senate shall appoint all our Consuls. The President 
 signs their commissions, which bear the great seal of 
 the United States, and which prove to the government 
 where they are sent that they are duly appointed and 
 authorized to discharge the duties of Consuls at the 
 ports or places to which they have been appointed. 
 
 3. In order to show the nature of a Consul's duties, 
 such as the laws impose upon him, we will state the 
 substance of several acts relating to this subject. 
 
 1. "Whenever a vessel belonging to a citizen of the 
 tFnited States arrives at the port where he is stationed,
 
 CONSULS. 165 
 
 it is his duty to receive the ship ? s papers, and to see if 
 they are all correct. 
 
 2. It is his duty to provide for sick, disabled, and 
 destitute American seamen, and to send them home by 
 some vessel going to the United States. 
 
 3. He must hear the complaints of seamen, and set- 
 tle disputes between the captain and men ; and for good 
 cause he may discharge the whole ship's crew. 
 
 4. It is made his duty to receive and take care of the 
 personal property of any citizen of the United States 
 who has died within his consulate, and to send any bal- 
 ance which may be left after paying his debts and ne- 
 cessary expenses to the Treasury of the United States, 
 to be held in trust for the legal claimants. He must 
 also give notice to the Secretary of State of the death 
 of such person. 
 
 4. For the purpose of carrying out and executing cer- 
 tain treaties made between the United States and 
 China, Japan, Siam and Turkey, Consuls to those 
 countries have been empowered with judicial functions. 
 They were allowed to act as judges, and to try and 
 punish citizens of the United States who had committed 
 crimes there. These, however, were extraordinary 
 powers in special cases, and by no means common to 
 the Consular office. 
 
 5. In the absence of a minister or diplomatic agent 
 of the United States, the President may authorize a 
 Consul to perform the duties of snch foreign minister ; 
 but these powers are rarely conferred on them. Their 
 ordinary duties relate to commercial affairs, and to such 
 as are before stated.
 
 166 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 6. A Vice Consul, or Deputy Consul, is one ap- 
 pointed to act temporarily in case of sickness or ab- 
 sence of the Consul. His powers, while acting, are the 
 same as those of the Consul in whose place he acts. 
 Every Consul is required to give bonds for the faithful 
 performance of his duties. 
 
 . 7. Our commerce has been extended to almost every 
 part of the globe, and for this reason we need a great 
 number of these officials. Their services are required 
 at all great seaports, and at many smaller ones. Their 
 compensation varies according to the amount of busi- 
 ness to be transacted by them, from 7,500 down to 
 $500. Some do not receive any salary, but are allowed 
 the fees they are authorized to charge for their services. 
 
 8. A Consul is to some extent a representative of his 
 government, and is therefore treated with consideration 
 and respect. An insult to him is looked upon as an in- 
 sult to his country, for he is a kind of general agent for 
 his government and people. It is his duty to give them 
 all such' in formation as he possesses in relation to the 
 laws and practices of the country to which he is sent, 
 which it would be important for them to know whether 
 at home or abroad ; and especially is it his duty to look 
 after the interests and welfare of his countrymen when 
 they are within his Consulate, and to see that no wrong 
 or injustice is done to them by the people or govern- 
 ment where he resides.
 
 TREATIES. 167 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 Treaties. 
 
 1. IF two individuals enter into a written contract or 
 agreement ; in which each agrees with the other, to do, or 
 not to do, certain things therein stated and specified ; 
 these individuals or parties to the contract, as they are 
 called, perform an act which is most like a Treaty be- 
 tween two nations, States or powers, of anything we can 
 think of as a comparison or illustration, if called to answer 
 the question " what is a Treaty." 
 
 In one case two individuals make the Contract ; in the 
 other two nations or governments make it, and it is called 
 a Treaty, when governments are the contracting parties. 
 
 2. Treaties have been of great service to the world, both 
 in ancient and modern times. By these negotiations, 
 wars have often been prevented, friendly relations main- 
 tained, and commercial intercourse kept up, advantage- 
 ously to both parties. Treaties may be negotiated by any 
 persons properly authorized by their government to do so ; 
 and any government may authorize such persons as they 
 see fit to perform these important acts. In many cases 
 the ordinary ministers who represent their governments to 
 other governments negotiate ordinary treaties. But in 
 cases where something of an extraordinary character is to 
 be arranged, special ministers or commissioners are sent for
 
 168 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 this express purpose. This was the case at the Treaty of 
 Ghent, (so called from the name of the place where the 
 commissioners met to arrange it,) in 1814: by which a 
 peace was brought about between England and the United 
 States, after the last war between those powers. Special 
 Ministers, or Commissioners as they were denominated, 
 were appointed and sent for this very purpose. A treaty 
 of peace was agreed upon by the commissioners of the re- 
 spective countries, and hostilities ceased as soon as the 
 news reached the United States. 
 
 3. In some cases our Government has authorized its 
 commanding generals to make a treaty with the hostile 
 nations. It has also given the same power to the com- 
 manders of our national vessels ; and also, in a few cases, 
 to our consuls, in countries at a great distance from home, 
 such as China, Japan, Siam, and Turkey. 
 
 The persons authorized to negotiate a treaty, rarely act 
 without instructions from their government, as to the 
 times and conditions of the proposed treaty. Much, how- 
 ever, must be left to the sound judgment arid discretion 
 of the negotiators as to the details. 
 
 4. It must be borne in mind that a treaty, although 
 mutually agreed upon by the agents of the nations con- 
 cerned, is not binding upon either party, until properly 
 ratified according to the forms of the respective govern- 
 ments interested. The modes of ratification differ in dif- 
 ferent governments. In ours the Constitution confers 
 this power upon the President, by and with the advice and 
 consent of two-thirds of the Senate. 
 
 In absolute monarchies this power rests in the hands of 
 the King or Emperor alone. As before stated, every gov- 
 ernment may confer the power to negotiate a treaty upon
 
 TREATIES. 169 
 
 such agents as it pleases. It also has the power to pre- 
 scribe such modes of ratifying or confirming it as it pleases. 
 
 5. But when once made and approved, it becomes bind- 
 ing not only upon the respective governments that made 
 it, but upon all the citizens and subjects of that gov- 
 ernment. It has been held in this country by our 
 greatest lawyers and statesmen, that the provisions of 
 a treaty bind Congress, the President, and every citizen, 
 as much as any constitutional provision or act of Con^ 
 gress. And for this reason our treaties are published 
 in the papers, in every State and Territory in the 
 Union, in the same manner, and to the same extent, as 
 the laws of Congress. 
 
 6. The violation of a treaty by either of the parties 
 thereto, is reprehensible and criminal. It is derogatory 
 to the character of any nation or individual that does 
 it. It destroys the confidence of one nation in the 
 other, leads to unfriendly feelings and acts between the 
 parties, and may bring on a war, if satisfaction is not 
 given. Yet such things have been done, and evil conse- 
 quences have always followed. " If you make a bargain, 
 stick to it," is a common, trite, and wise saying. 
 
 Just here it seems proper to call attention to the 
 fact that the Constitution prohibits any State from 
 making any treaty with any foreign government. The 
 reason for this provision is very obvious, for, if allowed, 
 a State might confer privileges upon foreign powers 
 which would be incompatible with the interests of 
 other States. Therefore the treaty-making power is kept 
 wholly in the hands of the general government, for in 
 it every State has its representatives, and a voice in 
 every treaty which it makes.
 
 1 70 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 7. So numerous are the treaties wliich the United 
 States have made with nearly every civilized nation 
 upon earth, that it would require a very large volume 
 to contain them. They are published with the laws, 
 and generally in English, and in the language of the 
 nation with whom the treaty is made. They may l>c 
 found in the United States Statutes at Large. It would 
 require too much space in a work of this kind, to give 
 even their titles. 
 
 8. Wars have been stopped; boundary lines between 
 nations have been established ; commercial intercourse 
 arranged ; the purchase and sale of lands, and a variety 
 of oilier things have been the subjects of, and formed 
 the matter of treaties. Several of our most important 
 ones relate to the purchase of .Territory. We acquired 
 the States of Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, by a 
 treaty with France in 1803. It was called the Louisi- 
 ana purchase j for it was nothing more than a purchase 
 and sale of lands. We also acquired Florida of Spain, 
 in 1819, in the same way, and California and New 
 Mexico of Mexico, in 1847. 
 
 9. The immense quantities of land purchased of the 
 Indians, were obtained by treaties with them. We are 
 sorry to say that in some cases they have treacherously 
 violated their treaty obligations ; but at the same time it 
 should be said by way of extenuating their offence, that 
 our own government agents, appointed for the pur- 
 pose of taking care of the interests of the poor Indians, 
 have, in connection with white traders among them, 
 shamefully cheated and wronged them, and provoked 
 them not only to disregard their obligations, but to 
 perpetrate murders, robberies, and thefts upon the
 
 TREATIES. 171 
 
 whites who live near them. At this time, and for several 
 years past, the Indians are very hostile to us, and aro 
 prosecuting a war with the whites in their vicinity 
 for the reasons above stated. " Honesty is the best 
 policy." 
 
 10. In the early part of the year 1867, a treaty was 
 negotiated by William 11. Seward, our Secretary of 
 State, on the part of the United States, and Edward 
 de Stoekl, the Russian Minister to the United States, 
 on the part of Russia, for the cession of the Rus- 
 sian possessions in North America to the United 
 States. 
 
 This treaty will become one of the most important 
 among all our treaties \vith foreign powers ; for by it 
 the United States will acquire between 350,000 and 
 400,000 square miles of territory, in addition to our 
 already immense possessions ; and will place by far the 
 greater part of the Northwestern coast of North 
 America under the control of the United States Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 For the purpose of giving a specimen of a treaty, 
 and showing some of the details of this negotiation, we 
 here insert it in full, as agreed upon by the contracting 
 parties. $7,000,000 in gold is the consideration which 
 the United States is to pay Russia for this territory. 
 This treaty is not yet consummated, although it has 
 been ratified by both the United States and the Russian 
 governments. But the money ($7,000,000 in gold) has 
 not been appropriated for the purpose This must be 
 done by the House of Representatives before the treaty 
 can go into effect.
 
 172 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 THE BUSSIAN TREATY. 
 
 The following is the text of the Russian- American 
 treaty : 
 
 " The United States of America, and his Majesty, the 
 Emperor of all the Russias, being desirous of strength- 
 ening, if possible, the good understanding which exists 
 between them, have for that purpose appointed as their 
 plenipotentiaries, the President of the United States, 
 William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and his Majesty 
 the Emperor of all the Russias, Mr. Edward de Stocckl, 
 his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary 
 to the United States, and the said plenipotiaries, having 
 exchanged their full powers, which were found to bo 
 in due form, have agreed upon and signed the following 
 articles : 
 
 ARTICLE I. His Majesty, the Emperor of all the 
 Russias, agrees to cede to the United States, by this 
 convention, immediately upon the exchange cf the rat- 
 ifications thereof, all the territory and dominion now 
 possessed by his said Majesty on the continent of 
 America and in the adjacent islands, the same being 
 contained within the geographical limits herein set 
 forth, to wit : The eastern limit is the line of demarca- 
 tion between the Russian and the British possessions in 
 North America, as established by the convention be- 
 tween Russia and Great Britain of February 28 (16), 
 1825, and described in articles third and fourth of said 
 convention in the following terms : Commencing from 
 the southernmost point of the island called Prince of 
 Wales' Island, which point lies in the parallel of 50
 
 TREATIES. 173 
 
 deg. 40 min. north latitude, and between the 131st and 
 133d deg. of west longitude, meridian of Greenwich. 
 The said line shall ascend to the north along the chan- 
 nel called Portland Channel, as far as the point of the 
 continent where it strikes the 56th degree of north 
 longitude. From this last mentioned point the line of 
 demarcation shall follow the summit of the mountains 
 situated parallel to the coast as far as the point of in- 
 tersection of the 141st degree of west longitude of the 
 same meridian, and finally from the said point of inter- 
 section the said meridian line of the 141st degree in its 
 prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean. With refer- 
 ence to the line of demarcation laid down in the pre- 
 ceding article, it is understood first, that the island 
 called Prince of Wales' Island shall belong wholly to 
 Russia, and now, by this cession, wholly to the United 
 States ; second, that whenever the summit of the moun- 
 tains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast 
 from the 5Gth degree of north latitude to the point of 
 intersection of the 141st degree of west longitude shall 
 prove to be at the distance of more than ten marine 
 leagues from the ocean, the limit between the British 
 possessions and the line of coast which is to belong to 
 Russia, as above mentioned that is to say, the limit of 
 the possessions ceded by this convention shall be 
 formed by a line parallel to the winding of the coast, 
 and which shall never exceed the distance of ten ma- 
 rine leagues therefrom. The western limit, within 
 which the territories arid dominion conveyed are con- 
 tained, passes through a point in Behring's Strait on the 
 parallel of 65 deg. 30 min. north latitude, at its inter-
 
 174 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 section by the meridian, which passes midway between 
 the island of Krusenstern, or Jgnaalook, and the island 
 of Ratmanog, or Noonerbook, and proceeds due north 
 without limitation into the same Frozen Ocean. Tiio 
 same western limit beginning at the same initial point, 
 proceeds thence in a course nearly north-west through 
 Behring's Strait and Behring's Sea, so as to pass mid- 
 way between the north-west part of the island of St. 
 Lawrence and the south-east point of Cape Choukottki 
 to the meridian of 172 deg. west longitude. Thence, 
 from the inter.-ection of that meridian, in a south-west- 
 erly direction, so as to pass midway between the island 
 of Attou and the copper island of the Koranddorski 
 couplet or group in the North Pacific Ocean, to the 
 meridian of 193 deg. west longitude, so as to include in 
 the territory conveyed the whole of the Aleutian Islands 
 east of that meridian. 
 
 ART. II. In the cession of territory and dominion made 
 by the preceding article, are included the right of prop- 
 erty in all public lots and squares, vacant lands, and all 
 public buildings, barracks, and other edifices which are 
 not private, individual property. It is, however, under- 
 stood and agreed that the churches which have been built 
 in the ceded territory by the Russian Government shall 
 remain the property of such members of the Greek Orien- 
 tal Church resident in the territory as may choose to 
 worship therein. Any government archives, papers, and 
 documents relative to the territory and dominion afore- 
 said, which may be now existing there, will be left in 
 possession of the agent of the linked States ; but an au- 
 thenticated copy of such of them as may be required will
 
 TREATIES. 175 
 
 be at all times given by the United States to the Russian 
 Government, or to such Kussian officers or subjects as 
 they may apply for. 
 
 AKT. III. The inhabitants of the ceded territory, accord- 
 ing to their choice, reserving their natural allegiance, may 
 return to Russia within three years ; but if they should 
 prefer to lernain in the ceded territory, they, with the ex- 
 ception of uncivilized tribes, shall be admitted to the en- 
 joyment of all the rights, advantages, and immunities of 
 citizens of the United States, and shall be maintained and 
 protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, 
 and religion. The uncivilized tiibes will be subject to 
 such laws and regulations as the United States may from 
 time to time adopt in regard to aboriginal tribes of that 
 country. 
 
 ART. IV. His Majesty, the Emperor of all the Russia?, 
 shall appoint, with convenient dispatch, an agent or 
 agents for the purpose of formally delivering to a similar 
 agent or agents, appointed on behalf of the United States, 
 the territory, dominion, property, dependencies, and ap- 
 purtenances which are ceded as above, and for doing any 
 other act which may be necessary in regard thereto ; but 
 the cession, with the right of immediate possession, is 
 nevertheless to be deemed complete and absolute on the 
 exchange of ratifications, without waiting for such formal 
 delivery. 
 
 ART. V. Immediately after the exchange of the ratifica, 
 tions of this convention, any fortifications or military 
 posts which may be in the ceded territory shall be deliv- 
 ered to the agent of the United States, and any Russian 
 troops which may be in the territory shall be withdrawn
 
 176 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 as soon as may be reasonably and conveniently practica- 
 ble. 
 
 ART. VI. In consideration of the cession aforesaid, the 
 United States agree to pay, at the Treasury in Washing- 
 ton, within months after the exchange of the ratifica- 
 tions of this convention, to the diplomatic representative, 
 or other agent of His Majesty, the Emperor of all Rus- 
 sias, duly authorized to receive the same, million 
 dollars in gold. The cession of territory and dominion 
 herein made is hereby demanded to be free and unincum- 
 bered by any reservations, privileges, franchises, grants, 
 or possessions, by any associated companies, whether 
 corporate or incorporate, Russian or any other, or by any 
 parties except merely private individual property hold- 
 ers ; and the cession hereby made conveys all the rights, 
 franchises and privileges now belonging to Russia in the 
 said territory or dominion and appurtenances thereto. 
 
 ART. VII. When this convention shall have been duly 
 ratified by the President of the United States, by and 
 with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the one 
 part, and on the other by His Majesty, the Emperor of all 
 the Russias, the ratifications shall be exchanged at Wash- 
 ington within from the date hereof, or sooner, if pos- 
 sible. In faith whereof the respective plenipotentiaries 
 have signed this convention, and thereto affixed the seals 
 of their arms.
 
 EXTRADITION TREATIES. 177 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 Extradition Treaties. 
 
 1. IN the preceding chapter we spoke of treaties gener- 
 ally. We now come to a particular kind of them, called 
 Extradition Treaties, which are of so recent date, that they 
 form a new feature in our diplomacy.* Among our 
 treaties with foreign nations, we find nothing upon this 
 subject farther back than the year 1842, when a treaty of 
 this kind was made between the United States and England, 
 the necessity for which arose out of the fact that persons 
 frequently committed crimes in England, and then fled to 
 the United States (and vice versa} to escape detection and 
 punishment ; for they could not be punished in the coun- 
 try to which they fled, inasmuch as it had no jurisdiction 
 of a crime committed in a foreign country. To check this 
 evil, a treaty was made betAveen the two powers, in which 
 they mutually agreed to deliver up, each to the other, any 
 criminal who had perpetrated crimes of a certain kind 
 (which were named in the treaty) in his own country, and 
 afterwards fled to the other. This worked well. Its ten- 
 dency was to check crime, and at the same time to multi- 
 ply the chances of detection and punishment. 
 
 * DIPLOMACY, the art, science and skill of conducting and m ri- 
 nging negotiations, treaties and international affairs. It also relates 
 to the customs, usages, and privileges of foreign ministers. All the 4 
 foreign ministers to any government, are called the diplomatic* 
 body.
 
 178 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 2. Subsequently, treaties of the same kind were made 
 between the United States and the following coun- 
 tries : 
 
 France, in 1843 
 
 Prussia, and 17 other German States, " 1852 
 
 Switzerland, " 1855 
 
 Baden, " 1857 
 
 Sweden, " 1860 
 
 Venezuela, South America, " 1861 
 
 The time is probably not distant, when treaties of thi3 
 
 sort will be made between us and all the civilized nations 
 
 of the world ; for the intercourse between us and foreign 
 
 nations is greater than ever before. 
 
 The effect of these international arrangements is, to 
 render the perpetration of crime more dangerous .than it 
 would be if they did not exist. Flight from the country 
 where the crime was committed was formerly one of the 
 most effectual methods of escaping the penalty. But Ex- 
 tradition Treaties, Atlantic Cables, and land telegraphs, 
 have nearly spoiled this game. 
 
 3. An Extradition Treaty then is, a mutual agreement 
 between two nations, to deliver up, each to the other, upon 
 demand, and proper proof of criminalty, such persons as 
 have committed crimes in one country and then fled to the 
 other, that they may be taken back, tried and punished 
 where the offence was committed. But these demands 
 for escaped criminals cannot be sustained if made for any 
 crime whatever. They will only be complied with when 
 the crime is one which is named in the treaty itself. These 
 crimes, upon examination of a number of such treaties, we 
 find to be : 1. Murder, or an assault with an intent to
 
 EXTRADITION TREATIES. 179 
 
 commit murder. 2. Piracy. 3. Arson. 4. Robbery 
 
 5. Forgery, or the uttering of forged papers, or the mak- 
 ing or circulating counterfeit money, either paper or coin. 
 
 6. Rape. 7. Embezzlement, and 9. Burglary. 
 
 4. It should be observed that a mere demand for an 
 alleged offender is not sufficient. Proof enough to con- 
 vince the judge before whom the case is brought must 
 accompany the demand. He must be satisfied that the 
 party demanded has committed the alleged offence ; when 
 this is done, the judge reports his finding to the Secretary 
 of State, whose duty then is, under his hand and seal of 
 office, to issue the final writ of Extradition ; after .which 
 the criminal may be taken out of the United States (by 
 force if necessary), and back to the country where he 
 committed the crime, there to be dealt \vith according to 
 the laws which he had violated. (" The way of the trans- 
 gressor is hard.") 
 
 5. In some of our Extradition Treaties it is expressly 
 stipulated, that neither party (government) shall be bound 
 to surrender its own citizens, or any person for a merely 
 political offence. In others it is agreed that the provisions 
 in the treaty shall not apply to cases where the alleged 
 crime was perpetrated before the treaty was made. This 
 plea, we think, would be held to be a good defence in all 
 cases, whether so stipulated in the treaty or not. 
 
 6. The treaties between different nations for the surren- 
 der of criminals, are so analogous to one of the provisions 
 contained in our Constitution, that to insert it here will 
 give the reader a clear comprehension of its meaning. It 
 is found in the second section of Article 4, and reads 
 thus
 
 380 OUTLINES OF TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 " A person charged in any State, with treason, felony, 
 or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found 
 in another State, shall on demand of the executive author- 
 ity of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be 
 removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime."
 
 LETTERS OF MARQUE AND REPRISAL. 181 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 tetters of Marque and Reprisal. 
 
 1. THE Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 8), gives Congress 
 power to declare war, and to grand letters of marque and 
 reprisal. This is an act never to be done, but in time of 
 war. Congress itself, does not issue the letters, but au- 
 thorizes the President to do so. An act was passed in 
 13G3, expressly giving him this authority. A letter of 
 marque and reprisal may be thus defined. 
 
 2. It is a written commission signed and sealed by a 
 competent authority of our nation, giving to the com- 
 mander of a private armed vessel, called a privateer, au- 
 thority to capture the ships and goods belonging to the 
 subjects of another nation, between which nations there is 
 an existing war. This is a general definition. But when 
 such letters are issued by the United States, they are 
 signed by the President and sealed with the seal of the 
 United States. Without such commission, thus signed 
 and sealed, any capture made by the commander of a pri- 
 vate A r essel, would be piracy. If a capture is made, it 
 must be made according to the laws of war, as recognized 
 by civilized nations, and according to the instructions 
 given by the President. Any conduct on the part of a 
 privateer, contrary to these rules, would vitiate his pro- 
 ceedings, and he would not be entitled to the property he 
 had captured,
 
 182 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 3. The captured vessel is called a prize, and must be 
 taken into some port of the United States, or in some port 
 of a country in amity with the United States, where le^al 
 proceedings are taken before some court of competent 
 
 iurisdiction ; and the capture and all the circumstances of 
 it are enquired into ; and if all is found to have been done 
 according to the laws of civilized nations, the captured 
 vessel and cargo is condemned as a prize. But if not con- 
 demned,the captors lose her. "When adjudged to be a law- 
 ful prize, the ship and cargo are sold and the money di- 
 vided between the officers and men, according to rank, 
 and according to the laws of Congress on this subject. 
 These laws give the whole to the captors, when the ship 
 taken is of equal or superior force to the ship making the 
 capture ; but if of inferior force, then the United States 
 takes one half. 
 
 4. Privateering, as this business is called, was once con- 
 sidered a lawful and honorable mode of warfare. It was 
 generally practiced between belligerent nations ; but in 
 later days its propriety and morality have been questioned. 
 It is beginning to be looked upon as a kind of robbery not 
 very distantly related to piracy. That it is robberry no 
 one can deny, and, query, " Can it be justified, on the 
 ground that the robber and the robbed are the subjects of 
 nations at war with each other ?" 
 
 5. In Europe an effort has been made to do away with 
 this species of warfare. "We hope it will yet succeed, and 
 that all nations will agree to abolish this system of plunder. 
 Innocent parties are generally the sufferers, while but 
 small injury is done to the power of the hostile nation.
 
 SUFFRAGE. 183 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 Suffrage. 
 
 1. THE right of Suffrage, in its political sense, means tho 
 right to vote for such officers as are elected by the people ; 
 including officers of the general Government, as well as 
 those of the State Government, for whs^n the right of suf- 
 frage is conferred upon a man, it gives him the right of 
 voting for every elective officer, from the President of the 
 United States down to the lowest State, or municipal 
 officer. 
 
 In the Constitution, or laws of Congress, we find but 
 little said on the suffrage question ; because Congress has 
 never claimed the right or power to legislate on this sub- 
 ject. It has been conceded that this matter is one which 
 belongs to the States ; whatever qualifications the respec- 
 tive States required of their citizens to vote for their own 
 State officers, have been accepted by the general Govern- 
 ment as the qualifications necessary to authorize them to 
 vote for President, Vice-President, and Congressmen, the 
 only officers of the United States Government for which 
 the people, under the provisions of the Constitution as it 
 now stands, can vote. 
 
 2. From this statement we see that persons who, in one 
 State, may vote for President, Vice-President and Con- 
 gressmen, cannot do so in another State; because the
 
 184 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 qualifications of voters in some States differ from those of 
 voters in others. For example, some States icquire a res- 
 idence in the State of one year, before a man can enjoy 
 this franchise, other States but six months. In most of 
 the States, it is required of foreigners to become citizens 
 by naturalization before they are allowed to vote. But in 
 some, tliis is not required. In some of the States colored 
 persons can vote. In others this right is not given to them 
 under any circumstances. Although it has long been con- 
 ceded that the power of conferring the right of suffrage 
 was one which belonged exclusively to the States, and 
 although they have been allowed to do in this matter as 
 it seemed right to them ; yet it is a question worthy of 
 serious thought, whether Congress ought not, by law, to 
 establish a uniform qualification of voters, one that is alike 
 in all the States, whenever the elector votes for President, 
 Vice-President or Congressmen ; for the people in all the 
 States are affected as much by the votes given for those 
 ofiicers, in any one State, as they are by those given in 
 their own. 
 
 3. But it has always been a troublesome question to de- 
 termine in every government where the people vote at all 
 " who ought, and who ought not to vote ?" In the 
 United States the elective franchise is extended further 
 than in most other countries. Yet this question here has 
 caused a great amount of political discussion. The Con^ 
 stitutions of several of the States have been changed in the 
 effort to adjust this question on a correct basis. Up to 
 this day, it remains unsettled in some of its features and 
 details. Some contending that it is too much extended,
 
 SUFFRAGE. 185 
 
 that is, that it is granted to persons who ought not to 
 have it, while to others it is denied. 
 
 4. The question of suffrage was never more discussed 
 throughout the country than at the present tune; but the 
 discussion turns principally upon the justice and propriety 
 of extending this right to the colored people, as they are 
 now all free.
 
 186 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 Seals. 
 
 X SEALS are of great antiquity. We read of them and 
 of their use as far back as the days of Queen Esther. They 
 were then used as they are now, to give additional proof 
 of the authenticity or genuineness of any document or 
 paper to which they were attached ; it being much easier 
 to counterfeit a mere signature than the impression of a 
 Beal. They are of various devices, patterns and designs, 
 and generally are emblematic of some historical fact, event 
 or sentiment. They afe used on papers and documents 
 emanating from the government, or from some department 
 of it. The law requires them to be attached and affixed 
 to commissions, and many other papers, without which 
 the paper would have oo legality or validity. Formerly, 
 the usual mode of sealing a paper, was to place melted 
 wax on the margin, and then press the seal into the wax. 
 This left the impression of the seal, and the work was fin- 
 ished. 
 
 2. But this mode of affixing seals was a rather slow pro- 
 cess, and required more time than could often be spared 
 for that purpose. In view of which, Congress, hi 1854 
 passed the following law 
 
 " In all cases where a seal is necessary by law to any 
 commission, process, or other instrument, provided for by
 
 SEALS. ] 87 
 
 the laws of Congress, it shall be lawful to affix the proper 
 seal by making an impression therewith, directly on the 
 paper to which such seal is necessary, which shall be as 
 valid as if made on wax, or other adhesive substance." 
 
 The United States have a s^al, denominated "The 
 Great Seal." This is in the care and custody of the Secre- 
 tary of State, and it is his duty to affix it to all civil com- 
 missions* to officers of the United States, appointed by 
 the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
 Senate, or by the President alone. 
 
 But the law forbids it even to be so affixed to any com- 
 mission, or other instrument, until the President has first 
 signed it. Without his signature, the instrument has no 
 validity. The seal is then affixed in proof of the genuine- 
 ness of his signature. 
 
 3. The Secretary of State, and all the other secretaries 
 of the great departments, each have a seal of office which is 
 affixed to commissions, and to other instruments emanat- 
 ing from their respective offices. 
 
 Several of the most important bureaus are required by 
 law to have seals of office ; for example, the Land Office 
 and the Patent Office. When the United States gives a 
 patent (title) to land, it must be sealed by the Land Office 
 seal. A Patent Right must be issued under the seal of 
 the Patent Office. 
 
 4. One of the most common, and important uses of seals, 
 arises from the necessity people are often under to have 
 copies of records, maps, and various other papers, the 
 originals of which are in some of the departments at 
 
 * The word commission, here means a document or certificate, 
 given to one who has received an office, in proof of his appoint- 
 ment to, and his authority to discharge, the duties of that office.
 
 188 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 "Washington, to be used as evidence in courts, where trials 
 and other legal proceedings are pending. In order to 
 provide for this necessity, Congress has enacted, that 
 copies of such records, maps, and papers, belonging to 
 any of the government officers, under the signature of 
 the head of such officer, or of his chief clerk, with the 
 seal affixed, shall be as competent evidence in all cases, as 
 their original would be. 
 
 In chapter XC we have given a number of forms of 
 seals. Over the name of each State we have placed 
 the Great Seal of that State, or, as it is sometimes 
 called, its Coat of Arms. These various devices are the 
 mere conceptions of the artist, yet they are emblematic 
 of some political sentiment, or of some characteristic 
 of that State.
 
 BONDS. 189 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 Bonds. 
 
 1. THE vast sums of money annually collected from du- 
 ties, from the sale of public lands, and from all other 
 sources from -which the revenue of the nation is raised ; 
 and then the disbursement of the same, to the army, to 
 the navy, to the civil officers, and to the various employ- 
 ees of the Government, and to the different purposes for 
 which the public money is appropriated ; requires a host 
 of officials and agents to transact all this business. Hence 
 the Government has collectors of Customs, collectors of 
 Taxes, Postmasters, receivers of money for the sale of 
 public lands, and so on ; all of whom are receivers of the 
 public money. These pay it into the United States Treas- 
 ury, from whence it is paid out directly to parties having 
 claims against the Government, or to agents who disburse 
 it to those to whom it is due. 
 
 By the dishonesty of the officers and agents who receive, 
 hold or disburse these funds, the Government would be 
 the loser, and the people would be defrauded of their 
 money. We say the people, because every man who 
 cheats or defrauds the Government, cheats and defrauds 
 every man, woman and child in the country. Hence the 
 detestable character of public swindlers and defaulters. 
 
 2. But to guard against this as far as possible, the law
 
 190 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 requires a man when he accepts of one of these offices, to 
 take an oath, or make a solemn affirmation, promising 
 faithfully to perform the duties of the office he enters upon. 
 But even this does not always secure honesty. Some men 
 will violate their oaths for money. A further remedy is 
 resorted to, for further security against dishonesty. For 
 this purpose laws have been made, requiring all officers 
 and agents who receive, hold or disburse the public 
 money, to give bonds with sufficient security for the faith- 
 ful performance of their trust. These bonds hold the 
 sureties as well as the officer, and are signed by one and 
 sometimes two or three bondsmen, of sufficient means to 
 insure the government against loss. It would be too 
 tedious and uninteresting to enumerate all the Govern- 
 ment officers who have to give bonds, before they can 
 enter upon their duties. Therefore, we stated before, that 
 the law requires all of this class to do so. We are not 
 aware of any exceptions. 
 
 These bonds are given for various amounts, which corres- 
 pond with the amount of money to be received or held by 
 the officers who execute them. 
 
 3. The law prescribes the form of these bonds, which is 
 as follows : 
 
 . " Know all men by these presents, that we, , are 
 
 held and firmly bound unto the United States of America, 
 in the full and just sum of, dollars, money of the 
 
 United States ; to which payment, well and truly to be 
 made, we bind ourselves jointly and severally, our joint 
 and several heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by 
 these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 
 day of one thousand The condition
 
 BONDS. 191 
 
 of the foregoing obligation is such, that, whereas the Pres- 
 ident of the United States hath, pursuant to law, ap- 
 pointed the said to the office of , in the State 
 of . Now therefore if the said has truly and 
 faithfully executed and discharged, and shall continue 
 truly and faithfully to execute and discharge all the duties 
 of the said office, according to law; then the above obliga- 
 tion to be void and of none effect, otherwise it shall abide 
 and remain in full force and virtue." 
 
 4. These bonds, when signed by the office holder , or per- 
 son bound to the Government, and by his surety, are held 
 in the Treasury department as security for the faithful 
 performance of whatever the bounden parties have agi-eed 
 to do. In case of any failure or defalcation, all the par- 
 ties signing the bond are held responsible for the 
 amount named in the bond ; and may bo sued by the 
 Government, and made to pay all damages. 
 
 But notwithstanding all these precautions, and in spite 
 of oaths and bonds, the Government is defrauded out of 
 millions of money, by the very men whom i(i favors with 
 positions of honor and emolument. Reader, should you 
 ever hold a position under your Government, let not the 
 sin of perjury blacken your soul, nTJr the criip ot dishon- 
 esty tarnish your character. " Honesty is the l?r* policy." 
 " An honest man is the noblest work of God."
 
 192 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 Oaths. 
 
 1. AN ojth is an appeal to God, by him who makes it, 
 that what he has said, or what he shall say, is the truth. 
 It is the most solemn form under which one can assert or 
 pronounce anything. To utter a falsehood while under 
 oath is perjury, a crime of the darkest hue. One which 
 God has declared he will punish, and one which is made 
 infamous, and punishable by fine and imprisonment by the 
 laws of the land. 
 
 2. The Constitution (Art. G, Sec. 3) requires that Sena- 
 tors and Representatives, and members of the the several 
 State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, 
 both of the United States, and of the several States, shall 
 be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitu- 
 tion. Then in the second article, section eight, the form 
 of the oath required of tlic President before he enters upon 
 his duties, is given in these words 
 
 " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully 
 execute the office of President of the United States, and 
 will to the best of ray ability preserve, protect and defend 
 the Constitution of the United States." 
 
 3 This is all the Constitution says about oaths ; but it 
 is enough to show that no man (unless he commit perjury) 
 can accept office, either under the United States or any
 
 OATHS. 193 
 
 State government, unless he in good faith wil\ support the 
 Constitution. 
 
 But in the laws enacted by Congress, we find that not 
 only official oaths are required ; but in a great variety of 
 other cases, men who transact business with the govern- 
 ment, are required to verify their accounts and statements 
 with an oath. This is particularly the case with those 
 who do business with the Custom. Houses ; such as mer- 
 chauts, shipowners, and masters of vessels. Many oaths 
 must be put in the form of affidavits ; that is, the oath 
 must be written and signed by the deponent, that the 
 statements made may be preserved. 
 
 4. The form of official oaths varies according to the nature 
 of the duties to be performed by the deponent. The oath 
 must be taken before the officer enters upon his duties. 
 Should he neglect or refuse to do this, his acts would be 
 illegal, and he would make himself liable to punish- 
 ment. 
 
 After the late civil war broke out, Congress, for the 
 purpose of preventing those who had voluntarily taken 
 part in the rebellion, from holding thereafter any office 
 under the Government, passed an act requiring every one 
 before he could accept any office, either in the civil, mili- 
 tary, or naval departments, to take an oath in the follow- 
 ing form 
 
 5. " I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have 
 never voluntarily borne arms against the United States, 
 since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily 
 given no aid, countenance, counsel or encouragement to 
 persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I havt 
 neither sought, nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise
 
 194 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the functions of any office whatever, under any authority, 
 or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States ; 
 that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any prc : 
 tended government, authority, poAvcr or constitution, 
 within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto. And 
 I do further swear (or affirm) that to the best of my knowl- 
 edge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitu 
 tion of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and 
 domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the 
 same ; that I take this obligation freely, without any men- 
 tal reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well 
 and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I 
 am about to enter. So help me God." 
 
 So strong and comprehensive an oath as this, was never 
 before required from any officer of the Government, It 
 answers the requirements of the Constitution, and substan- 
 tially comprehends all contained in any other forms here- 
 tofore used. It is at once an oath of allegiance, an oath 
 of support of the Constitution, and an oath to discharge 
 faithfully the duties of the office taken. This goes by the 
 name of the TEST oath, and frequently " The Ironclad 
 Oath." 
 
 6. The object of binding all officers of the general and 
 State governments, by oath, is to place them under the 
 most solemn obligation to be faithful and honest in the 
 discharge of their duties. They cannot be otherwise, 
 without committing one of the most flagitious crimes. And 
 yet, lamentable to say, men have accepted office under 
 these most solemn obligations, and have afterwards utterly 
 disregarded them, and have been unfaithful in every re- 
 spect, both in the support of the Constitution and in the
 
 OATHS. 195 
 
 discharge of their official duties. For this cause, although 
 we have an excellent form of government, perhaps the 
 best in the world, yet in its administration a great deal 
 that is wrong and corrupt is found ; and fears have been 
 entertained that it would be broken down and destroyed, 
 by the corruption of those who administer it. Good men 
 should always be chosen to make and administer the laws 
 in any country, and under any form of government.
 
 196 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 Revenue. 
 
 1. THE revenue of any government, is its income, or 
 "money raised from any source whatever to defray the ex- 
 penses incurred in its administration. These expenses are 
 always heavy, are counted by millions, and the subjects or 
 citizens of the government, must pay them in some way ; 
 either by duties on imported goods, by direct taxation on 
 property, by payments for certain rights and privileges 
 conferred by the government, &c., &c. Different govern- 
 ments resort to different methods to raise their revenue. 
 
 2. The United States have always raised the greater 
 part of it by duties on imported goods. These have 
 sometimes been found sufficient to defray all expenses ; 
 and at other times insufficient, depending on the circum- 
 stances of a high or low tariff, or on ordinary, or extraor- 
 dinary expenses of Government. In times of war all these 
 resources put together have been insufficient, and it has 
 become necessary to borrow money to sustain it. War 
 expenses have been the source of most of the national 
 debts in all countries. 
 
 3. At the close of the late civil war between the Xorth 
 and South, the national debt amounted to nearly 3,000,- 
 000,000 of dollars ; and this in addition to the vast amounts 
 paid during the existence of the war. This created the
 
 REVENUE. 197 
 
 necessity for increasing the revenue of the country, and 
 the Government had to resort to direct taxation, in addi- 
 tion to all its ordinary resources, and to all the money it 
 borrowed, to sustain the expenses of the war. And now 
 after it is over, the taxes are continued for the purpose 
 of paying its enormous public debt. This furnishes us 
 with a forcible example of one of the great evils of war. 
 
 4. The proceeds of sales of the public lands have been 
 another source of revenue to the United States, which few 
 other governments possess ; because their territory is not 
 as extensive as ours, and they have but little, if any pub- 
 lic lands to dispose of. The empires of Russia and Brazil 
 may be exceptions to this general fact. 
 
 5. Duties collected on imported goods, the sale of public 
 lands, the income of the post office department, and direct 
 taxation, (when resorted to) are the principal sources from 
 which the revenues of th-u United States ai*e raised. There 
 are comparatively small amounts, however, raised from 
 other sources ; such as the duties paid upon the tonnage 
 of vessels, forfeitures of goods,smuggled or attempted to be 
 smuggled into the country ; forfeiture of vessels engaged 
 in the smuggling business, prizes taken in time of war ; 
 fees paid for licences granted ; and for services rendered 
 by certain government officials, &c. But all these put 
 together, are insignificant in amount, compared with the 
 first named. 
 
 6. The revenues of any government afford a tolerably 
 correct indication of its wealth, population and power. 
 Small and weak ones have small revenues. Wealthy, 
 populous and strong ones, have large revenues.
 
 198 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 Internal Revenue. 
 
 1. IN our chapter on Revenue, we observed that direct 
 taxation was one of the means to which the government 
 had to resort, when the proceeds from import duties and 
 ordinary sources failed to meet its expenses. 
 
 The late civil war caused an emergency of this kind. 
 All former wars in which the United States had been en- 
 gaged did not require one-quarter of the money for their 
 prosecution that this did ; and of course the ordinary rev- 
 enues of the government were entirely insufficient to de- 
 fray its expense. This state of things became apparent 
 soon after the war commenced. To meet it, Congress, as 
 early as 1861 [the war broke out in April of this year], 
 passed an act called " The Internal Revenue Law," by the 
 provisions of which, twenty millions of dollars were to be 
 raised annually by direct taxes upon houses and lands, in 
 each of the States and Territories in the United States. 
 
 2. By subsequent acts, not only houses and lands were 
 taxed, but almost every sort of property and business. 
 Licenses were requii-ed for persons to carry on their 
 profession, trade or business ; incomes were taxed ; 
 deeds, mortgages, notes, bonds, bank checks, and papers 
 of almost every kind were invalid unless they had a reve- 
 nue stamp upon them. Manufacturers had to pay such a
 
 INTERNAL REVENUE. 103 
 
 percentage on whatever they made. Scarcely any calling, 
 trade, profession, business or thing escaped it, directly or 
 indirectly. 
 
 So thorough a taxation the people never experienced 
 before ; and it is to be hoped they never will again. 
 This is one of the fruits of Avar. But what makes this 
 doubly aggravating, is that this was a civil war. The 
 people have this enormous load of taxation to carry, to 
 pay for killing each other. When will men learn war no 
 more ? When will men cease to be wicked and 
 foolish ? 
 
 3. To carry out the objects and provisions of this bill, 
 it became necessary, in the first place, to divide every 
 State and Territory into collection districts, entirely dif. 
 ferent, however, from the collection districts for the collec- 
 tion of the custom duties. These, as stated in another 
 place, are located along the sea-coast, and on the shores of 
 gulfs, bays and sounds, or on the shores of such navigable 
 lakes and rivers as are accessible to vessels from some 
 foreign country ; whereas, the collection districts for the 
 collection of the Internal Revenue are necessarily located 
 in every part of each State and Territory, as much inland 
 as along the coast. As far as practicable, they are made, 
 both in number and territory, identical with the Congres- 
 sional districts. 
 
 4. This law also made it necessai*y to create a host of 
 new officers to execute its provisions. In the first place, 
 an officer is appointed in the Treasury Department, and 
 denominated the " Commissioner of Internal Revenue." 
 lie is, like all officers of his grade, appointed by the Presi- 
 dent and Senate, and receives a salary of four thousand
 
 200 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 dollars per annum. He is charged with the duty [under 
 the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury] of prepar- 
 ing all the instructions, forms, blanks, stamps and licences 
 to be used throughout the country, by all officers and 
 agents employed in the collection of these taxes, and to 
 Bee to the execution of the law relating thereto. 
 
 5. Then comes an Assessor, and a Collector, each with 
 a deputy or deputies, if need be, for every district. One 
 to assess the value of all property liable to taxation, and 
 the other to collect and receive the monies so assessed. 
 The Collectors pay the monies so received into the Treas- 
 ury at Washington, or into such banks or other places as 
 may be directed by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 The money to be thus raised is apportioned to each 
 State and Territory in proportion to their representation 
 in Congress ; and a separate account of this tax is kept in 
 the Treasury Department with each State and Terri- 
 tory. 
 
 6. Much more might be said about other subordinate 
 officers and agents employed by the government for the 
 pupose of carrying out the provisions of the Revenue 
 laws ; and much more might be said about many of its 
 details ; for it contains an unusual number of provisions, 
 in no less than three, hundred and twenty-nine section?. 
 But many of these have already been changed by subse- 
 quent acts, and will probably be modified by every Con- 
 gress that may meet, until the whole law shall become 
 unnecessary by the paying off of the whole national debt, 
 or such a reduction of it as will enable the Government to 
 dispense with this extraordinary means of meeting its ob- 
 ligations. The very frequent modifications of all tax laws
 
 INTERNAL REVENUE. 201 
 
 renders it quite unnecessary to dwell with much minute- 
 ness on their provisions in detail. 
 
 I hope this outline of the objects of the law, and the ac- 
 count given of the principal officers engaged in carrying 
 it into effect will satisfy the general reader.
 
 202 OUTLINES OF U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XL VIII. 
 Custom Bouses and Custom House Officers. 
 
 1. CUSTOM Houses are Government offices, generally lo- 
 cated in seaport cities and towns, for the purpose of col- 
 lecting the duties charged upon imported goods. Nearly 
 all goods "brought from foreign countries into the United 
 States, are brought by ships and other vessels by sea. 
 Hence, seaports are the proper localities for Custom 
 Houses. Ports where they are established, are called ports 
 of entry. Here, vessels from foreign ports are allowed to 
 
 . enter, and here the duties on foreign goods are collected 
 by Custom House officers appointed for that purpose. 
 
 The principal of these officials is called a COLLECTOR OF 
 CUSTOMS. He is appointed by the President and Senate, 
 and holds his office during the pleasure of the President. 
 This office is one of great responsibility ; for the Collectors 
 of Customs receive and pay over into the United States 
 Treasury by far the greater part of the revenues of the 
 country ; that is, under ordinary circumstances. But 
 under the present extraordinary exigencies of the nation, 
 which grew out of the late civil war, the Government has 
 been obliged to resort to direct taxation to sustain its ex- 
 penses ; and a larger amount has been raised by this 
 means than by duties on imports. 
 
 2. A Collector of Customs is therefore required to give
 
 CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS. 203 
 
 heavy bonds for the faithful performance of his duties. 
 He must give his bonds, arid take his official oath be- 
 fore entering upon his duties, which are numerous and 
 various. lie has the power, also, with the approbation of 
 the Secretary of the Treasury, to appoint the subordinate 
 Custom House officers, such as weighers, measurers, 
 gangers, inspectors, watchmen, store keepers, &c. These 
 he nominates, and the Secretary of the Treasury confirms 
 or rejects them. 
 
 HIS DUTIES. 
 
 3, These duties require him to collect all duties which 
 Congress has imposed on every kind of imported goods 
 brought into the port or ports of which he is the collector. 
 In order to do this he requires a deputy, and in large 
 ports several of them, whom he appoints, together with as 
 manv of the above named subordinates as the business 
 done at the port requires. He must receive all reports, 
 manifests, and documents to be exhibited on the entry oT 
 any ship or vessel, whether domestic or foreign ; and all 
 accounts of all the goods they have on board. He must 
 estimate the duties to be paid thereon, receive the monies 
 paid therefor, and take all bonds for securing the payment 
 thereof, and grant all permits for landing the goods. 
 Once in three months he must transmit all monies col- 
 lected by him to the Treasury department at Washington, 
 together with full and accurate accounts of all his trans- 
 actions relating to the collection of duties at the port of 
 Avhich lie is collector. 
 
 4. He must examine the manifests, not only of all ships 
 and vessels with their cargoes which arrive within the 
 port or district for which he is collector, but also those of
 
 204 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 all vessels which depart from thence to foreign countries. 
 In this way the Government obtains a knowledge of the 
 amount and value of the whole exports and imports of the 
 country. He must also give clearances to all vessels when 
 they sail from his port for foreign ports or countries. No 
 vessel can lawfully depart without such clearance. 
 
 5. The manifests and clearances of ships and vessels are 
 so often spoken of in the laws relating to commerce, navi- 
 gation and the revenue, that it may be interesting and 
 useful to those not familiar with these matters, to give 
 the form of an American manifest and clearance. These 
 are among the most important of a ship's papers. 
 
 A SHIP'S CLEARANCE. 
 
 6. This document is couched in the following terms : 
 " District of ss., Port of , ss. 
 
 " These are to certify, to all whom it may concern, that 
 A. E. master or commander of the ship (brig, barque, 
 schooner), burthen tons or thereabouts, mounted 
 
 with g uns navigated with men, built, 
 
 and bound for , having on board , hath here en- 
 
 tered and cleared his said vessel according to law. 
 
 " Given under our hands and seals, at the Custom House 
 of , this day of , one thousand 
 
 , and in the year of the Independence 
 
 of the United States of America." 
 
 This is signed by the Collector, and by the naval officer 
 of the port, when the commander is prepared to depart 
 with his vessel to his destined port.
 
 CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS. 205 
 
 A SHIP'S MANIFEST. 
 
 This is a document of very different character. Its prin- 
 cipal object is to show of what her cargo consists, in 
 quantity, kind and value. The form of a manifest is as 
 follows 
 
 " Report and manifest of the cargo laden on board of 
 the , whereof is master, which cargo was 
 
 taken on board at the port or ports of , burthen 
 tons, built at , in the State of , and owned by 
 
 , merchants at , and bound for ." 
 
 This, together with a particular description of the marks 
 and numbers of every bale, box, case, barrel, bundle or par- 
 cel on board of the vessel, is the manifest. It must be 
 given to the collector of whatever port the vessel arrives 
 at ; and the master of her must swear that it is in all re- 
 spects a true and accurate account of all the cargo on 
 board, to the best of his knowledge and belief. 
 
 8. The Collector of the port can then compute the du- 
 ties to be paid upon each article, and when these are paid, 
 or secured to be paid, he gives permits to land the cargo, 
 and to deliver the goods to their respective owners. Then 
 come in the duties of Weighers, Gangers, Measurers and 
 Inspectors of the Customs, after permits are obtained to 
 land the goods. If they are such as require to be weighed, 
 gauged, or measured, these officers are sent to do it; and 
 the Inspector must allow nothing to leave the ship until 
 he has examined the marks and numbers, to see if they 
 correspond with the permit and the manifest. If he suspects 
 that there is an attempt to defraud the Government, by 
 false names and marks, he is authorized to open the pack-
 
 206 OUTLINES OF U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 age, box, ease, cask, or whatever contains the goods, and 
 to examine them. Ill this way smuggling is prevented, 
 and the revenues arising from duties on imported goods 
 secured. 
 
 9. The compensation of Collectors of Customs varies 
 from a few hundreds to many thousands of dollars per 
 year. It depends upon the amount of business done at the 
 port. At New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, 
 Baltimore and San Francisco, the compensation is enor- 
 mous, and should be reduced ; for, in addition to their 
 salaries and fees for services rendered, they receive a part 
 of the forfeitures of goods smuggled or attempted to be 
 smuggled into the country. 
 
 SURVEYORS. 
 
 10 Next to the Collector in rank and authority among 
 Custom House officers is the Surveyor of the Port. He 
 aids the Collector in collecting the revenue ; but his duties 
 are of a different character. He is appointed in the same 
 manner as the Collector, and for four years j but may be 
 removed by the President at his pleasure. His compensa- 
 tion, like that of the Collector, depends on the amount of 
 business at the port. 
 
 HIS DUTIES. 
 
 11. He must superintend and direct all Inspectors, 
 Weighers, Measurers, and Gangers, within his port, and 
 must visit all vessels arriving therein, and report th", same 
 to the Collector, with a description of each, of her nation 
 ality, cargo, &c., &c. Ifc is also his duty to examine all 
 goods entered for the benefit of drawback.
 
 CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS. 207 
 
 THE NAVAL OFFICER. 
 
 12. The Naval Officer is another of the principal Cus- 
 tom House officers employed in the collection of the reve- 
 nue. He is appointed in the same way as is the Collector 
 and the Surveyor, and is removable in the same mauiier. 
 His compensation, also, is dependent on the same circum- 
 stances. His duties, to some extent, are the same as the 
 Collector's, and serve as a check, or a sort of re-examina- 
 tion of his work for the sake of accuracy and correctness. 
 Hence it is his duty to receive copies of all manifests and 
 entries, and to compute the duties on all goods subject to 
 pay duties. He must keep a separate record thereof. He 
 must countersign all permits, clearances, certificates, de- 
 bentures, and other documents to be granted by the Col- 
 lector. He must also examine the Collector's computation 
 of duties, and his receipts, bonds, and expenditures, and 
 certify their correctness, if found right. 
 
 COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS. 
 
 13. In the year 1849 a new bureau was created by act 
 of Congress in the Treasury Department, the head of 
 which is styled " the Commissioner of Customs." This 
 was done to increase the operative power of the depart- 
 ment, and to relieve the First Comptroller of the Treasury, 
 whose duties had become too onerous to be efficiently per- 
 formed by one man. By the act in question, all the du- 
 ties and powers of the Fhst Comptroller of the Treasury, 
 BO far as they related to receipts from customs, rnd to the 
 accounts of collectors and other officers of customs, were 
 transferred to the new Commissioner and bureau under
 
 208 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 his supervision. Hence it became his duty to examine 
 and adjust all accounts with Custom House officers, to 
 prepare forms of all papers to be used in the collection of 
 the revenue from customs, and to direct the form and 
 manner of keeping accounts of the same ; to bring suits for 
 the recovery of all debts due from revenue officers, and to 
 report to Congress any default or neglect of duty on their 
 part. This affords another example of the manner in which 
 Congress is made acquainted with the conduct of Govern- 
 ment officials, and the state of things in every department 
 and bureau. The Commissioner of Customs is appointed 
 by the President and Senate, holds his office for the same 
 time, and receives the same compensation as the First 
 Comptroller of the Treasury.
 
 THE PUBLIC LANDS. 209 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 The Public Lands. 
 
 1. TH.B whole area of land lying within the boundaries 
 of the United States, is, according to published official 
 statements 3,002,013 square miles, or 1,921,288,320 acres. 
 Before the establishment of the present Government, and 
 during our colonial condition, much of this land had been 
 sold and otherwise disposed of by the English Govern, 
 ment, and had become the property of individuals. 
 Their possessions were not disturbed by the United States, 
 or by any of the State Governments after the Revolution, 
 which changed the whole country from the possession of 
 the English, to that of the American Government ; with the 
 exception of that which belonged to those who were ene- 
 mies to the United States, during the Revolution. This 
 was confiscated and fell back into the possession of the 
 United States, or of the States in which it laid. 
 
 2. But all which had not been disposed of became the 
 property of the Government, excepting such portions as 
 belonged to the Indians, the original owners of the 
 whole of America. Thus the Government became a great 
 land-holder from its very outset. From this, and from 
 what follows, it will be seen that it has been one of the 
 greatest land dealers in the world ; for in addition to that
 
 210 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 here spoken of it has purchased immense tracts from which 
 many of the present States and Territories were formed. 
 The Louisiana purchase, as it has always been termer 1 , 
 was made of France in 1803. Out of it the States of 
 Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri were formed. The 
 sum of $15,000,000 was paid for it. Then in the year 
 1819, the United States by treaty purchased Florida of 
 Spain. In 1836, Texas seceded from Mexico, and after a 
 War with her gained her independence, and in 1845 asked 
 to be admitted as one of the United States. This propo- 
 sition was accepted, and she was admitted accordingly. 
 All her public lands came into the possession of our Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 3. Subsequently to this, and after the late war with 
 Mexico, we purchased of her all the northern part of that 
 country, embracing California, New Mexico and other ex- 
 tensive regions. This again added several hundred thou- 
 sand square miles to our public domain. 
 
 To all these must be added the immense tracts bought 
 of the Indians. And to all of which must be added the 
 great purchase made early in the year 1867, from Russia, 
 of all her possessions in North America, for $7,000,000 in 
 gold. This increases our public domain, by between three 
 and four hundred thousand square miles. 
 
 4. But the Government does not want all this land. It 
 has no use for more than a few acres in certain locations 
 for the sites of public buildings, and of military works. 
 
 The object therefore is to sell it to those who want it 
 for farms and other purposes, that it may furnish homes 
 for the people, be made productive, and thus added to the 
 wealth of the nation. To accomplish this a General Land
 
 THE PUBLIC LANDS. 211 
 
 Office was established by act of Congress, in 1812, at 
 Washington. This office was at first attached to, or was 
 a Bureau of the Treasury department, but in 1849 it was 
 attached to the department of the Interior. The head of 
 this office is called 
 
 COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 
 
 5. He is appointed by the President and Senate, must 
 take the usual official oath, before entering on his duties, 
 and must give the usual official bond. He keeps the seal 
 of his office, and fixes an impression of it upon all papers 
 emanating from the land office. He, with his clerks and 
 assistants from the Bureau, keep all the records and pa- 
 pers pertaining to the public lands, and perform all duties 
 relating thereto. He receives reports from surveyors, 
 and from the district land officers, gives them their in- 
 structions, and reports to the President, and to Congress 
 when required to do so. 
 
 He issues all patents for lands granted by the United 
 States, and sends and receives by mail all papers and 
 documents relating to his official business under the frank- 
 ing privilege. Every patent for land is issued in the name 
 of the United States, is signed by the President and by 
 the Commissioner of the Land Office, and is then recorded 
 in books kept for that purpose. 
 
 SURVEYORS GENERAL AND DEPUTY SURVEYORS. 
 
 6. When it is deemed necessary and expedient to bring 
 the lands in any particular State or section of the country 
 into market, a surveyor general is appointed for that
 
 212 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 State or section, and also a sufficient number of deputy or 
 assistant surveyors to perform the work ; which is done 
 under the direction of the surveyor general, who is him- 
 self directed by law as to the manner of procedure. He 
 is appointed for four years, taking the usual oath, and 
 gives bonds for the faithful performance of his duties. 
 
 MODE OF SURVEYING THE PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 7. The law directs how the lands shall be surveyed and 
 mapped. Where it is practicable, they are laid out into 
 square miles, each of which contains 640 acres, and is 
 called a section. 
 
 These sections are then sub-divided into halves, quar- 
 ters, and eighths of sections; that is, into lots of 320, 160 
 and 80 acres. The boundary lines are all run north and 
 south, and east and west. 36 of these sections, which 
 make a plat of 6 miles square, are put into a township. 
 These townships are designated by numbers, but when in- 
 habited are named by the inhabitants as their fancy dicw 
 tates. 
 
 SALE OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 8. After the lands have been surveyed and properly 
 mapped into townships and sections, they are brought 
 into market, and offered for sale, in such quantities as are 
 wanted by the purchaser ; from 40 acres, one sixteenth 
 of a section, up to a whole section ; or as many sections 
 as the buyer pleases to take. 
 
 DISTRICT LAND OFFICES. 
 
 9. District land offices for the sale of lands are cstab-
 
 THE PUBLIC LANDS. 213 
 
 lished for this purpose at as many places in the State or 
 Territory where the lands are situated, as is deemed ne- 
 cessary, for the convenience of purchasers. Here are kept 
 maps of all the lands lying in the district, and buyers may 
 make their selections both of quantity and location as 
 suits them. Here they will find 
 
 A REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE, AND A RECEIVER OF 
 PUBLIC MONIES FOR LANDS. 
 
 10. The first named officer will register the application 
 made for land in a book kept for that purpose, and the 
 second will receive the money paid for it. These officers 
 are appointed by the President and Senate, and report 
 their proceedings to the General Land office at Washing- 
 ton. The receiver transmits all monies received by him, 
 to the United States Treasury, once in a month or once in 
 three months, as directed. 
 
 SCHOOL LANDS. 
 
 11. As before stated, the public lands are surveyed into 
 sections of one mile square, and 36 of these sections make 
 a township. For the purpose of encouraging education, 
 Congress has enacted that section number 16 in every 
 township, shall not be sold, but reserved for the township, 
 to be applied to the support of common schools in that 
 town. By this measure, the Government appropriated 
 one thirty-sixth part of its lands to aid the work of edu- 
 cating the children in the new States. And in addition to 
 this, it has made other munificent donations of land for 
 the establishment and support of colleges and other insti- 
 tutions of learning.
 
 214 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 12. In addition to all this the United States have do- 
 nated large tracts of land to the several States in which 
 it lay, to aid them in building their State houses, &c. 
 Large quantities of land have also been given to aid the 
 construction of railroads. 
 
 HOMESTEADS. 
 
 13. The Government has always sold its lands at a very 
 low price, preferring to give the people cheap farms, 
 rather than to raise more revenue from this source. 
 
 But in 1862, Congress passed an act called " the Home- 
 stead Law," the object of which was to cheapen the pub- 
 lic lands, to a mere nominal price, to heads of families, 
 male or female, or to persons 21 years of age or over, or 
 to persons who had served in the army or navy of the 
 United States, whether 21 years old or not. By the pro-, 
 visions of this act, such persons are allowed, for the trifling 
 sums of ten dollars, to enter upon and claim 160 acres of 
 land, provided the claimant swears that the land is applied 
 for, for his or her own use, and for settlement and cultiva- 
 tion. But no patent (deed) is to be given, until the ap- 
 plicant has actually settled upon, and cultivated the land, 
 for the space of five years. Such applicant must also make 
 affidavit that he has never borne arms against the United 
 States. 
 
 By this liberal policy, persons of very limited means 
 may provide themselves with comfoi'table homes for life ; 
 and the unoccupied lands will be settled and occupied fast- 
 er than if the old price of one dollar and twenty-five cents 
 per acre had been demanded. The revenue from the sale
 
 THE PUBLIC LANDS. 215 
 
 of lands will of course be less, but the wealth of the coun- 
 try will undoubtedly be increased by the measure. 
 
 MINERAL LANDS. 
 
 H. Exceedingly rich, and valuable mines of Gold, 
 Silver, Copper, Lead, and other minerals have been 
 found upon the public lands. That the'benefits of min- 
 ing them might be extended to the many instead of 
 being monopolized by a few, a different rule for selling 
 them has been made. After they have been surveyed, 
 mapped and described, they, like other lands are 
 offered for sale, but in quantities of not more than 40 
 acres. These are generally sold at auction, but no bid 
 less than five dollars per acre will be received. If not 
 sold at public sale, they are then subject to private sale 
 at that price. 
 
 REVENUE FR03I LANDS. 
 
 15. Any one can easily comprehend what almost bound- 
 less wealth there is in these public lands ; and although 
 the Government has not realized as much revenue from 
 them as it might have done, had it held them at higher 
 prices, yet to the purchasers the people they are 
 worth ten times more than the Government received 
 for them. Yet notwithstanding the low prices, they have 
 yielded and will long continue to yield, a considerable 
 part of the revenues of the country. 
 
 LEGISLATION RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 16. This vast estate which the people of the United
 
 216 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 States "own in their public lands, is constantly changing 
 its character from that of public to that of private 
 property ; for the Government is disposing of more or 
 less of it every year to individuals. By this process the 
 public domain is diminishing, but private property is as 
 constantly increasing. The land only changes owners 
 and is converted "from an unproductive to a productive 
 state, and this augments the wealth of the nation. 
 
 17. It is easy to understand that it has required a 
 great amount of care, labor and legislation to manage 
 and take care of so great an estate. Surveys, maps and 
 records of it, must be made and preserved at Washing- 
 ton ; and Congress has found it necessary at almost, if 
 not at every session, to pass acts in relation to it. All 
 the laws enacted relative to the public lands would, if 
 collected into one book, make a ponderous volume.
 
 BOUNTY LAND AND LAND WARRANTS. 217 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 Bounty Land and Land Warrants. 
 
 1. BOUNTY lands are lands given by the Government to 
 the officers and men who have served their country, 
 either in the army or navy. Everybody knows that the 
 pay of soldiers in the army, and seamen in the navy, is 
 small. For this reason our government has donated a 
 certain quantity of land to each officer and private, as a 
 further compensation for their services. The quantity 
 given was made to depend on the length of time spent in 
 the service. Those who engaged to serve a year, and 
 actually served nine months, receive 160 acres. Those 
 who engaged to serve six months, and actually served 
 four months, received 80 acres : and those who served one 
 month received 40 acres. No distinction was made be- 
 tween officers and privates, because officers receive higher 
 wages than privates. 
 
 2. The United States own such vast quantities of land 
 that they could in this way compensate the soldiers better, 
 with a less burden of taxation upon the people, than 
 other nations. Immense quantities of the pubiic lands 
 have been disposed of in this way, and many a soldier has 
 thus been furnished with a home, and with a competence 
 for life. In case of his death in battle, or before he re-
 
 218 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 oeived his land, it was given to his widow or children, if 
 he had any. 
 
 Every one entitled to land, for military or naval servi- 
 ces, receives from the Department of the Interior a certifi- 
 cate, or Land Warrant, as it is more specifically termed, 
 and this entitles him to go anywhere upon the public 
 lands which have been surveyed and brought into market, 
 and not otherwise disposed of, and select the quantity 
 named in his warrant, which is often denominated a mili- 
 tary Land Warrant. Upon the return of this certificate 
 or warrant to the land office, with proof of the location of 
 the land, the government gives the owner a patent, or 
 government deed of it, which is the best title to land that 
 a man can have. 
 
 3. Land warrants are often bought and sold like stocks, 
 for whoever lawfully holds the warrant, whether for ser- 
 vices or by purchase, is entitled to the land. 
 
 So careful has the government been to secure the bene- 
 fits of this provision to those who have served their coun- 
 try in time of war, that it does not allow land granted for 
 military services, to bo soid for the debts of the warrantee 
 before he has received his patent.
 
 DUTIES AND TARIFFS. 219 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 Duties and Tariffs. 
 
 1. FEW, if any, questions or subjects ever came before 
 the National Legislature, which have required more 
 legislation, caused more debate, or brought out a greater 
 diversity of opinion, than those relating to duties and 
 tariffs. 
 
 Duties are the taxes which the Government imposes 
 upon goods imported from foreign countries into our 
 own. This is not peculiar to our government, for all 
 others do the same thing. 
 
 In ours, two different objects have been sought by the 
 imposition of duties, both of which are clearly stated 
 in the preamble to the first act ever passed by Con- 
 gress (July 4th, 1T89), on this subject. They are in 
 these words " Whereas it is necessary for the support 
 of government, for the discharge of the debts of the 
 United States, and the encouragement and protection of 
 manufactures, that duties be laid on goods, wares and 
 merchandise imported." 
 
 First, the support of government. 
 
 Second, protection to our own manufactures. 
 
 2. A government is an expensive institution, and 
 requires a great deal of money to carry it on. This 
 must be had from some som-ce. To raise it by the im-
 
 220 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 position of taxes, or duties on merchandise imported 
 from foreign countries, lias been considered the cheapest 
 mode of collecting it, and the least burdensome upon 
 the people. Hence by far the greatest part of the 
 revenue of the United States has been raised in this 
 way. Then comes the second object ; which is to raise 
 the price of imported articles by just as much as the 
 duty on them amounts to; thus enabling our o\vn 
 manufacturers to compete with those of foreign coun- 
 tries. It has been thought to be a good policy to make 
 our own goods as far as we can, and thus to render 
 ourselves more independent of foreign countries. But 
 on this question there has been two opinions, which 
 have been BO strong as to form the principal difference 
 between different political parties ; one contending that 
 the Tariff (rate of duties) should be so low, that only 
 money enough should be raised from duties to support 
 the Government ; or, in other words, that the duties on 
 imports should be so graduated as to bring the greatest 
 amount into the Treasury of the United States, without 
 regard to the question of protection to home manufac- 
 tures ; or, that the incidental protection that a low 
 tariff would give was sufficient. 
 
 3. On the other side, it is contended that our best 
 policy is, and that our economical interests would be 
 best promoted by. imposing so high a duty on imported 
 goods, as to prevent to some extent their importation, 
 and thus to build lip American manufactures Much 
 has been said, and much has been written on both sides 
 of this question, both in and out of Congress, and the 
 policy of the Government is unsettled to this day, and
 
 DUTIES AND TARIFFS. 221 
 
 hence the great amount of legislation on this subject. 
 Sometimes the high tariff party, having a majority in 
 Congress would pass an act, fixing a high rate of duties ; 
 and when the low tariff party gained the ascendency, 
 they would change the tariff and fix the duties at a 
 lower rate. For the last thirty years the Government 
 has been vibrating between these two systems, very 
 much to the detriment of our prosperity, and the 
 question still remains unsettled, and will probably be 
 submitted to as many changes in the future as it has 
 been in the past. 
 
 4. The collection of duties on imports, is a very large 
 branch of the business of the Government, requiring a 
 great many Custom Houses and Custom House officers. 
 There are probably two hundred of the former, in all 
 the States ; yet most of the revenue is collected at a few 
 of the largest seaport cities, such as New York, Phila- 
 delphia, Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans and San 
 Francisco. Every seaport where vessels from foreign 
 countries are allowed to come in and discharge their 
 cargoes, and pay the duties thereon, is called a pwt of 
 Entry. After the vessel has been reported to the Col- 
 lector of the port, and her duties paid, or secured to be 
 paid, and the owners of the goods desire them delivered 
 at some other place, where there is no Custom House, 
 that privilege is granted, and the place where the goods 
 are finally discharged is called a " port of delivery." 
 
 5. Among the poAvers which the Constitution confers 
 upon Congress, is that of laying duties on goods im- 
 ported. Congress alone has this power. No State can
 
 222 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 exercise it. It also declares that all duties shall be equal 
 in all the States. 
 
 Not only has the tariff (which means the rate of duties 
 charged) been a source of much debate and legislation, 
 but also the mode of imposing these taxes. Two modes 
 have been advocated. Sometimes one and sometimes 
 another has been adopted and practiced. The system of 
 ad valorem duties is one, and that of specific duties is the 
 other. Ad valorem duties are laid upon the cost of the 
 article in the country whence it was brought. Hence 
 when goods were low, the duties would be correspond- 
 ingly low, and vice versa when high. But this plan has 
 been subject to great objections, for importers have been 
 often known to have false invoices made out, wherein 
 their goods were marked much below their real cost, and 
 by this means the Government is defrauded and honest 
 dealers injured. To avoid this the other mode has been 
 resorted to, viz : 
 
 " Specific duties," in which case the tax is laid upon the 
 article itself that is, the duty is so much per pound, 
 yard, gallon, &c., without regard to what was the price 
 originally paid for it. 
 
 6. There are a great number of imported articles, upon 
 which there is no duty. These are called free goods. 
 But the laws are so often changed that what are free 
 goods now may be taxed at the next session of Congress , 
 and goods paying duties this year may be put on the free 
 list next. 
 
 DRAWBACKS. 
 
 7. When the duties on foreign goods have been paid, and 
 they are afterwards exported, the duties which have been 
 paid are refunded to their owner. The money thus paid
 
 DUTIES AND TARIFFS. 223 
 
 "back is called a drawback. All imported goods are enti- 
 tled to drawback, whenever they are taken out of the 
 United States. 
 
 8. In this connection, we see no impropriety in noticing 
 another thing, though of an exactly opposite charactei to 
 rluties ; and that is, 
 
 BOUNTIES ON EXPORTED GOODS. 
 
 These take money out of instead of putting it in the treasury 
 yet the Government in a few cases has allowed boun- 
 ties upon exported articles. Fish taken by American ves- 
 sels, refined sugar, and distilled spirits, made from im- 
 ported sugar and molasses, are examples. This was done 
 to encourage domestic industry and enterprise.
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LIT. 
 Tonnage. 
 
 IN the last chapter we treated of duties and tariffs, but 
 as they related to imported goods. In this we will 
 speak of another kind of duties, differing very material ly 
 from the first. The first kind is imposed only upon for- 
 eign productions, but the latter upon home-made as well 
 as foreign ; and this is the duty which the Government 
 lays upon the tonnage of ships and other vessels. 
 
 Tonnage is the capacity of a ship or any other vessel, 
 for carrying weight, which is always reckoned by the ton ; 
 and is ascertained by measuring the length, breadth and 
 depth of the vessel. This has been deemed a proper sub- 
 ject of taxation, for the purpose of adding to the revenue 
 of the country. 
 
 At a very early period (1793), in our history these du- 
 ties were imposed, both on our own, and on foreign ves- 
 sels ; though heavier duties are laid on foreign, than upon 
 American vessels. In the first act passed on this subject, 
 in 179D, this duty on our own, was only six cents per ton, 
 while that on foreign bottoms was fifty cents. 
 
 Congress alone has the power to impose these duties. 
 No State can do it. In 1862, such were the wants of the 
 treasury, that the tonnage duties both on American and 
 foreign vessels were increased ten cents per ton. This 
 tax is collected only once in a year, by the collector of the 
 port, where the vessel happens to be,
 
 REVENUE CUTTERS. 225 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 Revenue Cutters. 
 
 1. KEVEXUE Cutters, are small sized vessels belonging to 
 the Government, and are used for the purpose of aiding 
 revenue officers in the collection of duties on imported 
 goods ; or, in other words, to prevent smuggling. These 
 vessels are built and used exclusively for this purpose, and 
 are not reckoned as any part of the navy, though officered 
 and manned much in the same manner. The commissioned 
 officers are appointed by the President and Senate. 
 
 The duties assigned to revenue cutters, are to sail along 
 the coast and look after ships and other vessels, going into 
 any of the ports of the United States ; to board them, and 
 examine their papers, that is, if going into an American 
 port, and within four leagues of the coast ; to examine the 
 manifests of the cargo, and every part of the vessel ; to 
 put proper fastenings upon the hatches and other commu- 
 nications with the hold ; and to place a man or men on 
 boai-d who must remain with her until her arrival into port ; 
 when she is delivered over to the charge of the proper 
 Custom House officer. 
 
 2. The officers of revenue cutters are deemed officers of 
 the customs, and hence are subject to the orders of the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, and the collectors and other 
 revenue officers, at the ports where employed. But if so
 
 226 OUTLINES OF U- S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 directed by the President, in an emergency they may co- 
 operate with the navy ; and in such cases if the officers or 
 men arc wounded in the discharge of their duties their 
 names may be placed on the navy pension list, and they 
 will be entitled to the same rate of pensions as other 
 officers and seamen of the United States navy. 
 
 3. Revenue Cutters are distinguished from other vessels 
 by the pendant and ensign they carry. These have such 
 marks upon them as the President shall direct ; and in 
 case any ship or other vessel liable to seizure, shall not 
 bring to, upon request of the commanding officer of the 
 cutter, he is authorized to fire into such vessel, after ex- 
 hibiting his pendant and ensign, in order to compel her 
 to obey his orders, and allow herself to be boarded and 
 examined. This he may do without incurring responsi- 
 bility for life or property, that may be destroyed by the 
 act. 
 
 4. One of the objects designed to be accomplished by 
 the use of revenue cutters, and the duties assigned to 
 them, is, to pi-event vessels from running goods ashore 
 after having neared the coast; and thus to escape pay- 
 ment of the duties. This could be done in the night or in 
 foggy weather, without detection, but for the vigilance of 
 these vessels, which are well armed and well manned. 
 Formerly they were all sailing vessels, but steamers aro 
 now used also. 
 
 5. The commander of a revenue cutter, must report 
 weekly to the collector of the port, where he is stationed, 
 the transactions of the cutter, with the names and descrip- 
 tion of all the vessels he has boarded ; specifying whether 
 they are American or foreign vessels ; whether loaded or 
 ia ballast, together with all such information as it may bj 
 necessary for the revenue officers of the port to possess.
 
 THE MINT. 227 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 The Mint. 
 
 1. THE United States Mint, located at Philadelphia, is 
 one of the most important establishments of the Govern- 
 ment. An act of Congress, passed in 1792, was the first 
 step towards its creation. Its design was, and its princi- 
 pal business has been, to coin the precious metals into 
 money. It has been for more than eighteen hundred 
 years the usage of civilized governments to coin their own 
 money. Ours, at a very early period of its existence, be- 
 gan to do the same thing, and will probably continue to 
 do it as long as it shall exist. Before the art of coining 
 was knownj the precious metals were used as a standard 
 of value, but they passed from one to another by weight. 
 The plan of cutting them into email pieces, and then 
 stamping their value upon them, by which their worth 
 could be known as soon as seen, was an improvement 
 Upon the former mode. This process is denominated coin- 
 ing. It has of late been brought so near perfection that 
 our pieces of money are fine specimens of art. 
 
 2. This establishment, like all others belonging to the 
 Government, is under the direction of officers chosen for 
 that purpose.
 
 228 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 They are a Director, 
 
 A Treasurer, 
 
 An Assayer, 
 
 A Meltcr and Refiner, 
 
 A Chief Coiner, and 
 
 An Engraver. 
 
 All of them are appointed by the President and Senate. 
 The Director appoints assistants and clerks. 
 
 All must give bonds for the faithful performance of 
 their respective duties, upon which they enter \inder oath. 
 The duties of these different officers may almost be known 
 by the names they bear. The Director is the head of the 
 institution, and the others act under his general direction, 
 each having his appropriate duties to perform. In the 
 month of January of each year the Director must make a 
 report to the President of the operations of the Mint and 
 its branches for the preceding year. 
 
 3. Any person may take gold or silver bullion or ores 
 to the Mint and receive it back in coin for a very trifling 
 expense. Before it is coined, after its value has been de- 
 termined by the Assayer, the Director will give a certifi- 
 cate for it, which is of the same value as the bullion de- 
 posited. 
 
 4. We have stated that the principal business at the 
 Mint is the conversion of the precious metals into coin of 
 money. But this is not its exclusive business. Another 
 part is to melt and assay these metals, and to run them 
 into ingots or bars either of pure or standard gold and sil- 
 ver, according to the wish of its owner. In our article on 
 the Assay Office at the City of Xew York we have ex- 
 plained this process more fully than we need to do here.
 
 THE MINT. 229 
 
 5. Until 1835, the Mint at Philadelphia was the only 
 establishment in the United States for coming money. 
 But in that year a law was passed establishing Branch 
 Mints at New Orleans, in Louisiana; at Charlotte, in North 
 Carolina; and at Dahlonega, in Georgia. In 1852 another 
 Branch was established in California ; in 1862 another at 
 Denver, in Colorado Territory; and in 1863 another at 
 Carson City, in Nevada Territory, since made a State; 
 in 1864, another at San Francisco, in California, and an- 
 other at Dales City, in Oregon. Except the one in Cali- 
 fornia, but little has ever been done at these branches. 
 Political reasons in some cases had more to do with their 
 establishment than any necessity for them. We need not 
 take time to name these officials, or to explain their oper- 
 ations. They are all similar to the principal one at Phila- 
 delphia ; for the laws relating to that are made to apply to 
 these branches. 
 
 G. The Constitution gives Congress the exclusive right 
 to coin money, and prohibits all the States from doing it. 
 This Congress does by the laws it passes in relation 
 to the subject, and the various officers and workmen em- 
 ployed to execute the work are only the agents of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 The various coins which Congress has from time to 
 time ordered to be made are of the following names and 
 value. 
 
 Gold. Value. Silver. Value. Copper. 
 
 Ear?le, $10 00 Dollar, $1 00 One cent 
 Half-Eagle, 5 00 Half-Dollar, 50 TAVO cents. 
 Quar. Eag., 250 Quar. Dol., 25 Three cents, & 
 Doub. Eag., 20 00 Dimes, 10 formerly 1-2 c. 
 
 Three Dols., 3 00 Half Dimes, 5 but these are 
 One Dollar, 1 00 Three ct. pieces 3 now discont'd.
 
 230 OUTLINES OP U. S GOVERNMENT. 
 
 7. Our coins are not made of pure gold and pure silver, 
 but of standard gold and silver ; that is, gold or silver 
 alloyed or mixed with some baser or less valuable metal. 
 By the law of 1837, standai-d gold and silver were de- 
 clared to be, nine hundred parts of pure metal, and one 
 hundred parts alloy, equal to one tenth alloy. Gold 
 coins are alloyed with silver and copper, equal parts of 
 each. Silver coins are alloyed with copper alone. Gold 
 is declared to be worth fifteen times as much as silver by 
 weight. 
 
 In addition to our own coins, Congress has from time to 
 time passed laws declaring the value of foreign coins, and 
 making them a legal tender. But these laws were all re- 
 pealed by the act of 1857, and it was made the duty of the 
 Director of the Mint to have them assayed, and to deter- 
 mine their weight, fineness and value ; for they ai-e still 
 used by banks and merchants, and pass at the value, as 
 determined by the Mint. 
 
 The Mint up to 1861, had coined in gold, silver, and 
 copper coin, 800,662,475 pieces, worth $799,923,362.
 
 ASSAY OFFICE. 231 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 Assay Office. 
 
 1. IN 1853, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized 
 to establish an office in the city of New York, for the re- 
 ceipt, melting, refining and assaying of gold and silver 
 bullion and foreign coin, and for casting the same into 
 bars, ingots or disks. The Assistant-Treasurer of the 
 United States, in New York, is Treasurer of said Assay 
 Office, and the Secretary of the Treasury appoints such 
 other clerks, assistants and workmen as shall be necessary 
 for the management of its business. 
 
 2. Persons having gold or silver bullion ores or foreign 
 coin, may deposit them in this office, and here it will be 
 refined and assayed (at no more cost than the actual ex- 
 penses of doing the work) and its value ascertained, and 
 the owner will be repaid therefor, in coins of the same value 
 and metal as that deposited. It is not coined in this 
 office, but cast into bars, ingots or disks, either of pure 
 metal or of standard fineness, as the owner may prefer, the 
 true weight and value of which are stamped thereon ; and 
 the owner may either take them in payment for his bullion 
 or foreign coin, or it will be coined for him at the United 
 States Mint, if he wishes. The bars spoken of are often 
 kept in that form, and are used as coin among banks, 
 brokers and merchants, who receive and pay large amounts
 
 232 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 of the precious metals. AVith them it passes as coin, for, 
 as stated, its exact weight and value are stamped upon it. 
 3. This establishment was located at New York, more 
 for the convenience of thousands who do business there 
 than for the necessity of such an institution ; for at the 
 Mint at Philadelphia, there is a department for doing the 
 same work as is done here. But at New York, the great 
 emporium of America, there is a larger amount of foreign 
 coin than in any other place, and it is often advantageous 
 to its owners, to have it converted into American coin, 
 that it may be used with greater facility. Although many 
 foreign coins do circulate in this country, but few know 
 their value. Consequently, they do not pass so readily ; 
 and for this reason they are melted and run into bars of 
 known value, or re-coined into American money.
 
 NATIONAL BANKS. 233 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 NATIONAL BANKS. 
 
 1. THE Banking system established by an act of 
 Congress in 1863, has brought a great number of banks 
 into existence ; and upon a plan so different from any 
 heretofore in use, that it seems germane to our subject 
 to notice it. 
 
 If the " National Banks " for so they are called, 
 are not institutions of the Government, they are insti- 
 tutions which exist by the authority of the Government. 
 It legalizes their existence and to some extent controls 
 their actions. By the act referred to, any number of 
 persons not less than five, may associate themselves to- 
 gether for the purpose of banking, by compliance with 
 the following conditions. 
 
 2 First; They must under their hands and seals, 
 make a certificate, which shall specify 
 
 I. The name assumed by such association. 
 
 II. The place where its business is to be conducted. 
 
 III. The amount of its capital stock (which can not 
 be less than $50,000) and the number of its shares. 
 
 IV. The names of its shareholders, and the number 
 of shares held by each. 
 
 V. The time when such association shall commence 
 business.
 
 234 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 VI. A declaration that said certificate is made to 
 enable such persons to avail themselves of the advanta- 
 ges of this act. 
 
 o. This certificate must be properly acknowledged 
 before some competent person, and must be sent to the 
 Comptroller of the Currency in the Treasury depart- 
 ment, to be recorded and kept by him. "When this, 
 and all other acts which the law requires, has been 
 done by the association, the Comptroller of the Currency 
 gives them a certificate under his hand and official seal, 
 to that effect, and that they are authorized to com- 
 mence business. This constitutes the association a 
 corporation. They have the right to make and use a 
 common seal, and have all the rights, and are liable to all 
 the responsibilities of ordinary legalized corporations ; 
 and may exist not to exceed twenty years from the 
 passage of this act. Every shareholder is made person- 
 ally liable for the debts of the association or bank, to 
 the amount of the par value of his stock. 
 
 4. In order to secure the holders of bills issued by 
 these banks, they must deposit with the Treasurer of 
 the United States, United States Bonds, bearing interest 
 to an amount not less than one-third of the capital stock 
 paid in. These bonds are safely kept by the said 
 Treasurer. The Comptroller of the Currency then 
 issues to the bank an amount of bank notes equal to the 
 amount of bonds thus deposited, less ten per cent. In 
 case the bank should fail to redeem its circulating bill?, 
 its bonds are sold, and with the proceeds, the Comptroller 
 of the Currency redeems them, or orders them to be paid 
 at the United States Treasury. The bonds held by the
 
 NATIONAL BANKS. 235 
 
 Treasurer as security for the redemption of the bills 
 issued by the association, must be transferred to him, in 
 trust ; thus giving him entire control of them in case 
 it becomes necessary to sell them in order to redeem 
 the bills of any association which may have failed to 
 pay them on demand. 
 
 5. This act of 1863, before mentioned, has brought a 
 great number of new banks into existence. It allowed banks 
 already existing under State laws, to become banking 
 associations, under this act. Most of the existing State 
 banks have done so ; organizing themselves under this 
 law. Hence with few exceptions, (which will probably 
 soon disappear), we have a uniform system of banking all 
 over the United States. The bills of these banks pass in 
 any part of the country. The holders of them are more 
 secure, because there is ample security for their redemp- 
 tion, (in case the bank fails to pay) deposited in the 
 United States Treasury, where they will be paid up on 
 presentation. 
 
 6. The billholder is also better protected against coun- 
 terfeits than he was under the old system; for all the bills 
 issued by these associations are engraved by the 
 Government, and the plates and dies on which they are 
 printed are kept by the Comptroller of the Currency in the 
 Treasury department. The engraving is done in the best 
 possible manner, and it is exceedingly difficult to counterfeit 
 them. Besides this, they all have the imprint of the seal of 
 the Treasury on their face, and are numbered, and counter- 
 signed by the Treasurer and Register. With all these 
 guards and precautions, we have the best paper currency 
 we have ever had since the establishment of the Govern- 
 ment.
 
 236 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 7. This act necessarily threw upon the Treasury depart- 
 ment a great increase of labor, and in order to provide for 
 it, a separate Bureau was created, which is denominated 
 the JSureau of Currency; the chief officer of which is 
 called the Comptroller of the Currency. He acts under 
 the general direction of the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 This Bureau is charged with the execution of this, and all 
 other laws that may be passed by Congress respecting the 
 National Currency. The Comptroller of the Currency is 
 appointed by the President and Senate, has a Deputy, 
 receives a salary of $5,000 per year, holds his office five 
 years, has an official seal, gives bonds to the amount of 
 $100,000, and takes and subscribes the oath of office 
 prescribed by the Constitution and the laws. His duties 
 are numerous and very responsible, he having hundreds 
 of millions under his care. 
 
 The terms National Banks, given to these institutions; 
 and National Currency to the bills they issue, were given 
 from the fact that they were organized by an act of Con- 
 gress, and that the security for the redemption of their 
 bills consists exclusively of National bonds; no other 
 securities will be taken.
 
 MILITARY ACADEMY. 237 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 X&ilitary Academy. 
 
 1. THE Military Academy, located on the west bank of 
 the Hudson river, at West Point, in the State of New 
 York, and about 50 miles from the city of New York, is 
 one of the Government Institutions. It had its origin in 
 an act of Congress, passed as early as 1802. Under this 
 act, this far-famed military school was commenced ; but 
 on a scale, in every respect, very much inferior to what it 
 has since become. 
 
 2. Its name explains its character and objects. It was 
 established and has been continued at a great expense ; 
 for the purpose of teaching and training up young men in 
 the science and art of war ; that in any emergency, the 
 country might have a sufficient number of men, educated 
 and skilled in all such arts and sciences as appertain to 
 war. Hence, Mathematics, Engineering, Gunnery, Draw- 
 ing, Natural and Experimental Philosophy, and Military 
 Tactics, are among the principal branches taught. In 
 all of these, able professors give instruction to the cadets, as 
 the pupils ai - e called. Chemistry, Geology, and the French 
 language are also taught at this Institution. The instruc- 
 tion is thorough, the discipline excellent, and some of the 
 graduates of this celebrated school rank high among the 
 scientific men of the country.
 
 238 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 3. Congress controls and regulates this establishment 
 as it does all other departments, institutions, and works 
 belonging to the Government. It enacts all laws relating 
 to its officers, professors, and cadets, and to the manage- 
 ment of the Institution. 
 
 4. By a law passed in 1843, the number of cadets to be 
 admitted was made to correspond with the number of 
 Senators and Representatives from each State. Every 
 State and Territory is entitled to send as many cadets as 
 it has Senators and Representatives in Congress. This 
 gives each Territory, however, but one ; as a Territory has 
 no Senators, and but one Representative. By the same 
 law the District of Columbia is allowed one. To give 
 every part of the country an equal chance, it was enacted 
 that each congressional district in every State and Terri- 
 tory should be allowed to send one cadet, to be educated 
 at West Point. These are generally nominated for ap- 
 pointment by the Congressmen from their respective dis- 
 tricts, and the President appoints. The cadet must be 
 an actual resident of the district for which he is appointed. 
 
 5. In addition to these, it is provided by the same act, 
 that 10 more cadets may be appointed at large ; i. e. with- 
 out regard to Congressional districts. These provisions 
 would make the number of cadets at the present time 
 (1867), to be three hundred and fifteen. In order to be 
 admitted as a cadet, the candidate must be well versed 
 in reading, writing and arithemetic ; must not be under 
 14 nor over 21 years of age ; and must sign articles, 
 agreeing to serve the United States eight years. After 
 he has finished his studies and has graduated,, he is con-
 
 MILITARY ACADEMY. 239 
 
 sidered as a candidate for a commission in the army, ac- 
 cording to the duties he may be competent to perform. 
 
 6. The Military Academy may be considered a branch of 
 the War Department. Men who have been educated there 
 have rendered the country signal service in times of war ; 
 have made able commanders, and have proved themselves 
 thoroughly skilled in military science. Not only in the 
 military service has it been a benefit to the country, but 
 in the civil walks of life. Many of its graduates have dis- 
 tinguished themselves as engineers, astronomers, and in 
 other scientific professions, and useful employments. 
 
 7. There is an annual examination of the cadets, of the 
 general affairs of the Institution, by a committee ap- 
 pointed by the President, for that purpose. 
 
 It is composed of Congressmen and military officers. It 
 is the duty of these examiners to attend the examination, 
 inspect its discipline, and course of instruction, look after 
 its fiscal affairs, and all other matters relating to the aca- 
 demy, and to report the same to the Secretary of War, 
 for the use of Congress.
 
 240 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 KTaval Academy. 
 
 1. WE will place our notice of this institution next to 
 that of the Military Academy, as there is a strong analogy 
 between the two. We remarked on that, that it might be 
 considered a branch of the War Department. So we say 
 of this, it may be considered a branch of the Navy Depart- 
 ment. Both are designed to educate and train men for 
 future public service, in different departments. 
 
 2. This school is now established at Annapolis, in the State 
 of Maryland, near Washington. Like the Military Academy, 
 it has its Superintendent and Professors. The pupils are 
 called Midshipmen. They are taught navigation, and such 
 other branches of science as are necessary to make them 
 good seamen and naval officers. They are selected upon 
 nearly the same plan as cadets. Each Congressional Dis- 
 trict now in every State and Territory, is entitled to 
 send two students to be educated at the Academy. The 
 District of Columbia is also entitled to send two. Besides 
 which, the President is allowed to appoint ten additional 
 ones, to be selected from acting-Midshipmen, at large, 
 and thi'ee more from the boys enlisted in the navy. 
 
 3. After their graduating examination, if they pass, 
 they are commissioned as Ensigns in the navy, and rank 
 according to merit. Before admission, they are examined
 
 NAVAL ACADEMY. 241 
 
 according to the regulations made by the Secretary of the 
 Navy, and must be between the ages of fourteen and sev- 
 enteen years, sound, robust, and of good constitution. 
 
 4. The course of study in this, as well as in the Military 
 Academy, is adapted to the profession which the students 
 are expected to follow, th j one in the Navy, the other in 
 in the Army. More are educated at these great national 
 schools than the government needs in time of peace. Hence 
 it is that many of the graduates are engaged in civil em- 
 ployment. Thus these institutions have been of great 
 service to the country, outside of the Army and Navy, 
 for they have added to the number of well-educated and 
 scientific men, who may be useful in any of the walks of 
 life. Their graduates elevate the standard of intelligence 
 in the community, especially when they engage in the 
 work of instruction. 
 
 Both of these institutions are supported at the expense 
 of the Government. The tuition and board of the cadets 
 in one, and of the Midshipmen in the other, costs them 
 nothing.
 
 242 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 Armories and Arsenals. 
 
 As early as 1794, Congress enacted that three or four 
 Arsenals and Magazines, with an Armory attached to each, 
 should be established for the safe keeping of military 
 stores. An Arsenal is a place where arms and military 
 stores are kept. An Armory is a place where arms are 
 made or repaired. The Armories where arms are manufac- 
 tured are at Springfield in Massachusetts, and at Harpers' 
 Ferry in Virginia. But there are many others where they 
 are repaired. 
 
 In 1808, the President was authorized to purchase sites 
 and to erect as many more arsenals and manufactories of 
 arms as he might deem expedient. Each of these estab- 
 lishments was formerly under the direction of a Superin- 
 tendent ; but they are now placed under the direction of 
 the Ordnance department. The office of Superintendent 
 of the Armories at Springfield and Harpers' Ferry, was 
 also abolished in 1842 ; and its duties have since been 
 performed by such officers of the Ordnance Corps as were 
 designated by the President. In each Armory there is em- 
 ployed a Master- Armorer, who superintends the workmen. 
 We have not the means of knowing what number of these 
 establishments have been authorized in the United States, 
 but in addition to those already named there are arsenals
 
 ARMORIES AND ARSENALS. 243 
 
 and armories at Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania; at Wash- 
 ington city ; at Watervliet and Watertown, in New York ; 
 at Columbus, Ohio ; at Indianapolis, in Indiana ; and at 
 Rock Island, in Illinois, They are parts of the military 
 establishment of the country, and belong to the War De- 
 partment.
 
 244 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 The Army and LTavy. 
 
 1. A DETAILED and a minute description of the various 
 departments, officials, works and modes of operation, in 
 these two great Government establishments, would re- 
 quire a larger volume than the present to contain it. We 
 must, therefore, in a work of this kind, be content to speak 
 of them in the most general terms. Indeed it would be 
 quite uninteresting to the general reader to peruse a de- 
 tailed account of the division of the Army into corps, 
 brigades, regiments and companies, with all the grades of 
 officers commanding them ; or of all the appendages to 
 an army, such as the Commissary department, the Quar- 
 termaster's department, and many other important attach- 
 ments to a regular Army. And what we say of the Army 
 would hold true of the Navy. 
 
 2. We will then only say that the Army and the Navy 
 are the two great arms of our Government, as they are of 
 all others. They are the means of defence against attacks 
 or invasions from other powers; as well as of offense, 
 when circumstances require us to invade foreign countries, 
 or to enforce our rights upon the high seas, thoiigh this is 
 especially the duty of the navy, which has rights all over 
 the seas equal with those of any other nation. But to re- 
 sist foreign aggression, or to defend our rights on the seas,
 
 THE ARMY AND NAVY. 245 
 
 is by no means the only reason for maintaining an army 
 and a navy. Experience has shown that such is the de- 
 pravity, the lawlessness, and the wickedness of a part of 
 mankind, that nothing but compulsion will keep them in 
 order ; nothing but force will keep them from the viola- 
 tion of the best of laws. This reckless and vicious class of 
 persons are so numerous that laws could never be exe- 
 cuted, nor order preserved, if no military or naval power 
 stood behind the civil power to enforce the laws when 
 they are resisted by any considerable body of persons. 
 But for the known fact that the military power stands 
 ready at the call of the executive authority of the Govern- 
 ment, resistance to every law which was distasteful to the 
 most depraved and vicious would be made. Thus order 
 at home, almost as much requires the military power as 
 our defence against the wrongs or invasions of foreigners. 
 
 3. Tho Navy cannot act in all emergencies as the Army 
 can, because it is necessarily restricted in its actions. It 
 can only act on the seas or upon places accessible to it by 
 water ; whereas the Army can operate any where upon 
 land. It never has been the policy or the practice of the 
 United States to keep a large standing army, for it has 
 been thought inconsistent with a republican government ; 
 fii'st, because it seemed to imply a want of confidence in 
 the intelligence and patriotism of the people, the majority 
 of whom are deemed law-abiding, patriotic, and willing 
 without compulsion to support the authority of the civil 
 power of the Government. And another reason is that a 
 large army is a very expensive thing. Indeed the Army 
 and the Navy are by far the two most expensive depart- 
 ments of the Government. Economy therefore is another
 
 246 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 reason why our standing army has always been small in 
 times of peace. In this connection we will notice another 
 fact, which renders it unnecessary for our Government to 
 maintain a large army, at any other time than when we 
 are at war, and that is our militia system, which was 
 established immediately after the organization of the 
 Government. By a law of Congress, it was enacted, that 
 every sound and healthy man, with a few exceptions in 
 special cases, between the ages of 18 and 45 should be 
 enrolled and equipped for military duty. Then, by the 
 laws of the States, they are required on certain days in 
 each year to meet in companies, regiments or brigades, 
 for drill and practice in military exercises. 
 
 4. By these means military organizations are kept up 
 in every part of the country, together with some know- 
 ledge of the military art. These, in time of war or 
 domestic insurrection, may be called out with but a few 
 days' notice ; and a large army of citizen soldiers can be 
 raised in a very short time. With such facilities for raising 
 men it is unnecessary to keep a standing army of much 
 magnitude. A few thousand men to guard our fortifica- 
 tions and military posts are sufficient. 
 
 The late civil war between the South and the North 
 gave ample evidence of this ; for when it became necessary 
 to raise a million of men it was done in a short time, and 
 after a little practice they became good soldiers. Until 
 the recent civil war, the Navy of the United States was, in 
 comparison with that of several other nations, small and 
 weak. But during the rebellion the necessity of greater 
 force hi this arm of our government, very soon brought 
 into existence the most powerful navy in the world ; and
 
 THE ARMY AND NAVY. 247 
 
 to-day, our navy ranks as one of the best, if not the very 
 best in the world ; notwithstanding that it has been greatly 
 diminished since peace has been restored. 
 
 5. The necessities of the case called for many more 
 vessels than the Government had ; and a large number 
 were purchased which had been built and used for com- 
 mercial purposes. Besides these, a great nnmber were 
 built ; and many English vessels, which had run the 
 blockade, or attempted to do so, were taken as prizes, and 
 immediately placed in our navy. Hence perhaps no navy 
 upon earth ever grew from smallness to greatness, and 
 from weakness to power so rapidly as did the American 
 Navy from 1861 to 1865, or during the continuance of the 
 rebellion. 
 
 Not only was the number of ships, men, and guns 
 greatly increased, but the power and efficiency of our guns 
 were augmented beyond 'any thing ever known before ; as 
 was also the power of our ships of war for offence or 
 defence. "When we see cannon which will send balls five 
 miles, and do terrible execution, and iron-clad ships so 
 constructed as to be as impervious to cannon balls as a rock 
 is to small shot, we may place our navy on an equality, if 
 not in advance of any other which can be found on earth. 
 In this respect we stand on a proud eminence in contrast 
 with any other nation. 
 
 6. We have said already that since the restoration of 
 peace among ourselves, the force of the navy had been 
 greatly reduced and brought down to a peace standard. 
 Yet it is still of sufficient power to answer any emergency, 
 that is likely to occur. From the report of the Secretary 
 of the Navy, rendered near the end of the year 1866, we
 
 248 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 learn that the present naval power of the country consists 
 of 278 vessels of all descriptions ; carrying 2,351 guns, 
 and about 13,600 seamen, which in case of war could easily 
 be doubled. 
 
 7. We have in another place spoken of the Naval 
 Academy, and said that its object was to educate young 
 men for the naval service. The Government has also 
 appropriated ships and established schools on board of 
 them for the instruction of boys in navigation, and naval 
 warfare. These are called apprentices ; and for good con- 
 duct and proQciency in their studies, they arc promoted to 
 the Naval Academy, and placed in the line of promotion. 
 Thus the Government is training up a class of young men 
 for the navy, who will not only be well educated, but well 
 drilled in all the arts and sciences which pertain to the 
 naval service. " In time of peace prepare for war," is a 
 proverb on which the Government is now acting. 
 
 8. For the construction of our vessels of war and for 
 their equipment and repairs, several Navy Yards have 
 been established along the coast, and on some of the 
 navigable rivers. Here the ships are built, armed, 
 equipped, manned and fitted out for their destination. 
 The principal Navy Yards are at Brooklyn, N. Y., Phila- 
 delphia, Pa., Norfolk, Va., and Pensacola, Fla. 
 
 9. Not half of the vessels belonging to the navy are, 
 however, (now in time of peace) in commission, that is, in 
 active service. The rest are either laid up, or in 
 process of repair. Most of those in commission are 
 employed in what is called squadron service. The 
 Secretary of the Navy in his last report enumerates seven 
 of these squadrons ; viz., the European, the Asiatic, the
 
 THE ARMY AND NAVY. 249 
 
 North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the North Pacific, the 
 South Pacific, and the Gulf squadrons. The names given 
 to these squadrons indicate their whereabouts, and their 
 cruising grounds. These squadrons consist of six, eight, 
 ten, twelve or fifteen vessels, as the work to be done may 
 require. It is their duty to visit the sea ports of the 
 various countries along the coasts of which they cruise, in 
 order to proctect our merchantmen against pirates or 
 enemies of any description, who may molest them or inter- 
 fere with their rights or privileges ; and also to look after 
 the interests and dignity of the United States. 
 
 10. These squadrons are under the command of a high 
 naval officer of the rank of Commodore or Rear- Admiral, 
 whose ship is called the Flag ship of the squadron. Many 
 of our naval officers have distinguished themselves for 
 bravery, skill, and patriotic devotion to their country, 
 and have occupied the highest position of honor, and the 
 most exalted places in the esteem and affections of their 
 countrymen. 
 
 In 1862, Congress enacted that there should be nine 
 grades of officers in the Navy, and that their correspond- 
 ing rank with military officers should be as follows 
 
 1. Rear- Admiral, with Major-General. 
 
 2. Commmdores, " Brigadier-Generals. 
 
 3. Captains, " Colonels. 
 
 4. Commanders, " Lieutenant-Colonels. 
 
 5. Lieut.-Commanders, " Majoi-s. 
 G. ^Lieutenants, " Captains. 
 
 7. Masters, " First Lieutenants. 
 
 8. Ensigns, " Second Lieutenants. 
 
 9. Midshipmen, with no corresponding rank in the Arrm j
 
 250 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. 
 Articles of War. 
 
 1. As a sequel, or as a kind of appendix to what has 
 been said about the army, it seems appropriate to make 
 some remarks upon the " Articles of AVar," as they are 
 commonly called. These are not, as some might suppose 
 them to be, rules made by the highest officers in command, 
 for the government of the officers and soldiers of inferior 
 rank ; but they are laws of Congress, acts of that body. 
 Hence they come from the highest authority in the land, 
 and are as binding upon the highest in command as upon 
 the humblest private. 
 
 2. They relate of course exclusively to the army, and 
 consist of one hundred and one articles, each containing 
 some specific rule or direction for the government of either 
 officers, soldiers, or attachees of the army. They form a 
 complete Code of laws for them all, while in actual service. 
 The first one of these requires every officer in the army to 
 subscribe these rules and regulations, before he enters upon 
 his duties ; thus signifying his approval of them, and 
 tacitly promising to regulate his conduct by them. 
 
 3. But to recite the provisions of each article would re- 
 quire more space than we can appropriate to this theme 
 Let it suffice then to enumerate some of the principal sub- 
 jects embraced in these articles ; showing what matters
 
 ARTICLES OF WAR. 251 _ 
 
 relating to the army Congress has seen fit to regulate by 
 legislation. These are, 
 
 1st. Directions to both officers and men to attend public 
 worship, accompanied by penalties prescribed for any im- 
 proper behavior on such occasions. 
 
 4. They prohibit the use of profane oaths and execra- 
 tions, of contemptuous and disrespectful language against 
 their superiors , the raising of a mutiny among the troops; 
 and the striking, raising any weapon, or offering any vio- 
 lence to a superior officer. They prescribe the oath or 
 affirmation which every officer and private must take upon 
 his entrance into the army, and the penalties for the viola- 
 tion of any of the Articles of War, or the omission of any 
 duties incumbent upon them. They contain rules for the 
 enlistment, dismissal, and discharging of men, and for 
 granting them furloughs, and leave of absence, with penal- 
 ties for desertion, or absence without leave. 
 
 5. They prohibit duelling, or challenging to a duel ', 
 make rules for sutlers in the army; prohibit embezzlement 
 of public property, or public money ; sleeping while on 
 guard ; drunkenness ; absence from parade ; raising false 
 alarms ; cowardice ; disclosing watchwords ; aiding or 
 corresponding with the enemy. They prescribe the rank 
 and grade of officers ; direct how courts-martial shall be 
 constituted; how proceedings shall be conducted in them ; 
 and how deceased officers' and soldiers' money, effects and 
 arms, shall be disposed of. 
 
 G. These are the most important among the provisions 
 of the " Articles of War," and with others of less note, 
 must be read and published once in every six months- 
 to every regiment or troop in the service. In many in-
 
 252 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 stances, they prescribe specifically what punishment shall 
 be inflicted for any violation of these rules and regula- 
 tions ; but in other cases they leave the mode and amount 
 of punishment to the discretion of the courts-martial, be- 
 fore which the accused is tried. Penalties for military of- 
 fences rise in severity, corresponding with the turpitude 
 of the crime, from a small fine, or a short imprisonment, up 
 to death. The sentence of any court-martial may, how- 
 ever, always be modified, commuted, or set aside by the 
 President of the United States, who is, as is well-known, 
 Commander-in-Chief both of the Army and Navy. A 
 general court-martial is composed of commissioned officers, 
 not less than five, nor more than thirteen in number.
 
 CHAPLAINS. 253 
 
 CHAPTER LXIL 
 Chaplains. 
 
 1. IF Chaplains are not officers of the Government, they 
 are at least employees of it ; for they are appointed by its 
 authority, and paid from its treasury. Those in the army 
 receive the same pay and emoluments as a Major of in- 
 fantry ; or this was the compensation allowed by act of 
 Congress in 1812. But by an act of 1862, it was fixed at 
 $100,00 per month, and two rations per day, for those in 
 the army or hospitals. By the act of 1812, one Chaplain 
 was allowed to every brigade ; but by an act of 1861, 
 (during the civil war), one for every regiment was allowed. 
 
 Navy Chaplains, in 1835, received $1,200 per year. 
 But in 1860 this was raised to a Lieutenant's pay ; and 
 this in 1862 was 81,800 per annum. 
 
 Chaplains in Congress receive $750 per annum. 
 
 2. The United States also employ a chaplain in the 
 Military Academy at West Point. 
 
 From the foregoing, it will be seen that in time of war 
 with one chaplain for every regiment, and one for every 
 ship of war, and others in hospitals and military posts, 
 quite a large number of clergymen are employed by the 
 Government. 
 
 This provision for the religious instruction of those who 
 cannot, from their peculiar position attend the preaching
 
 254 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 of the Gospel, or other religious services, is certainly an 
 indication that our Government respects religion, and 
 looks after the spiritual, as well as the temporal interests 
 of its Army and Navy. 
 
 3. In the appointment of chaplains, the Government 
 pursues a liberal course. They give no particular prefer- 
 ence to any denomination, but appoint them from almost 
 every religious sect, and allows them to conduct religious 
 services after the forms of the church to which they respec- 
 tively belong. 
 
 Every body knows what the duties of a Chaplain are. 
 So we need not explain them here, and will only add that 
 a faithful Chaplain, in the army in time of war, has much 
 to do besides preaching, and holding regular religious ser- 
 vices. The wounded, the sick, and the dying, should be 
 the particular objects of his attention. He should not 
 only minister religious instruction and consolation to them, 
 but look after their physical comforts. Many of these 
 clergymen during the late most unfortunate civil war, dis- 
 tinguished themselves by their exertions to promote the 
 bodily comforts of those unfortunate men, as well as to 
 give them religious instruction, not refusing to nurse the 
 sick and wounded, whenever they could relieve their pains, 
 or mitigate their sufferings.
 
 THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY. 255 
 
 CHAPTER LXIH. 
 The naval Observatory. 
 
 1. THIS Institution is located in Washington, and was 
 established by act of Congress in 1842, and put into oper- 
 ation in 1844. Its name indicates the particular object 
 or purpose of its establishment. The " Naval Observatory" 
 suggests the idea that it has some connexion with the 
 Navy, and so it has ; for the immediate object in founding 
 it was, to determine such astronomical problems as would 
 be of great service to the Navy. It is well known that 
 Astronomy lies at the foundation of nautical science, and 
 that without the knowledge of the former, but little skill 
 in the latter could ever be acquired. 
 
 2. The Observatory was built and finished with various 
 astronomical and philosophical instruments, and a corps 
 of professors were appointed to watch the movements of 
 the heavenly bodies, and to make such observations and 
 experiments as would enable them to determine many un- 
 settled questions which relate to the science of navigation ; 
 and incidentally to another great Government work, hav- 
 ing especial reference to the same subject ; that is, the 
 Coast Survey. 
 
 The Coast Survey has already been of great service to 
 the interests of navigation, whether national or commer- 
 cial vessels are regarded, and when finished, much
 
 256 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 greater benefits are to be expected. When a sufficient 
 number of observations.and experiments shall have been 
 made at the Naval Observatory, and published to the 
 world, much valuable information Avill be added to what 
 is already known. And indeed it would be disreputable 
 to a nation having so large a Navy, and such a vast num- 
 ber of merchant ships upon the ocean as we have, to do 
 nothing for^ or to add nothing to, the science of naviga- 
 tion. It would be an unwise policy if economy only were 
 studied, and we should justly deserve the reproach of 
 being penurious, short sighted, and miserably wanting in 
 disposition to promote the general good of the world. 
 
 3. During the first nine years after the Government of 
 the United States was put into operation, we had no navy 
 department. The administration of the affairs of the very 
 small Navy which we then had, was placed in the hands 
 of the Secretary of "War ; and after a navy department 
 was established, but little was done by the Government 
 to improve nautical science, until the Naval Observatory 
 was built; since that, much attention has been given to this 
 important subject, and it is expected that corresponding- 
 results will follow. 
 
 4. This Institution owes more to that enlightened and 
 truly patriotic President, John Q. Adams, than to any 
 other man. He recommended it as far back as 1823, and 
 again in his first message to Congress. But political op- 
 position to the man, prevented his recommendations from 
 being acted upon till nearly 20 years after they were 
 made. This opposition was finally overcome, and we and 
 posterity after us, will reap the fruits of Mr. Adams's sug- 
 gestions and labors, to promote the cultivation of that
 
 THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY 257 
 
 science which is at once a benefit and an honor to our 
 country. 
 
 5. The professors are assiduous in their labors, and pub- 
 lish the results of their observations, and tho facts they 
 have determined. These are not only of use to our own 
 seamen, but to those of all nations, who are doing business 
 on the great deep. Here the charts made by the Coast 
 Survey are deposited, and here all our national vessels are 
 furnished with them, and with all the nautical instruments 
 they require. The charts, instruments and books relating 
 to astronomy and navigation found here, nake it the 
 head quarters and depot of nautical science in *-\e United 
 States.
 
 258 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 Coast Survey. 
 
 1. THE Coast Survey, the Naval Observatory and light 
 houses are all of a similar character ; government works in 
 their purposes, and in their utility. The plan of making 
 a survey of the whole coast, and of keeping it lighted, is one 
 founded in a wise and generous policy. It aids commerce, 
 and encourages navigation, by making known the hidden 
 dangers of the sea, and by giving directions how to avoid 
 them. 
 
 2. This government undertaking has not been as vigor- 
 ously prosecuted as some other enterprises conducted by it. 
 As early as 1807, Congress passed an act authorizing the 
 President to have this work done. Much of it has been 
 done, yet it is not finished at this day. Our acquisition of 
 Florida, Texas and California has greatly extended our 
 sea coast since the work was commenced, and its accom- 
 plishment has cost more time and labor than was 
 anticipated at the beginning, yet we think it ought to have 
 been completed in much less than 60 years. 
 
 3. This work, like that relating to light-houses, is under 
 the management of a Board ; consisting of a superintend- 
 ant, two principal assistants, two naval officers, and four 
 officers of the army. These nine constitute the Board. 
 Then there are as many officers of the army and navy 
 employed in the execution of the work as are deemed
 
 COAST SURVEY. 259 
 
 necessary. And the public vessels, by direction of the 
 President, may be used in order to facilitate the work, for 
 much of it must be done out at sea. The survey extends 
 20 leagues from the shore. The surveyors must make 
 accurate charts (which I will call sea maps) of the whole 
 coast, in which are laid down all the islands, shoals, roads 
 or anchorage grounds within 20 leagues of any part of the 
 shore of the United States. The courses and distances 
 between the principal capes or headlands, must be laid 
 down, together with the soundings (depth of water) and 
 everything else necessary to make a complete and accur- 
 ate chart of every part of our coasts. 
 
 4. An annual report of this work must be made to Con- 
 gress in December of each year, accompanied with charts, 
 showing the progress of the work, the number of persons 
 employed, the expenses incurred, the amount of work 
 finished, and what is unfinished. These reports and charts 
 are carefully preserved, and copies of them may be had at 
 Washington for the use of our naval and merchant ships, 
 to which they are of great service, as guides whenever 
 they are on or near the coast. This work, in its utility, 
 is not confined to ourselves ; but the important informa- 
 tion obtained by it is of great use to the navigators of all 
 nations, who come into our ports, or cruise on our coasts. 
 They derive the same benefits from this work that we 
 derive from theirs of the same kind. It is creditable to 
 any nation to do such things as are beneficial to the 
 world, such acts as contribute to the welfare of humanity. 
 Shipwrecks belong to the list of terrible calamities which 
 often befal those " who go down to the sea in ships, that 
 do business in great Nvaters ;" whoever diminishes these is 
 a public benefactor.
 
 260 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 Slight-houses, Buoys and Beacons. 
 
 1. THESE are all Government establishments, and we 
 must therefore notice them. They are built, lighted, re- 
 paired, and taken care of, wholly by the Government 
 Every body knows the object for which they are con- 
 structed. Guided by them, the mariner may approact 
 the coast in the night with safety ; while without them 
 many noble ships would be wrecked, which now safely 
 arrive in port: Humanity and interest both dictate their 
 construction, near the entrance to every sea-port ; and at 
 the most dangerous and prominent points all along the 
 sea coast. This our Government has wisely done, not 
 only on the sea coasts, which stretch for thousands of 
 miles along our borders, but also along the shores of our 
 navigable lakes and rivers. 
 
 2. Keepers are appointed by the government to keep 
 them in repair ; and to see that they are properly lighted 
 every night. "We have no means of knowing the number 
 of these useful establishments ; but there must be several 
 hundreds of them ; for we have more sea coast than any 
 other nation upon the globe, with a still greater length of 
 lake and river shore. They are located at prominent 
 points and at dangerous places, all along the extensive 
 lines of coast, and shores.
 
 LIGHT-HOUSES. 261 
 
 3. All this work, like everything else done by Govern- 
 ment, must be done according to law. In order to the 
 business of constructing and keeping the light-houses in 
 repair, and that competent men may have the whole 
 matter in charge, a law of 1852 authorized the President 
 to appoint two officers of the navy of high rank ; one 
 officer of the Corps of Engineers of the Army; one officer 
 of the Topographical engineers ; and two civilians of high 
 scientific attainments, to form a LIGHT HOUSE BOAKD of the 
 United States. This Board is attached to the Treasury 
 department, and the Secretary of the Treasury superin- 
 tends its operations. The Board has in charge the build- 
 ing, illumination, and inspection of light-houses, light- 
 vessels, buoys, beacons, sea marks and their appendages. 
 
 4. The Secretary of the Treasury is President of the 
 Board, and may convene them whenever he deems it 
 necessary. 
 
 The law makes it the duty of the Board to divide the 
 whole of the sea, gulf, and lake coasts, into light-house 
 districts ; not exceeding 12 in number. An officer of the 
 army or navy is assigned to each district, as a light-house 
 inspector. 
 
 "We have not in detail enumerated all the duties devolv- 
 ing on this Board, and therefore say in general terms that 
 they have control of evervthing relating to light-houses, 
 .light ships, buoys, beacons, or other means of directing 
 vessels in and out of port, or of guiding them while sail- 
 ing along the coast in the night. 
 
 5. As foreign vessels receive the same benefits from our 
 light houses as our own, there is nothing unfair or illib- 
 eral in requiring them to contribute something towards
 
 262 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the expenses of maintaining them. For this purpose, 
 Congress has imposed a tax, or laid a duty of 50 cents 
 per ton 'on all foreign vessels, entering any ports of the 
 United States. This is called 
 
 LIGHT MONEY, 
 
 and needs no explanation. It is collected in the same 
 way as tonnage duties are, i. e. by the Collector of the port 
 where the ship arrives. Light money is not required of 
 vessels owned by citizens of the United States, provided 
 that they are regularly registered as the law directs, or have 
 * sea letter. 
 
 7. A sea letter is a document or certificate, given by the 
 Collector of a port, to the captain of an American vessel, 
 certifying that she belongs to a citizen or citizens of the 
 United States. Armed with this, the captain can pi'ove 
 to all whom it may concern, anywhere in the world, the 
 ownership and nationality of his vessel. This is a pro- 
 tection to her, and her cargo ; especially in times of war. 
 It is one of a snip's papers.
 
 

 
 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 263 
 
 CHAPTER LXYI. 
 The Smithsonian Institution. 
 
 1. THIS Institution, though differing materially from 
 almost every other Government establishment, should be 
 noticed in a work of this kind ; although nothing but the 
 official machinery by which it was at first set in motion, 
 and is continued in operation, belongs to the Government. 
 The funds with which it was founded, were furnished by 
 an individual, and he a foreigner. The history runs thus : 
 A noble-hearted Englishman, whose name was James 
 Smithson, residing in the City of London, bequeathed all 
 his property to the United States of America, for the pur- 
 pose of founding in Washington an establishment to be 
 known as the " Smithsonian Institution," for the purpose 
 of increasing and diffusing knowledge among men. The 
 United States accepted the bequest, and in 1846 passed an 
 act for the purpose of carrying out the beneficent design of 
 Mr. Smithson. This act created " an establishment," as it 
 is denominated in the act, by the name before stated. It 
 might have been called a corporation, for it has perpetual 
 succession, and many of the powers incident to a corpora- 
 tion. 
 
 2. By this act the President and Vice-President of the 
 United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of tho 
 Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Xavy, 
 the Postmaster- General, the Attorney-General, and Chief
 
 264 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Justice, the Commissioner of the Patent Office, and the 
 Mayor of "Washington during the time they shall hold 
 their respective offices, together with such other persons 
 as they may elect honorary members were constituted the 
 establishment under the name of the Smithsonian Institu- 
 tion. 
 
 3. It is' located at Washington, and is managed by a 
 Board of Regents, composed of the Yice-Presideut of the 
 United States, the Chief Justice of the United States, the 
 Mayor of Washington, three members of the Senate, and 
 three members of the House of Representatives ; together 
 with six other persons. The Board choose their own offi- 
 cers and report their proceedings to Congress at each 
 session thereof. 
 
 4. In order to carry out Mr. Smithson's noble design of 
 founding this institution, rooms have been prepared for the 
 reception of all objects of art, natural history, plants, and 
 geological and mineralogical specimens which now or 
 hereafter may belong to the United States ; and such as 
 may hereafter be obtained. These are classified and 
 arranged so as to facilitate the examination and study of 
 them. A vast collection has already been obtained and 
 deposited in the institution, and it is constantly increasing 
 by donations, by the researches and industry of its pro- 
 fessors, and by exchanges made with kindred institutions 
 at home and abroad. These are open to the examination 
 of the public, and offer an opportunity to students and 
 others to extend their scientific knowledge. This, together 
 with the reports of its professors, of experiments and new 
 discoveries, make it indeed an institution "for the increase 
 and diffusion of knowledge among men."
 
 PATENT ..OFFICE. 265 
 
 CHAPTER LXVn. 
 
 Patent Office, Fatent Rights, and Commissioner of 
 Patents: 
 
 1. THE foundation of our patent laws is found in the 
 Constitution of the United States. In the powers it con- 
 fers on Congress, the following is found, " To promote the 
 progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited 
 times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their 
 respective writings and discoveries." On this authority, 
 Congress has passed numerous acts for this purpose. We 
 find one of this kind, as early as 1790. 
 
 2. A patent right is an exclusive right, granted by an 
 officer denominated the Commissioner of Patents, in con- 
 formity to law, to the inventor or discoverer of any new 
 and useful article. This exclusive right is conferred by 
 acts of Congress, on compliance of the inventor with cer- 
 tain conditions which are clearly specified in the law. 
 The evidence that such exclusive right has been conferred 
 on any individual, is contained in a document, called 
 " Letters patent," issued at the Patent office in Washing- 
 ton ; signed by the Secretary of the Interior, (formerly by 
 Secretary of State), countersigned by the Commissioner of 
 Patents, and sealed with the seal of his office. Thus pro- 
 tected; he alone can make use and sell the article he has 
 invented, for the terra of 14 years ; and upon showing a 
 good reason therefor, the Commisioner will extend the
 
 2GG OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 term to 7 years longer ; or Congress will pass a special act 
 for that purpose. 
 
 3. This was the law up to 1861 ; and is still in force as 
 to patents granted anterior to that date. But a new act 
 was then passed, extending the term of an original patent 
 to 17, instead of 14 years, and prohibiting any extension 
 of such patents. 
 
 An inventor, before he can obtain a patent, must swear, 
 that he believes that he is the inventor or discoverer 
 of the art, machine or improvement, for which he solicits 
 a patent. He must also give in writing a clear and minute 
 description of it ; and, when necessary, must make and de- 
 liver a model of his invention ; which in all cases must bo 
 something new, unused and unknown before ; or his appli- 
 cation will be rejected. There is considerable expense 
 attending the procurement of a patent right. 
 
 4. But when obtained, no person except the patentee, 
 has any right to make, sell or use the article patented, 
 until the time has expired, for which this exclusive right 
 was granted, without the permission of the patentee. Any 
 person doing so, is liable to a heavy penalty, and may bo 
 prosecuted in the Circuit Court of the United States; this 
 court having original jurisdiction in all cases ai-ising under 
 the patent laws. But a writ of error or an appeal lies to 
 the Supreme Court of the United States. 
 
 5. The Patent Office when first established was a Bureau 
 of the State department, and the Commissioner of Patents 
 acted under the direction of the Secretary of State. But 
 after the creation of the Department of the Interior, in 
 1849, it was transferred to it, became a Bureau of the new
 
 PATENT OFFICE. 2G7 
 
 department, and the Commissioner now acts under the 
 general direction of its Secretary. 
 
 THE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS 
 
 6. Is appointed by the President and Senate. His du- 
 ties are best explained in the language of the law itself, 
 which in speaking of the creation and appointment of this 
 official, says that his duties shall be, " to superintend, exe- 
 cute and perform, all such acts and things touching and 
 respecting the granting and issuing of patents for new and 
 useful discoveries, inventions and improvements, as are 
 herein provided for, or shall hereafter be, by law directed 
 to be done, and performed." 
 
 He has the charge and custody of all books, records, 
 papers, models, machines, and all other things belonging to 
 the Patent Office ; and has the privelege of sending and 
 receiving letters and packages by mail, relating to the bu- 
 siness of the office, free of postage. He has the power 
 to appoint his clerks, examiners and subordinates : among 
 whom are Patent Office agents, who may be appointed 
 in not more than twenty of the principal cities and towns 
 in the United States. It is their duty to forward to the 
 Patent Office all such models, specimens, and manufac- 
 tures, as shall be intended to be patented. 
 
 7. In cases of appeal from the decision of the Commis- 
 sioner, the appeal may be made to the Board of Examin- 
 ers, or to the Chief Justice of the District Court of the 
 United States for the District of Columbia. There is a seal 
 for the Patent Office, which the Commissioner keeps, and 
 which he must affix to patents when granted, and to other
 
 268 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 papers and records issued from his office, which are wanted 
 as evidence in other places. 
 
 He is also authorized to publish a classified and alpha- 
 betical list of all patents issued at the Patent Office. This 
 he frequently does, for the information of the public.
 
 COPYRIGHTS. 269 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII. 
 Copyrights. 
 
 1. A COPYRIGHT is an exclusive privilege given to any cit- 
 izen of the United States to print, publish, and sell any 
 book, map, chart, engraving, or musical composition of 
 which he or she is the author. This right is given by the 
 laws of Congress. No State can give it. The object of 
 the law is to encourage authors, and to compensate them 
 fur their labors. This compensation they would not re- 
 cicve if everybody might print and publish their produc- 
 tions. A copyright is a kind of property, and may be 
 sold and inherited like other property. 
 
 2. A compliance with the laws on this subject is neces- 
 sary, however, before the right can be secured. First, the 
 author must deposit in the office of the Clerk of the United 
 States District Court of the district in which he resides, a 
 printed copy of the title page of such book, map, chart, 
 &c., and this must be recorded in the clerk's office. 
 Second, within three months after the publication of the 
 book or other work, the author must deposit a copy of it 
 in the office of the same clerk. Third, he must also give 
 information to the public, by causing to be inserted on the 
 title page, or on the page immediately following it, the 
 following words, viz., " Entered according to act of Con- 
 gress, in the year , by A. B., in the Clerk's office of
 
 270 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the District of ." The author or proprietor is also 
 
 required to deposit a copy of his work iu the office of the 
 Secretary of the Interior within three months after its 
 publication. 
 
 3. When all these legal provisions are strictly complied 
 with, the author receives from the Department of the In- 
 .terior his letters his copyright which secures to him, 
 his heirs or assigns, the exclusive right to print, publish, 
 and sell his work for the term of twenty-eight years. 
 And if, in violation of this right, any person or persons 
 shall print, publish, or sell the work thus secured to the 
 author, he or they may be prosecuted for damages in the 
 Circuit Courts of the United States, which courts have ex 
 elusive jurisdiction in these cases, with right of appeal to 
 the Supreme Court. 
 
 4. The penalty for printing and publishing any work 
 for which a copyright "has been granted within twenty- 
 eight years from the time when the title page was recorded, 
 is a forfeiture of every copy thus printed, and a fine of 50 
 cents for every sheet found in his possession. One half of 
 this fine is paid to the author, and the other to the United 
 States. But the suit for the recovery of any damage done 
 or penalty incurred for the violation of the copyright 
 laws must be brought within two years after the cause of 
 action arose. 
 
 5. Up to 1849 the department of the Secretary of State 
 was charged with the duty of issuing copyrights, and with 
 all other things pertaining to the duty of Government in 
 securing them to authors. But at that time the Depart- 
 ment of the Interior was created, and this business was 
 transferred from the State to thia department, together
 
 COPYRIGHTS. 
 
 with all the books, maps, charts, papers and documents 
 relating to copyrights. 
 
 Our Government is not peculiar in securing this right 
 to authors. In nearly every civilized country where lit- 
 erature is cultivated you will find copyright laws.
 
 272 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 PENSIONS, COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, PENSION OFFICE AND 
 PENSION AGENTS. 
 
 1. PENSIONS are annual donations in money made by 
 the Government, to those men who have been either in 
 the Army or Navy of the United States, and who have 
 been wounded and disabled in the service of their country. 
 It amounts really to extra pay, over and above the 
 monthly pay of an officer, soldier or sailor, at the time 
 the wound was received. It has cost the United States 
 millions of dollars to support these pensioners ; for there 
 never was a time, since the establishment of the Govern- 
 ment, when it had not more or less of these unfortunate 
 men to provide for, by money, paid from the United 
 States Treasury, in the shape of pensions. At first there 
 were the disabled soldiers and sailors of the revolutionary 
 war to be provided for, immediately after the govern- 
 ment was put into operation. But few if any of them 
 remain. Then came the second war with England, called 
 the war of 1812 (from the year in which it commenced) 
 which greatly increased the number of pensioners. Then 
 the war of 1846-7 with Mexico, again added thousands to 
 the pension roll. But all these wars put together never 
 threw so many men on the Government for support, or 
 partial support, as the late civil war between the North
 
 PENSIONS. 273 
 
 and South. At no former period was the pension list so 
 large as at present. It will remain so for years to come ; 
 requiring an appropriation of many millions annually to 
 aid these unfortunate men who have become wholly or 
 partially incapable of supporting themselves. These 
 greatly increase the expenses of the Government, and 
 afford a forcible comment upon the evils and horrors of 
 war. 
 
 2. The Pension laws not only provide for officers and 
 men, who have been disabled by wounds, but it provides 
 for the widows and orphan children of such as have been 
 killed in battle, or died of sickness contracted while in the 
 service of the country. These provisions, it will be readily 
 seen, greatly increase the number of pensioners upon the 
 Government. These receive the same in amount as the 
 husband or father would have received had he survived 
 his wounds. 
 
 3. It is not intended in granting a pension to a person 
 to give him a full support. Pensions are moderate 
 amounts, generally about half the same which the recipient 
 received at the time he was wounded, i. e., about half his 
 monthly wages when in the army or navy. Officers' pen- 
 fcions are graduated according to their rank. 
 
 4. From what has already been said on this subject, it 
 will be plainly seen that it requires much care, labor, and 
 attention to keep correctly the list of pensioners upon the 
 Government, and to detect all the frauds which pension 
 agents and other interested parties may perpetrate upon 
 it, by concealing the deaths of those who have been in the 
 receipt of pensions, for years after they are dead, while 
 they continue to draw their money.
 
 274 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 5. In order to accomplish this benevolent design of the 
 Government, a Bureau was established in the War Depart- 
 ment (since transferred to the Department of the Interior) 
 at the head of which an officer denominated the Commis- 
 sioner of Pensions is placed. This Bureau is properly the 
 Pension Office. The Commissioner is appointed by the 
 President and Senate,and holds his office during the pleasure 
 of the President. It was his duty formerly, under the 
 direction of the Secretaries of War and the Navy, but 
 now under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, 
 to execute all such duties relating to pensions, as the 
 President shall direct. lie is charged to carry out all the 
 laws in relation to this matter. 
 
 6. The persons entitled to pensions are necessarily 
 scattered all over the States and Territories, arid many of 
 them could not bear the fatigue or expense of making 
 their demands at Washington. To render this un- 
 necessary, the Secretary of War is authorized to appoint 
 Pension Agents in all the States and Territories. These 
 agents receive the money due to pensioners in the district 
 where they reside, and distribute it as directed by the 
 Commissioner of Pensions. In this way most of the pen- 
 sions are paid the agents receiving a percentage for their 
 services. 
 
 7. It is not the intention of the Government to give 
 pensions where they are not necessary for the support of 
 the recipient ; and when it is ascertained that pensioners 
 are in good circumstances, and do not need Government 
 aid, their names are stricken from the pension roll. 
 
 In order that pensioners shall have and enjoy the full 
 benefits of this Government bounty, the law protects the
 
 PENSIONS. 275 
 
 pension, and does not allow it to be taken away from the 
 recipient, by any process of law, for debt, or for any cause 
 whatever. 
 
 The preceding provisions are extended not only to 
 those who have been injured in some of the great wars, 
 but also to those who have been disabled in any of the 
 Indian wars, of which we have had many , and which we 
 are still having.
 
 276 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 U. S. HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS. 
 
 1. THE Hospitals and Asylums for the sick, disabled, 
 and insane in any country, are the evidences of the hu- 
 manity, benevolence and Christian charity of the Govern- 
 ment of that country ; and we know of none, in ancient or 
 modern times, where these benevolent institutions exist in 
 greater number, or with greater efficiency than in the 
 United States. They have been established by the general 
 Government, and by the several State Governments ; by 
 charitable societies, and by individuals ; not only for the 
 sick and infirm, but for the blind, the deaf, the insane and 
 the idiotic. We do not propose to go into any general 
 history or description of these institutions, but only to no- 
 tice those established by the United States Government, 
 and now under its control, in order to show its care for 
 those who have served their country, but are unable to 
 provide for their wants. 
 
 2. The Hospitals and Asylums for sick and disabled 
 soldiers and seamen, are located in different parts of the 
 country ; and in such places as are the most accessible 
 and convenient to those who are under the necessity of 
 retiring to these places of refuge. 
 
 The United States have established four kinds of these
 
 HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS. 277 
 
 institutions ; principally for the relief of their soldiers and 
 seamen. The first of these are the 
 
 MARINE HOSPITALS. 
 
 3. These are located near important sea ports. At 
 these places seamen depart for, and arrive from their voy- 
 ages, and are found in the greatest numbers j and here the 
 funds for the support of the Marine Hospitals are collected, 
 as is the tonnage upon ships, viz., by the collectors of the 
 ports. For this purpose, the law authorizes the collectors 
 of customs to demand and receive the sum of twenty cents 
 per month from the wages of every sailor ; and every 
 master of a vessel is obliged to render to the Collector 
 an accurate account of the number of seamen on board 
 his vessel, and of the time they have been employed by 
 him, since his last entry into any port of the United States. 
 These twenty cents the captain must pay the collector ; 
 but he is allowed to deduct it from each seaman's wages. 
 In this manner the funds for the building, furnishing and 
 support of the marine hospitals are raised. The collectors 
 of the ports pay them into the United States Treasury, 
 and the Treasurer disburses them to the directors of the 
 Hospitals as they are needed. The directors are appointed 
 by the President. They appropriate the funds and have 
 the general direction and management of the institutions. 
 
 4. These provisions are contained in an act, entitled 
 " Au act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen," passed 
 in 1798. Seamen, whether in the merchant service or in 
 the naval service of the United States, were indiscrim- 
 inately taxed for the support of these hospitals ; and both 
 had the same rights, privileges and benefits in them. The
 
 278 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 money thus collected from seamen is called "Hospital 
 money," and the fund is denominated " the Marine Hos- 
 pital Fund." In 1864, there were 24 Marine Hospitals in 
 the United States. 
 
 NAVY HOSPITAL. 
 
 5. In 1811, an act was passed tp establish Navy Hos- 
 pitals, for the exclusive use of such seamen as belonged 
 to the Navy. This new institution was at first placed 
 under the management of a Board of Commissioners 
 known as the Commissioners of Navy Hospitals. This 
 commission consisted of the Secretaries of the Navy, 
 Treasury and War. But in 1832 this was changed; and 
 the Secretary of the Navy was made sole trustee of the 
 Navy Hospital Fund, which was made up of $50,000 ap- 
 propriated by Congress for that purpose, together with 
 twenty cents per month collected from seamen belonging 
 to the navy, and the fines imposed on navy officers, sea- 
 men and marines. 
 
 6. The Commissioners were authorized to purchase, or 
 erect suitable buildings for Navy Hospitals. 
 
 We need not go further in our remarks upon this in- 
 stitution, for in all their objects and purposes, they are so 
 similar to these of the Marine Hospitals just described, 
 that anything further would be little more than repetition. 
 
 MILITARY ASYLUMS. 
 
 7. In 1851, Congress passed an act for the establishment 
 of Military Asylums, for the purpose making the same 
 provisions for wounded *and disabled soldiers as had al- 
 ready been made for that class of seamen. These institutions
 
 HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS. 279 
 
 are located in different sections of the country ,\vhere deemed 
 most eligible and convenient for those who need such a 
 refuge. They are placed under the government of a 
 Board of Commissioners, consisting of the General in Chief, 
 and eight other military officers of high rank, who submit 
 their acts to the Secretary of War for his approval. 
 
 8. The officers of these asylums must be taken from 
 the Army, and consist of a Governor, a deputy Govenor and 
 Secretary, who is also Treasurer. The funds for their sup- 
 port are raised by a tax of 25 cents per month on the 
 soldiers, to which are added the lines and penalties 
 adjudged against soldiers by courts-martial, with forfeitures 
 for desertion, &c. 
 
 Persons receiving pensions from the Government may 
 be admitted into these asylums upon condition that they 
 surrender their pensions to the use of the institution while 
 they remain in it. 
 
 The Commissioners are authorized to buy sites and 
 buildings for these institutions, an^Tto receive donations 
 of them. They also furnish them with whatever is neces- 
 sary for the comfort of the inmates, and make such laws 
 and regulations for their government as they deem 
 proper. 
 
 Deserters, mutineers, and habitual durnkards, are 
 excluded from the benefits of these asylums. 
 
 IN'SAXE ASYLUM. 
 
 9. Among these benevolent institutions provided by a 
 generous Government for the support of those who have 
 faithfully served their country, the Insane Asylum ought 
 to be noticed. The title of this establishment is " The
 
 280 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Government Hospital for the Insane." Its objects are the 
 cure and kind treatment of the Insane of the Army and 
 Navy, and of the District of Columbia. It is under the 
 control of a Board of nine visitors, all of whom must be 
 citizens of the said District. They are appointed by the 
 President, and annually report to the Secretary of the 
 Interior, the state and condition of the Asylum and its 
 inmates. They serve without compensation. 
 
 10. But the Superintendent, who must be a physician, 
 receives $2,000 per annum for his services. There is a farm 
 attached to the Asylum which, is under the direction of the 
 Superintendent, who receives patients upon the order of 
 the Secretary of the Army or Navy, and upon the order 
 of the Secretary of the Interior. He may receive indigent 
 insane persons residing in the District of Columbia. If 
 others than indigent persons are admitted, they must pay 
 for the privilege, a sum not less than the cost of their 
 support. 
 
 11. The foregoing might suffice for what we have to 
 gay upon these Government establishments, because it in- 
 cludes all which are of a permanent character, all that are 
 permanent institutions, designed to be in perpetual opera- 
 tion, and very different from the military hospitals in time 
 of war. These are for temporary purposes, and are 
 established wherever the army happens to be, and 
 especially near where the great battles have been fought, 
 that immediate relief may be given to the sick and 
 wounded. These are established by the commanders of 
 the army, and are under their control, And here let it be 
 recorded to their praise, that since military hospitals were
 
 HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS. 281 
 
 known, never have any been seen which for order, cleanli- 
 ness and efficiency in administering to the comfort and 
 care of the sick and wounded soldiers surpassed those of 
 the United States during the late civil war.
 
 282 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 1. THE buildings at Washington belonging to the 
 United States, are the grandest, the largest and the most 
 expensive in the country. The Capitol, in which Congress 
 meets, is the largest and most expensive building ever 
 erected on the continent, and is surpassed by few in the 
 world. The Treasury building, the General Post Office, 
 and the House in which the President lives, are all splen- 
 did structures, as are also many others devoted to the 
 transaction of public business. 
 
 2. These all require repairs, alterations, cai-e and over- 
 eight, that they may be preserved and kept in order. 
 The duty of superintendence of these public buildings was 
 formerly placed in the hands of three Commissioners and 
 a superintendent of public buildings. 
 
 But in 1816, an act was passed by which the offices of 
 Superintendent and three Commissioners were abol- 
 ished, and their duties all put into the hands of one man, 
 who is denominated " the Commissioner of Public Build- 
 ings." He is appointed by the President and Senate, and 
 can hold no other office under the United States. He must 
 give bonds for the faithful performance of his duties and 
 must reside near the Capitol. In the discharge of his du-
 
 COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 283 
 
 tics he acts under the direction of the President, and the 
 presiding officers of the two Houses of Congress. 
 
 3. It is made his duty to report to Congress at the com- 
 mencement of each session, the manner in which all ap- 
 propriations for thj public buildings have been applied, 
 the condition they are in, together with that of the public 
 grounds, and also to report the means necessary for their 
 preservation. It is his duty to take charge of and to sup- 
 erintend all the buildings belonging to the United States 
 in Washington, and to perform all such duties as the laws 
 from time to time may require of him.
 
 284 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 CONGKESSIONAL AOT LAW LIBRAET. 
 
 1. IN the Capitol, there is a large library, consisting of 
 two parts ; one part called the Congressional library, tlio 
 other, the Law Library. The latter is made a part of the 
 former by an act of Congress. Both are subject to the 
 same laws and rules, and both are supported by appro- 
 priations made by Congress. This institution bearing the 
 title of " Congressional Library," might lead to the sup- 
 position that it was established for the exclusive use of 
 Congress. But this is not so. Its use has been extended 
 to the judges of the Supreme Court ; to all the heads of 
 departments, to the Attorney General 5 to all the members 
 of the Diplomatic Corps, (foreign ministers) ; to the Sec- 
 retaiy of the Senate, to the Clerk of the House of Kepresen- 
 tatives, to the Chaplains of Congress, all ex-Presidents 
 and to the solicitor of the Treasury. 
 
 2. It has a librarian, appointed by the President and Se- 
 nate, who is allowed to appoint two assistants. No book 
 or map is allowed to be taken out of the library by any 
 person, except the President, Vice-President, members of 
 the Senate and of the House of Representatives. 
 
 3. Here are kept all the laws which have ever been en- 
 acted by Congress, together with a record of all its pro- 
 ceedings, the laws of all the different States, with many of
 
 CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. 285 
 
 those of foreign countries ; also a large collection of books 
 on promiscuous subjects, useful to members of Congress, 
 and to those who have to administer the Government. 
 Xo where else can so complete a history of the acts and 
 proceedings of the Government be found, as in the Con- 
 gressional Library at Washington. 
 
 This institution dates back to the year 1800 ; when an 
 act was passed making the first appropriation of $5,000 
 for its establishment. The books purchased with this 
 $5,000, with those belonging to both Houses were placed 
 together, and thus this library was commenced.
 
 286 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVE11NMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXTIT. 
 The Official Register. 
 
 1. CONGRESS in 1816, passed an act authorising and re- 
 quiring the Secretary of State, once in two years, to print 
 and publish a book called " The Official Register," in 
 which he was ordered to register the names of every 
 officer and agent of the Government, in the civil, military 
 and naval departments, including cadets and midshipmen, 
 together ^nth the compensation received by each ; the 
 names of the State and county where born ; and the name 
 of the place where employed, whether at home or abroad. 
 
 To the list of persons employed in the navy depart- 
 ment, the Secretary of the Navy is required to subjoin the 
 names, force and condition of all the ships and vessels 
 belonging to the United States, and when and where 
 bu ; lt. 
 
 This work has been published and distributed, as the 
 law directs, ever since the passage of the act, and is 
 sometimes denominated " The Blue Book." It is a very 
 convenient and useful publication, as it shows in compact 
 form the whole official force of the Government in each 
 department, together with the cost of maintaining it. 
 
 So small a number of this work is published that but few, 
 except officials, ever see it. It can be found in the Con- 
 gressional Library at Washington, where 25 copies of 
 each edition arc deposited.
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 287 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
 
 1. BUT few people have any adequate idea of the 
 enormous amount of printing done by the Government. 
 All the proceedings of both Houses of Congress are 
 printed ; all the laws are printed ; and hundreds of 
 bills which are never passed into laws are printed. The 
 President's messages, and all the reports of the heads of 
 departments and Bureaus ; the reports and commissions of 
 Army and Xavy officers, of investigating committees, of 
 various superintendents, agents, and Government em- 
 ployees, and a multitude of other things quite too tedious 
 to enumerate, are all printed in great numbers, often 
 reaching thousands of copies. It is easily understood, 
 that the Government printing is a heavy item in its ex- 
 penses ; and everybody knows it is much heavier than it 
 ought to be. The people are taxed to pay for mountains 
 of books and documents that are never read, and in which 
 the public feel little or no interest. 
 
 2. Until 1860, the Government hired men to do this 
 work, and a printer was 'employed by each House of 
 Congress. But great complaints were made of the enor- 
 mous expense to which the country was subjected in this 
 item of its expenditures; and at the date named, Congress 
 passed an act establishing a Government printing office,
 
 288 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 to be under tlie direction of a superintendent of public 
 printing. The sum of $150,000 was appropriated for the 
 purchase of the necessary buildings, machinery, and 
 materials for the purpose. By the provisions of the act it 
 was made the Superintendent's duty to overlook all the 
 public printing and binding, not only of Congress, but of 
 all the departments, and of the United States Courts ; to 
 purchase all necessary materials and to employ all the 
 workmen required. And that Congress may know how 
 the establishment is conducted and at what expense, the 
 Superintendent is required to report to Congress at the 
 commencement of every session, the work done, the num- 
 ber of hands employed, and the exact state and condition 
 of the establishment. He is prohibited from paying more 
 for work done in this office than is given for the same 
 services in private printing offices in Washington. 
 
 3. The Superintendent is also charged with the duty of 
 procuring all blank books, maps, drawings, diagrams, 
 views and charts, which may be ordered by Congress, or 
 by the heads of departments and bureaus. But the 
 Superintendent himself is not left to act always as he may 
 think proper, for in many cases he must have the approval 
 of the joint committee on printing of both Houses of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 We have given a brief but comprehensive view of this 
 Government establishment. Whether it will answer the 
 purposes of its creation, and prove to be a means of saving 
 to the Government, remains to be seen. 
 
 4. If it should be successful, the people may congratulate 
 themselves that one change has been made for the better, 
 and that one effort to curtail taxation, and to lessen the
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 289 
 
 public expenses, has been accomplished. Among the 
 causes which may produce the overthrow of our Govern- 
 ment, few are more dangerous than the reckless extrava- 
 gance with which our rulers appropriate and spend the 
 public monies, seeming to ignore or forget the fact, that 
 extravagance in public expenditures falls with crushing 
 weight on the laboring classes, who always pay directly 
 or indirectly the greater portion of the expenses of 
 Government.
 
 190 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXV. 
 Prisons. 
 
 1. ALTHOUGH Congress has passed laws for the punish- 
 ment of almost every crime which has ever been punish- 
 able by the laws of any civilized nation, and has pre- 
 scribed various kinds of punishment for different crimes, 
 such as fines, imprisonment, and death by hanging, 
 imprisonment is by far the most common. Yet we find 
 nothing in the laws to show nor have we ever known 
 that the United States have ever built a prison or directed 
 one to be built ; although thousands have been put in 
 prison for violations of the United States laws. But how 
 is this done when they have no prisons ? The answer is, 
 that they use the prisons of the States wherever they will 
 allow it. This arrangement between the general and 
 State Government has been made in nearly if not all the 
 States ; the United States paying for the support of their 
 prisoners. 
 
 2. But in case any State should refuse to make such an 
 agreement, the United States Marshal of any district 
 where a prisoner is to be confined, is authorized to pro- 
 cure some building where the prisoners may be safely 
 confined in the district where they have been tried and 
 convicted, or where they have been arrested and are helJ 
 for trial.
 
 PRISONS. 291 
 
 This is a far more economical plan than it would be 
 for the United States to build prisons all over the coun- 
 try, and then to employ keepers of them. It exemplifies 
 the friendly relations existing between the States and the 
 General Government.
 
 292 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVI. 
 
 Agricnlture. 
 
 1. IN May, 18G2, Congress passed an act, the two 
 first sections of which read as follows : 
 
 Sec. 1. " There is hereby established at the seat of 
 Government of the United States, a department of agricul- 
 ture ; the general designs and duties of which shall be to 
 acquire and diffuse among the people of the United States, 
 useful information on subjects connected with agriculture, 
 in the most general and comprehensive sense of that word, 
 and to procure, propagate and distribute among the people 
 new and valuable seeds and plants." 
 
 Sec. 2. "There shall be appointed by the President, by 
 and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Com- 
 missioner of Agriculture, who shall be the chief executive 
 officer of the department of agriculture ; who shall hold 
 his office by a tenure similar to that of other civil officers 
 appointed by the President, and who shall receive for his 
 compensation a salary of three thousand dollars per 
 annum." 
 
 2. We have inserted these two sections of this law, be- 
 cause we could not by any language of our own, 
 convey any better idea of the objects and purposes for 
 whic% this new department was created. In the language 
 of the law it is called a department, but as its head ranka
 
 AGRICULTURE. 293 
 
 no higher than a commissioner, we think it would be more 
 properly styled, a Bureau of the Department of the 
 Interior. 
 
 3. The duties of the head of this bureau are to acquire 
 and preserve in his department, all the information concern- 
 ing agriculture which he can obtain by means of books, 
 correspondence and experiments. For this latter purpose a 
 propagating garden is provided for his use. He is also to 
 collect as many new seeds and plants as he is able to ob- 
 tain, to test their value by cultivation, and then to dis- 
 tribute them among agriculturists. He superintends the 
 expenditure of all money appropriated by Congress to the 
 department, and reports the same annually to Congress, 
 together with his acts, experiments, -&c. 
 
 He has power to appoint a chief clerk and such other 
 subordinates as Congress may deem necessary. The 
 commissioner and his chief clerk botli give bonds for the 
 right appropriation of all monies received by them, and 
 for the faithful performance of their respective duties. 
 
 This bureau is yet in its infancy. Sufficient time lias 
 not elapsed for its development or to show the results of 
 its experiments. It will undoubtedly become an import- 
 ant and useful institution hereafter.
 
 294 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVII. 
 Indians. 
 
 1. EVERT one acquainted with the history of America, 
 knows that when first discovered by Christopher Colum- 
 bus in 1492, the whole "Continent, North, as well as 
 South, was peopled with Indians. They were the abori- 
 gines, or first inhabitants of the country ; and according 
 to the recognized rules and usages of the world, they 
 were the owners of the soil. This right has been ad- 
 mitted by our Government, and hence we have purchased 
 these lands at such prices as were agreed upon by the two 
 parties. The Indians placed a lower value upon them 
 than the whites ; for with the exception of small patches 
 here and there, which they cultivated for corn and 
 tobacco, they made no use of their lands except for hunt- 
 ing grounds ; while the whites wanted them for cultiva- 
 tion. In this way the whites have become the possessors 
 of nearly all the land once owned by the Indians, whose 
 possession s are HOAV very small. 
 
 2. Their idle habits, their frequent wars among them- 
 selves, and the wars with the whites growing out of their 
 murderous propensities, have almost exterminated the 
 whole race. There is now but a small remnant left of 
 what was 200 years ago- a mighty host. Many of 
 these tribes have become entirely extinct, others are nearly
 
 INDIANS. 295 
 
 so i and scarcely one of them is found whose numbers are 
 not greatly diminished. It is melancholy to contemplate 
 the fate of these poor savages. As nearly as can be as- 
 certained, there are not more than about 300,000 of them 
 left in the [Tnited States. These are mostly to be found 
 west of > the Mississippi river, and stretching thence to the 
 shores of the Pacific. A few of them have remained among 
 the whites, and become civilized.; but most of them have 
 kept aloof from civilization, preferring their wandering 
 habits, and relying on hunting and fishing for subsistence. 
 They do not admit themselves to be citizens of our 
 Government, neither do we claim them as such, nor do we 
 exercise any jurisdiction or authority over them, except 
 for the perpetration of crimes. We treat them as foreign- 
 ers, not as citizens ; and hence we make treaties with 
 them as we do with foreign nations. 
 
 8. Our treaties with them have related principally to 
 the purchase of lands and to stipulations of amity and 
 friendship between us. But they are sometimes treacher- 
 ous, and do not act towards us as they have agreed to do. 
 This has led to a number of wars between us and them ; 
 the fault of which has not always been on the side of the 
 Indians. The whites have often treated them badly ; 
 have often cheated them, and killed them ; and this has 
 led to some of the wars we have mentioned 
 
 4 The preceding remarks might have been omitted in 
 a work of this kind ; had they not' seemed to be appro- 
 priate as an introduction to the notice we oiight to take 
 of the numerous treaties with the Indians, the officers 
 and agents of the Government, in making and carrying
 
 296 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 out those treaties, and of the numerous laws passed by 
 Congress in relation to Indians and Indian affairs. 
 
 5. The Indians are unlearned, ignorant and barbarous. 
 It has required a great deal of wisdom and good man- 
 agement on the part of the Government, to keep on good 
 terms with them, and to prevent them from murdering the 
 whites, or from stealing their property, where they have 
 settled near them. The United States have also restrained 
 our own citizens from purchasing their lands, from trading 
 with them, and especially from selling them intoxicating 
 liquors, of which they are very fond. If these negotiations 
 were allowed between them and the whites, the Indians 
 would, in numerous instances, be overreached, and cheated 
 by unscrupulous and dishonest white men. This would 
 lead to murders and wars, for an Indian seems to have no 
 idea of redress for a wrong done to him, other than that of 
 killing the wrong doer. The Government, through its 
 agents, buys their lands, and pays them in money or in 
 goods, according to the terms of the treaty. Hence, the 
 necessity of Government officers appointed to execute the 
 laws relating to Indians and Indian affairs. 
 
 6. There is in the War _Department a Bureau for this 
 express purpose, the head of which is called the 
 
 COMMISSIONER OF IXDIAN AFFAIRS. 
 
 He is appointed by the President and Senate, and performs 
 his duties under the direction of the Secretary of War. 
 
 In addition to this officer, there are superintendents of 
 Indian affairs, and Indian agents, over whom the superin- 
 tendents exercise a directing power. These superintend
 
 INDIANA. 297 
 
 encies and agencies are not permanent establishments, but 
 are continued as long as any considerable number of 
 Indians remain near the agency. When they have sold 
 their lands and removed farther west, the agency is dis- 
 continued, or removed to the place where the Indians have 
 located themselves. 
 
 The President may discontinue any Indian agency when- 
 ever he thinks it expedient to do so. 
 
 7. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, we have said, was 
 attached to the War Department, but after the establish- 
 ment of the Department of the Interior, in 1849, it was 
 detached from the War Department and attached to that 
 of the Interior, the Secretary of which exercises supervis- 
 ory power over it. 
 
 8. As before stated, the Indians are not citizens of the 
 United States. They have no representatives in Congress, 
 and in adjusting the mimber of representatives to Avhich 
 any State is entitled from the number of its inhabitants, 
 the Indians (excepting a few who are taxed) are not 
 counted. The Government has exercised parental care 
 over them in endeavors to prevent them from warring upon 
 each other, and to induce them to adopt the habits of 
 civilized life ; in the payments made for their lands, in the 
 pains it has taken to furnish them Avith agricultural and 
 mechanical implements; in the employment of mechanics 
 and teachers to reside among them and to instruct them in 
 science and the mechanical arts. It also employs inter- 
 preters, for but few of them can speak the English lan- 
 guage. 
 
 9. The superintendents and agents, if so directed by the 
 President, make treaties of amity and friendship with them,
 
 298 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 and for the purchase of their lands. The Government 
 does not allow citizens or foreigners to reside among them 
 or to trade with them, without a license ; and for the pur- 
 pose of keeping on friendly terms with them, it often 
 makes valuable presents of such articles as they need. 
 
 10. . Superintendents and agents are appointed for four 
 years ; give bonds for the faithful performance of their 
 duties, and report and account to the Department of the 
 Interior for the money and goods paid to and distributed 
 among the Indians. 
 
 INDIAN FUXDS AXD INDIAN ANNUITIES. 
 
 11. In order to prevent them from squandering their 
 money for rum and useless trinkets, and to save them from 
 being cheated by dishonest traders, the United States 
 Government have invested the money paid for their lands, 
 in sound and safe stocks and annually pay them the in- 
 terest through its superintendents and agents. The 
 disbursement of this interest, called Indian annuities, 
 among the different tribes and individuals to whom it be- 
 longs, is an important part of the duties of these Govern- 
 ment agents.
 
 PASSPORTS. 299 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
 Fassports. 
 
 1. PASSPORTS are one of the devices or means used by 
 Governments to protect their citizens when in foreign 
 countries. They are written documents, issued and signed 
 by an authorized agent of the Government which gives 
 them. The design of a passport is, First ; to give authen- 
 tic information to whom it may concern, to what nation 
 the Leaver of the passport belongs ; and second, to protect 
 him, and to secure to him all the rights and privileges 
 which the Government has a right to claim for its citizens 
 by virtue of any treaty of amity and friendship existing 
 between it and the country whither its citizens may go. 
 
 The passport informs the world that the bearer of it is a 
 citizen of the United States, and that he travels under 
 its protection, and that it would demand, and exact, satis- 
 faction of any one who wronged or injured him who bears 
 such credentials. 
 
 2. In the United States, the Secretary of State is the 
 officer authorized by law to issue passports. He has the 
 authority also to cause them to be issued in foreign coun- 
 tries by our Foreign Ministers and Consuls, under such 
 restrictions and rules as maybe designatedby the President. 
 This is allowed as a matter of convenience to our citizens 
 who happen to be in foreign countries without them;
 
 300' OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 who need their protection, and who would be subjected 
 to much delay and expense, by going or sending home, to 
 to procure them. 
 
 Passports are not granted to any other than citizens of 
 the United States, whether issued by the Secretary, or by 
 any diplomatic or consular agent of our Government. 
 
 3. Besides these passports, which are given only to our 
 own citizens when in foreign countries, or who intend to 
 go there, there is another kind issued to foreigners -who 
 wish to go among the Indians in the Indian Territory, or 
 on the Indian reservations, Indeed our own citizens are 
 not allowed to go among them without permission. But 
 foreigners cannot go without a passport from the Secre- 
 tary of "War ; which specifies the route over which the 
 bearer must pass, and the length of time he is allowed to 
 remain among them. This is done to prevent unfriendly 
 foreigners from fomenting mischief, or from exciting un- 
 kind feelings towards our Government or people. Such 
 unfriendly feelings have been created by foreigners, and 
 we have often experienced the bitter fruits of it, espe- 
 cially in times of war. 
 
 4. Still another kind of passports is used in this country, 
 and should be noticed under this head. They are pass- 
 ports for American ships or vessels. When they are 
 about to sail for a foreign port, the laws of the United 
 States require each to procure one, under a penalty or 
 fine of two hundred dollars upon the master, if lie departs 
 from the United States for a foreign country (other than 
 some port in America), without it. The passport is pre- 
 pared by the Secretary of State and is approved by the
 
 PASSPORTS. 301 
 
 President. This is given to the master by the collector ol 
 the port from which the vessel sails, and is one of the ship's 
 papers, by which her nationality is known, and her pro- 
 tection shown to be that of the United States,
 
 302 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 Reports. 
 
 1. As Congress is the law making power of the Govern- 
 ment and legislates for every department thereof, assign- 
 ing such business to each as it deems proper, giving 
 directions, and prescribing the duties of all the Govern- 
 ment officials, agents, commissioners and employees, 
 nothing is more obviqus than that it should be kept well 
 informed and advised of what has been done in each 
 department and bureau ; and by every head, or principal 
 officer and agent of the Government wherever employed. 
 And for this purpose, it is enacted, that the Secretaries of 
 State, Treasury, "War, Navy, Interior, and Post-master 
 General, together with the commissioners of the 
 different bureaus, and boards attached to these depart- 
 ments, shall annually report to Congress. Heads of 
 departments report directly to Congress. So do many of 
 the commissioners who are at the head of bureaus. Boards 
 report to the heads of departments to which they are 
 attached. 
 
 2. In this way Congress is kept advised of whatever is 
 done in every department, bureau, or board, to which any 
 of the public business is entrusted. These reports net 
 only furnish the law-making power with such information 
 as it needs, but serves as a check to any official miscon-
 
 REPORTS. 303 
 
 duct. The annual reports of the Secretaries of the 
 Treasury, "War, and Navy, together with that of the Post- 
 master General, are State papers which rank in importance 
 next to the annual message of the President. To them 
 the people look for a detailed account of the state and 
 condition of those great departments over which these 
 Secretaries preside, and which so materially affect the 
 pecuniary and other great interests of the nation. 
 
 3. The foregoing remarks upon reports, may not be 
 considered of sufficient importance to deserve an insertion 
 here, but they throw some light upon the movements of 
 the machinery by which the Government is operated, and 
 show how officials are held responsible to the superior 
 power. 
 
 In this connection we may notice another kind of re- 
 ports, which come from another source. After each 
 Congress has convened and organized, the President of the 
 Senate, and the Speaker of the House, appoint what are 
 denominated the Standing Committees of each of these 
 bodies. 
 
 When bills are presented to be passed into laws, or 
 petitions are sent in, they are always referred to the ap- 
 propriate committee, which examine them and then report 
 to the body (of the Senate or House) their conclusions upon 
 the merits or demerits, propriety or impropriety, of grant- 
 ing the petition, or of passing the bill under consideration. 
 
 These reports generally govern the action of Congress 
 when they come to vote upon the passage of the law. But 
 this is not always the case, the body of cither house may 
 think differently from its committee and act contrary to 
 its recommendations.
 
 304 OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 Commissioners. 
 
 1. IN the history and laws of the United States, the 
 word Commissioners occurs so frequently, that it may add 
 something to the utility of our work to make a few re- 
 marks about them, to show their relations to the Govern- 
 ment, when acting either in permanently established 
 official positions, or as temporary agents. 
 
 In the first place, they act as heads of bureaus in the 
 various departments. These bureaus, with their Commis- 
 sioners at their heads, are permanent sub-departments and 
 officials of the Government, established and provided for 
 by law 5 such are the Commissioners of the Land office, 
 Patent Office, Pension Office, &c., &c. 
 
 2. In the second place, they can hardly be considered 
 officers, but rather temporary or special agents. In the 
 imiltifai'ious duties devolving upon Congress, the Presi- 
 dent, and all the departments, it not unfrequently hap- 
 pens that it is impracticable for them to do certain things, 
 necessary to be done. The business to be transacted may 
 be at a great distance from the capitol, even in a foreign 
 country. In these cases Commissioners are appointed to do 
 such business. They have been appointed to negotiate a 
 peace, to make treaties of various kinds between us and 
 other powers, and to negotiate with the Indians for the
 
 COMMISSIONERS. 305 
 
 purchase of their lands. The United States courts ap- 
 point them to take bail, or to take testimony to be used 
 on trials, and to do various other things necessary in trials 
 and proceedings before them. 
 
 Congress frequently appoints commissioners to obtain 
 information, or to investigate some matter on which they 
 expect to legislate. In all cases they must report their 
 proceedings, either to Congress, to the President, or to 
 the head of the department under whose instructions they 
 act. Permanent commissioners report once a year, or 
 oftener if required, that Congress may know the condi- 
 tion of affairs in their respective bureaus. Special Com- 
 missioners, after they have performed the work assigned, 
 make their report ; after which their duties cease, and their 
 commission comes to an end. 
 
 3. The foregoing may be thought too simple and too 
 well understood to require any description. This is so, 
 as it regai'ds intelligent adults ; but it should be borne in 
 mind, that these pages are written with special reference 
 to the youth of the country, who do not understand them. 
 
 It should be added that the lowest grade of diplomatic 
 agents, who represent our Government to some of the 
 most inferior powers, are called Commissioners. "We are 
 thus represented at the present time in the Republics of 
 Ilayti and Liberia. 
 
 4. By recent acts of Congress, the powers of Commis- 
 sioners in some cases have been enlarged. They now ex- 
 amine persons charged with crimes against the laws of the 
 United States ; hold them to bail, discharge them, or com- 
 mit them to prison ; and do other magisterial acts, pre- 
 liminary to the trial of the accused. When acting in such 
 cases they are clothed with some of the pOAvers of a court.
 
 306 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI. 
 
 Religion. 
 
 1. THE people of the United States glory in the fact 
 that in their country there is no religion established by 
 law, as in England, and several other countries. Where 
 this is the case, no other than the one established by law 
 is tolerated ; or if tolerated, special favors and benefits are 
 conferred on the national church, at the expense of all 
 others. 
 
 "We enjoy complete religious freedom, and probably 
 always shall. The constitution guarantees this, in the 
 following words; " Congress shall make no law respect- 
 ing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free 
 exercise thereof." 
 
 In another place it says, " That no religious test shall 
 ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public 
 trust, under the United States." 
 
 What power in a few words ! These words in our con- 
 stitution have been, and will be of inestimable value, to our 
 country ; for they have greatly increased its population and 
 wealth. This feature of our Government has caused thou- 
 sands to immigrate to the United States, where they will 
 neither be persecuted nor taxed, to support a church in 
 which they do not believe. Everybody is left to worship 
 when and where and as he pleases. This is called relig-
 
 RELIGION. SOT 
 
 ious liberty, and is as it ought to be. True Christianity 
 never required the support of the State , and where it has 
 been given, it has invariably been corrupted. "We hope the 
 day is not far off, when every government on earth will 
 follow our example in this respect.
 
 308 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXII. 
 
 Proclamations . 
 
 1. A PROCLAMATION is an official notice given by one 
 high in authority, for the purpose of giving reliable and 
 authoritative information to the people, that something 
 has been done, or will soon be done, which is important for 
 them to know, that they may act, or refrain from acting ac- 
 cording to the information contained in the proclamation. 
 These proclamations are made known to the country 
 through the best and most extensive channels of information 
 that can be used for conveying intelligence to everybody 
 in the realm. In our day, and in our country, the news, 
 papers are the best means that can be used for this purpose. 
 But in ancient times, and before the art of printing was 
 known, SAvift riders or runners were dispatched to every 
 part of the kingdom or country over which the proclama- 
 tion was to be made known. These messengers carried it 
 with them, and proclaimed it in the ears of all the people. . 
 We have made these general remarks about proclama- 
 tions for the purpose of introducing the following obser- 
 vations upon those official papers so often issued by the 
 President, and also by the Governors of the respective 
 States. These, as above stated, are for the purpose of giv- 
 ing important information to the people. It is now the 
 custom of the Executive to designate some day selected
 
 PROCLAMATIONS. 309 
 
 by him as a day of thanksgiving, recommending the day 
 to be observed in a religious manner, in acknowledgment 
 of God's favors to us as a nation. This is made known to the 
 people by a proclamation of the President. A day of 
 fasting and prayer is sometimes designated and proclaimed 
 in the same way. Important changes in the commercial 
 affairs between us and some foreign country ai-e mada 
 known by the same method. 
 
 3. A memorable proclamation was made by President 
 Lincoln, in 18G2, by which he made known to the country, 
 and especially to the Southern States, that if they con- 
 tinued their war against the United States for one hundred 
 days after its issuance, he would then, in virtue of his 
 authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, 
 liberate the slaves in all the seceded States. At the expira- 
 tion of the time, which was on the first of January, 1863, he 
 issued another proclamation, in and by which, he did eman- 
 cipate all the slaves in every State Avhich had rebelled 
 against the United States Government. 
 
 The blockading of our ports at the commencement of 
 the civil war, and the imposition of an embargo upon our 
 shipping, previous to the last war with England, were 
 both subjects which brought out proclamations from the 
 President who then filled the Executive Chair. 
 . 4. The above examples show the character of cases 
 which cause proclamations to be issued. In some instan- 
 ces they have the authority of law ; in others they are 
 merely recommendations ; and in others they only commu- 
 nicate important intelligence in regard to our public affairs 
 at home or abroad.
 
 SIO OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIII/ 
 Treason. 
 
 1. WE do not propose in this work to treat of crimes 
 generally. But treason, which is a great crime, and 
 which aims at the existence, or at the pca'ie of the 
 Government, may with propriety be briefly noticed in 
 a work of this kind. 
 
 The Constitution itself defines treason in these words 
 (see article 3, section 3) : " Treason against the United 
 States shall consist only in levying war against them, 
 or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and 
 comfort." Then an act of Congress, passed on the 
 30th of April, 1790, approved and signed by Washing- 
 ton, again defines it in nearly the same words, and 
 makes the penalty therefor to be death by hanging. 
 
 2. By another act passed 17th July, 1862, it was made 
 discretionary with the court trying the case to put the 
 offender to death, or to imprison him for not less than 
 five years, and to fine him for a sum not less than ten 
 thousand dollars. The penalty for this crime, even in its 
 mildest form, is very severe ; thus showing how atrocious 
 this offence is considered. 
 
 3. None but a person owing allegiance to the United 
 States can commit treason against them. The same
 
 TREASON. 311 
 
 acts which would be treason in a citizen would not be 
 treason if perpetrated by a foreigner. 
 
 "Misprision of treason" is the concealment of it by a 
 person who knows it has been committed. This also is 
 a grave offence, and is punishable by a seven years' im- 
 prisonment, and a fine not exceeding one thousand dol- 
 lars. 
 
 4. Any person tried for treason, must be indicted by 
 a grand jury ; and then tried by a petit jury in the Cir- 
 cuit Court of the United States within three years after 
 the crime has been committed ; otherwise it is barred 
 by limitation or, in other words, outlawed.
 
 312 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX1Y. 
 Impeachment. 
 
 1. IN the second article, section four, of the Constitu- 
 tion, these words are found : "The President, Vice- 
 President, and all civil officers of the United States, 
 shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and 
 conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and 
 misdemeanors." 
 
 2. Impeachment is a procedure against office-holders 
 only, for the purpose of removing them from office. It 
 inflicts no other punishment ; but the guilty party may 
 afterwards be prosecuted for his crime in a court of 
 law, and punished in such a manner as the law directs. 
 
 3. The Constitution gives the House of Representa- 
 tives the sole power of impeachment. Its action, how- 
 ever, is not final. Its proceeding in cases of impeach- 
 ment are analagous to an indictment by a grand jury. 
 
 It simply charges that the official has committed a 
 crime for which he should bo tried, and removed from 
 office if found guilty. 
 
 4r. The Senate alone has the power to try the accused 
 party. When trying a case of impeachment it acts as 
 a court, and from its decision there is no appeal. The 
 President cannot pardon a criminal who has been im- 
 peached. When the President of the United Stale* is
 
 IMPEACHMENT. 2 313, 
 
 tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides, 
 but iu no other ease. No person can be convicted in a 
 trial of impeachment, unless two-thirds of the Senate 
 concur in finding the accused guilty of the alleged 
 offence.
 
 314 OUTLINES OP U. 8. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 Missouri Compromise. 
 
 1 WE should not devote a chapter to this subject any 
 more than we should to hundreds of other acts of Congress 
 which need not be noticed in a work of this kind, but for 
 the fact that few, if any, acts passed by that body, have 
 caused so many comments or so much political discussion 
 as this. It may therefore be both interesting and useful to 
 state what the Missouri Compromise was, what its objects 
 were, and how it came to be repealed. 
 
 2. The act containing what has long been denominated 
 the Missouri Compi-omise was passed on the Cth day of 
 March, 1820. The object of the act was the admission of 
 the State of Missouri into the Union. The Compromise 
 was inserted in one of its sections, was proposed by Henry 
 Clay of Kentucky, and was designed to reconcile a high 
 dispute between the members of Congress on the question, 
 " Shall Missouri be admitted as a free or a slave State ?" 
 
 3. It was admitted as a slave State, but upon the con- 
 dition (proviso), that in none of the Territory of the United 
 States lying north of the line of 36 degrees and 30 minutes 
 north latitude should slavery ever be allowed. This pro- 
 viso was denominated a Compromise ; because it was 
 designed to settle the vexed question as to how far north- 
 ward slavery should be allowed to extend.
 
 MISSOURI COMPROMISE. o!5 
 
 4. It was called the " Missouri Compromise," simply 
 because it was incorporated in the act of Congress which 
 admitted that State into the Union. It remained in 
 existence until the year 1854, thirty-four years. Dur- 
 ing all that period it was looked upon as a permanent 
 settlement of the boundary line between free and slave 
 Territory. 
 
 The repeal of this act was strongly opposed by those 
 who objected to the extension of slavery. It caused a 
 great deal of political excitement, and was immediately 
 followed by the troubles in Kansas, where the contest 
 between those who wanted that State to come in free, 
 and those who wanted it to be a slave State, ran so high 
 as to cause not only great political commotion, but even 
 bloodshed, and civil war between the contestants in that 
 then new Territory. Kansas remained a Territory until 
 January, 1861, when it was admitted as a State. 
 
 5. As stated in the commencement of*this article, no act 
 of Congress ever caused so much political discussion as 
 this. It was passed to quiet a contest that shook the 
 whole country ; and when it was repealed it created 
 another of still greater magnitude. The Kansas imbrog- 
 lio followed hard after ; and the late disastrous and bloody 
 civil war came soon enough to lead many wise men into 
 the opinion, that it had much to do in bringing on that 
 terrible calamity.
 
 316 OUTLINES OS 1 U. S. GOYUi.NME.\T. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVI. 
 Mason and Dixon's line. 
 
 1. SHOULD any reader say that this is .not pertinent to 
 the subject treated of in this work, he would not be far 
 out of the way ; for strictly speaking it has nothing to do 
 with it. But the phrase " Mason and Dixon's Line," has 
 been used in connexion with the political sayings and do- 
 ings of the country so often, that it would be very nat- 
 ural for any one to ask, " What is it ?" and " What is 
 meant by it ?" To answer the question we reply as fol- 
 lows: Mason and Dixon's Line is not a myth nor an 
 imaginary line, with no particular location. It was a real 
 line, and a boundary line, located between Maryland and 
 Pennsylvania ; between which two colonies there had been 
 much contention and many hostile acts, amounting at 
 times almost to a civil war. This arose from a dispute 
 respecting the boundary lines between them. Maryland 
 had been granted to Lord Baltimore, and Pennsylvania 
 to William Penn. 
 
 2. This was long before the Revolutionary war. But 
 the boundary line was not accurately defined. These 
 disputes caused so much trouble between the contending 
 parties, that commissioners were appointed in England to 
 make an accurate survey, and to determine, from the lan- 
 
 used in the charters, or grants, as they were called
 
 MASON AND DIXON's LINE. 317. 
 
 in that day, the exact boundary lino "between them. 
 Messrs. Mason and Dixon were selected in England to 
 run this line ; which they did. These men were eminent 
 mathematicians and astronomers, and had the confidence 
 of all parties. They performed their work so much to the 
 satisfaction of all parties that the line drawn remains to 
 this day. Thus was ended a long continued quarrel of 
 more than 70 years' standing. 
 
 3. But these facts did not give this line its great no- 
 toriety. It arose from the circumstance that Pennsylvania 
 and all the States north of it became free States, while 
 Maryland and all the States south of it remained slave 
 States. Mason and Dixon's line without any intention 
 of making it such, became the boundary between the free 
 and slave States. 
 
 The line run by these men went no further west than 
 those States extended, and was a straight line running 
 east and west. But as new States were created and 
 added to the original 13, some utterly refused to admit 
 slavery while others did admit it. Ohio, Illinois and 
 Indiana on the north side of the Ohio river ; refused to 
 admit, while Kentucky eagerly embraced it. Hence the 
 Ohio river became a sort of Mason and Dixon's line : that 
 is, it became the line so far as these States were concerned. 
 The phrase by this time, came to mean the boundary line 
 between slavery and freedom, instead of the line run by 
 Mason and Dixon between Pennsylvania and Maryland. 
 Thus, like many other terms in our language, they became 
 far more comprehensive in their significance than they 
 were in their original meaning. In the latter sense, Mason 
 and Dixon's line ran wherever the boundary lines ran
 
 318 OUTLINES OF D. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 between free and slave States, whether east and west, 
 north and south, or any other points of the compass. But 
 the late civil war sponged out this famous line. It has 
 no existence now, excepting that part of it whicli origin- 
 ally and at present forms the boundary between Pennsyl- 
 vania and Maryland.
 
 POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 319 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVII. 
 
 POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 
 
 1. WHEN we wish to understand the geography of our 
 country, we take a map and notice its boundaries, its 
 mountains, lakes, rivers, towns, &c. 
 
 And if we wish to understand its government we must 
 notice how it is divided for political purposes; first, into 
 States, and then into a variety of districts. We shall find 
 Congressional Districts, Judicial Districts, Collection Dis- 
 tricts, Land Districts, and Light-house Districts. All these 
 have their uses, and are parts of the machinery by which 
 the government is operated. If it were not for the ne- 
 cessity there is of frequently changing the boundaries, 
 numbers, and localities of these districts, it would be use- 
 ful and interesting if the United States were mapped out, 
 so as to show all these political divisions at a glance, in 
 the same manner as the States and counties are now 
 shown. 
 
 2. The first great division is into States. These have 
 particular reference to the Constitution of the Senate and 
 House of Representatives. Each State is entitled to two 
 Senators, regardless of its size or population ; and to as 
 many Representatives as its population will admit. Each 
 State is really a Senatorial District in its relations to the 
 general Government; aud as Congressmen are elected by
 
 320 OUTLINES OF TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 single districts, each State is sub-divided into as many 
 Congressional Districts as it has Representatives in the 
 lower House. But when a State has only one member of 
 Congress, as is the case with several, the whole State is 
 comprised in one Congressional District. 
 
 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 
 
 3. We now come to another sort of districts, made for 
 an entirely different purpose. For the convenience of the 
 people, the United States Courts are held in every State, 
 and at different places in the same State. For this pur- 
 pose the whole country is first divided into Judicial Cir- 
 cuits. Several States 3, 4, or 5 are embraced in One 
 Circuit. In all these Statc-s and at different places in them, 
 a Circuit Court is held. 
 
 4 Then comes a lower grade of Courts, called the 
 United States District Courts. These also are held at 
 different times and places in each State ; and for this pur- 
 pose the whole country is divided into Judicial Districts, 
 each State forming at least one, but some of the larger 
 ones, two or three. Thus much for divisions, for Judicial 
 purposes. 
 
 COLLECTION DISTRICTS. 
 
 5. Another class of districts has been formed, for the 
 purpose of collecting the duties on imported goods. These 
 are called " Collection Districts." They extend along, 
 and embrace the whole sea coast, and the shores of navi- 
 gable lakes and rivers. In a few instances they are lo- 
 cated inland, at points where goods may be brought into 
 the United States by land. Each Collection District has
 
 POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 321 
 
 a port of entry, and very often sevei-al ports of delivery ; 
 also a Collector of Customs, and generally a Custom House. 
 
 6. Another class of Collection Districts was formed dur- 
 ing the late civil war. They grew out of the war, and 
 were established for the collection of the tax termed the 
 " Internal Eevcnue," which had to be levied to pay the 
 War expenses. These* districts differ entirely, both in 
 their objects and in the Territory embraced within them, 
 from those established for the purpose of collecting duties 
 on imports, and correspond as far as practicable with the 
 Congressional Districts in each State. 
 
 LAND DISTRICTS . 
 
 7. Land Districts may also be noticed among these di- 
 visions. In every State and Territory where there are 
 public lands for sale, after they are surveyed and mapped, 
 they are divided into districts two, three, or foui-, in each 
 State and Territory, as convenience and economy may 
 dictate. In each district a Land Office is established for 
 the sale of the lands in said district. 
 
 LIGHT HOUSE DISTRICTS. 
 
 8. Again, the whole of our sea coasts, both on the At- 
 lantic and Pacific Oceans, together with the shores of the 
 navigable lakes and rivers, are divided into 12 Light 
 House Districts (or their number must not exceed that), 
 for the purpose of building, repairing, illuminating and 
 superintending the light houses on all the coasts and 
 shores wherever located. These are the principal divis- 
 ions we have to notice. It is important to have a knowl- 
 edge of them, for with such knowledge wo can better 
 understand how government affairs are conducted.
 
 522 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 District of Columbia. 
 
 1. THE District of Columbia, in regard to its size, pop 
 ulation, or political power, is one of the most insignifi- 
 cant places in the United States. It is not a State or 
 Territory, but a small district but ten miles square, orig- 
 inally cut out of the states of Maryland and Virginia and 
 ceded to the United States as a site for the Capitol. 
 Here the Capitol or house in which Congress meets is 
 located, together with the Presidential mansion, and 
 other public buildings occupied by the Government. 
 Its population has grown to the present size, about 
 80,000, since the year 1800, when it became the Capitol 
 of the nation, and when Congress first assembled here, 
 its former sessions having been held at New York and 
 Philadelphia. The city which has grown up around 
 the Capitol is named Washington, after the great and 
 good father of his country. 
 
 2. The people who live here occupy an anomalous 
 position, for, with the exception of the political rights 
 granted to them by Congress in their own local affairs, 
 they have no political power whatsoever. They cannot 
 vote for President or Yice-President ; they have no 
 representative in Congress, nor any voice in the enact- 
 ment of the laws by which they are governed, further 
 than to make their own municipal regulations as granted
 
 DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA. 323 
 
 to them in the charter which Congress gave to the 
 city ; this they do through a Mayor and Common 
 Council. They are governed by Congress, which is 
 their legislature, although they have no power to send a 
 single member to represent them in it. 
 
 3. Besides the courts of Justices of th Peace, there 
 are four high courts, with their judges, and other law 
 officers ; first, a Circuit Court, second a District Court, 
 third an Orphan's Court, and fourth a Criminal Court : 
 all these must be recognised as United States Courts ; be- 
 cause they were established by the laws of Congress, 
 and because their judges are all appointed by tho 
 President and Senate, and are paid out of the United 
 States Treasury. 
 
 In saying that the District is ten miles square, 
 and that it was ceded to the United States by Virginia 
 and Maryland, we state what was the case up to 1846, 
 when Congress re-ceded to the State of Virginia that 
 part of it which formerly belonged to her. This part 
 lies west of the Potomac River, and is of no use to the 
 United States ; as the Capitol, with all the other public 
 buildings, and, indeed, the whole City of Washington, 
 stand on the east side of the river, and in the part 
 formerly belonging to Maryland. 
 
 The villages of Alexandria and Georgetown werebotli 
 included in the District; but in 1840, Alexandria, 
 which stands on the west side of the Potomac, was 
 thrown out by the re-cession to Virginia. 
 
 The Capitol is one of the finest State Houses in the 
 world. It has been much enlarged, and has cost nearly 
 $3,000,000.
 
 324 OUTLINES OF TT. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
 States. 
 
 1. As has been said in another place, people who live in 
 the United States, live under two separate and distinct 
 governments ; first, that of the United States, and second 
 that of the particular State in which they reside. This, at 
 first thought, would seem to create confusion, if not a con- 
 flict of authority, and to place the citizen in doubt as to 
 what law he should obey when in his own mind there 
 seems to be an antagonism between the laws of the two 
 governments. This is easily overcome, however, for the 
 Constitution of the United States, which is paramount to 
 all other law, regulates this by its own provisions. Neither 
 Congress, nor the legislature of any State can make any 
 law contrary to it ; and if either of these legislative 
 bodies should do so, there 33 a power which has the au- 
 thority to set any such la-7*- aside ; and that is, the United 
 States Supreme Court. Its decision in regard to any 
 question which may arhs as to the rightful authority of 
 Congress, or any State legislature is final ; there being no 
 appeal from its decisions. 
 
 This Court is the regulating power and the final resort. 
 To use a mechanical figure, it keeps all the small wheela 
 (the State governments), revolving within one great wheel
 
 STATES. 325 
 
 (the General Government), with but little friction, and 
 without any serious collision. 
 
 2. In the preceding pages we have treated only of the 
 United States Government, without any intention of ex- 
 plaining the State Governments. "We shall not now de- 
 part from that plan, but shall mention them only in gen- 
 eral terms, as parts of the great whole ; to show what 
 political power they possess ; what they relinquished to 
 the general Government, to what extent they are sover- 
 eign powers, and how they fall short of being complete 
 sovereignties. 
 
 3. The Constitution of the United States expressly de- 
 clares that Congress shall have and exercise certain pow- 
 ers, and also that no State shall possess or exercise them. 
 
 Congress has the exclusive power to lay duties on im- 
 ported goods, to regulate commerce with foreign nations 
 and with Indian tribes; to pass naturalization laws, to 
 coin money, to establish post offices and post roads ; to 
 grant patents and copyrights ; to declai-e war, and to do 
 many other things which the States are prohibited from do- 
 ing, for if invested with such powers there would be an im- 
 mediate conflict of laws and unavoidable collision between 
 the United States and the State Governments. 
 
 4. Now when the several original States adopted the 
 Constitution, they agreed to be governed by its provis- 
 ions, and therefore conceded to Congress all the rights 
 and powers therein specified ; thus relinquishing all au- 
 thority to exercise them themselves. And as the new 
 States came into the Union, they did the same tiling. 
 Hence all the States voluntarily surrendered a part of 
 the powers which belong to a sovereign State. Sover-
 
 326 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 eignty implies full power to do any thing without the con- 
 trol of another. The United States Government is a com- 
 plete sovereignty. The States are not, because they 
 agreed, for the general good of all, to surrender certain 
 powers to the general Government. 
 
 5. In everything, except these surrendered rights or 
 powers, the States are sovereign. In all matters },er>;ain- 
 ing to their own domestic affairs, they enjoy full power to 
 enact such laws as they please, taking care that no law, 
 however, shall conflict with the'Constitution of the United 
 States, or with any law which Congress has the exclusive 
 right to enact. 
 
 6. The States are the first, most important, and most 
 permanent of all the political divisions of the country. 
 They are now in size, location, and Territorial limits, just 
 what they were when first formed ; with one exception, and 
 that is Virginia. When that State seceded with most of 
 the other Southern States, before the late civil war, the 
 people in that part of the State lying west of the Alleghany 
 Mountains (nearly one half of it), refused to leave the old 
 Union, seceded from the old State and organized them- 
 selves into a new one, styling it "West Virginia. This 
 they could not do, however, without the consent of Con- 
 gress ; but this was readily given, the division was con- 
 summated and a new State was carved out of an old one. 
 This is the first, and thus far, the only instance in which 
 this has been done. 
 
 In the following chapter we give the several States in 
 alphabetical order, making it easy to turn to them, and to 
 find any desired information contained in the brief sum- 
 mary of facts relating to each.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 327 
 
 CHAPTER XC. 
 Individual States. 
 
 ALABAMA. 
 
 ALABAMA was admitted into the Union of States, De'o. 
 14th, 1819, and made the twenty-second State. 
 
 It has an area of 50,722 square miles, equal to 32,462,- 
 080 acres, and had a population in 1860 of 964,201, by 
 which she was entitled to 6 Representatives in Congress. 
 
 It forms a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and is 
 divided into three Judicial Districts, viz., Northern, Mid- 
 dle, and Southern Districts of Alabama. 
 
 It has one port of entry, to wit, Mobile, and two ports 
 of delivery, viz., Tuscumbia and Selma. 
 
 The Capitol of the State is Montgomery.
 
 328 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The State election is held on the first Monday in Auguts*. 
 
 The Legislature meets on the second Monday in No- 
 vember, but meets only once in two years. 
 
 The enacting clause of its laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 State of Alabama, in general assembly convened." 
 
 "UNITED STATES SENATORS." 
 
 Under this caption, after the general remarks upon each 
 State, we give the names of all the men who have repre- 
 sented that State in the United States Senate, from the 
 commencement of the Government (1789), down to the 
 end of the year 1867, in chronological order, together 
 with their times of service. This affords a convenient 
 means of reference to the prominent statesmen in each 
 State, in times gone by. 
 
 Those from Alabama were as follows : 
 Wm. R. King, from 1819 to 1844, and from 1846 to 1852 
 
 J. W. Walker, " 
 
 1819 " 1822 
 
 
 Wm. Kelly, " 
 
 1822 " 1825 
 
 
 Henry Chambers, " 
 
 1825 " 1826 
 
 
 Israel Pickens, 
 
 1826 superseded the same year by 
 
 John McKiiiley, " 
 
 1826 " 1831* 
 
 
 Gabriel Moore, " 
 
 1831 " 1837 
 
 
 Clement C. Clay, " 
 
 1837 " 1841 
 
 
 Arthur P. Bagby, " 
 
 1841 " 1849 
 
 
 Dixon H. Lewis, " 
 
 1844 " 184T 
 
 
 B. Fitzpatrick, " 
 
 1848 " 1849, and from 
 
 1852 to 1861 
 
 J. Clemens, 
 
 1849 " 1853 
 
 
 C. C. Clay, Jr., " 
 
 1853 1861 
 
 
 He also served from 1837 to 1841.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 329 
 
 Alabama seceded from the Union in 1861 ; and conse- 
 quently has not been represented in the United States 
 Senate, from that time up to the end of 1867; and will 
 not be, until re-admitted into the Union. 
 
 ARKANSAS. 
 
 Arkansas was admitted into the Union, Jan. 15, 1836, 
 (Michigan admitted same day), making the 26th State. 
 
 She has an area of 52,198 square miles, equal to 33,406,- 
 720 acres. 
 
 Her population in 1860 was 435,450, which entitles her 
 to 3 Representatives in Congress. 
 
 Arkansas lies in the 8th Judicial Circuit, and forms two 
 Judicial Districts Eastern and Western. 
 
 She has no ports of entry, or delivery. 
 
 This State was a part of the Louisiana purchase, made 
 of France in 1803. 
 
 The Capitol of this State is Little Rock. 
 
 She holds her State election on the first Monday in 
 August.
 
 330 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The Legislature meets on the first Monday in Novem- 
 ber, but meets only once in two years. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is, " Be it enacted by 
 the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 William S. Fulton from 1836 to 1844 
 Ambrose H. Sevier, " 1836 " 1848 
 Chester Ashley, " 1844 " 1847 
 
 Wm. K. Sebastian, " 1848 " 1861 
 Solon Borland, " 1848 " 1855 
 
 Robert W. Johnson, " 1853 " 1861 
 Charles B. Mitchell, " 1861 " 1861 
 Arkansas was one of the seceding States ; and the re- 
 marks made at the end of the list of Senators from Ala- 
 bama are equally applicable to this State, 
 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 California was admitted in 1850, making the thirty-first 
 State. It has an area of 188,982 square miles,' equal to 
 120,948,480 acres. The population for 1860 was put down
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 331 
 
 at 379,994 ; but this estimate was not regarded as reliable. 
 Congress by special act allowed her 3 Representatives in 
 Congress. 
 
 By act of 1866, this State, with Oregon and Nevada, 
 constitutes the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and forms two 
 Judicial Districts. California has 7 ports of entry, viz., 
 San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego, Sacramento, Sonoma, 
 San Joaquin and San Pedro ; also one port of delivery, 
 Santa Barbara. This State, as is seen by its area, is very 
 large, and will probably in some future day be divided 
 into two. California was obtained from Mexico, by treaty 
 in 1848. 
 
 The capital is Sacramento. She holds her State elec- 
 tion on the first "Wednesday in September. Her legisla- 
 ture meets on the first Monday in December, but meets 
 only once in two years. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is : " The people of the 
 State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly, 
 do enact as follows." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 John C. Fremont from 1850 to 1851 
 
 Wm. M. Gwin, " 1850 " 1861 
 
 John B. Weller, 1851 " 1857 
 
 H. P. Haun, 1859 " 1862 
 
 D. C. Broderick, " 1856 " 1859 
 
 M. S. Latham, " 1860 " 1866 
 
 John Conness, " 1863 " 1869 
 
 Cornelius Cole, " 1867 1873 
 
 J. A. McDougall, " 1861 " 1867
 
 332 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CONNECTICUT is one of the original thirteen States. Her 
 area is only 4,674 square miles, equal to 2,991,360 acres. 
 The population in 1860, was 460,147, which gives her 
 four representatives in Congress. 
 
 Connecticut is part of the Second Judicial Circuit, and 
 forms one Judicial District. She has five collection Dis- 
 tricts, and consequently five ports of entry, New London, 
 New Haven, Fairfield, Middletown and Stonington ; also 
 twenty-two ports of delivery. 
 
 This State has two capitols, Hartford and New Haven, 
 and holds her State election on the first Monday in April. 
 The Legislature meets on the first Wednesday in May. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is, "Be it enacted by the 
 Senate and House of Reperseritatives, in general assembly 
 convened." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATOES. 
 
 Oliver Elsworth, from 1789 to 1796 
 Wm. S.Johnson, " 1789 " 1791 
 Roger Sherman, " 1791 " 1793 
 S. M. Michell, " 1793 " 1795.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 333 
 
 Joh'n Trumbull, from 1795 to 1796 
 
 Uriah Tracey, " 
 
 1796 1807 
 
 J. Hillhouse, " 
 
 1796 1810 
 
 C. Goodrich, lt 
 
 1807 " 1813 
 
 S. TV. Dana, 
 
 1810 " 1821 
 
 David Doggett, " 
 
 1813' 1819 
 
 James Lanman, " 
 
 1819 " 1825 
 
 E. Boardman. " 
 
 1821 1823 
 
 H. TV. Edwards, " 
 
 1823 1827 
 
 Calvin TVilley, " 
 
 1825 1831 
 
 Samuel A. Foot, " 
 
 1827 " 1833 
 
 G. Tomlinson, 
 
 1831 " 1837 
 
 Nathan Smith, " 
 
 1833 " 1835 
 
 John M. Niles, " 
 
 1835 1839, and from 1843 to 1849 
 
 Perry Smith, " 
 
 1837 " 1843 
 
 Thaddeus Betts, " 
 
 1839 " 1940 
 
 J. W. Huntington," 
 
 1840 1847 
 
 11. S. Baldwin, " 
 
 1847 1851 
 
 Truman Smith, " 
 
 1849 " 1855 
 
 Isaac Toucey, " 
 
 1852 1857 
 
 Francis Gillette, " 
 
 1854 " 185G 
 
 L. S. Foster, 
 
 1855 " 1867 
 
 James Dixon, " 
 
 1857 " 1859 
 
 Orris Ferry, * 
 
 1867 " 1873
 
 334 OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 DELAWARE. 
 
 Delaware is one of the original thirteen States, and has 
 an area of 2,120 square miles, equal to 1,356,800 acres. 
 Population in 1860, 112,216. 
 
 It has one representative in Congress ; forms part of the 
 third Judicial Circuit (act of 1862) constitutes one Judicial 
 District ; has one port of entry Wilmington ; and 
 three ports of delivery New Castle, Port Penn, and 
 Delaware City, 
 
 The population of this State, has never entitled it to 
 more than one member of Congress. 
 
 The capital is Dover. The elections are held in Novem- 
 ber. The Legislature meets on the first Tuesday in 
 January, and meets only once in two years. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is, " Be it enacted by 
 the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of 
 Delaware in general assembly met." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS^ 
 
 George Read, from 1789 " 1793 
 P. Bassett, " 1789 " 1793 
 
 .John Vining, " 1793 " 1798
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 
 
 335 
 
 Kensey Johns, from 179-4 to 1795 
 
 Henry Latimer, 
 
 Joshua Clayton, 
 
 W. H. Wells, 
 
 Samuel White, 
 
 J. A. Bayard, 
 
 O. Horsey, 
 
 N. Van Dyke, 
 
 C. A. Rodney, 
 
 T Clayton, , J 
 
 D. Rodney, 
 II Ridgely, 
 L. McLane, 
 
 J. M. Clayton, 
 A. Nordain, 
 R. H. Bayard, ' 
 P. Spruance, ' 
 John Wales, < 
 J. A. Bayard, 
 M. W. Bates, 
 J. P. Comeygs, ' 
 W.Saulsbury, ' 
 G. R. Riddle, * 
 J. A. Bayard, ' 
 
 1795 " 1801 
 
 1798 1799 
 
 1799 ' 1804, and from 1813 to 1817 
 1801 " 1810 
 
 1804 " 1813 
 1810 " 1821 
 1817 " 1826 
 1822 1823 
 1824 " 1827, and from 1837 to 1847 
 
 1826 " 1827 
 
 1827 " 1829 
 1827 " 1829 
 
 1829 1837, and from 1845 to 184$> 
 
 1830 " 1836 
 1836 " 1845 
 1847 " 1853 
 1849 " 1851 
 1851 " 1864 
 1857 " 1859 
 1856 1857 
 1859 1871 
 1864 " 1869 
 
 " 1873
 
 .336 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Florida was admitted into the Union, March 3, 1845, 
 making the 27th State. This State has an area of 59,268 
 square miles, equal to 37,931,520 acres. The population 
 in 1860 amounted to 140,425, which gave her but one 
 Representative in Congress. 
 
 Florida lies in the 5th Judicial Circuit and forms two 
 Judicial Districts ; has 7 ports of entry St. Augustine, 
 Key West, Apalachicola, Pensacola, Magnolia, St. John's 
 River, and Fernandina ; and 2 ports of delivery Palatka 
 and Bay Port. This State was bought by the United 
 States of Spain in 1819. 
 
 The capital is Tallahassee. The State election is held the 
 first Monday in October. The Legislature meets biennially 
 on the first Monday in November. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is, " Be it enacted by 
 the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of 
 Florida, in General Assembly convened." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 David L. Yulee from 1845 to 1861 
 J. D. Westcott, " 1845 " 1851
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 337 
 
 Jackson Morton, from 1849 to 1855 
 S. R. Mallory, " 1851 " 1861 
 Florida seceded from the United States in 1861; and 
 
 the remarks made at the end of the list of Senators from 
 
 Alabama, are applicable to her. 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 
 Georgia is one of the thirteen original States, and has 
 an area of 52,009 square miles, equal to 33,285,760 acres. 
 
 The population in 1860, was 1,057,286, which entitled 
 her to seven representatives hi Congress. 
 
 The State lies in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and has two 
 Judicial Districts ; also four ports of entry Savannah, 
 Brunswick, St. Mary's and Hardwicke ; and two ports of 
 delivery Augusta and Sunbury. 
 
 The capital is Milledgeville. The State election is 
 held on the first Wednesday of October. The Legislature 
 meets on the first Thursday in November. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is, " Be it enacted by 
 the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of 
 Georgia in general assembly met ; and it is hereby enacted 
 by the authority of the same."
 
 338 OUTLINES OP U. &. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 TJNITKD STATES SENATORS 
 
 William Few, from 1789 to 1793 
 
 James Gunn, " 1789 " 1801 
 
 James Jackson, " 1893 " 1795, and from 1801 to 1800 
 
 George Walton, " 1795 "1796 
 
 Josiah Tatnal, " 1796 " 1799 
 
 A. Baldwin, " 1796 " 1805, and from 1805 to 1807 
 
 J. Melledge, " 1806 " 1809 
 
 George Jones, " 1807 " 1807 
 
 W.H.Crawford," 1807 " 1813 
 
 Charles Tait, " 1809 " 1813, and from 1813 to 1819 
 
 W. B. Bullock, " 1813 " 1813 
 
 Wm. W. Bibb, " 1813 " 1816 
 
 G. M. Troup, " 1815 " 1818, and from 1829 to 1833 
 
 John Forsyth, " 1819 " 1819, and from 1829 to 1837 
 
 F. Walker, " 1819 " 1821 
 
 John Elliott, " 1819 " 1821 
 
 Nicholas Ware, " 1821 " 1823 
 
 T. W. Cobb, " 1824 " 1828 
 
 O. H. Prince, " 1828 "18.9 
 
 John P. King, '< 1833 " 1837 
 
 W. Lumpkin, " 1837 " 1841 
 
 J. M. Berrien, " 1825 " 1829, and from 1841 to 1847-51 
 
 A. Cuthbert, " 1837 " 1843 
 
 W. T. Colquitt, " 1843 1849 
 
 H. V. Johnson, 1848 1849 
 
 W C. Dawson, " 1849 ' 1855 
 
 Robert Toomfc.3, " 1853 " 1861 
 
 R. M. Charleton, " 1852 " 1853 
 
 Alfred Iverson, ' 1855 " 1801
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 339 
 
 Georgia was one of the seceding States, and the same 
 remarks apply to her, that have been made at the end of 
 the list of Senators from Alabama. 
 
 ILLINOIS. 
 
 This State came into the Union on the third day of 
 Dec. 1818, making the 21st State. It was carved out, of 
 what was then known as the Northwestern Territory. 
 Illinois has an area of 55,405 square miles, equal to 
 35,459,200 acres ; had a population in 1860 of 1,711,951 ; is 
 entitled to 14 Representatives in Congress, forms a part 
 of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Forms two Judicial Dis- 
 tricts, Northern and Southern has one port of entry, 
 viz., Chicago, and four ports of delivery, viz., Alton, 
 Quincy, Cairo and Peoria. 
 
 The capital is at Springfield. The State election is held 
 on the first Tuesday in November. The Legislature meets 
 biennially on the Second Monday in January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented 
 in the General Assembly."
 
 340 
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 J. S. Thomas, from 1818 to 1829 
 
 N. Edwards, 
 John McLean, " 
 
 D. J. Baker, 
 
 E. K. Kane, " 
 J. M. Robinson," 
 W. L. D. Ewing," 
 KM. Young, " 
 S.McRoberts, " 
 J. Semple, " 
 Sidney Breese, " 
 S. A. Douglas, " 
 James Shields, " 
 L. Trumbull, " 
 O. H.Browning," 
 W.A.Richardson" 
 Richard Yates, " 
 
 1818 " 1824 
 
 1821 " 1825, and from 1829 to 1830 
 
 1830 1 month. 
 
 1825 " 1836 
 
 1830 1841 
 
 1835 1837 
 
 183T " 1843 
 
 1841 1843 
 
 1843 1847 
 
 1843 " 1849 
 
 1847 " 1861 
 
 1849 " 1855 
 
 1855 " 1861 
 
 1861 " 1863 
 
 1863 " 1865 
 
 1S65 " 1871 
 
 INDIANA. 
 
 The State of Indiana was formed out of part of what
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 341 
 
 was called the North-western Territory ; was admitted as 
 a State in 1816, making the nineteenth State. She has 
 an area of 33,809 square miles, equal to 21,637,760 acres. 
 Her population in i860 was 1,350,428, which entitled her 
 to 11 Representatives in Congress. Indiana is the Seventh 
 Judicial Circuit, and forms one Judicial District. There 
 is no port of entry in this State ; but there are three ports 
 of delivery, to wit, Evansville, ISTew Albany, and Madison ; 
 which are attached to the New Orleans Collection Dis- 
 trict. 
 
 The capital is Indianapolis. The State election is held 
 on the second Tuesday of October. The Legislature 
 meets only once in two years, on the first Wednesday of 
 January. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is in these words, " Be 
 it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of 
 Indiana." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 James Noble, from 1816 to 1831 
 
 W. Taylor, " 
 
 1816 " 1825 
 
 W. Hendricks, " 
 
 1825 1837 
 
 K. Ilanna, " 
 
 1831 1831 
 
 John Tipton, 
 
 1831 " 1839 
 
 O. H. Smith, " 
 
 1837 " 1843 
 
 A. S. White, 
 
 1839 " 1845 
 
 E. A. Hannegan," 
 
 1843 " 1849 
 
 J. D. Bright, " 
 
 1845 " 1862 
 
 J. "Whit comb, " 
 
 1849 " 1855 
 
 C. W. Cathcart, " 
 
 1852 1853
 
 542 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 John Pettit, from 1853 to 1855 
 
 Charles Durkee," 1855 "1861 
 
 G. K Fitch, " 1857 " 1861 
 
 II. A. Lane, " 1861 " 186T 
 
 D. Turpee, " 1863 1863 
 
 J. A. Wright, " 1862 " 1863 
 T. A. Hendricks," 1869 
 
 O. P. Morton, " 1867 " 1873 
 
 Iowa was admitted into the Union March 8, 1845, mak- 
 ing the twenty-eighth State. We have numbered this tho 
 twenty-eighth State, and Florida the twenty-ninth. Both 
 however were admitted on the same day, and by one act. 
 Iowa has an area of 55,045 square miles, equal to 35,228,- 
 800 acres. The population in 1860 was 674,913, which 
 entitled to 6 Representatives in Congress. This Stato 
 lies in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and makes one Judicial 
 District. She has no port of entry, but has 3 ports of do- 
 livery, to wit, Burlington, Keokuk, and Dubuque; all of
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 343 
 
 which are attached to the Collection District of New Or- 
 leans, in the State of Louisiana. 
 
 Des Moines is the capital. The State election is held 
 on the Second Tuesday of October. The Legislature 
 meets biennially on the Second Wednesday in January. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is in these words : " Be 
 it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 George "W. Jones, from 1848 to 1859 . 
 Augustus C. Dodge, 1S48 1855 
 
 T , ( 1856 " 1865 
 
 James Harlan, 
 
 James W. Grimes, 1859 " 18T1 
 Samuel J.Kirkwood," 1866 1871 
 
 Kansas was admitted into the Union as a State, Jan. 
 29, 1861, making the thirty-fourth State. Kansas has 
 an area of 78,418 square miles, equal to 50,187,520 acre?. 
 The population in 1869 was 107,206 ; entitling to one Re-
 
 344 OUTLINES OF TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 presentative in Congress. The State is in the Eighth 
 Judicial Circuit, and forms one Judicial District. It has 
 not now any ports of entry or delivery. 
 
 Topeka is the capital. The State election is held on the 
 first Tuesday in November. The legislature meets on the 
 second Thursday hi January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows: "Be it 
 enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATOK8. 
 
 James Henry Lane, from 1861 to 1866 
 Samuel C. Pomeroy, " 1861 1873 
 E. G. Ross, 1866 " 1871 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 Kentucky was admitted into the Union on the first of 
 June, 1792 , and has an area of 37,680 square miles, equal 
 to 24,115,200 acres. 
 
 The population in i860 numbered 1,155,684. The 
 State has now nine representatives in Congress; is in the 
 Sixtli Judicial Circuit, by act of 1866 ; forms one Judicial
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 345 
 
 District ; has one port of entry Louisville ; and two ports 
 of delivery Paducah and Columbus. 
 
 Before Kentucky was erected into a State, it formed a 
 part of the State of Virginia. 
 
 It was the second State admitted, making the fifteenth 
 State. Frankfort is the capital. 
 
 The State elections are held on the first Monday of 
 August. The Legislature meets on the first Monday in 
 December. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is in the following words : 
 "Be it enacted by the general assembly of the common- 
 wealth of Kentucky." * 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 John Brown, from 1792 
 
 to 1805 
 
 John Edwards, " 
 
 1792 
 
 " 1795 
 
 Humphrey Marshall," 
 
 1795 
 
 " 1801 
 
 John Breckenridge, " 
 
 1801 
 
 " 1805 
 
 Buckner Thurston, " 
 
 1805 
 
 " 1810 
 
 John Adair, 
 
 1805 
 
 " 1806 
 
 
 f 1806 
 
 " 1807 
 
 Henry Clay, " 
 
 J 1810 
 ] 1831 
 
 " 1811 
 " 1842 
 
 
 [1849 
 
 " 1855 
 
 John Pope, 
 
 1807 
 
 " 1813 
 
 George M. Bibb, " 
 
 j 1811 
 
 " 1814 
 
 O 
 
 [ 1829 
 
 " 1835 
 
 Jesse Bledsoe, " 
 
 1813 
 
 " 1815 
 
 George Walkei*, " 
 
 1814 
 
 " 1814 
 
 William T. Barry, " 
 
 1814 
 
 " 1816 
 
 Isham Talbot, " 
 
 j 1815 
 ( 1820 
 
 " 1819 
 " 1825
 
 346 
 
 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Martin D. Hardin, from 1810 
 
 John J. Crittenden, " 
 
 Richard M. Johnson," 
 
 William Logan, " 
 John Rowan, " 
 
 Jas. T. Moorehead, ." 
 Jos'h.R. Underwood," 
 Thomas Metcalf, " 
 Archibald Dixon, " 
 David Meriwether, " 
 J. B. Thompson, " 
 Lazarus W. Powell," 
 Jno . C . B reckinridge," 
 Garrett Davis, " 
 
 James Guthric, " 
 Thos. C. McCreery, " 
 
 fl8!7 
 I 1835 
 J 1842 
 [l855 
 1819 
 1823 
 1819 
 1826 
 1841 
 1847 
 1848 
 1852 
 1852 
 1853 
 1859 
 1861 
 1861 
 1865 
 1868 
 
 to 1817 
 " 1819 
 " 1841 
 " 1849 
 
 " 1861 
 " 1823 
 " 1829 
 " 1820 
 " 1831 
 " 1847 
 " 1853 
 " 1849 
 " 1855 
 " 1852 
 " 1859 
 " 1865 
 " 1861 
 " 1873 
 " 1871 
 " 1871 
 
 LOUISIANA. 
 
 Jjouisiana was formed ont of a part of the Lonisana pur-
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 347 
 
 chase, made of France in 1803, and was admitted into the 
 Union in 1812, making the eighteenth State. 
 
 She has an area of 46,431 square miles, equal to 29,715- 
 840 acres. The population in 1860 numbered 708,002 : 
 entitling her to five representatives in Congress. 
 
 Louisiana forms a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and 
 constitutes two Judicial Districts, viz., the Eastern and 
 Western Districts of Louisiana. This State has one Collec- 
 tion District, denominated the District of New Orleans ; 
 which city is the only port of entry. The shores of the river 
 Ohio, and all the rivers emptying into the Mississippi, are 
 attached to the District of New Orleans ; though most of 
 them do not lie in the State. Several of the cities and 
 towns on these rivers are made ports of delivery. Col- 
 lection Districts are not always confined to one State. 
 
 Baton Rouge is the capital. The Legislature meets on 
 the thii-d Monday in January, once in two years. The 
 State election is held on the first Monday in November. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 State of Louisiana, in general assembly convened," 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Thomas Posey, October to December, 1812 
 
 James Brown, from i 1812 to 1817 
 \ 1810 " 1824 
 
 Allan B. Macgruder, from 1812 " 1813 
 Eligius Fromentin, " 1813 " 1819 
 TV. C. C. Claiborne, " 1817 " 1818 
 
 j 1818 1824 
 Henry Johnson, j Ig43 u 184Q 
 
 Dominique Bouligny, " 1824 " 1829
 
 348 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Josiah S. Johnston, from 1824 to 1833 
 Edward Livingston, " 1829 " 1831 
 George A. Waggaman, " 1831 " 1835 
 Alexander Porter, " 1833 " 1837 
 Robert C. Nichols, " 1833 1841 
 Alexander Morton, " 1838 " 1842 
 Alexander Barrow, " 1841 " 1847 
 Charles M. Conrad, " 1842 " 1843 
 j 1847 " 1847 
 Pierre Soule, "ji 8 49 1855 
 
 Solomon W. Downs, " 1847 " 1853 
 John Slidell, " 1853 " 1861 
 
 Judah P. Benjamin, " 1853 " 1861 
 Louisiana seceded with other Southern States in 1861, 
 
 and the remarks made at the end of the list of Senators 
 
 from Alabama, also apply to her. 
 
 MAINE. 
 
 Maine was admitted into the Union on the 15th day of 
 March, 1820, making the twenty-third State. She has an 
 area of 31,766 square miles, equal to 20,330,240 acres. In
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 
 
 349 
 
 1860 the population amounted to 628,279, in view of 
 which she is now entitled to 5 Representatives in Congress. 
 Maine forma a part of the first Judicial Circuit, and con- 
 stitutes one Judicial District. This State has 13 ports of 
 entry, and 32 ports of delivery. Until it was admitted 
 into the Union, it formed a part of the State of Massaclni' 
 setts. 
 
 Augusta is the Capital. The State elections are held on 
 the second Monday of September. The Legislature meets 
 on the first Wednesday of January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is in the following words: 
 " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
 tives in Legislature assembled." 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 
 SENATOKS. 
 
 John Holmes, from 
 
 1820 
 
 to 
 
 1833 
 
 John Chandler, " 
 
 1820 
 
 c; 
 
 1829 
 
 Albion K. Parris, " 
 
 1827 
 
 It 
 
 1829 
 
 Peleg Sprague, " 
 
 1829 
 
 
 
 1835 
 
 Ether Shepley, " 
 
 1833 
 
 " 
 
 1836 
 
 John Ruggles, " 
 
 1835 
 
 It 
 
 1841 
 
 Judah Dana, . " .. 
 
 1836 
 
 " 
 
 1837 
 
 Reuel Williams, " 
 
 1837 
 
 " 
 
 1843 
 
 George Evans, " 
 
 1841 
 
 ll 
 
 1847 
 
 John Fairfielcl, " 
 
 1843 
 
 It 
 
 1847 
 
 Wynan B.S.Moore" 
 
 1848 
 
 ll 
 
 1848 
 
 Jas. "W. Bradbury," 
 
 1847 
 
 ll 
 
 1853 
 
 Hannibal llamlin, " 
 
 ( 1848 
 
 tt 
 
 1857 
 
 
 ( 1857 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 Amos Nourse, " 
 
 1857 
 
 ll 
 
 1857 
 
 
 ( 1863 
 
 ll 
 
 1864 
 
 Wm.P.Fessenden," 
 
 1 1865 
 
 -tt-' 
 
 1871
 
 350 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Lot M. Merrill, from 1861 to 1869 
 Nath. A. Parwell," 1864 " 1865 
 
 MARYLAND. 
 
 Maryland is one of the original thirteen States; and 
 has an area of 11,124 square miles, equal to 7,119,360 acres. 
 The population in 1860 was 687,049, which gives her five 
 Representatives in Congress. By an act of Congress 
 passed in 1866, this State was put in the fourth Judicial 
 Circuit, which is composed of Maryland, Virginia, West 
 Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Maryland 
 constitutes one Judicial District ; has ten ports of entry, 
 viz., Baltimore, Chester, Oxford, Vienna, Snow Hill, An- 
 napolis, Nottingham, St. Mary's, Georgetown and Havre 
 de Grace ; and twelve ports of delivery. 
 
 Annapolis is the capital. The State election is held on 
 the first Tuesday of November. The Legislature meets 
 on the first Wednesday of January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Bo it 
 enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland."
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 
 
 351 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Charles Carroll, ) ,. 
 (of Carrollton) f f] 
 
 1789 to 
 
 1793 
 
 John Henry, " 
 
 1789 " 
 
 1797 
 
 Richard Potts, " 
 
 1793 " 
 
 1796 
 
 John E. Howard, " 
 
 1796 " 
 
 1803 
 
 James Lloyd, " 
 
 1797 " 
 
 1800 
 
 William Hindman, " 
 
 1800 " 
 
 1801 
 
 Robert Wright, " 
 
 1801 " 
 
 1806 
 
 Samuel Smith, 
 
 j 1803 " 
 ( 1822 " 
 
 1815 
 1833 
 
 Philip Reed, " 
 
 1806 " 
 
 1813 
 
 R. H. Goldsborough, 
 
 j 1813 " 
 ( 1835 " 
 
 1819 
 1836 
 
 Robert G. Harper, " 
 
 1816 " 
 
 1816 
 
 Alexander C. Hanson, " 
 
 1816 " 
 
 1819 
 
 William Pinkney, " 
 
 1819 " 
 
 1822 
 
 Edward Lloyd, " 
 
 1819 " 
 
 1826 
 
 Ezekiel R Chambers, " 
 
 1826 " 
 
 1835 
 
 Joseph Kent, " 
 
 1833 " 
 
 1838 
 
 John S. Spence, " 
 
 1836 " 
 
 1841 
 
 William D. Merrick, " 
 
 1838 " 
 
 1845 
 
 John Leidsker, " 
 
 1841 " 
 
 1843 
 
 James A. Pearce, " 
 
 1843 " 
 
 1862 
 
 Reverdy Johnson, - ; . 
 
 j 1845 " 
 ( 1863 " 
 
 1851 
 1869 
 
 David Stewart, " 
 
 1849 
 
 1850 
 
 Thomas G. Pratt, " 
 
 1850 " 
 
 1857 
 
 Anthony Kennedy, " 
 
 1857 " 
 
 1863 
 
 Thomas H. Hicks, " 
 
 1862 " 
 
 1864 
 
 John A. J. Creswell, " 
 
 1865 " 
 
 1867
 
 352 OUTLINED OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Philip F. Thomas, from ? to 1867 
 George Vickers, " 1868 1871 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 Massachusetts is the " Bay State," as she is commonly 
 called, from the great bays indenting her eastern shore, 
 is one of the original thirteen States, and has an area of 
 7,800 square miles, equal to 4,992,000 acres. 
 
 Her population in 1860, amounted to 1,231,066, which 
 entitles her to ten members of Congress. 
 
 Massachusetts lies in the first Judicial Circuit, which is 
 composed of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hamp- 
 shire and Maine and forms one Judicial District. 
 
 There are now fourteen ports of entry in this State, and 
 twenty-five ports of delivery. These have been so often 
 changed, discontinued, or annexed to others, and will 
 probably be hereafter, that we omit a list of them, and 
 only remark that Boston is the principal one. 
 
 Boston is the capital. The Legislature meets on the 
 first Wednesday of January. The State election is held 
 on the first Tuesday in November.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 
 
 353 
 
 The enacting clause of ber laws is ; " Be it enacted by 
 the Senate and House of Representatives, in general court 
 assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Tristram Dalton, 
 
 from 1789 to 1791 
 
 Caleb Strong*, 
 
 " 1789 " 1796 
 
 George Cabot, 
 
 " 1791 " 1796 
 
 Theo. Sedgewick, 
 
 " 1796 " 1799 
 
 Benj. Goodhue, 
 
 " 1796 " 1800 
 
 Samuel Dexter, 
 
 " 1799 " 1800 
 
 D wight Foster, 
 
 " 1800 " 1803 
 
 Jonathan Mason, 
 
 " 1800 to 1803 
 
 John Q. Adams, 
 
 " 3803 " 1808 
 
 Timothy Pickering, 
 
 " 1803 " 1811 
 
 
 j 1808 " 1813 
 
 James Lloyd, 
 
 { 1822 " 1826 
 
 Joseph B. Varnum, 
 
 1811 " 1817 
 
 Christopher Gore, 
 
 " 1813 " 1816 
 
 Eli P. Ashmun, 
 
 " 1816 ' 1818 
 
 Harrison Gray Otis, 
 
 " 1817 " 1822 
 
 Prentiss Mellen, 
 
 " 1818 " 1820 
 
 Elijah II. Mills. 
 
 " 1820 " 1827 
 
 Nathaniel Silsbec, 
 
 " 1826 " 1835 
 
 
 j 1827 " 1841 
 
 Daniel Webster, 
 
 { 1845 <l 1850 
 
 Rufus Choate, 
 
 " 1841 u 1845 
 
 
 51835 1841 
 
 John Davis, 
 
 1845 " 1847 
 
 
 1847 " 1853 
 
 Isaac C. Bates, 
 
 " 1841 " 1845 
 
 Robert C. Wiuthrop, 
 
 " 1850 " 1851
 
 354 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Robert Rantoul, from 1851 to 1851 
 
 Charles Sumner, " 1851 " 1869 
 
 Edward Everett, " 1853 " 1854 
 
 Julius Rockwell, " 1854 " 1855 
 
 Henry Wilson, " 1855 1871 
 
 The Territory of Michigan was changed into a State, on 
 the 15th day of June, 1836, and as such was admitted to 
 all the rights and privileges of the other States ; making 
 the twenty-fifth State, (Arkansas was admitted on the 
 same day). Her area is 56,243 square miles, equal to 
 35,995,520 acres. The population in 1860 was 749,113 
 which entitled her to 6 Representatives in Congress. By 
 act of 1866, Michigan was located in the sixth Judicial 
 Circuit ; and forms two Judicial Districts, and has four 
 Collection Districts and four ports of entry, viz., Detroit, 
 Port Huron, Grand Haven, and Michilimackinac, also five 
 ports of delivery, (if the President deem them necessary.) 
 
 The capital is Lansing. The State election is held OH
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 355 
 
 the first Tuesday of November. The Legislature meets 
 biennially on the first Wednesday of January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " The 
 people of the State of Michigan enact." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATOKS. 
 
 Lucius Lyon, from 1836 to 1839 
 
 John Norvall, " 1836 " 1841 
 
 Augustus S. Porter, " 1839 " 1845 
 
 Win. Woodbridge, " 1841 " 1847 
 
 Lewis Cass, " 1845 " 1851 
 
 Alpheus Fitch, " 1847 "1853 
 
 Thomas Fitzgerald, * 1848 " 1849 
 
 Charles E. Stewart, " 1853 " 1859 
 
 Zachariah Chandler, " 1857 " 1869 
 
 Kingsley S. Bingham" 1859 " 1861 
 
 Jacob M. Howard, 1862 " 1871 
 
 . t .. i- , 
 
 MINNESOTA. 
 
 This State was admitted into the Union on the llth 
 day of May, 1858, and made the 32nd State. It has an
 
 356 OUTLINES OP TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 area of 83,531 square miles, equal to 53,459,840 acres. 
 The population in 1860 amounted to 172,123. In 1862, 
 an act was passed increasing the number of Representa- 
 tives in Congress from 233 to 241. This increase of eight 
 members was given to the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
 Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Vermont, Khode Island and 
 Minnesota. By these means this State was allowed 2 
 members of Congress. 
 
 It lies in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which is composed 
 of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas and Minnesota. 
 Minnesota forms one Judicial District, and has no ports 
 of entry or delivery. 
 
 St. Paul is the capital. The Legislature meets biennially 
 on the first Tuesday in January. The State election is 
 held oa the first Tuesday in November. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Henry M. Rice, from 1857 to 1863 
 James Shields, " 1857 " 1859 
 Alex. Ramsey, " 1863 " 1869 
 Daniel Norton, " 18*65 1871 
 Mort. S. Wilkinson" 1859 " 1865
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 357 
 
 MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 The Territory of Mississippi became a State in 1817; 
 making the twentieth State. The area is 47,156 square 
 miles, equal to 30,179,840 acres. The population in 1860 
 numbered 791,305 ; which entitled her to 5 Representa- 
 tives in Congress. This State lies in the Fifth Judicial 
 Circuit, and is divided into two Judicial Districts, viz , 
 the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi. She 
 has three ports of entry, viz., Natches, Vicksburg, and one 
 near the mouth of Pearl river, to be established whenever 
 the President directs ; also three ports of delivery, viz., 
 Grand Gulf, Ship Island and Columbus. 
 
 Jackson is the capital. The State election is held on 
 the first Monday of October, and her Legislature meets 
 biennally on the first Monday in January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is in these words : " Be 
 it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
 the State of Mississippi in General Assembly convened." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Walter Leake, from 1817 to 1820
 
 358 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 David Holmes, from 1820 to 1825 
 
 Powhattan Ellis, " 1825 " 1833 
 
 Thomas B. Heed, " 1826 " 1829 
 
 Kobert Adams, " 1830 " 1830 
 
 George Poindexter, " 1830 " 1835 
 
 John Black, " 1832 " 1838 
 
 R J. Walker, " 1835 " 1845 
 
 James F/Trotter, " 1838 " 1838 
 
 John Henderson, " 1839 " 1845 
 
 Jesse Speight, " 1845 " 1847 
 
 Joseph W. Chambers," 1845 " 1847 
 
 ( 1847 " 1851 
 Jefferson Davis, " j Ig5? Ig61 
 
 Henry S. Foote, " 1847 " 1853 
 
 John W. Rea, 1851 1851 
 
 Walter Brooks, " 1852 1853 
 
 Stephen Adams, " 1852 " 1857 
 
 Albert G. Brown, " 1854 1861 
 
 Mississippi seceded from the Union in 1861, and is there- 
 fore in the same condition with Alabama, as stated at the 
 end of the list of Senators from that State.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 359 
 
 This State was formed out of a part of the Louisiana 
 purchase, and was admitted in 1821} making the 24th 
 State. Missouri is very large, and has an area of 67,380 
 square miles, equal to 43,123,200 acres. Her population 
 in 1860 amounted to 1,182,012 which entitles her now to 
 9 Representatives in Congress. This State is a part of 
 the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and formerly was one Judicial 
 District; but by act of 1857 was divided into two, the 
 Eastern and Western. It has no port of entry, and but 
 one port of delivery, viz., Hannibal. 
 
 The capital is Jefferson City. The State election is 
 held on the first Tuesday of November, and the Legisla- 
 ture meets on the last Monday of December. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, 
 as follows : 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Thomas II. Benton, from 1821 to 1851 
 David Barton, " 1821 " 1831
 
 SCO OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Alexander Buckner, from 1831 to 183 3 
 Lewis F. Linn, " 1833 " 1843 
 
 ( 1843 " 1849 
 David R. Atchison, j mo 185g 
 
 Gratz B. Brown, ' 1863 " 1867 
 
 Henry S. Geyer, 1851 ' 1857 
 
 Trusten Polk, " 1857 " 1861 
 
 James S. Green, " 1856 " 1861 
 
 Waldo P. Johnson, " 1861 " 1862 
 
 John B. Henderson, " 1862 " 1869 
 
 Chas. D. Drake, " 1867 " 1873 
 
 NEBRASKA. 
 
 This State was admitted into the Union Feb. 9, 1867 ; 
 making the 37th State. It has an area of 122,007 square 
 miles, equal to 78,084,480 acres. The population when 
 admitted numbered over 12,000. It is entitled to one 
 member of Congress, is in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, forms 
 one Judicial District ; and has no ports of entry or deliv- 
 ery at this time. 
 
 The time of holding the State election, and the time of
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 361 
 
 meeting of the Legislature, are not now known by the 
 author. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is also unknown. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS 
 
 John M. Thayer, from 1867 to 1871 
 Thomas W.Tipton," 1867 " 1869 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 New Hampshire is one of the thirteen original States, 
 and has an area of 9,280 squai-e miles, which make 5,939,- 
 200 acres; also a population in 1860 of 326,073, which 
 entitles her to three members of Congress. 
 
 New Hampshire lies in the first Judicial Circuit, which 
 is composed of this State, Massachusetts, Rhode Island 
 and Maine. It constitutes one Judicial District. 
 
 The whole State is embraced in one collection District ; 
 consequently there is but one port of entry in the State, 
 that is at Portsmouth. There are also three ports of de- 
 livery, to wit : New Castle, Dover and Exeter. 
 
 The capital is Concord. Here the Legislature assem-
 
 362 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 bles on the first Wednesday in June. The State election 
 is held on the second Tuesday in March. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
 general assembly convened." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Paine Wingate, from 1789 to 1793 
 
 John Langdon, " 1789 " 1801 
 
 Samuel Livermore, " 1793 " 1801 
 
 Simeon Olcott, ' 1801 " 1805 
 
 James Sheafe, " 1801 " 1802 
 
 William Plummer, " 1802 1807 
 
 Nicholas Gilman, " 1805 1814 
 
 Nahum Parker, " 1807 " 1810 
 
 Charles Cutts, ' " 1810 " 1813 
 
 Jeremiah Mason, " 1813 1817 
 
 Thos. W. Thompson, " 1814 1817 
 
 David L. Mori-ill, " 1817 " 1823 
 
 Clement Storer, " 1817 1819 
 
 John F. Parrott, " 1819 " 1825 
 
 Samuel Bell, " 1823 " 1835 
 
 LeviWoodbury, { iffl " JfS 
 
 Isaac Hill, " 1831 1836 
 
 Henry Hubbard, " 1835 " 1841 
 
 John Page, " 183G " 1837 
 
 Franklin Pierce, . ^ 1837 " 1842 
 
 Leonard Wilcox, " 1842 " 1842 
 
 Charles G. Atherton, t 
 
 Benning W. Jenness, 1845 " 1846
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 363 
 
 Joseph Cilley, from 1846 to 1847 
 
 John P. Hale, 
 
 c j 1847 
 1 1855 " 
 
 1853 
 
 1865 
 
 Moses Norris, 
 
 " 1849 
 
 1855 
 
 Jared W. Williams, 
 
 " 1853 " 
 
 1854 
 
 John S. Wells, 
 
 " 1855 
 
 1855 
 
 James Bell, 
 
 " 1855 " 
 
 1857 
 
 Daniel Clark, 
 
 " 1857 " 
 
 1866 
 
 Aaron A. Cragin, 
 
 " 1867 " 
 
 1871 
 
 James W. Paterson, 
 
 " 1867 " 
 
 1873 
 
 George C. Fogg, 
 
 1866 " 
 
 1867 
 
 NEW JERSEY. 
 
 New Jersey is one of the original 13 States, and has an 
 area of 8,320 square miles, equal to 5,324,800 acres. The 
 population in 1860 numbered 672,035, which gives her now 
 5 Representatives in Congress. This State lies in the 
 third Judicial Circuit, which is composed of this State and 
 of the State of Pennsylvania, and foi'ms one Judicial Dis- 
 trict. There are six Collection Districts, and conse- 
 quently six ports of entry in N. Jersey, viz., Perth Am-
 
 364 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 boy, Burlington, Bridgeton, Great Egg Harbor, Little 
 Egg Harbor and Newark. There are also 8 ports of de- 
 livery. A part of the Eastern shore is attached to the 
 port of New York. 
 
 The capital of New Jersey is Trenton. The State elec- 
 tion is held on the first Tuesday in November, and the 
 Legislature assembles on the second Tuesday of January. 
 
 The style of her laws, or the enacting clause thereof is 
 as follows : " Be it enacted by the Senate and General 
 Assembly of the State of New Jersey." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Jonathan Elmer from 1789 to 1791 
 
 William Patterson, " 1789 " 1790 
 
 Philemon Dickerson, " 1790 " 1793 
 
 John Rutherford, " 1791 " 1798 
 
 Fred'k Frelinghuysen," 1793 " 1796 
 
 Richard Stockton, " 1796 " 1799 
 
 Franklin Davenport, " 1798 " 1799 
 
 James Schureman, " 1799 " 1801 
 
 Jonathan Dayton, " 1799 " 1805 
 
 Aaron Ogden, " 1801 " 1803 
 
 John Condit, " 1803 " 1811 
 
 Aaron Kitahell, ' 1805 " 1809 
 
 John Lambert, " 1809 " 1815 
 
 Mahlon Dickerson, 1817 " 1833 
 
 James J. Wilson, 1815 1821 
 \ 1821 " 1823 
 Samuel L. Southard, " \ ^^ IS^ 
 
 Josepli Mcllvaine, " 1823 " 1826 
 Thos. Frelinghuysen, " 1829 " 1835 
 Ephraim Bateman, 1826 " 1829
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 365 
 
 Garret D. Wall, from 
 
 1835 to 1841 
 
 Jacob Miller, " 
 
 1841 " 
 
 1853 
 
 William L. Dayton, 
 
 1842 " 
 
 1851 
 
 John B. Thompson, " 
 
 1853 " 
 
 1863 
 
 William Pennington, " 
 
 1858 " 
 
 1858 
 
 William Wright, 
 
 1853 " 
 
 1859 
 
 Robert F. Stockton, " 
 
 1851 
 
 1853 
 
 John C. Ten Eyck, " 
 
 1859 " 
 
 1865 
 
 Richard S. Field, 
 
 1862 
 
 1863 
 
 James W. Wall, 
 
 1863 : < 
 
 1863, 
 
 John P. Stockton, " 
 
 1865 
 
 1866 
 
 F. T. Frelinghuyson, " 
 
 1867 " 
 
 18G9 
 
 Alexander G. Cattell, " 1866 1871 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 Tork is one of the original thirteen States. Its 
 area is i7,000 square miles, equal to 30,080,000 acres. 
 
 By the last census (1860) the population was ascer- 
 tained to be 3,880,735 (4,000,000 at this time, 1866), 
 which gives it thirty-one members of Congress. 
 
 It forms part of the Second Judicial Circuit, which con- 
 sists of New York, Vermont, Connecticut ; and is divided
 
 366 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 into three Judicial Districts, the Northern, Southern and 
 Eastern (the Eastern was formed from the Southern, Feb. 
 26, 1865). 
 
 THis State has a great length of sea, lake and river 
 coast, and consequently has eleven ports of entry, viz., 
 New York, Sag Harbor, Hudson, Oswego, Niagara, Buf- 
 falo Creek, Oswegatchie, Dunkirk, Rouse's Point, Cape 
 Vincent and Suspension Bridge ; also fourteen ports of 
 delivery ; besides which the President is authorised to 
 make eight or nine others if he deems it necessary to do 
 so. The ports of delivery are at such places on the Hud- 
 son River, on the Long Island shores, and along the shores 
 of the river St. Lawrence, Lakes Ontario, Champlain, nnd 
 Erie, as the trade of these localities requires. Jersey City 
 in the State of New Jersey, is also attached to the collec- 
 tion District of New York. 
 
 The capital of New York is Albany. The State elections 
 are held on the first Tuesday in November, and the Legis- 
 lature meets on the first Tuesday in January. 
 
 The style of the laws, or the enacting clause is as fol- 
 lows : " Be it enacted by the people of the State of New 
 York represented in Senate and Assembly." 
 
 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Philip Schuyler, from 1789 to 1791 
 
 Aaron Burr, " 1791 " 1797 
 
 John Lawrence, " 179G " 1800 
 
 John S. Hobart, " 1798 " 1798 
 
 William North, " 1798 " 1708
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 367 
 
 James Watson, 
 
 from 
 
 1798 
 
 Resigned. 
 
 Governeur Morris, 
 
 u 
 
 1800 to 
 
 1803 
 
 Dewitt Clinton, 
 
 (i 
 
 1802 " 
 
 1803 
 
 Theodore Bailey, 
 
 u 
 
 1803 " 
 
 1804 
 
 Samuel L. Mitchell, 
 
 .( 
 
 1804 " 
 
 1809 
 
 John Smith, 
 
 cc 
 
 1804 " 
 
 1813 
 
 Obadiah German, 
 
 tt 
 
 1809 " 
 
 1815 
 
 Nathan Sandford, 
 
 "I 
 
 1815 
 1825 " 
 
 1831 
 
 Martin Van Buren, 
 
 u 
 
 1821 " 
 
 1829 
 
 Charles Dudley, 
 
 a 
 
 1829 " 
 
 1833 
 
 William L. Marcy, 
 
 u 
 
 1831 " 
 
 1833 
 
 Nath'l P. Tallmadge 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 1833 
 
 1844 
 
 Silas Wright, 
 
 " 
 
 1833 " 
 
 1844 
 
 Daniel S. Dickinson, 
 
 U 
 
 1844 " 
 
 1851 
 
 Henry A Foster. 
 
 u 
 
 1844 
 
 1845 
 
 John A. Dix, 
 
 11 
 
 1845 
 
 1849 
 
 William H. Seward, 
 
 (1 
 
 1849 " 
 
 1861 
 
 Hamilton Fish, 
 
 ( 
 
 1851 " 
 
 1857 
 
 Preston King, 
 
 u 
 
 1857 
 
 1863 
 
 Ira Harris, 
 
 a 
 
 1861 " 
 
 1867 
 
 Edwin D. Morgan, 
 
 it 
 
 1863 " 
 
 1869 
 
 Roscoe Conkling, 
 
 u 
 
 1867 " 
 
 1873
 
 368 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 This State is also one of the original 13 States, and has 
 an area of 50,704 square miles, equal to 32,450,560 acres, 
 with a population of 992,622, (one third colored), which 
 entitles her to 7 members of Congress. North Carolina, 
 by act of 1866, was located in the fourth Judicial Circuit, 
 which is composed of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, 
 North Carolina and South Carolina, and is divided into 3 
 Judicial Districts, called the districts of Albemarle, Pam- 
 lico, and Cape Fear. The Collection Districts, and the 
 ports of entry and delivery in this State, have been so 
 often modified and discontinued, that there is some uncer- 
 tainty as to the number at this time. We can only make 
 an approximate statement. There are as near as we can 
 determine, 10 districts, 10 ports of entry, and 9 ports of 
 delivery. 
 
 Raleigh is the capital. There the Legislature meets 
 biennially on the third Monday of November. The State 
 election is held on the second Thursday in August. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows, " Be it 
 enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North 
 Cai-olina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the 
 same."
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 369 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS 
 
 Samuel Johnson, from 1789 to 1793 
 
 Benjamin Hawkins, " 
 
 1789 " 
 
 1795 
 
 Alexander Martin, " 
 
 1793 " 
 
 1799 
 
 Timothy Blood worth " 
 
 1795 " 
 
 1801 
 
 1 
 
 j 1799 " 
 
 1805 
 
 Jesse Franklin, 
 
 [ 1707 
 
 1813 
 
 David Stone, " 
 
 1801 " 
 
 1813 
 
 James Turner, " 
 
 1805 " 
 
 1816 
 
 Nathaniel Macon, " 
 
 1815 " 
 
 1828 
 
 James Iredell, " 
 
 1828 " 
 
 1831 
 
 Montfort Stokes, " 
 
 1816 " 
 
 1823 
 
 John Branch, " 
 
 1823 " 
 
 1829 
 
 Bedford Brown, " 
 
 1829 " 
 
 1840 
 
 j 
 
 j 1840 " 
 
 1853 
 
 Willie P. Mangum, " i 
 
 [ 1831 " 
 
 1836 
 
 Robert Strange, " 
 
 1836 " 
 
 1840 
 
 William A, Graham, " 
 
 1840 " 
 
 1843 
 
 William H. Haywood" 
 
 1843 " 
 
 1846 
 
 George E. Badger, " 
 
 1846 " 
 
 1855 
 
 Asa Biggs, " 
 
 1854 " 
 
 1858 
 
 David S. Reed, 
 
 1855 " 
 
 1859 
 
 Thos. L. Clingman, " 
 
 1858 " 
 
 1861 
 
 Thomas Bragg, " 
 
 1859 " 
 
 1861
 
 370 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Nevada was admitted as a State, March 21st, 18G4; 
 making the 36th State in the Union. 
 
 It has an area of 63,473 square miles, or 40,622,720 
 acres. The population in 1 860, (while yet a Territory) 
 was 6,857, but had greatly increased at the tune of ad- 
 mission. In conformity with the constitutional provision 
 that every State shall have one Representative in Con- 
 gress, Nevada has one. This State lies in the Ninth 
 Judicial Circuit, and forms one Judicial District, called 
 the District of Nevada 
 
 Virginia City is the capital. The State election is held 
 on the first Tuesday in November ; and the Legislature 
 meets on the first Monday in January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is in the following 
 words : " The people of the State of Nevada, represented 
 in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 James W. Nye, from 1865 to 1871 
 William M. Stewart, " 1865 " 1869
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES/ 371 
 
 OHIO. 
 
 > Ohio was admitted into the Union, from what was then 
 known as the North Western Territory, in 1802, and made 
 the seventeenth State, 
 
 It has an area of 39,964 square miles, equal to 25,576,- 
 960 acres. The population in 1860 was 2,339,511, en- 
 titling it to nineteen members of Congress. 
 
 It is in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and forms two Judi- 
 cial Districts, viz., the Northern and Southern Districts of 
 Ohio. 
 
 This State has three ports of entry, to wit ; Cleveland, 
 Toledo, and Portland ; and four ports of delivery, to bo 
 located where the President directs. 
 
 The capitol of this State is Columbus. The State elec- 
 tion is now held on the second Tuesday of October. The 
 Legislature meets on the first Monday of January, bien- 
 nially. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the general assembly of the State of Ohio." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 John Smith, from 1803 to 1808
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Edward Tiffin, 
 
 1807 " 
 
 1809 
 
 Return J. JVleigs, " 
 
 1808 " 
 
 1810 
 
 Stanley Griswold, " 
 
 1809 " 
 
 1809 
 
 Alexander Campbell, " 
 
 1809 " 
 
 1813 
 
 Jeremiah Morrow, " 
 
 1813 " 
 
 1819 
 
 Joseph Kerr, 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 Benjamin Ruggles, " 
 
 1815 
 
 1833 
 
 William A. Trimble " 
 
 1819 " 
 
 1821 
 
 Ethan A. Brown, " 
 
 1822 " 
 
 1825 
 
 Wm. Henry Harrison, " 
 
 1825 
 
 1828 
 
 Jacob Burnett, " 
 
 1828 " 
 
 1831 
 
 Thomas Ewing, " . 
 
 ( 1831 " 
 
 j 1850 " 
 
 1837 
 1851 
 
 Thomas Morris, " 
 
 1833 " 
 
 1839 
 
 William Allen, ' " 
 
 1837 " 
 
 1849 
 
 Benjamin Tappan, " 
 
 1839 " 
 
 1845 
 
 Thomas Corwin, 
 
 1845 " 
 
 1851 
 
 Salmon P. Chase, " 
 
 1849 " 
 
 1855 
 
 Benjamin F. Wade, " 
 
 1851 " 
 
 1869 
 
 George Ellis Pugh, " 
 
 1851 " 
 
 1861 
 
 John Sherman, " 
 
 1861 " 
 
 1873
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 
 
 873 
 
 OREGON. 
 
 Oregon was admitted into the Union as a State on the 
 14th day of February, 1859 ; and made the 33rd State. 
 It has an area of 95,274 square miles, which is equal to 
 60,975,360 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 
 52,465, which did not reach the number required to en- 
 title it to a member of Congress according to the fixed 
 ratio. But every State is entitled to one member, what- 
 ever its population may be. By act of 1866, the States 
 of Oregon, Nevada, and California, were constituted the 
 Ninth Judicial Circuit. Oregon forms one Judicial Dis- 
 trict, and has one Collection District, and one port of 
 entry. 
 
 The capital is Salem, where her Legislature meets once 
 in two years, on the second Tuesday of September. The 
 State election is held on the first Monday hi June. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Joseph Lane, from 1859 to 1861 
 Dclazon Smith, " 1859 " 1860 
 Edward D. Baker, " 1861 " 1861
 
 374 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Benj . F. Harding, from 1 862 to ? 
 Jas. W. Nesmith, " 1861 " 1867 
 Benjamin Stark, " 1861 " 1862 
 Geo. H. Williams, 1865 1871 
 Henry W. Corbell," 1867 " 1873 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Pennsylvania is one of the orginal thirteen States, and 
 is often figuratively called the Keystone State, from the 
 central position she occupied in the original number of 
 States. 
 
 Its area in square miles is 46,000, equal to 29,440,000 
 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 2,906,115, 
 vhich entitles her to twenty-four members of Congress. 
 
 Pennsylvania lies in the Third Judicial Circuit, which 
 i& composed of this State and New Jersey. It forms two 
 Judicial Districts, viz., the Eastern and Western Districts 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 There are two collection Districts in Pennsylvania, and 
 consequently two ports of entry, viz., Philadelphia and 
 Erie.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 375 
 
 Harrisburgh is the capital. There the Legislature assem- 
 bles on the first Tuesday in January ; the State election 
 is held on the second Tuesday in October. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is : " Be it enacted by 
 the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- 
 wealth of Pennsylvania in general assembly met ; and it 
 is hereby enacted by the authority of the same." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 William Maclay, from 
 
 1789 to 1791 
 
 Robert Morris, " 
 
 1789 " 1795 
 
 Albert Gallatin, " 
 
 1793 " 1794 
 
 James Ross, 
 
 1794 1803 
 
 William Bingham, " 
 
 1795 " 1801 
 
 Peter Muhlenburgh, " 
 
 1801 " 1802 
 
 Samuel Maclay, " 
 
 1803 " 1808 
 
 Michael Leib, " 
 
 1808 1814 
 
 Andrew Gregg, " 
 
 1807 " 1813 
 
 Abner Lacock. " 
 
 1813 " 1819 
 
 Jonathan Roberts, " 
 
 1814 " 1821 
 
 Walter Lawrie, " 
 
 1819 " 1825 
 
 William Findlay, " 
 
 1821 " 1827 
 
 William Marks, " 
 
 1825 " 1831 
 
 Isaac D. Barnard, " 
 
 1827 " 1831 
 
 George M. Dallas, " 
 
 1831 " 1833 
 
 William Wilkins, " 
 
 1831 " 1834 
 
 Samuel McKean, " 
 
 1833 " 1839 
 
 James Buchanan, " 
 
 1834 " 1845 
 
 Daniel Sturgeon, " 
 
 1839 " 1851 
 
 , -.! 
 
 ( 1845 " 1849 
 
 Simon Cameron, " 
 
 1857 " 1861 
 
 1867 " 1873
 
 376 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 James Cooper, from 1849 to 1855 
 
 Charles R. Buckalew, "/ 1863 " 1869 
 
 Richard Broadhead. " 1851 " 1857 
 
 William Bigler, 1855 " 1861 
 
 Edgar Cowan, " 1861 " 1867 
 
 David Wilmot, " 1861 " 1863 
 
 RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 Rhode Island is one of the original 13 States, but had 
 no delegates in the Convention which formed the Consti- 
 tution of the United States. She and Delaware are the 
 two little States, Rhode Island being the smallest State in 
 the Union, having an area of only 1,306 square miles, 
 which make 835,840 acres. Her population in 1860 was 
 174,620, which entitled her to 2 members of Congress. 
 Rhode Island forms part of the first Judicial Circuit, 
 which consists of the States of Ehode Island, Massachu- 
 setts, New Hampshire and Maine ; constitutes one Judicial 
 District, called the District of Rhode Island, has 3 ports
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 377 
 
 of entry, viz., Newport, Providence, and Bristol, and also 
 7 ports of delivery. 
 
 Small as this State is it has two capitals, or places 
 where the Legislature meets, viz., Newport and Provi- 
 dence. The State election is held on the first "Wednesday 
 in April. The Legislature meets twice in a year, in May 
 and January. 
 
 The style of her laws, or the enacting clause of them is 
 as follows ; " It is enacted by the general assembly as 
 follows." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Theodore Foster, from 1790 to 1803 
 
 Joseph Stanton, " 1790 " 1793 
 
 William Bradford, 1793 " 1797 
 
 Ray Green, " 1797 " 1801 
 
 Charles Ellery, " 1801 " 1805 
 
 Samuel L. Potter, " 1803 " 1804 
 
 Benjamin Howland, " 1804 " 1809 
 
 James Fenner, " 1805 " 1807 
 
 Elisha Matthewson, " 1807 " 1811 
 
 Frances Malbone, " 1809 " 1809 
 
 C. G. Champlin, " 1809 " 1811 
 
 Jeremiah B. Howell, " 1811 " 1817 
 
 William Hunter, " 1811 " 1821 
 
 James Burrill, " 1817 " 1821 
 
 James D'Wolf, " 1821 " 1825 
 
 Nehemiah R Knight," 1821 " 1841 
 
 Asher Bobbins, " 1825 " 1839 
 
 Nathan F. Dixon, " 1839 " 1842 
 
 1841 1847 
 
 _ 
 
 James F. Simmons,
 
 378 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 William Sprague, from 1842 to 1844 
 
 John B.Francis, " 1844 1845 
 
 Albert C. Green, " 1845 " 1851 
 
 John H. Clarke, " 1847 " 1853 
 
 Charles T. James, " 1851 " 1857 
 
 Philip Allen, " 1853 " 1859 
 
 Henry 
 
 William Sprague, " 1862 " 1869 
 Samuel G.* Arnold, " 1862 " 1863 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 South Carolina is one of the original thirteen States, 
 and has an area of 29,385 square miles, which make 
 18,806,400 acres ; with a population in 1860, of 703,708, 
 (over half colored) which gives her four members of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 By act of 1866, South Carolina was located in the 
 Fourth Judicial Circuit ; it is divided into two Judicial 
 Districts, called the Eastern and Western Districts of 
 South Carolina.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 379 
 
 There are three collection Districts in this State, and 
 four ports of entry, to wit : Georgetown, Charleston, 
 Beaufort and Port Royal; but no ports of delivery. 
 
 The Capital is Columbia. The State elections are held 
 on the fourth Monday of November. The Legislature 
 meets on the third Wednesday of October. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be it 
 enacted by the honorable the Senate and House of Repre- 
 sentatives, now met, and sitting in general assembly, and 
 by authority of the same." 
 
 South Carolina made herself conspicuous by taking the 
 lead in the recent rebellion against the United States. She 
 first seceded, and was the first to commence hostilities, by 
 firing on a United States vessel in the harbor of Charles- 
 ton, and then on Fort Sumter, one of the United States 
 forts near the city. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Pierce Butler, from j Jj *? JJj* 
 
 Ralph Izard " 1789 " 1795 
 
 Jacob Read, " 1795 " 1801 
 
 John Hunter, " 1796 " 1798 
 
 Charles Pinckney, " 1798 " 1801 
 
 Thomas Sumpter, " 1801 " 1810 
 
 JohnEwingCalhoun," 1801 " 1802 
 
 John Gaillard, " 1804 " 1826 
 
 John Taylor, " 1810 " 1816 
 
 William Harper, 182G " 1826 
 Robert J. Hayne, " 1823 " 1832
 
 380 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Stephen D. Miller, from 1831 to 1833 
 JohnC.Calhoun, 
 
 William C. Preston, " 1833 " 1842 
 
 Daniel E. Huger, " 1842 " 1845 
 
 George McDuffie, 1842 " 1846 
 
 Andrew P. Butler, " 1846 " 1857 
 
 Franklin H. Elmore, " 1850 " 1850 
 
 Robert W. Barn well," 1850 " 1853 
 
 Wm. Desaussure, 1852 " 1853 
 
 Josiah Evans, " 1852 " 1858 
 
 James II. Hammond," 1857 ' 1860 
 
 James Chestnut, " 1858 " 1861 
 
 Arthur P. Hayne, " 1858 " ? 
 
 South Cai'olina being one of the seceding States, has, 
 
 since 1861, been in the same condition as Alabama. Seo 
 
 note at the end of list of Senators from that State. 
 
 TENNESSEE. 
 
 Tennessee was admitted into the Union, June 1, 1796, 
 and made the sixteenth State. It has an area of 45,600 
 square miles, equal to 29,184,000 acres. The population
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 
 
 381 
 
 in 1860 numbered 1,109,801. It has now eight Represen. 
 tatives in Congress, is in the sixth Judicial Circuit, forms 
 three Judicial Districts, and has two ports of delivery, 
 Memphis and Knoxville. Before Tennessee was admitted 
 it formed a part of North Carolina. 
 
 Nashville is the capital. The State election is held on 
 the first Thursday in August ; and on the first Monday of 
 October the Legislature meets, once in two years. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws of this State is as fol- 
 lows : " Be it enacted by the general assembly of the 
 State of Tennessee." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 William Blount, 
 William Cocke, 
 
 Andrew Jackson, 
 
 Joseph Anderson, 
 Daniel Smith, 
 Jenkin Whiteside, 
 Geo. W. Campbell, 
 Jesse Wharton, 
 John Williams, 
 John H. Eaton, 
 Hugh L. White, 
 Felix Grundy, 
 
 Ephraim II. Foster, 
 
 A. O. P. Nicholson, 
 Alexander Anderson, 
 Spencer Jarnagiu, 
 
 from 
 
 1796 to 
 
 1797 
 
 "1 
 
 1796 " 
 1799 " 
 
 1797 
 1805 
 
 ;;! 
 
 1797 " 
 1823 " 
 
 1798 
 1825 
 
 
 1797 " 
 
 1815 
 
 u 
 
 1797 " 
 
 1809 
 
 " 
 
 1809 " 
 
 1811 
 
 " 
 
 1811 " 
 
 1818 
 
 u 
 
 1814 " 
 
 1815 
 
 a 
 
 1815 " 
 
 1823 
 
 
 
 1818 " 
 
 1829 
 
 it 
 
 1825 " 
 
 1840 
 
 tt 
 
 1829 " 
 
 1840 
 
 "I 
 
 1838 " 
 1843 " 
 
 1839 
 
 1845 
 
 u 
 
 1840 " 
 
 1843 
 
 , 
 
 1840 " 
 
 1841 
 
 " 
 
 1841 " 
 
 1847
 
 382 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Hopkins L. Turney, from 1845 to 1851 
 John Bell, " 1847 " 1853 
 
 James C. Jones, " 1851 " 1857 
 
 Andrew Johnson, " 1857 " 1863 
 
 David T. Patterson, " 1865 " 1869 
 J. S. Fowler, " 1865 " 1871 
 
 Tennessee was one of the seceding States in 1861, but, 
 
 came back in 1866. Between these two periods she was 
 
 unrepresented in the United States Senate. 
 
 The history of this State is unlike that of any other be- 
 longing to the Union. It is not one of the original States ; 
 neither was it first formed into a Territory and afterwards 
 changed into a State. Down to 1836, Texas was a part 
 of Mexico; at that time the people of this Mexican prov- 
 ince or colony, revolted against the Mexican authority, 
 and, after a short war with that power, gained their inde- 
 pendence and established a government of their own. 
 This they called the " Republic of Texas." But it was 
 a small and feeble power, and could not sustain itself as
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 883 
 
 an independent nation. In this helpless condition, she 
 applied to the United States Government for permission 
 to unite herself with it. The request was listened to, and 
 favorably received by the United States. The proposi- 
 tion was accepted, and in 1845, Texas was admitted, 
 making the 28th State, and became a part of the " Great 
 Republic." Though larger than five such States as New 
 York, she has continued to this day a single State, be- 
 cause her population has remained so small. But in the 
 act of admission, it was provided that Texas might be 
 divided into four new States, besides that of Texas, mak- 
 ing five in all. When this shall be done, all will be large 
 States. The whole area of Texas is 237,504 square miles, 
 which make 152.002,560 acres. The population in 1860 
 15 years after her admission, was only 604,215, which 
 entitles her to 4 members of Congress. Texas lies 
 in the fifth Judicial Circuit, and makes two Judicial 
 Districts, the Eastern and Western. 
 
 There are three Collection Districts in this State. The 
 respective ports of entry for these Districts are, Galves- 
 ton, Lasalle, and Brazos Santiago. To these are attached 
 nine ports of delivery. 
 
 The capital is Austin, where the Legislature meets 
 biennially on the first Monday of November. The State 
 election is held on the first Monday in August. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Thomas F. Rusk, from 1846 to 1856 
 Samuel Houston, " 1846 " 1859 
 
 Pinckney J. Henderson," 1857 " 1858 
 Matthias Ward, " 1858 " 1861
 
 384 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOYKKXMENT. 
 
 John Hemphill, from 1853 to 1861 
 Lewis T. Wigfall, " 1859 " 1861 
 
 Texas was one of the seceding States ; and therefore 
 
 the remarks made at the end of the list of Senators from 
 
 Alabama, apply to her. 
 
 Vermont was admitted into the Union, March 4th, 1791, 
 making the 14th State. 
 
 It has an area of 10,212 square miles, equal to 6,535,680 
 acres. The population in 1860, numbered 315,098. It 
 now has three Representatives in Congress ; forms part of 
 the Second Judicial Ciivuit; constitutes one Judicial Dis- 
 trict; has one port of entry, located at such place as may 
 be named by the President, who may also designate two 
 places in the State as ports of delivery. 
 
 Vermont was the first new State admitted into the 
 Union, and thus made the 14th State. 
 
 Montpelier is the capital. The State election is held on 
 the second Tuesday in September, and the Legislature 
 meets on the second Thursday in October.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 385 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws is: "It is hereby 
 enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ver- 
 mont." 
 
 UNITKD STATES SENATORS. 
 
 \ 
 
 Moses llobinson, .from 1791 to 1796 
 ( 1791 "1795 
 
 Stephen K. Uradley, 
 
 fltOl " 
 
 1813 
 
 Elijah Pairie, " 
 
 1795 " 
 
 1801 
 
 Isaac Tichenor, " 
 
 j 179G " 
 ( 1815 " 
 
 1797 
 1821 
 
 Nathaniel Chipman, " 
 
 1797 " 
 
 1803 
 
 Israel Smith, " 
 
 j 1801 " 
 ( 1803" 
 
 1802 
 1807 
 
 Jonathan Robinson, " 
 
 1807 " 
 
 1815 
 
 Dudley Chase, " 
 
 j 1813 
 } 1825 " 
 
 1817 
 1831 
 
 James Fisk, " 
 
 1817 " 
 
 1817 
 
 William A. Palmer, " 
 
 ISIS " 
 
 1825 
 
 Horatio Seymour, " 
 
 1S21 " 
 
 1833 
 
 Samuel Prentiss, " 
 
 1831 " 
 
 1842 
 
 Benjamin Swift, u 
 
 1833 " 
 
 1839 
 
 Samuel S. Phelps, " 
 
 1839 
 
 1851 
 
 Samuel C. Crafts, " 
 
 1842 " 
 
 1843 
 
 William Upliain, " 
 
 1843 " 
 
 ]855 
 
 Solomon Foote, " 
 
 1851 " 
 
 1866 
 
 Samuel S. Phelps, " 
 
 1853 " 
 
 1854 
 
 Drainard Lawrence, " 
 
 1854 " 
 
 1855 
 
 Jacob Col lamer, " 
 
 1854 " 
 
 1865 
 
 Luke P. Poland, " 
 
 1S65 " 
 
 1867 
 
 George F. Edmunds, " 
 
 1866 " 
 
 1869 
 
 Justin S. Mori-ill, u 
 
 1867 
 
 1873 
 
 R 
 

 
 386 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 VIRGINIA. 
 
 Virginia is also one of the original thirteen States, and 
 had an area previous to the division in 1862, of 61,352 
 square miles, equal to 39,265,280 acres ; but after West 
 Virginia was set off as a separate State, there were but 
 38,352 square miles left of this once great State, equal to 
 24,545,280 acres. 
 
 The population in 1860 amounted to 1,596,318, which 
 entitled the State to eleven members of Congress. By the 
 division the number of Eepresentatives was cut down to 
 eight ; the new State receiving three out of the eleven. 
 
 Virginia lies in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which by 
 the act of 1866 was composed of this State, Maryland, 
 West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 
 There were two Judicial Districts in this State, anterior 
 to the division, the Eastern and the Western. There is 
 now but one. 
 
 There were also twelve collection Districts in this State, 
 and twelve ports of entry, all of which remain the same as 
 they were before "West Virginia was cut off, for they were 
 all located on the Atlantic coast, or on the bays and rivers 
 running into the Atlantic Ocean ; there arc also ten ports 
 of delivery.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 387 
 
 Richmond is the capital. The State election is held on 
 the fourth Thursday of May. The Legislature meets 
 biennially on the second Monday of January. 
 
 The enacting clause of the laws of Virginia is : " Be it 
 enacted by the General Assembly." 
 
 "When the United States Government was formed, 
 Virginia was the largest, most populous and influential 
 State in the Union. But after 1810 she fell behind New 
 York in population ; and in 1860, she had fallen to the fifth 
 position in this respect. The division has reduced her 
 much below that point. 
 
 This State is often called " The Old Dominion," because 
 it was the first settled by whites after the discovery of 
 America r an English colony being planted here in 1607. 
 
 " The Mother of Presidents," is another appellation 
 often given to her, because four of the Presidents were 
 Viginians, viz., Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Mon- 
 roe. She was also the birthplace of several others, viz., 
 Jackson, Harrison and Taylor. 
 
 ' The Old Dominion" is now divided into two States, 
 Virginia and "West Virginia. Her political power and 
 influence have dwindled into insignificance. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 William Grayson, from 1789 to 1790 
 
 Richard H. Lee, " 1789 " 1792 
 
 John Walker, " 1790 " 1790 
 
 James Monroe, " 1790 " 1794 
 
 (1792 " 1794 
 
 John Taylor, " ] 1803 " 1805 
 
 ( 1822 " 1824 
 
 Stephen T. Mason, " 1794 " 1803
 
 388 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 John Tazewcll, from 1794 to 1799 
 
 Wilson C. Nichols, " 1799 " 1804 
 
 Abraham B. Venable, " 1803 " 1804 
 
 William B. Giles, " 1804 " 1815 
 
 Andrew Moore, " 1804 " 1809 
 
 Richard Brent, " 1809 " 1815 
 
 James Barbour, " 1815 " 1825 
 
 Armistead T. Mason, " 1816 " 1817 
 
 John W. Eppes, " 1817 " 1819 
 
 James Pleasants, " 1819 " 1822 
 
 John Randolph, " 1825 " 1827 
 
 Littleton W. Tazewell," 1824 " 1832 
 
 John Tyler, " 1827 " 1836 
 
 William C. Rives, " J "32 1834 
 1 1836 " 1845 
 
 Benjamin W. Leigh, " 1834 " 1836 
 Richard E. Parker, " 1836 " 1837 
 William II. Roane, " 1837 " 1841 
 William S. Archer, " 1841 " 1847 
 Isaac S. Pennybacker, " 1845 " 1847 
 James M. Mason, " 1847 " 1861 
 R. M. T. Hunter, " 1847 " 1861 
 
 Virginia was one of the seceding States in 1861, and 
 from that time to this (end of 1867) she lias been unrepre- 
 sented in the Senate.
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 389 
 
 WEST VIRGINIA. 
 
 There is a peculiarity in the description of this new 
 State. It formed a part of one of the original 13 States, 
 but yet is a new State, and was admitted fully in 1863. 
 Although the act of Congress making it a State was 
 passed on the 31st of December, 1862, it was with the 
 proviso, that it should not take effect until 60 days after 
 a proclamation issued by the President, giving notice to 
 the world that West Virginia had been admitted as a sov- 
 ereign State, and that it formed one of the United States 
 of America. This proclamation was not issued until the 
 year 1863; 60 days after which the law took effect and 
 West Virginia became a State on an equal footing with 
 all the other States. We have not the date of the pro- 
 clamation, and cannot therefore name the day when the 
 act went into full operation. 
 
 This is the only case in which a State has been divided 
 into two. The Constitution contains a provision for mak- 
 ing such division, in case it should be desirable, and upon 
 certain conditions, which were complied with in the case 
 of Virginia. As stated in another place, this event grew 
 out of the late rebellion. Virginia seceded with others of
 
 S90 OUTLINES OF U S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 the slave States, but that part of the State lying west of 
 the Alleghany mountains, consisting of 48 counties, re- 
 fused to go with the Eastern part, seceded from it, and 
 Bet up a separate State government, which was then re- 
 cognized by Congress, and admitted into the Union. Thus 
 West Virginia became a new State, made out of an old 
 one. When admitted it made the 35th State. It has an 
 area of 23,000 square miles, equal to 14,720,000 acres. 
 
 The population in I860 was 349,628, which gives her 3 
 members of Congress. West Virginia was subsequently 
 put into the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and constitutes one 
 Judicial District. Parkcrsburg also was made a port of 
 delivery. 
 
 Wheeling is the capital. The State election is held on 
 the fourth Thursday in October. The Legislature meets 
 on the third Tuesday in January. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Peter G. Van Winkle, from 18C3 to 1809 
 WaitmanT.Willey, " 1803 1871
 
 INDIVIDUAL STATES. 591 
 
 WISCONSIN. 
 
 Wisconsin was admitted as a State into the Union on 
 the 29th of May, 1848, and made the thirtieth State. 
 It has an area of 53,924 square miles, equal to 34,511,360 
 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 775,881, 
 which gave her 6 members of Congress. Wisconsin lies 
 in the seventh Judicial Circuit, which is composed of 
 Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, and forms one Judicial 
 District. It has one Collection District, one port of entry, 
 viz., Milwaukee, and five ports of delivery, viz., Southport, 
 Racine, Sheboygan, Green Bay and Deperc. 
 
 The capital of this State is Madison. The Legislature 
 meets on the second Wednesday in January. The State 
 election is on the first Tuesday in November. 
 
 The enacting clause of her laws is as follows: "The 
 people of Wisconsin represented in Senate and Assembly, 
 do enact as follows." 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Henry Dodge, from 1848 to 1857 
 
 .Isaac P. Walker, " 1848 " 1855 
 
 James R. Doolittlo, " 1857 " 1869 
 
 Timothy O. Howe, " 1861 " 1867
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XCI. 
 Territories. 
 
 UNTIL a very recent date there has always been west 
 of the States -a vast uninhabited stretch of country, ex- 
 tending to the Pacific Ocean ; \vhicb, however, was con- 
 stantly becoming less as the people pushed out from tho 
 inhabited portions into these almost boundless and un- 
 occupied regions. This process has gone on ever since 
 order was established at the close of the Revolutionary 
 War. But it was the discovery of rich mines of gold and 
 silver in this Western wilderness that gave emigration 
 thither an unprecedented impulse. Within the past 
 twenty years, heretofore unexplored, uninhabited, and 
 almost unknown regions have become peopled. States 
 have grown out of them, and the whole of this almost 
 interminable waste has been explored and surveyed. 
 Boundary lines have been fixed and Territorial Gov- 
 ernments established, so that no part now lies outside 
 of an organized local government. Every spot of this 
 heretofore trackless desert may now be localized and 
 described as a part of some State, or well defined Terri- 
 tory. 
 
 Having gm-n a brief account of the thirty-seven 
 States now in the Union, it remains for us to give a
 
 TERRITORIES. 303 
 
 similar account of the Territories, which embrace all 
 outside of the States, and together with them cover the 
 whole area of the United States. 
 
 These Territories we give as they exist at the close 
 of the year 1867. But after a few years, several, if riot 
 all of them may become States. Indeed, bills are now 
 before Congress for the admission of both Nebraska* 
 and Colorado, as States. Besides, from their im- 
 mense size, as may be seen by looking at their areas, as 
 shown below ; they will probably be divided into two 
 or three parts; and these parts will receive new 
 names, and finally become new States. There is land 
 enough in the most of them to make three States 
 larger than the average size of the States now in the 
 Union ; and in estimating the number, there will be 
 when all the existing Territories shall be formed into 
 conveniently sized States ; we may safely say there will 
 yet be added, from twenty-five to thirty new ones, al- 
 though we should not enlarge our boundaries, by the 
 acquisition of any new territory. 
 
 The following is a list of all the remaining Terri- 
 tories, placed in the order of the times, when their 
 temporary territorial governments were formed by acts 
 of Congress. 
 
 New Mexico, 
 Utah. 
 Washington, 
 
 Nebraska. 
 Colorado, 
 Dakota, 
 
 Organized as a 
 Territory 
 Sept. 9, 1850 
 Sept 9, 1850 
 Mar 2, 1853 
 May 30, 1854 
 Feb. 23, 1861 
 Mar. 2, 1861 
 
 Square miles. 
 -.243,063 
 128.835 
 175.141 
 122,007 
 105,818 
 318,123 
 
 Acres. 
 155,660.350 
 82,454,400 
 112,090,240 
 78,084,48'! 
 67,723,520 
 203,601,920 
 
 Pop. in '60 
 93,5! 6 
 40,273 
 11,594 
 28,841 
 34,277 
 4,837 
 
 * Since the above wag written Nebraska has been admitted as 
 a State.
 
 39 -i OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Arirnrift Pr-h "4 ifiM$ Was cut off f mm New Mexico. 
 
 Arizona, .-ob. M, 1803 ^ Area aml population un kuown. 
 
 Idaho, Mar. 3. 1863. Area and population unknown. 
 
 Montana, May 26, 18..4. .Area and population unknown. 
 
 In this brief statement, we do not notice any of tho 
 laws mado for their government, or the officers ap- 
 pointed to administer it. Suffice it to say, that they 
 have a Governor, Secretary and judges of their courts, 
 who are appointed by the President, by and with tho 
 consent of the Senate. The laws organizing their Terri- 
 torial Governments are of course enacted by Congress ; 
 and so are all tiie general laws relating to their admin- 
 istration. But they are allowed to elect and organize 
 a Territorial legislature", and to regulate their own inter- 
 nal affairs. The laws of Congress, and all the provi- 
 .sions made by it, or by their territorial legislation, and 
 all the officers appointed to administer them are of a 
 temporary character, are made only for a temporary 
 government, and all disappear as soon as the Territory is 
 admitted as a State.
 
 INDIAN TERRITORY. 395 
 
 CHAPTER XCIL 
 Indian Territory. 
 
 THIS part of the United States requires a special no- 
 tice, because it differs widely from any other. While it 
 is located within our own boundaries, it is in some re- 
 spects like a foreign country, and its inhabitants like 
 foreigners; yet it is not a foreign country, but a domestic 
 dependency, and the various tribes inhabiting it are 
 domestic dependent nations, if we dignify small tribes 
 of savages by such a sounding title. The Indian Terri- 
 tory lies west of the Mississippi River, west of the State 
 of Arkansas, and north of Texas, and is of large dimen- 
 sions, containing no less than 71,127 square miles, or 
 4:5,521,250 acres. The United States Government, find- 
 ing that there were frequent collsions, broils and diffi- 
 culties, and sometimes wars between the whites and 
 Indians, while in close proximity to each other, in some 
 instances persuaded the Indians, and in some cases 
 compelled them to leave their homes and lands, and re- 
 move to this Territory, where they could live more 
 apart from the whites, and enjoy their own laws and 
 customs without molestation from white neighbors. 
 This Territory has thus become the residence of a num- 
 ber of tribes, each having its own section of country 
 within the Territory, or Indian country. Here the
 
 396 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 United States exercise no authority over them, except- 
 ing in certain crimes perpetrated by them against the 
 whites. Of crimes committed by Indians against In- 
 dians, it takes no cognizance. For this purpose, the 
 Jndian Territory is annexed to the Judicial District of 
 the adjoining States, (viz., to Arkansas and Missouri.) 
 that they may be tried and punished by the United 
 States Circuit and District Courts when sitting in these 
 districts. They are allowed to live under their own 
 laws, follow their own customs, and indulge in their 
 own modes of life. The land has been ceded to the In- 
 dians, each tribe owning the portion allotted lo it by 
 the United States. It is quite probable that after the 
 Indians have reached a higher grade of civilization, 
 and become more assimilated to the customs and usages 
 of the white people, that they will apply to Congress 
 for admittance into the family of States, and become an 
 integral part of the United States. Bat at present they 
 occupy this semi-isolated condition, are under our pro- 
 tection and partially under our criminal laws. The 
 United States would protect them against foreign inva- 
 sion or harm, in case interference ehould be attempted. 
 The Government protects them against our own people ; 
 for it will not allow them to trade with, nor even to go 
 among them without permission. The provision made 
 by the United States for the preservation and well- 
 being of the Indians, by assigning them a location in 
 the Indian Territory, does not however include all the 
 Indian tribes ; those now inhabiting this territory arc 
 principally from the tribes east of the Mississippi River; 
 many tribes west of that river still remain in their orig-
 
 INDIAN TERRITORY. 397 
 
 inai homes, or have moved to certain localities which 
 have been reserved for them, called Indian Reservations, 
 where they are protected by Indian agents appointed 
 by the Government for this purpose, and also to look 
 after other Indian affairs. 
 
 The population of the Territory at the last census 
 was 9,761 ; while the whole number of Indians in the 
 United States amounts to about 300,000.
 
 398 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIII. 
 The Wars of the United States. 
 
 1. So many acts of the Government, and so many laws 
 of Congi-ess have had especial reference to the wars in 
 which the country has been involved, that it will throw 
 much light upon them to give a very brief historical sketch 
 of the different wars in which the United States have been 
 engaged. 
 
 2. The first in order of time, and in the results which 
 followed, is the Revolutionary war, as it is called in our 
 own country. This war was begun and consummated, 
 however, before our Government existed ; for it was 
 fought for tlio express purpose of gaining the power to 
 establish a Government for ourselves. This, the people 
 could not do while they were tinder the power of the 
 English Government, which oppressed tLem with bad 
 laws, and with a corrupt and oppressive administration. 
 Petitions for relief, and strong remonstrances against such 
 oppi'ession proved utterly abortive. The people resorted 
 to arms with a firm determination to redress their wrongs 
 by force, as all other means had failed. 
 
 i 3. This statement gives the reasons for this war. It 
 commenced on the 19th of April, 1775 or rather, on that 
 day the first blood was spilt. Some preparations had 
 been previously made, since it had boen seen for some time
 
 WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 399 
 
 that the stubborn acts of the English Government, and the 
 determination of the people to redress their grievances, 
 would pretty certainly lead to a contest. 
 
 4. This war lasted seven years, and was attended with 
 varied success. The Colonies were poor, the population 
 small, and to many it appeared preposterous to contend 
 with the power of the mother country, which was rich in 
 money and means to subdue the Rebellion, as she termed 
 this uprising of the people to vindicate their rights. 
 There were other causes which protracted the struggle, 
 and which caused more blood to be shed than the battles 
 with the British armies would have cost, had all the peo- 
 ple in the Colonies been united, which was not the case. 
 Numbers of them opposed the war, adhered to the old 
 Government, even took up arms on the side of England, 
 and did all in their power to assist her in her efforts to put 
 the Colonies down. These men rendered material aid to 
 the British during the whole period of the contest. They 
 were then, and have ever since been called Tories ; which 
 meant, enemies to their own courrtry. . They made them- 
 selves extremely odious to the people, and the name has 
 been a term of reproach ever since. 
 
 5. But this was not all. Besides the power of England, 
 against which the people had to contend, the English, by 
 means of presents, induced the Indians, who were numer- 
 ous at that time, to join them. This stratagem not only 
 afforded much assistance to the English Government, but 
 added the horrors of savage barbarity to the war. The 
 Indians not only went into battle with the English, but 
 laid in ambush, watching and shooting the people wher- 
 ever they could find them.
 
 400 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 But all the power of Great Britain, aided by her parti- 
 sans here, and by her savage allies, availed not. The 
 bloody struggle went on till victory crowned the efforts of 
 the Colonies. Under the leadership of Washington, the 
 Revolution was completed, a new nationality was created, 
 and a new Government took its place in the family of na- 
 tions. 
 
 THE SECOND WAR. 
 
 6. Not more than ten years had elapsed since the close 
 of the Revolutionary war with England, before a serious 
 difficulty occurred between the United States and France, 
 who had been our friend and ally during the struggle for 
 independence. We say it was a serious difficulty, for it 
 came very near involving the two countries in a destruc- 
 tive contest. But by the discreet and wise management 
 of our Government nothing more than some hostile en- 
 counters at sea occurred, after which the two nations came 
 to a good understanding, and no further hostile acts were 
 prepetrated on either side. Before this, the French Gov- 
 ernment authorised the capture of American vessels. This 
 was done in several instances ; therefore Congress author- 
 ised American vessels to retaliate upon the French , and 
 all treaties with France were declared void. 
 
 7. But why this hostility between those who recently 
 were such firm friends ? This may be explained ; France 
 was at war with England, and she wished to involve the 
 United States in her controversy. She wanted us to as- 
 sist her, because she had assisted us ; quite a plausible 
 reason; but President Washington, and many others of 
 the wisest and best men in the country disapproved of 
 commencing another war with England, or of, aiding her
 
 WARS OP THE UNITED STATES. 401 
 
 .enemies so soon after we had concluded a peace with her. 
 Besides, we were weak then; our resources almost ex- 
 hausted, and we were deeply in debt. Washington's pol- 
 icy prevailed, and the nation escaped another war with 
 our old enemy. France disliked this, and for a few years 
 was quite hostile to us ; but wiser counsels finally pre- 
 vailed, and friendly relations were again established be- 
 tween the two nations. 
 
 THE THIRD WAR. 
 
 8. The third war, although hardly entitled to so sound' 
 ing a name for it was rather a fight with pirates com' 
 menced in 1801, with Tripoli, one of the piratical Barbary 
 powers of the North of Africa. She, with Morocco and 
 Algiers, undertook a system of robbery upon all vessels 
 trading up the Mediterranean sea, by demanding tribute 
 for the privilege of navigating that sea. It was an as- 
 sumption of power that could not be better explained than 
 to call it piratical. They undertook to enforce these 
 most unrighteous demands by capturing the ships, and 
 imprisoning their crews, if they refused to comply. They 
 tried the game on our vessels, captured several, and im- 
 prisoned their seamen. This was rather more than our 
 Government was disposed to endure ; so it dispatched a 
 squadron of ships under Commodore Preble, who had a 
 fight with some of their vessels, knocked them to pieces, 
 bombarded their town, and made them deliver up all the 
 American prisoners. These energetic proceedings soon 
 humbled the barbarians, and compelled them to relinquish 
 their nefarious practice of demanding tribute from Amer-
 
 402 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 lean; or any other vessels that traded up the Mediterrane- 
 an sea. 
 
 THE FOURTH WAK. 
 
 9. This broke out in 1812, and in our histories and con- 
 versations is generally called the War of 1812, because it 
 was commenced in that year. This was our second war 
 with England, and lasted nearly three years. The rea- 
 BOHS for it were very different from those which brought 
 on the first; and may be given as follows. England 
 claimed the right to board our ships, either national or 
 private, wherever she found them, and to search them, un- 
 der pretense of searching for her seamen, who had de- 
 serted from their vessels, and were now employed ou 
 board of ours ; and also for men who had once been sub- 
 jects of. the British Government, but had subsequently 
 emigrated to America, and became citizens of the United 
 States. This right she claimed and actually enforced on 
 manv occasions, by carrying off every man of this de- 
 scription she found on board our ships, upon the assump- 
 tion that if a man had ever been a subject of hers, he must 
 always remain so ; and that he had no right to become a 
 citizen of any other country. We did not subscribe to 
 such a doctrine, but held that if any body wished to ex- 
 patriate himself from his own country and to become a 
 citizen of ours, he had a perfect right to do so, and that 
 when he did, it was as much the duty of our Government 
 to protect him, as it was to protect a native citizen. 
 
 10. Such antagonistic principles, if carried into action 
 as they were by the English, must necessarily end in an 
 appeal to arms. On the 19th of June, in conformity with
 
 WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 403 
 
 an act of Congress, the President proclaimed war with 
 England. The contest, with varied success on both sides, 
 was continued until the 8th of Jan., 1815, the day on 
 which Gen. Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans. 
 Soon after, news reached the United States that the Amer- 
 ican and English Commissioners, who had met at Ghent, 
 had, on the 24th of Dec., 1814, concluded a treaty of 
 peace. As soon as this was known, hostilities ceased on 
 land. Several battles occurred at sea after this, for the 
 news of peace did not reach them until some time after it 
 was known at home. By the treaty of Ghent, simply a 
 peace was negotiated ; seemingly because both parties had 
 become tired of the war. The issue upon which the war 
 broke out was left unsettled by the Commissioners, who 
 ignored that question, but agreed to stop fighting. Eng- 
 land has not since enforced her doctrine of the right to 
 search our vessels, and to carry off our men, although they 
 may have once been her subjects. This war was prose- 
 cuted principally on the seas, where a number of severe 
 naval battles were fought, and many captures of ships 
 made on both sides. Although England had a far more 
 powerful navy than we had, yet in victories and captures, 
 the odds were on our side. 
 
 THE FIFTH WAR. 
 
 11. The fifth war was that with Mexico. It commenced 
 on the 26th of April, 1846, and grew out of the annexa- 
 tion of Texas early in 1845 to the United States. Mex- 
 ico had not yet entirely abandoned her claim to, and 
 authority over Texas, which had so recently revolted 
 against her Government. She could not but look with 
 great disapprobation and jealousy upon the action of the
 
 404 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 United States in taking her revolted province under their 
 protection, and then annexing it to their own dominions. 
 The people of Texas were afraid that Mexico would make 
 an attempt to regain possession of the country, and called 
 upon the United States Government to protect them. 
 
 12. James K. Polk, a Southern man, was then Presi- 
 dent, and had taken, before his election, a very prominent 
 part in the annexation scheme. He was therefore quite 
 ready and willing to defend this, our newly acquired ter- 
 ritory, and promptly sent Gen. Taylor to the Western 
 part of Texas, under the pretense of guarding the frontiers 
 against any invasion of the Mexicans. Gen. Taylor, in 
 obedience to orders from the President, marched his army 
 quite up to the Rio Grande, which Mr. Polk claimed as 
 the Western boundary of Texas. But this, the Mexicans, 
 (with good reason too), disputed ; declaring that the 
 Western boundary of Texas was far to the East of that 
 river, and remonstrated strongly against the action to the 
 United States, in sending a hostile army into her territory, 
 and hence took measures to expel the invaders. As be- 
 fore stated, on the 26th of April, 1846, a small number of 
 the hostile parties met, and a fight between them ensued. 
 Thus the war begun, and continued with almost unvaried 
 success on the part of the United States Army till the 2nd 
 of Feb., 1848, when a treaty of peace was concluded. 
 During this short war of less than two years, we took all 
 their strongholds of defence, including the city of Vera 
 Cruz, together with their Capital, the City of Mexico it- 
 self. Indeed, the whole country was occupied, and might 
 have been kept, had we chosen to retain it. But in the 
 treaty of peace we restored a part of their country, and
 
 WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 405 
 
 retained all we desired of it, viz., California and New 
 Mexico, and in short, all the Northern part of the country. 
 But to make the whole affair look less like robbery, we 
 paid the Mexicans $10,000,000 for what we kept, which 
 was nearly one-half of the whole country. 
 
 14. By this war we very much enlarged our territory, 
 but gained very little rnilit iry glory, and added noth 
 ing to our character for justice and magnanimity. Wo 
 a powerful nation, fell upon a weak one, crushed it, anq 
 took as much, of its territory as we pleased ; and that,- - 
 to say the least of it, for a very trifling cause. A 
 little wisdom, a little discreet diplomacy, would h; ve 
 averted this war, saved thousands of lives, millions of 
 money, and preserved our character for justice i nd 
 magnanimity. 
 
 THE SIXTH WAR. 
 
 13. This was by far the greatest, the most expenu w e, 
 aud most bloody war that was ever carried on upon 
 this continent. In magnitude, in expense, in the lives 
 it cost, and in the evil consequences which resulted from 
 it, it surpassed all the preceding wars combined, 
 and verified the old adage that " Civil wars are the worst 
 of all wars." This, as everybody knows, was a civil 
 war ; a war between the people of the same country 
 and government, having the same interests and the 
 same destiny. 
 
 10. Right here we might expand our remarks to an 
 extent exceeding the whole contents of this volume in 
 tracing the causes, detailing the operations, and notic- 
 ing the results of this most terrible and cruel war. 
 Then we might dwell long upon the consequences
 
 406 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 which must inevitably follow in all coming time. But 
 this would be foreign to our purpose. We have only 
 undertaken to give the veriest outlines of our various 
 wars, the time when they commenced, the time of their 
 duration, and the results produced. Just so much we 
 will say of our civil war, between the North and the 
 South. It was begun on the 12th of April, 1861, by 
 the bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Har- 
 bor. It was closed in April, 1865, by the surrender of 
 Gen. Lee, the Southern Commander-in-Chie f ', with his 
 army, to Gen. Grant, the Commander-in-Chief of the 
 National Forces, having lasted four years with varied 
 success on both sides. All the details of this desperate 
 struggle have been written and published by many able 
 historians, to whose works I must refer the reader who 
 wishes to peruse a complete history of this great event. 
 
 17. Here we will only add, that it is impossible to 
 say how many lives were lost in this devastating war. 
 500,000 on both sides is probably as correct an estimate 
 as can be made. Eight or nine billions of dollars is prob- 
 ably as near an estimate of its cost as can be calculated. 
 Other disasters and evils almost inconceivable followed 
 in its train. It furnished the world w'th one of the 
 most awful examples of the folly and the wickedness of 
 war. 
 
 OUR INDIAN WARS. 
 
 18. In addition to, and in connection with, the sev- 
 eral wars mentioned in the preceding remarks, our 
 numerous wars with the various Indian tribes should !>e 
 briefly noticed. In both of our wars with England, the 
 Indians were wheedled and enticed by presents, to take
 
 WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 407 
 
 sides with England, and against us. This, together with 
 their barbarous mode of warfare, and their savage 
 cruelties, produced a strong antipathy in the minds of 
 our people against them. This feeling was reciprocated 
 by the Indians, and whenever any wrong was perpetra- 
 ted by either party, it was an easy matter to make it a 
 2ause of war. The old animosities were there, and any 
 offensive act from either side was almost certain to pro- 
 duce retaliatory acts from the other party. When the 
 whites cheated the Indians, they in retaliation would 
 steal from the whites. A pursuit and a massacre would 
 follow, and then the Government would be compelled 
 to interfere. 
 
 19. From these and other causes, we have had many 
 wars with nearly all the tribes of Indians in the country. 
 Some of these contests have been obstinate and bloody, 
 costing many valuable lives, and a great deal of money. 
 Any of the tribes, or all of them combined, could 
 make but a feeble resistance to the power of the United 
 States. Hence all our Indian wars have resulted in 
 their final defeat, and sometimes in their almost utter 
 destruction; at the present time (1867) a fierce and 
 bloody war is raging between the Government and the 
 western Indians, who inhabit the country between the 
 Mississippi Eiver and the Kocky Mountains. Various 
 tribes are combined to prevent the settlement of the 
 whites on their lands, and to prevent the construction 
 of the Pacific Railroad through their hunting grounds. 
 
 20. The Indians who remain do not exceed 300,000. 
 They have been reduced to this small number by their 
 frequent wars with the whites, but more especially by
 
 408 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 their almost prepetual wars among themselves. Some of 
 them have become partially civilized, and have turned 
 their attention to agricultural pursuits, instead of wander- 
 ing about on hunting excursions and warlike expeditions 
 against each other. It is therefore to be hoped that our 
 Indian wars will soon cease forever.

 
 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 409 
 
 THE DECLAKATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 N, in the course of human events, it becomes ne- 
 cessary for one people to dissolve the political bands 
 which have connected them with another, and to assume, 
 among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal sta- 
 tion to which the laws of nature and of nature's God en- 
 title them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind re- 
 quires that they should declare the causes which impel 
 them to the separation. 
 
 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are 
 created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator 
 with certain unalienable rights ; that among these, are life, 
 liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure 
 these rights, governments are instituted among men, de- 
 riving their just powers from the consent of the governed ; 
 that, whenever any form of government becomes de- 
 structive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter 
 or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying 
 its foundation on such principles, and organizing its pow- 
 ers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to ef- 
 fect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will 
 dictate that governments long established, should not be 
 changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, 
 all experience hath shown, that mankind are more dis- 
 posed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to r'ght 
 themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are ac- 
 customed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpa- 
 tions, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a de- 
 sign to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their 
 right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and 
 to provide new guards for their future security. Such
 
 410 OUTLINES OF U. s. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such 
 is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their 
 former systems of government. The history of the pre- 
 sent king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries 
 and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establish- 
 ment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove 
 this, let facts be submitted to a candid world : 
 
 lie has refused his assent to laws the most wholesomo 
 and necessary for the public good. 
 
 He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of imme- 
 diate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their 
 operation till his assent should be obtained ; and, when so 
 suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 
 
 He has refused to pass other laws for the accommoda- 
 tion of lai-ge districts of people, unless those people would 
 relinquish the right of representation in the legislature ; a 
 right inestimable to them* and formidable to tyrants only. 
 
 He has called together legislative bodies at places un- 
 usual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of 
 their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them 
 into compliance with his measures. 
 
 He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for 
 opposing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights 
 of the people. 
 
 He has refused, for a long time after such dissolution, 
 to cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative 
 powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to tho 
 people at large for their exercise ; the State remaining, in 
 the mean time, exposed to all the danger of invasion from 
 without, and convulsions within. 
 
 He has endeavored to prevent the population of these 
 States ; for that purpose, obstructing the laws for natural- 
 ization of foreigners ; refusing to pass others to encourage 
 their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new 
 appropriations of lands. 
 
 He has obstructed the administration of justice, by re- 
 fusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 
 
 He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for
 
 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 411 
 
 the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment 
 of their salaries. 
 
 He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent 
 hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out 
 their substance. 
 
 He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing 
 armies, without the consent of our legislature 
 
 He has affected to render the military independent of, 
 and superior to, the civil power. 
 
 He has combined, with others, to subject us to a juris- 
 diction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged 
 by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended 
 legislation : 
 
 For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us : 
 
 For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment, 
 for any murders which they should commit on the inhab- 
 itants of these States . 
 
 For cutting oft* our trade with all parts of the world : 
 
 For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 
 
 For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial 
 by jury. 
 
 For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pre- 
 tended oifences : 
 
 For abolishing the free system of English laws in a 
 neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary 
 government, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render 
 it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing 
 the same absolute rule into these colonies : 
 
 For taking away our charters, abolishing our most val- 
 uable laws, and altering, fundamentally, the powers of our 
 governments : 
 
 For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring 
 themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all 
 cases whatsoever. 
 
 He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out 
 of his protection, and waging war against us. 
 
 He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt 
 our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 
 
 He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign 
 mercenaries to complete the work of death, desolation.
 
 412 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 and tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of cruelty 
 and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous 
 ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation. 
 
 He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on 
 the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to be- 
 come the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to 
 fall themselves by their hands. 
 
 He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and 
 has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our fron- 
 tiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of 
 "warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, 
 sexes, and conditions. 
 
 In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned 
 for redress, in the most humble terms ; our repeated pe- 
 titions have been answered only by repeated injury. A 
 prince, whose character is thus marked by every act 
 which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free 
 people. 
 
 Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British 
 brethren. We have warned them from time to time, of 
 attempts made by their legislature to extend an unwar- 
 rantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them 
 of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement 
 here. We have appealed to their native justice and mag- 
 nanimity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our 
 common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which 
 would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspon- 
 dence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice 
 and consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the 
 necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, 
 as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace, 
 friends. 
 
 We, therefore, the representatives of the UNITED 
 STATES OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS 
 assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World 
 for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and 
 by the authority of the good people of these colonies, 
 solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies 
 are, and of ri?ht ought to be, FREE AND INDEPEN- 
 DENT STATES ; that they are absolved from all alle-
 
 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 413 
 
 glance to the British crown, and that all political connex- 
 ion between them and the state of Great Britain, is, and 
 ought to be, totally dissolved ; and that, as FREE AND 
 INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full power to levy 
 war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish com- 
 merce, and to do all other acts and things which INDE- 
 PENDENT STATES may of right do. And, for the sup- 
 port of this declaration, and a firm reliance on the protec- 
 tion of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we mutually pledge 
 to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. 
 The foregoing declaration was, by order of Congress, 
 engrossed, and signed by the following members : 
 
 JOHN HANCOCK. 
 Massachusetts J3ay. 
 Samuel Adams, 
 John Adams, 
 Robert Treat Paine, 
 Elbridge Gerry. 
 
 Delaware. 
 Caesar Rodney, 
 George Reed, 
 Thomas M'Kean. 
 
 Maryland. 
 Samuel Chase, 
 William Paca, 
 Thomas Stone, 
 Charles Carroll, of Carrollton 
 
 Virginia. 
 George Wythe, 
 Richard Henry Lee, 
 Thomas Jefierson, 
 Benjamin Harrison, 
 Thomas Nelson, jun. 
 Francis Lightfoot Lee, 
 Carter Braxton. 
 
 North Carolina. 
 William Hooper, 
 Joseph Hewes, 
 John Penn. 
 
 New Hampshire. 
 Josiah Bartlett, 
 William Whipple, 
 Matthew Thornton. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 
 William Ellery. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 Roger Sherman, 
 Samuel Huntington, 
 W T illiam Williams, 
 Oliver Wolcott. 
 
 New York. 
 William Floyd, 
 Philip Livingston, 
 Francis Lewis, 
 Lewis Morris. 
 
 New Jersey. 
 Richard Stockton, 
 John Witherspoon, 
 Francis Hopkinson, 
 John Hart, 
 Abraham Clark. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 Robert Morris, 
 Benjamin Rush,
 
 414 
 
 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin, 
 John Morton, 
 George Clymer, 
 James Smith, 
 George Taylor, 
 James Wilson, 
 George Ross*. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 Edward Kutledge, 
 Thomas Hcyward, jun. 
 Thomas Lynch, jun. 
 Arthur Middleton. 
 Georgia. 
 
 Button Gwinnett, 
 Lyman Hall, 
 George "Walton
 
 TUE coxsmuiioN. 415 
 
 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
 OF AMERICA. 
 
 WE, the People of the United States, in order to form a 
 more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic 
 Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote 
 the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Lib- 
 erty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and es- 
 tablish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of 
 America. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 SECTION 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall 
 be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall 
 consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 
 
 SECTION 2. The House of Representatives shall be 
 composed of Members chosen every second Year by the 
 People of the several States, and the Electors in each State 
 shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the 
 most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. 
 
 No Person shall be a Representative who shall not 
 have attained to the Age of twenty-five Years, arid been 
 seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall 
 not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which 
 he shall be chosen. 
 
 Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned 
 among the several States which may be included within 
 this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which 
 shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of
 
 410 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term 
 of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed three-fifths of 
 all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made 
 within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress 
 of the United States, and within every subsequent Term 
 often Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. 
 The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for 
 every, thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least 
 one Representative ; and until such enumeration shall bu 
 made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to 
 choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and 
 Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York 
 six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, 
 Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, and 
 Georgia three. 
 
 When vacancies happen in the Representation from any 
 State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs 
 of Election to fill such Vacancies. 
 
 The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker 
 and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Im- 
 peachment. 
 
 SECTION 3. The Senate of the United States shall be 
 composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the 
 Legislature thereof, for six Years ; and each Senator shall 
 have one Vote. 
 
 Immediately after they shall be assembled in Conse- 
 quence of the first Election, they shall be divided as 
 equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the 
 Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expira- 
 tion of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expira- 
 tion of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Ex- 
 piration of the sixth Year, so that one-third may be chosen 
 every second Year ; and if Vacancies happen by Resigna- 
 tion, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature 
 of any State, the Executive thereof may make tempo- 
 rary Appoinments until the next Meeting of the Legisla- 
 ture, which shall then fill such Vacancies. 
 
 No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have at- 
 tained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a 
 Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 417 
 
 elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall 
 be chosen. 
 
 The Vice-President of the United States shall be Pre- 
 sident of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they 
 be equally divided. 
 
 The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also 
 a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice-Pre- 
 sident, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of 
 the United States. 
 
 The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeach- 
 ments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on 
 Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United 
 States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside : And no 
 Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of 
 two-thirds of the Members present. 
 
 Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend 
 further than to removal from Office, and Disqualification 
 to hold and enjoy any Office of honour, Trust or Profit 
 under the United States : but the Party convicted shall 
 nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, 
 Judgment, and Punishment, according to Law. 
 
 SECTION' 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding 
 Elections for Senators and Kepresentatives, shall be pre- 
 scribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the 
 Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such 
 Regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 
 
 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every 
 Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in 
 December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different 
 Day. 
 
 SECTION 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elec- 
 tion, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members and 
 a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Busi- 
 ness; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to 
 day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of 
 absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penal- 
 ties as each House may provide. 
 
 Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceed- ' 
 ings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, 
 with the Concui-rence of two thirds, expel a Member.
 
 418 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, 
 and from time to time publish the same, excepting such 
 Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy ; and the 
 Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any 
 question shall, at the Desire of one-fifth of those Present, 
 be entered on the Journal. 
 
 Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, 
 without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than 
 three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the 
 two Jlouses shall be sitting. 
 
 SECTION 6. The Senators and Representatives shall re- 
 ceive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained 
 by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United 
 States. They shall in all cases, except Treason, Felony 
 and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest dur- 
 ing their Attendance at the Session of their respective 
 Houses, and in going to and returning from the same ; 
 and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall 
 not be questioned in any other Place. 
 
 No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time 
 for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office 
 under the Authority of the United States, which shall 
 have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have 
 been increased during such time ; and no Person hold- 
 ing any Office under the United States, shall be a 
 Member of either House during his Continuance in Office. 
 
 SECTION 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall origin- 
 ate in the House of Kepresentatives ; but the Senate may 
 propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. 
 
 Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Re- 
 presentatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a 
 Law, be presented to the President of the L r nited States ; 
 If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, 
 with his Objections to that House in which it shall have 
 originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on 
 their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such 
 Reconsideration two-thirds of that House shall agree to 
 pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, 
 to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsid- 
 ered, and if approved" by two-thirds of that House, it shall
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 419 
 
 become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both 
 Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the 
 Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall 
 be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If 
 any Bill shall not be returned by the President within 
 ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been pre- 
 sented to him, the Same shall be a law, in like Manner as 
 if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjourn- 
 ment prevent its Keturn, in which Case it shall not be a 
 Law. 
 
 Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Con- 
 currence of the Senate and House of Representatives may 
 be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall 
 be presented to the President of the United States ; and 
 before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by 
 him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by 
 two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
 according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the 
 Case of a Bill. 
 
 SECTION 8. The Congress shall have Power 
 
 To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, 
 to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence 
 and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, 
 Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the 
 United States; 
 
 To borrow Money on the credit of the United States ; 
 
 To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among 
 the several States, and with the Indian Tribes ; 
 
 To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uni- 
 form Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the 
 United States ; 
 
 To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of for- 
 eign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; 
 ' To pi-ovide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the 
 Securities and current Coin of the United States ; 
 
 To establish Post Offices and post Roads ; 
 
 To promote the progress of Science and useful Arts, by 
 securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the 
 exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discov- 
 eries j 
 
 S
 
 420 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; 
 
 To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed 
 on the high Seas, and Ofiences against the Law of Nations ; 
 
 To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Re- 
 prisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and 
 Water ; 
 
 To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of 
 Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two 
 Years ; 
 
 To provide and maintain a Navy ; 
 
 To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of 
 the land and naval Forces ; 
 
 To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the 
 Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel In- 
 vasions ; 
 
 To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the 
 Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be 
 employed in the Service of the United States, reserving 
 to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, 
 and the Authority of training the Militia according to 
 the Discipline prescribed by Congress ; 
 
 To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatso- 
 ever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) 
 as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Accep- 
 tance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of 
 the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all 
 Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the 
 State in which, the Same shall be, for the Erection of 
 Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, Dock- Yards, and other needful 
 Buildings ; And 
 
 To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper 
 for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all 
 other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Govern- 
 ment of the United States, or in any Department or 
 Officer thereof. 
 
 SECTION 9. The Migration or Importation of such Per- 
 sons, as any of the States now existing shall think proper 
 to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to 
 the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 421 
 
 Tax or Duty may be imposed on such Importation, not 
 exceeding ten dollars for each Person. 
 
 The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not 
 be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Inva- 
 sion the public Safety may require it. 
 
 No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be 
 passed. 
 
 No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid unless 
 in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before 
 directed to be taken. 
 
 No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from 
 any State. 
 
 No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of 
 Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those 
 of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from one State, 
 be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another. 
 
 No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in 
 Consequence of Appropriations made by Law ; and a 
 regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Ex- 
 penditures of all public Money shall be published from 
 time to time. 
 
 No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United 
 States : And no Person holding any Office of Profit or 
 Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Con- 
 gress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, 
 of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign 
 State. 
 
 SECTION 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, 
 Alliance, or Confederation ; grant Letters of Marque and 
 Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any 
 Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of 
 Debts ; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or 
 Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any 
 Title of Nobility. 
 
 No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay 
 any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except 
 what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's in- 
 spection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and 
 Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be 
 for the Use if the Treasury of the United States ; and all
 
 422 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control 
 of the Congress. 
 
 No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any 
 Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of 
 Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another 
 State, or with a foreign "Power, or engage in War, unless 
 actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will 
 not admit of Delay. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 SECTION 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a 
 President of the United States of America. He shall hold 
 his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together 
 with the Vice-President, chosen for the same Term, be 
 elected, as follows : 
 
 Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legis- 
 lature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal 
 to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to 
 which the State may be entitled in the Congress ; but no 
 Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of 
 Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed 
 an Elector. 
 
 [* The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by 
 Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an In- 
 habitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make 
 a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes lor 
 each ; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to 
 the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the 
 President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the 
 Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open nil the 
 Certificates, and the Votes shall then l>e counted. The Person 
 having the greatest Numl>er of Votes shall be the President, if such 
 Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed ; 
 and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have 
 nn equal Nnmber of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall 
 immediately choose by Ballot one of them for President : and if no 
 Penan have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the 
 taid House shall in like Manner choose the President. But iu 
 
 * This clause within brackets has l>een superceded and annulled 
 by the 12th amendment, on page 432.
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 423 
 
 choosing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the 
 Representation from each State having one Vote ; A Quorum for 
 this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two- 
 thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be neces- 
 sary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, 
 the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Eii-cum 
 shall be the Vice-president. But if there should remain two or 
 more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall choose from them by 
 Ballot the Vice-President.] 
 
 The Congress may determine the Time of choosing the 
 Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their 
 Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the 
 United States. 
 
 No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of 
 the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this 
 Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President ; 
 neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who 
 shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five Years, and 
 been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. 
 
 In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or 
 of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the 
 Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall de- 
 volve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by 
 Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resigna- 
 tion, or Inability, both of the President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, 
 and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability 
 be removed, or a President shall be elected. 
 
 The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his 
 Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased 
 nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have 
 been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period 
 any other Emolument from the United States, or any of 
 them. 
 
 Before he cuter on the Execution of his Office, he shall 
 take the following oath or Affirmation : 
 
 *' I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully 
 " execute the Office of President of the United States, and 
 "will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and 
 " defend the Constitution of the United States."
 
 424 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 SECTION 2 The President shall be Commandcr-in-Chief 
 of the Army and Xuvy of the United States, and of tho 
 Militia of the several States, when called into the actual 
 service of the United States ; he may require the Opinion, 
 in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive 
 Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of 
 their respective Offices, and lie shall have Power to grant 
 Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United 
 States, except in Cases of Impeachment. 
 
 He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Con- 
 sent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds 
 of the Senators present conctir : and lie shall nominate, and 
 by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall 
 appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, 
 Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of tho 
 United States, whose Appointments arc not herein other- 
 wise provided for, and which shall be established by Law : 
 but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of 
 such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the Presi- 
 dent alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of De- 
 partments. 
 
 The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies 
 that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by 
 granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of 
 their next Sessions. 
 
 SECTION 3. He shall from time to time give to the 
 Congress Information of the State of the Union, and rec- 
 ommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall 
 judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary 
 Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in 
 Cases of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the 
 Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time 
 as he shall think proper ; he shall receive Ambassadors 
 and other public Ministers; he shall take care that the 
 Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all 
 the^ officers of the United States. 
 
 SECTION 4. The President, Vice -President and all civil 
 Officers of the United States, shall be removed from 
 Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason. 
 Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 425 
 
 ARTICLE IIL 
 
 SECTION 1. The judicial Power of the United States, 
 shall be vested in one supreme court, and such inferior 
 Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and 
 establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior 
 Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and 
 shall, at stated times, receive for their Services a Compen- 
 sation, which shall not be diminished during their contin- 
 uance hi Office. 
 
 SECTION 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all 
 cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, 
 the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or 
 which shall be made, under their Authority ; to all Cases 
 affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers, and Con- 
 suls ; to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction ; 
 to Controversies to which the United States shall be a 
 Party; to Controversies between two or more States; 
 between a State and Citizens of another State ; between 
 Citizens of different States, between Citizens of the 
 same State claiming Lands under Grants of different 
 States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and 
 foreign States, Citizens or Subjects. 
 
 In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Minis- 
 ters and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be a 
 Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. 
 
 In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme 
 Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law 
 and Fact, with such exceptions, and under such llegula- 
 tions as the Congress shall make. 
 
 The trial of all crimes, except in cases of Impeachment, 
 shall be by Jury ; and such trial shall be held in the State 
 where the said crimes shall have been committed; but 
 when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be 
 at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law 
 have directed, 
 
 SECTION 3. Treason against the United States shall 
 consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering 
 to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No per-
 
 426 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 r-on shall "be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony 
 of two "Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession 
 in open Court. 
 
 The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punish" 
 mnt of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work 
 Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life 
 of the Person attainted. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 SECTION 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in 
 each State to tho public Acts, Records, and judicial Pro- 
 ceedings of every other State. And the Congress may 
 by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, 
 Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect 
 thereof. 
 
 SECTION- 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled 
 to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several 
 States. 
 
 A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, 
 or other Crime, T\ho shall flee from Justice, and be found 
 in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Au- 
 thority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, 
 to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the 
 Crime. 
 
 No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, 
 under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in 
 Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be dis- 
 charged from such Service or Labour, but shall be deliv- 
 ered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or 
 Labour may be due, 
 
 SECTION 3. New States may be admitted by the Con- 
 gress into this Union ; but no new State shall be formed 
 or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State ; nor 
 any State bo formed by the Junction of two or more States, 
 or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures 
 of the States concerned as well as of the Congress. 
 
 The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make 
 all needfurRules and Regulations respecting the Terri-
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 427 
 
 tory or other Property belonging to the United States ; 
 and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as 
 to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any 
 particular Slate. 
 
 SECTION 4. The United States shall guarantee to every 
 State in this Union .a Republican Form of Government, 
 and shall protect each of them against Invasion, and on 
 Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when 
 the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic 
 Violence. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall 
 deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Con- 
 stitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two 
 thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for 
 proposing A)nendmeuts, which, in either Case, shall be 
 valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitu- 
 tion, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of 
 the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths 
 thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may 
 be proposed by the Congress ; Provided that no Aniend- 
 ment which may be made prior to the Year one thousand 
 eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the 
 first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first 
 Article ; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be 
 deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 All Debts contracted and Engagments entered into, 
 before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid 
 against the United States under this Constitution, as under 
 the Confederation. 
 
 This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States 
 which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all 
 Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the author- 
 ity of the United States, shall be the supreme La\v of 
 the land ; and the Judges in every State shall be bound
 
 428 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 thereby, any Thing in the Constitution of Laws of any 
 State to the Contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, 
 and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and 
 all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United 
 States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath 
 or Affirmation, to support this Constitution ; but no re- 
 ligious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to 
 any Office or public Trust under the United States. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, 
 shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitu- 
 tion between the States so ratifying the Same. 
 
 DONE in Convention by the Unaimous Consent of the 
 States present the Seventeenth Day of September in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the 
 United States of America the Twelfth. IN WITNESS 
 whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, 
 
 GEO. WASHINGTON 
 President and deputy from Virginia. 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 JOHN LANGDON, NICHOLAS GILMAN. 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 NATHANIEL GORHAM, RUFUS KING. 
 
 .CONNECTICUT, 
 WM. SAML. JOHNSON, ROGER SHERMAN. 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 
 
 NEW JERSEY. 
 
 WIL. LIVINGSTON, DAVID BREARLEY 
 
 WM. PATERSCN, JON A DAYTON.
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 429 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 B. FRANKLIN, THOMAR MIFFLIN, 
 
 KOBT. MORRIS, GEO. CLYMER, 
 
 THO. FITZSIMONS, JARED INGERSOLL. 
 
 JAMES WILSON, Gouv. MORRIS. 
 
 DELAWARE. 
 
 GKO. READ, GUNNING BEDFORD, Jun'r, 
 
 JOHN DICKINSON, RICHARD BASSETT, 
 
 JACO. BROOM. 
 
 MARYLAND'. 
 
 JAMES M'HENRY, DAN. OF ST. THOS. JENIFER, 
 
 DANL. CARROLL. 
 
 VIRGINIA. 
 JOHN BLAIR, JAMES MADISON, Jr., 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 WM. BLOUNT, RICH'D DOBBS SPAIGHT, 
 
 Hu. WILLIAMSON. 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 J. RCTLEDGE, CHAS. COTESWORTH PlNCKNEY, 
 
 CHARLES PINCKNEY, PIERCE BUTLER. 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 WILLIAM FEW, ABR. BALDWIN. 
 
 Attest : WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary.
 
 430 OUTLINES OF U S. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 ARTICLES 
 
 IN ADDITION" TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, 
 THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMEKICA, 
 
 Proposal by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of 
 the several States, pursuant to the fifth article of the 
 original Constitution. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment 
 of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or 
 abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ; or the 
 right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition 
 the Government for a redress of grievances. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security 
 of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear 
 Arms, shall not be infringed. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 / 
 
 No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any
 
 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 431 
 
 house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of 
 war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
 houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches 
 and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall 
 issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or 
 affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be 
 searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or 
 otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or in- 
 dicment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the 
 land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual ser- 
 vice in time of War or public danger ; nor shall any person 
 be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy 
 of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in any Criminal 
 Case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of 
 life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ; nor 
 shall private property be taken for pu1,ic use, without 
 just compensation. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy tho 
 right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of 
 the State and district wherein the crime shall have been 
 committed, which district shall have been previously ascer- 
 tained by law, and to be informed of th-j nature and cause 
 of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses 
 against him ; to have Compulsory process for obtaining 
 Witnesses in his favour, and to have the Assistance of 
 Counsel for his defence.
 
 4.32 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMHXT. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy 
 shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall 
 be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be other- 
 wise re-examined in any Court of the Hnited States, than 
 according to the rules of the common law. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fi'.ies 
 imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, 
 shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained 
 by the people. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 The Powers not delegated to the United States by the 
 Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are re- 
 served to the States respectively, or to the people. 
 
 ARTILCE XL 
 
 The Judicial power of the United States shall not be 
 construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, com- 
 menced or prosecuted against one of the United States 
 by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects 
 of any Foreign State. 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 The Electors shall meet in their respective states, 
 and vote 1\ ballot for President and Vice-Prepidont, 
 one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of 
 the same state with themselves ; they shall name in 
 their ballots the person voted for as President, and in
 
 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 433 
 
 distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, 
 and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for 
 as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-Presi- 
 dent, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they 
 shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of 
 the government of the United States, directed to the Pres- 
 ident of the Senate ; The President of the Senate shall, 
 in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
 open all the certificates and the votes shall then be 
 counted ; The person having the greatest number of 
 votes for President, shall be the President, if such num- 
 ber be a majority of the whole number of Electors ap- 
 pointed ; and if no person have such majority, then from 
 the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding 
 three n the list of those voted for as President, the 
 House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by 
 ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the 
 votes shall bo taken by States, the representation from 
 each state having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose 
 shall consist of a member or members from two-thii'ds of 
 the states, and a majority of all the states shall be neces- 
 sary to a choice. And if the House of Kepresentatives 
 shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice 
 shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March 
 next following, then the Vice- President shall act as Presi- 
 dent, as in the case of the death or other Constitutional 
 disability of the President. The person having the great- 
 est number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice- 
 President, if such number be a majority of the whole 
 number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a 
 majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, 
 the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for 
 the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the w r hole num- 
 ber of benators, and a majority of the whole number shall 
 be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally 
 ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to 
 that of Vice-President of the United States. 
 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
 
 434 OUTLINES OF U. S. 
 
 except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall 
 have b<--en duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, 
 or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 
 
 SECTION 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this arti- 
 cle, by appropriate legislation. 
 
 ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 SECTION 1. All persons born or natuaralized in the United States and 
 rabject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States, and of 
 the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law 
 which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United 
 States ; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property 
 without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction 
 the equal protection of the laws. 
 
 SEC. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several States 
 according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- 
 sons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed ; bnt when the right to 
 vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-Pres- 
 ident of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and 
 judicial officers of a State or the members of the Legislature thereof, la 
 denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one 
 years of age and citizens of the United States, or in anyway abridged ex- 
 cept for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representa- 
 tion therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such 
 male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citzeus twenty-one 
 years of age in such State. 
 
 SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress or 
 elector of President and Vice- President, or hold any office, civil or military, 
 under the United States or under any State who, having previously taken 
 nn oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or 
 os a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer 
 of any State, to support the constitution of the United States, shall have 
 engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aM or com- 
 fort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of 
 ach house, remove such disability. 
 
 SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States authorized by 
 law, inclnding debts incurred for payment of pensions unJ bounties for 
 cervices in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. 
 But neither th : United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt 
 or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the 
 United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, 
 obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. 
 
 EC. 5 The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate 
 legislation, the provisions of this article. 
 
 Of the 14th Amendment, find remarks on page 460
 
 STANDING RULES AND ORDERS 
 
 FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 -4s amended at the 1st session of the 36th Congress. 
 
 TOUCHING THE IHJTT OF TFIE SPEAKER. 
 
 1. He shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to 
 which the House shall have adjourned on the preceding day; 
 shall immediately call the members to order ; and, on the ap- 
 pearance of a quorum, shall cause the journal of the preceding 
 day to be read. 
 
 2. He shall preserve order and decorum ; may speak to points 
 of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for 
 that purpose ; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an 
 appeal to the House by any two members on which appeal no 
 member shall speak more than once, unless by leave of the 
 House. 
 
 3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting. 
 
 4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to wit: "As 
 many as are of opinion that (as the question may be) say Ay ;" 
 and after the affirmative voice is expressed, " As many as are of 
 the contrary opinion, say JVo." Jf the Speaker doubt, or a 
 division be called for, the House shall divide ; those in the affirm- 
 ative of the question shall first rise from their seats, and 
 afterwards those in the negative. If the Speaker still doubt, or 
 a count be required, by at least one-fifth of the quorum of the 
 members, the Speaker shall name two members, one from each 
 side, to tell the members in the affirmative and negative ; which 
 being reported, he shall rise and state the decision to the House. 
 
 5. The Speaker shall examine and correct the journal before it 
 is read. He shall have a general direction of the Hall, and the 
 unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol assigned to the 
 House shall be subject to his order and disposal until the further
 
 436 RULES OF THE 
 
 order of the House. He shall have a right to name any member 
 to perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not 
 extend beyond an adjournment. 
 
 6. No person shall be permitted to perform divine service in 
 the chamber occupied by the House of [Representatives, unless 
 with the consent of the Speaker. 
 
 7. In all cases of ballot by the House, the Speaker shall vote ; 
 in other cases he shall not be required to vote, unless the House 
 be equally divided, or unless his vote, if given to the minority, 
 will make the division equal ; and in case of such equal division, 
 the question shall be lost. 
 
 8. All acts, addresses, and joint resolutions, shall be signed by 
 the Speaker ; and all writs, warrants and subpoenas, issued by or- 
 der of the House, shall be under his hand and seal, attested by 
 the Clerk. 
 
 9. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the 
 galleries or lobby, the Speaker (or chairman of the Committee of 
 the Whole House,) shall have power to order the same to be 
 cleared. 
 
 . OF THE CLERK AND OTHER OFFICERS. 
 
 10. There shall be elected at the commencement of each 
 Congress, to continue in office until their successors are appointed, 
 a Clerk, Sergeant-at-arms, Doorkeeper, and Postmaster, each of 
 whom shall take an oath for the true and faithful discharge of the 
 duties of his office, to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and 
 to keep the secrets of the House ; and the appointees of the Door- 
 keer and Postmaster shall be subject to the approval of the 
 Speaker ; and, in all cases of election by the House of its officers, 
 the vote shall be taken viva voce. 
 
 11. In all cases where other than members of the House may 
 be eligible to an office by the election of the House, there shall 
 be a previous nomination. 
 
 12. In all other cases of ballot than for committees, a majority 
 of the votes given shall be necessary to an election ; and where 
 there shall not be such a majority on the first ballot, the ballot* 
 shall be repeated until a majority be obtained. And in all ballot- 
 ingd blanks shall be rejected, and not taken into the count in 
 enumeration of the votes, or reported by the tellers. 
 
 13. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to make, and cause to be 
 printed, and delivered to each member, at the commencement of 
 every session of Congress, a list of the reports which it is tho 
 doty of any officer or department of the government to make to 
 Congress ; referring to the act or resolution, and page of the vol-
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 437 
 
 lime of the laws or journal in which it may be contained ; and 
 placing under the name of each officer the list of reports required 
 of him to be made, and the time when the report may be 
 expected. 
 
 14. It shall be the duty of the Clerk of the House, at the end 
 of each session, to send a printed copy of the journals thereof 
 to the Executive, and to each branch of the legislature of every 
 State. 
 
 15. All questions of order shall be noted by the Clerk, with 
 the decision, and put together at the end of the journal of every 
 session. 
 
 16. The Clerk shall, within thirty days after the close of each 
 session of Congress, cause to be completed the printing and 
 primary distribution, to members and delegates, of the Journal 
 of the House, together with an accurate index of the same. 
 
 17. There shall be retained in the library of the Clerk's office, 
 for the use of the members there, and not to be withdrawn there- 
 from, two copies of all the books and printed documents deposited 
 in the library. 
 
 18. The Clerk shall have preserved for each member of the 
 House, an extra copy, in good binding, of all the documents 
 printed by order of either house at each future session of 
 Congress. 
 
 19. The Clerk shall make a weekly statement of the resolutions 
 and bills (Senate bills inclusive) upon the Speaker's table, 
 accompanied with a brief reference to the orders and pro- 
 ceedings of the House upon each, and the date of such orders 
 and proceedings ; which statement shall be printed for the use 
 of the members. 
 
 20. The Clerk shall cause an index to be prepared to the acta 
 passed at every session of Congress, and to be printed and bound 
 with the acts. 
 
 21. All contracts, bargains, or agreements, relative to the fur- 
 nishing any matter or thing, or for the performance of any labor 
 for the House of Representatives, shall be made with the Clerk, 
 or approved by him, before any allowance shall be made therefor 
 by the Committee of Accounts. 
 
 *22. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant- at-arms to attend the 
 House during its sittings ; to aid in the enforcement of order, un- 
 der the direction of the Speaker ; to execute the commands of the 
 House from time to time ; together with all such process, issued 
 by authority thereof, as shall be directed to him by the Speaker. 
 23. The symbol of his office (the mace) shall be borne by the 
 Sergeant-at-anns when in the execution of his office.
 
 438 EIJLES 07 THE 
 
 24. The fees of the Sergeant-at-arms shall be for every arrest, 
 the sum of two dollars ; for each day's custody and releasement,' 
 one dollar ; and for travelling expenses for himself or a special 
 messenger, going and returning, one-tenth of a dollar for each 
 mile necessarily and actually travelled by such officer or other 
 person in the execution of such precept or summons. 
 
 25. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-arms to keep the ac- 
 counts for the pay and mileage of members, to prepare checks, 
 and, if required to do so, to draw the money on such checks fur 
 the members, (the same being previously signed by the Speaker, 
 and endorsed by the member,) and pay over the same to the 
 member entitled thereto. 
 
 26. The Sergeant-at-arms shall give bond, with surety, to the 
 United States, in a sum not less than five nor more than ten 
 thousand dollars, at the discretion of the Speaker, and with such 
 surety as the Speaker may approve, faithfully to account for the 
 money coming into his hands for the pay of members. 
 
 27. The Doorkeeper shall execute strictly the 134th and 135th 
 rules, relative to the privilege of the hall. And lie shall be re- 
 quired at the commencement and close of each session of Congress 
 to take an inventory of all the furniture, books, and other public 
 property in the several committee and other rooms under his 
 charge, and shall report the same to tl*e House ; which report 
 shall be referred to tlte Committee on Accounts, who shall de- 
 termine the amount for which he shall be held liable for inissiug 
 articles. 
 
 28. The Postmaster shall superintend the post office kept iu 
 the Capitol for the accommodation of the members. 
 
 29. No member shall vote on any question in the event of 
 which he is immediately and particularly interested, or in any 
 case where he was not within the bar of the House when the 
 question was put. And when any member shall ask leave to 
 vote, the Speaker shall propound to him the question, " Were 
 you within the tar before the last name on the roll was called?" 
 and if he shall answer in the negative the Speaker shall not 
 further entertain the request of such member to vote : Provided, 
 howecer, that any member who was absent by leave oi' the House 
 may vote at any time before the result is announced. 
 
 80. Upon a division and count of the House on any question, 
 no member without the bar shall be counted. 
 
 81. Every member who shall be in the House when the ques-
 
 ROUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVE3. 439 
 
 tion is put shall give his vote, unless the House shall excuse him. 
 All motions to excuse a member from voting shall be made before 
 the House divides, or before the call of the yeas and nays is com- 
 menced ; and the question shall then be taken without debate. 
 
 32. The name of a member who presents a petition or memorial, 
 or who offers a resolution to the consideration of the Uouse, shall 
 be inserted on the journals. 
 
 33. No member shall absent himself from the service of the 
 House, unless he have leave, or be sick or unable to attend. 
 
 OF CALLS OF THE HOUSE. 
 
 84. Any fifteen members (including the Speaker, if there be 
 one) shall be authorized to compel the attendance of absent 
 members. 
 
 35. Upon calls of the House, or in taking the yeas and nays on 
 any question, the names of the members shall be called 
 alphabetically. 
 
 36. Upon the call of the House, the names of the members 
 shall be called over by the Clerk, and the absentees noted ; after 
 which the names of the absentees shall again be called over ; the 
 doors shall then be shut, and those for whom no excuse or insuf- 
 ficient excuses are made may, by order of those present, if 
 fifteen in number, be taken into custody as they appear, or may 
 be sent for and taken into custody, wherever to be found, by 
 special messengers to be appointed for that purpose. 
 
 37. When a member shall be discharged from custody, and 
 admitted to his seat, the House shall determine whether snch 
 discharge shall be with or without paying fees ; and in like man- 
 ner, whether a delinquent member, taken into custody by a 
 special messenger, shall or shall not be liable to defray the 
 expenses of such special messenger. 
 
 OX MOTIONS, T1IEIK PKECEDENCE, ETC. 
 
 38. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by 
 the Speaker; or, being in writing, it shall be handed to the chair 
 and read aloud by the Clerk, before debated. 
 
 39. Every motion shall be reduced to writing if the Speaker or 
 any member desire it. Every written motion made to the Honso 
 shall be inserted on the journals, with the name of the member 
 making it, unless it be withdrawn on the same day on which it 
 was submitted. 
 
 40. After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or read by the
 
 440 EULE3 OF THE 
 
 Clerk, it shall be deemed to be in the possession of the House 
 but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or amend 
 ment. 
 
 41. When any motion jor proposition is made, the question, 
 " "Will the House now consider it ?" shall not be put unless it is 
 demanded by some member, or is deemed necessary by the 
 Speaker. 
 
 42. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be 
 received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous ques- 
 tion, to postpone to a day certain, to commit or amend, to 
 postpone indefinitely ; which several motions shall have pre- 
 cedence in the order in which they are arranged and no motion 
 to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to postpone in- 
 definitely, being decided, shall be again allowed on the same day, 
 and at the same stage of the bill or proposition. 
 
 4?.. When a resolution shall be offered, or a motion made, to 
 refer any subject, and different committees shall be proposed, the 
 question shall be taken in the following order: 
 
 The Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union ; 
 the Committee of the Whole House ; a Standing Committee ; a 
 Select Committee. 
 
 44. A motion to adjourn, and a motion to fix the day to which 
 the House shall adjourn, shall be always in order these motions, 
 and the motion to lie on the table, shall be decided without 
 debate. 
 
 45. The hour at which every motion to adjourn is made shall 
 be entered on the journal. 
 
 40. Any member may call for the division of a question, before 
 or aftsr the main question is ordered, which shall be divided if it 
 comprehend propositions in substance so distinct that, one being 
 taken away, a substantive proposition shall remain for the de- 
 cision of the House. A motion to strike out and insert shall be 
 deemed indivisible ; but a motion to strike out being lost, shall 
 preclude neither amendment nor a motion to strike out and 
 insert. 
 
 47. Motions and reports may bo committed at the pleasure of 
 the House. 
 
 48. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that 
 under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment. 
 No bill or resolution shall, at any time, be amended by annexing 
 thereto, or incorporating therewith, any other bill or resolution 
 pending before the House. 
 
 49. When a motion has been once made, and carried in the 
 affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any member of the
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 441 
 
 majority to move for the reconsideration thereof, on the same or 
 succeeding day ; and such motion shall take precedence of all 
 other questions, except a motion to adjourn and shall not be 
 withdrawn after the said succeeding day without the consent of 
 the House ; and thereafter any member may call it up for con- 
 sideration. 
 
 50. In filling up hlanks, the largest sum and longest time shall 
 be first put. 
 
 OEDER OF BUSINESS OF THE DAT. 
 
 61. As soon us the journal is read, and the unfinished business 
 m which the House was engaged at the last preceding adjourn- 
 ment has been disposed of, reports from committees shall be called 
 tor and disposed of; in doing which the Speaker shall call upon 
 each standing committee in regular order, and then upon select 
 committees; and if the Speaker shall not get through the call 
 upon the committees before the House passes to other business, 
 he shall resume the next call where he left off, giving preference 
 to the report last under consideration: Provided, That whenever 
 any committee shall have occupied the morning hour on two 
 days, it shall not be in order for such committee to report further 
 until the other committees shall have been called in their turn. 
 On the call for reports from committees on each alternate Monday, 
 which shall commence as soon as the journal is read, all bills 
 reported during the first hour after the journal is read shall be 
 committed, without debate, to the Committee of the Whole, and 
 together with their accompanying reports, printed ; and if during 
 the hour all the committees are not called, then, on the next 
 alternate Monday, the Speaker shall commence where such call 
 was suspended : 'Provided, That no bill reported under the call 
 on alternate Mondays, and committed, shall be again brought 
 before the House by a motion to reconsider. 
 
 62. Reports from committees having been presented and dis- 
 posed of, the Speaker shall call for resolutions from the membera 
 of each State and delegate from each Territory, beginning with 
 Maine and the Territory last organized, alternately ; and they 
 shall not be debated on the very day of their being presented, not 
 011 any day assigned by the House for the receipt of resolutions, 
 unless where the House shall direct otherwise, but shall lie on 
 the table, to be taken up in the order in which they are presented ; 
 and if on any day the whole of the States and Territories shall 
 not be called, the Speaker shall begin on the next day where he 
 left off the previous day : Provided, That no member shall offer 
 wore than one resolution, or one series of resolutions, all relating
 
 442 RULES OF TUB 
 
 to the same subject, until all the States and Territories shall have 
 been called. 
 
 53. A proposition requesting information from the President of 
 the United States, or directing it to be furnished by the head of 
 either of the executive departments, or by the Postmaster Gen- 
 eral shall lie on the table one day for consideration, unless 
 otherwise ordered by the unanimous consent of the House, and 
 all such propositions shall be taken up for consideration in the 
 order they were presented, immediately after reports are called 
 for from select committee?, and when adopted, the Clerk sliail 
 cause the same to be delivered. 
 
 54. After one hour shall have been devoted to reports from 
 committees and resolutions, it shall be in order, pending the con- 
 sideration or discussion thereof, to entertain a motion that tho 
 House do now proceed to dispose of the business on the Speaker's 
 table, and to the orders of the day which being decided in the 
 affirmative, the Speaker shall dispose of the business on his table 
 in the following order, viz : 
 
 1st. Messages and other Executive communications. 
 
 2d. Messages from the Senate, and amendments proposed by the 
 Senate to bills of the House. 
 
 8d. Bills and resolutions from the Senate on their first and second 
 reading, that they be referred to committees and put under 
 way ; but if, on being read a second time, no motion being 
 made to commit, they are to be ordered to their third read- 
 ing, unless objection be made ; in which case, if not other- 
 wise ordered by a majority of the House, they are to be laid 
 on the table in the general file of bills on the Speaker's table, 
 to be taken up in their turn. 
 
 4th. Engrossed bills and bills from the Senate on their third 
 reading. 
 
 6th. Bills of the House and from the Senate, on the Speaker's 
 
 table, on their engrossment, or on being ordered to a third 
 
 reading, to be taken up and considered in the order of time 
 
 in which they passed to a second reading. 
 
 The messages, communicationa, and bills on his table having 
 
 been disposed of, the Speaker shall then proceed to call the 
 
 orders of the day. 
 65. The business specified in the 54th and 130th rules shall be 
 
 done at no other part of the day, except by permission of the 
 
 House. 
 
 56. The consideration of the unfinished business in which the 
 
 House may be engaged at an adjournment shall be resumed as 
 
 soon as the journal of the next day is read, and at the same time
 
 HOUSE OF EEPBESKNTATIVES. 443 
 
 each day thereafter until disposed of; and if, from any cause, 
 other business shall intervene, it shall be resumed as soon as 
 such other business is disposed of. And the consideration of all 
 other unfinished business shall be resumed whenever the class of 
 business to which it belongs shall bo in order under the rules. 
 
 OF DECORUM AXD DEBATE. 
 
 57. When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver 
 any matter to the House, he shall rise from his seat and respect- 
 fully address himself to "Mr. Speaker "and shall confine him- 
 self to the question under debate, and avoid personality. 
 
 58. Members may address the House or committee from the 
 Clerk's desk, or from a place near the Speaker's chair. 
 
 59. When two or more members happen to rise at once, the 
 Speaker shall name the member who is first to speak. 
 
 CO. No member shall occupy more than one hour in debate 
 on any question in the House, or in committee ; but .a member 
 reporting the measure under consideration from a committee 
 may open and close the debate: provided that when debate is 
 closed by order of the House, any member shall be allowed, in 
 committee, five minutes to explain any amendment he may offer, 
 after which any member who shall first obtain the floor shall be 
 allowed to speak five minutes in opposition to it, and there shaL 
 be no further debate on the amendment; but the same privilege 
 of debate shall be allowed in favor of and against any amendment 
 that may be offered to the amendment; and neither the amend- 
 ment nor an amendment to the amendment shall be withdrawn 
 by the mover thereof, unless by the xinanimous consent of the 
 committee.. Provided, further, That the House may, by the vote 
 of a majority of the members present, at any time after the five 
 minutes' debate has taken place upon proposed amendments to 
 any section or paragraph of a bill, close all debate upon such 
 section or paragraph, or at their election upon the pending 
 amendments only. 
 
 61. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the 
 rules of the House, the Speaker shall, or any member may, call to 
 order; in which case, the member so called to order shall im- 
 mediately sit down, unless permitted to explain ; and the House 
 shall, if appealed to, decide on the case, but without debate; if 
 there be no appeal, the decision of the Chair shall be submitted 
 to. If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, he 
 shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, he shall not be per- 
 mitted to proceed, in case any member object, without 'Uave of the
 
 444 RULES OP THK 
 
 House ; and if the case require it, he shall be liable to the censure 
 of the House. 
 
 62. If a member be called to order for words spoken in debate, 
 the person calling him to order shall repeat the words excepted 
 to, and they shall be taken down in writing at the Clerk's table ; 
 and no member shall be held to answer, or be subject to the 
 censure of the House, for words spoken in debate, if any other 
 member has spoken, or other business has intervened, after the 
 words spoken, and before exception to them shall have been 
 taken. 
 
 63. No member shall speak more than once to the same ques- 
 tion without leave of the House, unless he be the mover, pro- 
 poser, or introducer of the matter pending; in which case he 
 shall be permitted to speak in reply, but not until every member 
 choosing to speak shall have spoken. 
 
 64. If a question depending be lost by adjournment of the 
 House, and revived on the succeeding day, no member who shall 
 have spoken on the preceding day shall be permitted again to 
 speak without leave. 
 
 65. While the Speaker is putting any question, or addressing 
 the House, none shall walk out of or across the House ; nor in 
 such case, or when a member is speaking, shall entertain private 
 discourse; nor while a member is speaking, shall pass between 
 him and the Chair. Every menibt-r shall remain uncovered 
 during the session of the House. No member or other person 
 shall visit or remain by the Clerk's table while the ayes and noes 
 are calling, or ballots are counting. 
 
 66. All questions relating to the priority of business to be acted 
 on shall be decided without debate. 
 
 OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 67. All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless 
 otherwise specially directed by the House, in which case they 
 shall be appointed by ballot; and if upon such ballot the num- 
 ber required shall not be elected by a majority of the votes 
 given the House shal] proceed to a second ballot, in which a 
 plurality of votes shall prevail ; and in case a greater number than 
 is required to compose or complete a committee shall have an 
 equal number of votes, the House shall proceed to a further ballot 
 or ballots. 
 
 68. The first named member of any committee shall be the 
 chairman ; and in his absence, or being excused by the House, 
 the next named member, and so on, as often as the case shall
 
 HOUSE OF RKFRESENTATIVES. 445 
 
 happen, unless the committee, by a majority of their number, 
 elect a chairman. 
 
 69. Any member may excuse himself from serving on any 
 committee at the time of his appointment, if he is then a mem- 
 ber of two other committees. 
 
 70. It shall be the duty of a committee to meet on the call of 
 any two of its members, if the chairman be absent, or decline to 
 appoint such meeting. 
 
 VI. The several standing committees of the House shall have 
 leave to report by bill or otherwise. 
 
 72. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the House 
 without special leave. 
 
 73. No committee shall be permitted to employ a clerk at the 
 public expense, without first obtaining leave of the House for 
 that purpose. 
 
 74. Thirty-one standing committees shall be appointed at the 
 commencement of each Congress, viz : 
 
 TO CONSIST OP NIXE MEMBERS EiCH. 
 
 A Committee of Elections. Nov. 13, 1789. 
 A Committee of Ways and Means. Jan. 7, 1802. 
 A Committee on Appropriations. March 2, 18t>5. 
 A Committee on Banking and Currency. March 2, 1865. 
 A Committee on the Pacific Railroad. March 2, 1865. 
 A Committee on Claims. Nov. 13, 1794. 
 . A Committee on Commerce. Dec. 14, 1795. 
 A Committee on Public Lands. Dec. 17, 1805. 
 A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. .Wow. 9, 1808. 
 A Committee for the District of Columbia. -Jan. 27, 1808. 
 A Committee on the Judiciary June 3, 1813. 
 A Committee on Revolutionary Claims. Dec. 22, 1813. 
 A Committee on Public Expenditures. Feb. 26, 1814. 
 A Committee on Private Land Claims. April 29, 1816. 
 A Committee on Manufactures. Dec. 8, 1819. 
 A Committee on Agriculture. May 3, 182o. 
 A Committee on Indian Affairs. Dtc. 18, 1821. 
 A Committee on Military Affairs. March 13, 1822. 
 A Committee on Militia. Dec. 10, 1835. 
 A Committee on Naval Affairs. March 13, 1822. 
 A Committee on Foreign Affairs. March 13. 1822. 
 A Committee on the Territories. Dec. 13, 1825. 
 A Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. Dec. 9, 1825. 
 A Committee on Invalid Pensions. Jan. 10, 1831. 
 A Committee on Roads and Canals Dec. 15, 1831. 
 A Committee on Patents Sept. 15, 1837.
 
 446 EULK8 OF THE 
 
 TO CONSIST OP FIVE MEMBERS EACH. 
 
 A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Sept. 15, 1337. 
 
 A Committee of Revisal and unfinished business Dec. 14. 1795. 
 
 A Committee of Accounts Nov. 7, 1804. 
 A Committee on Mileage. Sept. 15, 1837. 
 A Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measure*. Jan. 21, 18C4. 
 
 75. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections to 
 examine and report upon the certificates of election, or other 
 credentials, of the members returned to serve in this House, and 
 to take into their consideration all such petitions and other mat- 
 ters touching elections and returns as shall or may be presented 
 or come into question, and be referred to them by the House. 
 
 76. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Appropriations to 
 take into consideration all executive communications and such 
 other propositions in regard to carrying on the several depart- 
 ments of the government as may be presented and referred to 
 them by the House. 
 
 In preparing bills of appropriations for other objects, the Com- 
 mittee on Appropriations shall not include appropriations for 
 carrying into effect treaties made by the United States; and 
 where an appropriation bill shall be referred to them for their 
 consideration, which contains appropriations for carrying a treaty 
 into effect, and for other objects, they shall propose such amend- 
 ments as shall prevent appropriations for carrying a treaty into 
 effect being included in tho same bill with appropriations for 
 other objects. 
 
 77. It shall also be the duty of the Committee on Appropri- 
 ations, within thirty days after their appointment, at every 
 session of Congress, commencing on the first Monday of Decem- 
 ber, to report the general appropriation bills for legislative, ex- 
 ecutive, and judicial expenses; for sundry civil expenses; for 
 consular and diplomatic expenses ; for the army ; for the navy ; 
 for the expenses of the Indian department ; for the payment of 
 invalid and other pensions ; for the support of the Military 
 Academy; for fortifications; for the service of the Post Oilice 
 Department, and for mail transportation by ocean steamers ; or, 
 in failure thereof, the reasons of such failure. And said com- 
 mittee shall have leave to report said bills (for reference only) at 
 any time. 
 
 78. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Claim;! to take 
 into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touch- 
 ing claims and demands on the United States as shall be pre- 
 sented, or shall or may come in question, and bo referred to them
 
 HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATTVES. 447 
 
 by the House ; and to report their opinion thereupon, together 
 with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem 
 expedient. 
 
 79. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Commerce to take 
 into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touch- 
 ing the commerce of the United States as shall be presented, or 
 shall or may come into question, and be referred to them by the 
 House ; and to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon. 
 
 80. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public Lands to 
 take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things 
 respecting the lands of the United States as shall be presented, or 
 shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the 
 House ; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such 
 propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 81. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post Office 
 and Post Eoads to take into consideration all such petitions and 
 matters or things touching the post office and post roads as shall 
 be presented, or shall come in question, and be referred to them 
 by the House ; and to report their opinion thereon, together with 
 such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 82. It shall be the duty of the Committee for the District of 
 Columbia to take into consideration all such petitions and matters 
 or things touching the said District as shall be presented or shall 
 come in question, and be referred to them by the House ; and to 
 report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions 
 relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 83. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judiciary to 
 take into consideration such petitions and matters or things 
 touching judicial proceedings as shall be presented, or may come 
 in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report 
 their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative 
 thereto as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 84. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary 
 Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters 
 or things touching claims and demands originating in the revolu- 
 tionary war, or arising therefrom, as shall be presented, or shall 
 or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House ; 
 and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propo- 
 sitions for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 85. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expen- 
 ditures to examine into the state of the several public depart- 
 ments, and particularly into laws making appropriations of 
 money, and to report whether the moneys have been disbursed 
 conformably with such laws; and also to report from time to
 
 448 EULES OF THE 
 
 time such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to 
 add to the economy of the departments, and the accountability of 
 their officers. 
 
 86. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private Land 
 Claims to take into consideration all claims to laud which may 
 be referred to them, or shall or may come in question ; and to 
 report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions 
 for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 87. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Affairs 
 to take into consideration all subjects relating to the military 
 establishment and public defence which may be referred to them 
 by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon ; and also 
 to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to 
 economy and accountability in the said establishment. 
 
 88. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Militia to 
 take into consideration and report on all subjects connected with 
 the organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia of the United 
 States. 
 
 89. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to 
 take into consideration all matters which concern the naval 
 establishment, and which shall be referred to them by the House, 
 and to report their opinion thereupon ; and also to report, from 
 time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and 
 accountability in the said establishment. 
 
 90. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
 to take into consideration all matters which concern the relations 
 of the United States with foreign nations, and which shall be 
 referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion on 
 the same. 
 
 91. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Territories 
 to examine into the legislative, civil, and criminal proceedings of 
 the Territories, and to devise and report to the House such means 
 as, in their opinion, may be necessary to secure the rights and 
 privileges of residents and non-residents. 
 
 92. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Eevolutionary 
 Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respecting 
 pensions for services in the revolutionary war, other than invalid 
 pensions, as shall be referred to them by the House. 
 
 93. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensions 
 to take into consideration all such matters respecting invalid pen- 
 sions as shall be referred to them by the House. 
 
 94. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Koads and Canals 
 to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things 
 relating to roads and canals, and the improvement of the naviga-
 
 HOU8E OF REPRESENTATIVES. 449 
 
 tion of rivers, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and 
 be referred to them by the House ; and to report thereupon, 
 together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall 
 seem expedient. 
 
 95. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to con- 
 sider all subjects relating to patents which may be referred to 
 them ; and report their opinion thereon, together with such pro- 
 positions relative thereto as may seem to them expedient. 
 
 96. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Buildings 
 and Grounds to consider all subjects relating to the public edifices 
 and grounds within the city of Washington which may be referred 
 to them ; and report their opinion thereon, together with such 
 propositions relating thereto as may seem to them expedient. 
 
 97. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Pvevisai and 
 Unfinished Business to examine and report what laws have 
 expired, or are near expiring, and require to be revived or further 
 continued ; also to examine and report, from the Journal of last 
 session, all such matters as were then depending and undeter- 
 mined. 
 
 98. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to super- 
 intend and control the expenditures of the contingent fund of the 
 House of Representatives ; also to audit and settle all accounts 
 which may be charged thereon. 
 
 99. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to ascer- 
 tain and report the distance to the Sergeant-at-Arms for which 
 each member shall receive pay. 
 
 100. There shall be referred, ly the Cleric to the members of 
 the Committee on Printing on the part of the House, all drawings, 
 maps, charts, or other papers, which may at any time come before 
 the House for engraving, lithographing, or publishing in any 
 way ; which committee shall report to the House whether the 
 same ought, in their opinion, to be published ; and if the House 
 order the publication of the same, that said committee shall direct 
 the size and manner of execution of all such maps, charts, draw- 
 ings, or other papers, and contract by agreement, in writing, for 
 all such engraving, lithographing, printing, drawing, and color- 
 ing, as may be ordered by the House ; which agreement, in 
 writing, shall be furnished by said committee to the Committee 
 of Accounts, to govern said committee in all allowances for such 
 works, and it shall be in order for said committee to report at all 
 
 101. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled Bills 
 and the Committee on Printing to report at any time. 
 
 102. Seven additional standing committees shall be appointed
 
 i50 ETJLE3 OF THE 
 
 nt the commencement of the first session in each Congress, whose 
 duties shall continue uutil the first session of the ensuing 
 Congress. 
 
 COMMITTEES, TO CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS EACH. 
 
 1. A committee on so much of the public accoiiuts and expen- 
 ditures as relates to the Department of State ; 
 
 2. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expen- 
 ditures as relates to the Treasury Department ; 
 
 8. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
 tures as relates to the Department of War ; 
 
 4. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
 tures-tts relates to the Department of the Navy ; 
 
 6. A committee on so much of the public accounts. and expendi- 
 tures as relates to the Post Office ; 
 
 6. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
 tures as relates to the Public Buildings ; and 
 
 7. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
 tures as relates to the Interior Department. 
 
 103. It shall be the duty of tlie said committees to examine 
 into the state of the accounts and expenditures respectively sub- 
 mitted to them, and to inquire and report particularly' 
 
 Whether the expenditures of the respective departments are 
 iustified by law ; 
 
 Whether the claims from time to time satisfied and discharged 
 by the respective departments are supported by sufficient vouch- 
 ers, establishing their justness both as to their character and 
 amount ; 
 
 Whether such claims have been discharged out of funds appro- 
 priated therefor, and whether all moneys have been disbursed in 
 conformity with appropriation laws; and 
 
 Whether any, and what, provisions are necessary to be adopted, 
 to provide more perfectly for the proper application of the public 
 moneys, and to secure the government from demands unjust in 
 their character or extravagant in their amount. 
 
 And it shall be, moreover, the duty of the said committees to 
 report, from time to time, whether any, and what, retrenchment 
 can be made in the expenditures of the several departments, with- 
 out detriment to the public service ; whether any, and what, 
 abuses at any time exist in the failure to enforce the payment of 
 moneys which may be due to the United States from public 
 defaulters or others ; and to report, from time -to time, such pro-
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 4:51 
 
 visions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the 
 economy of the several departments and the accountability of 
 their officers. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the several committees on public 
 expenditures to inquire whether any offices belonging to the 
 branches or departments, respectively, concerning whose expendi- 
 tures it is their duty to inquire, have become useless or unneces- 
 sary ; and to report, from time to time, on the expediency of 
 modifying or abolishing the same ; also, to examine into the pay 
 and emoluments of all offices under the laws of the United States ; 
 and to report, from time to time, such a reduction or increase 
 thereof as a just economy and the public service may require. 
 
 OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE. 
 
 104. The House may at any time, by a vote of a majority of 
 the members present, suspend the rules and orders for the purpose 
 of going into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
 the Union ; and also for providing for the discharge of the Com- 
 mittee of the Whole House, and the Committee of the Whole 
 House on the state of the Union ; from the further consideration 
 of any bill referred to it, after acting without debate on all amend- 
 ments pending and that may be offered. 
 
 105. In forming a Committee of the Whole House, the Speaker 
 shall leave his chair, and a chairman, to preside in committee, 
 shall be appointed by the Speaker. 
 
 106. Whenever the Committee of the Whole on the state of the 
 Union, or the Committee of the Whole House, finds itself without 
 a quorum, the chairman shall cause the roll of the House to be 
 called, and thereupon the committee shall rise, and the chairman 
 shall report the name of the absentees to the House, which shall 
 be entered on the journal. 
 
 107. Upon bills committed to a Committee of the Whole House, 
 the bill shall be first read throughout by the Clerk, and then 
 again read and debated by clauses, leaving the preamble to be 
 last considered ; the body of the bill shall not be defaced or inter- 
 lined ; but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be 
 duly entered by the Clerk on a separate paper, as the same shall 
 be agreed to by the committee, and so reported to the House. 
 After report, the bill shall again be subject to be debated and 
 amended by clauses, before a question to engross it be taken. 
 
 108. All amendments made to an original motion in committee 
 shall be incorporated with the motion, and so reported. 
 
 109. All amendments made to a report committed to a Com-
 
 452 RULES OF TUB 
 
 mittee of the Whole House shall be noted, and reported, as in the 
 case of bills. 
 
 110. No motion or proposition for a tax or charge upon the 
 people shall be discussed the day on which it is made or offered, 
 and every such proposition shall receive its first discussion in a 
 Committee of the Whole House. 
 
 111. No sum or quantum of tax or duty, voted by a Committee 
 of the Whole House, shall be increased in the House until the 
 motion or proposition for such increase shall be first discussed and 
 voted in a Committee of the Whole House ; and so in respect to 
 the time of its continuance. 
 
 112. All proceedings touching appropriations of money shall be 
 first discussed in a Committee of the Whole House. 
 
 113. The rules of proceedings in the House shall be observed in 
 a Committee of the Whole House, so far as they may be applica- 
 ble, except the rule limiting the times of speaking ; but no mem- 
 ber shall speak twice to any question until every member choos- 
 ing to speak shall have spoken. 
 
 114. In Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, the 
 bills shall be taken up and disposed of in their order on the calen- 
 dar ; but when objection is made to the consideration of a bill, a 
 majority of the committee shall decide, without debate, whether 
 it shall be taken up and disposed of, or laid aside : provided, that 
 general appropriation bills, and, in time of war, bills for raising 
 men or money, and bills concerning a treaty of peace, shall be 
 preferred to all other bills, at the discretion of the committee ; 
 and when demanded by any member, the question shall first be 
 put in regard to them ; and all debate on special orders shall be 
 confined strictly to the measure under consideration. 
 
 115. Every bill shall be introduced on the report of a commit- 
 tee, or by motion for leave. In the latter case, at least one day's 
 notice shall be given of the motion in the House, or by filing a 
 memorandum thereof with the Clerk, and having it entered on 
 the journal; and the motion shall be made, and the bill intro- 
 duced, if leave is given, when resolutions are called for ; such 
 motion, or the bill when introduced, may be committed. 
 
 116. Every bill shall receive three several readings in tho 
 House previous to its passage ; and bills shall be despatched in 
 order as they were introduced, unless where the IJouso shall 
 direct otherwise ; but no bill shall be twice read on the same day, 
 without special order of the House.
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 453 
 
 117. The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and, 
 if opposition be made to it, the question shall be, u Shall this bill 
 be rejected ?" If no opposition be made, or if the question to 
 reject be negatived, the bill shall go to its second reading without 
 a question. 
 
 118. Upon the second reading of a bill, the Speaker shall state 
 it as ready for commitment or engrossment ; and, if committed, 
 then a question shall be, whether to a select or standing commit- 
 tee, or to a Committee of the Whole House ; it to a Committee of 
 the Whole House, the House shall determine on what day ; if no 
 motion be made to commit, the question shall be stated on its 
 engrossment ; and if it be not ordered to be engrossed on the day 
 of its being reported, it shall be placed on the "general file on the 
 Speaker's table, to be taken up in order. But if the bill be 
 ordered to be engrossed, the House shall appoint the day when it 
 shall be read the third time. 
 
 119. General appropriation bills shall be in order in preference 
 to any other bills of a public nature unless otherwise ordered by 
 a majority of the House. 
 
 And the House may, at any time, by a vote of a majority of the 
 members present, make any of the general appropriation bills a 
 special order. 
 
 120. No appropriation shall be reported in such general appro- 
 priation bills, or be in order as an amendment thereto, for any 
 expenditure not previously authorized by law, unless in continu- 
 ation of appropriations for such public works and objects as are 
 already in progress, and for the contingencies for carrying on the 
 several departments of the government. 
 
 121. Upon the engrossment of any bill making appropriations 
 of money for works of internal improvement of any kind or 
 description, it shall be in the power of any member to call for a 
 division of the question, so as to take a separate vote of the 
 House upon each item of improvement or appropriation contained 
 in said bill, or upon such items separately, and others collectively, 
 as the members making the call may specify ; and if one-fifth of 
 the members present second said call, it shall be the duty of the 
 Speaker to make such divisions of the question, and put them to 
 vote accordingly. 
 
 122. The bills from the Court of Claims shall, on being laid 
 before the House, be read a first and second time, committed to 
 a Committee of the Whole House, and, together with the accom- 
 panying reports, printed.. 
 
 123. A motion to strike out the enacting words of a bill shall 
 have precedence of a motion to amend ; and, if carried, shall ba
 
 454: EULES OF THE 
 
 considered equivalent to its rejection. Whenever a bill is reported 
 from a Committee of the Whole, with a recommendation to strike 
 out the enacting words, and such recommendation is disagreed to 
 by the House, the bill shall stand recommitted to the said com- 
 mittee without further action by the House. 
 
 124. After commitment and report thereof to tbe House, or at 
 any time before its passage, a bill may be recommitted; and 
 should such recommitment take place alter its engrossment, and 
 an amendment be reported and agreed to by the House, the 
 question shall be again put on the engrossment of the bill. 
 
 125. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed in a 
 fair round hand. 
 
 126. No amendment by way of rider shall be received to any 
 bill on its third reading. 
 
 127. When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified by the Clerk, 
 noting the day of its passage at the foot thereof. 
 
 LOCAL -OB PEIVATE BUSINESS. 
 
 128. Friday and Saturday in every week shall be set apart for 
 the consideration of private bills and private business, in prefer- 
 ence to any other, unless otherwise determined by a majority of 
 the House. 
 
 12!). On the first and fourth Friday and Saturday of each month 
 the calendar of private bills shall be called over, (the chairman of 
 the Committee of the Whole House commencing the cull where 
 he left off the previous day.) and the bills to the passage of which 
 no objection shall then be made shall be first considered and dis- 
 posed of. But when a bill is again reached, after having been 
 once objected to, the committee shall consider and dispose of the 
 same, unless it shall again be objected to by at least five 
 members. 
 
 OF BILLS ON LEAVE AND RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 130. All the States and Territories shall be called for bills on 
 leave and resolutions on each alternate Monday during each ses- 
 sion of Congress ; and, if necessary to secure the object on said 
 days, all resolutions which shall give rise to debate shall lie over 
 for discussion, under the rules of the House already established; 
 and the whole of said days shall be appropriated to bills on leave 
 and resolutions, until all the States and Territories are called 
 through. And the Speaker shall first call the States and Terri- 
 tories for bills on leave ; and all bills so introduced during the 
 first hour alter the journal is read shall be referred, without
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 455 
 
 debate, to their appropriate committees: Provided, "however, 
 That a bill so introduced and referred shall not be brought back 
 into the House upon a motion to reconsider. 
 
 OF PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. 
 
 181. Members having petitions and memorials to present, may 
 hand them to the Clerk, indorsing the same with their names, and 
 the reference or disposition to be made thereof; and such petitions 
 and memorials shall be entered on the journal, subject to the con- 
 trol and direction of the Speaker; and if any petition or memorial 
 be so handed in, which, in the judgment of the Speaker, is exclu- 
 ded by the rules, the same shall be returned to the member from 
 whom it was received. 
 
 OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. 
 
 132. The previous question shall be in this form : " Shall the 
 main question be now put?" It shall only be admitted when 
 demanded by a majority of the members present ; and its effects 
 shall be to put an end to all debate, and to bring the House to a 
 direct vote upon a motion to commit, if such motion shall hava 
 been made; and if this motion does not prevail, then upon 
 amendments reported by a committee, if any ; then upon pending 
 amendments, and then upon the main question. But its only 
 effect, if a motion to postpone is pending, shall be to bring the 
 House to a vote upon such motion. Whenever the House shall 
 refuse to order the main question, the consideration of the subject 
 shall be resumed as though no motion for the previous question 
 had been made. The House may also, at any time, on motion 
 seconded by a majority of the members present, close all debate 
 upon a pending amendment, or an amendment thereto, and cause 
 the question to be put thereon ; and this shall not preclude any 
 further amendment or debate upon the bill. A call of the House 
 shall not be in order after the previous question is seconded, 
 unless it shall appear, upon an actual count by the Speaker, that 
 no quorum is present. 
 
 133. On a. previous question there shall be no debate. AH 
 incidental questions of order arising after a motion, is made for 
 the previous question and pending such motion, shall be decided, 
 whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.
 
 4:56 RULES OF THE 
 
 OF ADMISSION OX THE FLOOR. 
 
 134. No person except members of the Senate, tlieir secretary, 
 heads of departments, the President's private secretary, foreign 
 ministers, the governor for the time being of any State, senators 
 and representatives elect, and judges of the Supreme Court of the 
 United States and of the Court of Claims, shall be admitted within 
 the Hall of the House of Representatives. Or any of the rooms 
 upon the same floor or leading into the same. 
 
 OF KEPOIJTEKS. 
 
 135. Stenographers and reporters, other than the official 
 reporters of the House, wishing to take down the debates, may 
 be admitted by the Speaker to the reporters' gallery over the 
 Speaker's chair, but not on the floor of the House ; but no person 
 Bhall be allowed the privilege of said gallery under the character 
 of stenographer or reporter without a written permission of the 
 Speaker, specifying the part of said gallery assigned to him ; nor 
 shall said stenographer or reporter be admitted to said gallery 
 unless he shall state in writing for what paper or papers he is 
 employed to report; nor shall he be so admitted, or, if admitted, 
 be suffered to retain his seat, if he shall be or become an agent to 
 prosecute any claim pending before Congress; and the Speaker 
 shall give his written permission with this condition. 
 
 UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. 
 
 136. After six days from the commencement of a second or 
 subsequent session of any Congress, all bills, resolutions, and re- 
 ports which originated in" the House, and at the close of the next 
 preceding session remained undetermined, shall be resumed and 
 acted on in the same manner as if an adjournment had not taken 
 place. And all business before committees of the House at the 
 end of one session shall be resumed at the commencement of the 
 next session of the same Congress as if no adjournment had taken 
 place. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 137. Whenever confidential communications are received froia 
 Ihe President of the United States, the House shall be cleared of
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 457 
 
 all persons, except the members, Clerk, Sergeant-at-arms, and 
 Doorkeeper, and so continue during the reading of such commu- 
 nications, and (unless otherwise directed by the House) during all 
 debates and proceedings to be had thereon. And when the 
 Speaker, or any other member, shall inform the House that he 
 has communications to make which he conceives ought to be kept 
 secret, the House shall, in like manner, be cleared till the com- 
 munication be made ; the House shall then determine whether 
 the matter communicated requires secrecy or not, and take order 
 accordingly. 
 
 138. The rule for paying witnesses summoned to appear before 
 this House, or either of its committees, shall be as follows : For 
 each day a witness shall attend, the sum of two dollars ; for each 
 mile he shall travel in coming to or going from the place of ex- 
 amination, the sum of ten cents each way; but nothing shall be 
 paid for travelling home when the witness has been summoned 
 at the place of trial. 
 
 139. Maps accompanying documents shall not be printed, under 
 the general order to print, without the special direction of the 
 House. 
 
 140. No extra compensation shall be allowed to any officer or 
 messenger, page, laborer, or other person in the service of the 
 House, or engaged in or about the public grounds or buildings; 
 and no person shall be an officer of the House, or continue in its 
 employment, who shall be an agent for the prosecution of any 
 claim against the government, or be interested in. such claim 
 otherwise than an original claimant ; and it shall be the duty of 
 the Committee of Accounts to inquire into and report to the 
 House any violation of this rule. 
 
 141. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is 
 objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a vote of 
 the House. 
 
 142. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same shall 
 not be acted upon again during the session. 
 
 143. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concur- 
 rence of the Senate shall be necessary, shall be read to the House, 
 and laid on the table, on a day preceding that in which the same 
 shall be moved, unless the House shall otherwise expressly 
 allow. 
 
 144. The rules of parliamentary practice, comprised in Jeffer- 
 son's Manual, shall govern the House in all cases to which they 
 are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the 
 standing rules and orders of the House, and joint rules of the 
 Senate and House of Representatives.
 
 458 KULES OF THE 
 
 145. No standing rule or order of the House shall be rescinded 
 or changed without one day's notice being given of the motion 
 therefor ; nor shall any rule be suspended, except by a vote of at 
 least two-thirds of the members present ; nor shall the order of 
 business, as established by the rules, be postponed or changed, 
 except by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members present ; nor 
 shall the Speaker entertain a motion to suspend the rules, except 
 during the last ten days of the session, and on Monday of every 
 week at the expiration of one hour after the journal is read, unless 
 the call of States and Territories for bills on'leave and resolutions 
 has been earlier concluded, when the Speaker may entertain a 
 motion to suspend the rules. 
 
 146. All elections of officers of the House, including the 
 Speaker, shall be conducted in accordance with these rules, so far 
 as the same are applicable ; and, pending the election of a 
 Speaker, the Cierk shall preserve order and decorum, and shall 
 decide all questions of order that may arise, subject to appeal to 
 the House. 
 
 147. These rules shall be the rules of the House of Representa- 
 tives of the present and succeeding Congresses unless otherwise 
 ordered. 
 
 148. An additional standing committee shall be appointed at 
 the commencement of each Congress, whose duties shall continue 
 until the first session of the ensuing Congress, to consist of five 
 members, to be entitled a "Committee on a Uwiform System of 
 Coinage, Weights, and Measures;" and to this committee shall he 
 referred all bills, resolutions, and communications to the House 
 upon that subject. 
 
 149. The names of members not voting on any call of the ayes 
 and noes shall be recorded in the journal immediately after those 
 voting in the affirmative and negative, and the same record shall 
 be made in the Congressional Globe. 
 
 150. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Pacific Rail- 
 road to take into consideration all sucli petitions and matters or 
 things relative to railroads or telegraph lines between the Miss- 
 issippi valley and the Pacific coast as shall be presented or shall 
 come in question, and be referred to them by the House, and to 
 report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions 
 relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient. 
 
 151. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means 
 to take into consideration all reports of the Treasury Department, 
 and such other propositions relative to raising revenue and pro- 
 viding ways and means for the support of the government as 
 shall be presented or shall come in question, and be referred to
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 459 
 
 them by the House, and to report their opinion thereon bj bill 
 or otherwise, as to them shall seem expedient ; and said com- 
 mittee shall have leave to report for commitment at any time. 
 
 152. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Banking and 
 Bank Currency to take into consideration all propositions relative 
 to banking and the currency as shall be presented or shall come 
 in question, and be referred to them by the House, and to report 
 thereon by bill or otherwise.
 
 460 REMARKS. 
 
 REMARKS TO ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 Since the publication of the first edition of this work, (early 
 in the year 1868,) the nation has been officially notified by 
 the Hon. W. II. Seward, Secretary of State, under due instruc- 
 tions from Congress, that the Fourteenth Article of Amendment 
 to the Constitution, submitted by Congress to the Legislatures 
 of the several States, on or about the 16th day of June, 1866 : 
 and subsequently ratified by more than three-fourths of the said 
 Legislatures, " has become valid to all inte nts and purposes as 
 a part of the Constitution of the United States." 
 
 Thirty States have adopted this most important amendment, 
 namely, the States of Connecticut, New Hampshire, Tennessee. 
 New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, New York, Ohio, Illinois, West 
 Virginia, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, 
 Rhode Island, "Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, 
 Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiasa, 
 South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. Five States have re- 
 jected it, namely, Texas, Virginia, Kentucky, Delaware, and 
 Maryland. The remaining States, namely, California and Missis- 
 sippi, do not appear to have taken final action thereon.
 
 UNITED STATES CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 [In the following Chronological Table, we have inserted only such 
 events and occurrences as relate to the Government, to our Wars, and to 
 the distinguished Men who have been conspicuous either as Statesmen or 
 Commanders in our Army or Navy. To the events, we have added 
 numerous notes and comments, which make the following pages an epit- 
 ome of the history of our Country.] 
 
 1775. 
 
 April 19 Battle of Lexington, (10 M., N. W. of Boston,) the beginning of 
 the Revolutionary War, when the first blood in that contest was 
 spilt. 
 May 10 The Second Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, the First 
 
 having met Sept. 5, the year before, at the same place. 
 
 " 10 Colonels Allen and Arnold surprised and took Ticonderoga, New 
 
 York, which surrendered without the loss of a man. The same 
 
 day they took Crown Point (on the W. shore of Lake Champlaia). 
 
 " 10 Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, chosen President of the Continental 
 
 Congress. 
 
 " 15 Congress resolved to issue paper money. 
 " 20 Articles of Union and Confederation agreed on by the Thirteen 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 " 24 John Hancock chosen President of the Continental Congress. 
 " 25 The British Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne arrive at 
 
 Boston. 
 June 15 Congress unanimously elect George Washington Commander-in- 
 
 Chief of the American Army. 
 
 " 17 Battle of Bunker Hill (near Boston). British victorious, but not 
 till twice repulsed with great slaughter. British forces 3,000 ; Ame- 
 rican 1,500 ; Br. killed and wounded 1,000 ; Am. about 400. Gen. 
 Warren fell here. The English burnt Charlestowu, near Boston, 
 the same day. 
 
 " 22 Congress resolved to issue $2,000,000 in Bills cf Credit. 
 August Col. Arnold left Cambridge, Mass., with 1,000 meu to invade Ca- 
 nada. 
 
 Oct. 18 Palmonth, in Mass., burnt by the British. 
 " 22 Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress, 
 
 died. 
 Nov. 13 Montreal surrendered to the Americans under Gen. Montgomery ; 
 
 St. John's had surrendered on the 3d. 
 
 Dec. 8 Battle at Norfolk, Va. Br., under Lord Dunmore, defeated. 
 44 13 Congress resolved to fit out a navy of 13 ships.
 
 462 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 " 21 The English Parliament pass an act confiscating all American 
 vessels found floating on the water, and for impressing their crewa 
 into the British navy, without distinction of persons. 
 
 " 31 Gen. Montgomery killed in an attempt, with Col. Arnold, to cap- 
 ture Quebec, and after a hard battle the Americans were 
 compelled to surrender prisoners of war. 
 
 1776. 
 
 Jan. 1 Lord Dunmore, the Br. Governor of Virginia, burnt Norfolk and 
 
 fled. 
 Mar. 3 The Americans, under Col. Bull, burn seven English ships, laden 
 
 for Eng., near Savannah. Ga. 
 " 10 Boston plundered by British soldiers. 
 
 " 17 The Br. Army evacuate Boston, and Gen. Washington takes pos- 
 session of it. 
 
 " 18 Sir Archibald Campbell, not knowing that the English had left 
 Boston, entered the harbor with 1,700 men, all of whom were 
 made prisoners of war by Washington. 
 
 " " Congress resolved to call in and burn all the Continental money 
 
 issued prior to this date, and then issue $10.000.000 of new money. 
 
 May 3 Sir Peter Parker, with a Br. squadron of 20 sail, arrived at Cape 
 
 Fear, with Lor.l Cornwallis on board. 
 " 5 Congress declared the authority of Great Britain abolished in the 
 
 thirteen Colonies. 
 
 " 25 Congress resolved to engage the Indians asrainst the British. 
 June 8 The Americans made an unsuccessful attempt to capture some 
 of the Br. forces at Trois Kiveres, in Canada, but burnt St. Ann's 
 on the St. Lawrence river. 
 
 " 11 Congress appoint Thos. Jefferson, Jno. Adams, Benj. Franklin, 
 and Kobt. R. Livingston a Committee to prepare a Declaration of 
 Independence. 
 " 15 The British, under Sir H. Clinton, attacked Sullivan's Island, in 
 
 Charleston harbor ; and 
 " 28 They bombarded Fort Moultry, commanded by Col. Moultry, but 
 
 were driven oflf. 
 July 4 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE of the United States declared. 
 
 and published at Philadelphia. 
 July 12 Lord Howe arrived from England with a fleet and 30,000 troops, 
 
 principally Hessians. 
 
 " " The Algerines take 94 American prisoners from American ships. 
 Aug. 22 Br. troops to the number of 24,000, under Sir Win. Howe, land 
 
 on Long Island, N. Y. 
 
 " 27 Battle of Flatbush, or Long Island, near Brooklyn, when the 
 Americans were surprised by the British and Hessians, and de- 
 feated with a loss of 500 killed a/id 1,100 taken prisoners. 
 Sept. 15 The English take possession of New York. 
 Oct. 28 Battle of White Plains, '25 miles from New York. 
 Nov. 1 Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, chjsen President of the Con- 
 tinental Congress. 
 " 16 Fort Washington, on New York Island, taken by the British, but 
 
 with a loss of nearly 1,000 men. 
 Dec. 6 The British take Khocle Island. 
 " 25 Washington took 1,000 Hessians near Trenton, N. J.
 
 CHRONOLOGY 463 
 
 Deo. 20 Battle of Trenton, N. J. 
 
 Iii the latter part of this year, Congress appointed Benj. Franklin, 
 Silas Deane. and Thomas Jett'erson Commissioners to France, 
 to procure her aid. 
 
 1777. 
 
 Jan. 4 -Battle of Princeton. N. J. Loss about 400 on each side, but Am. 
 
 Gen. Mercer was killed. 
 
 Feb. 6 England granted Letters of Maique and Reprisal against Ame- 
 rican ships. 
 April 26 Uanoury, Conn., burned by the British under Gen. Tryon. 
 
 In the spring of this year Lafayette arrived in America from 
 France, to aid us in our war with England. 
 
 April John Morton of Pennsylvania, and 
 
 Way 27 Button (iwinnet, of Georgia, signers of the Declaration of -nde- 
 
 pendence. died. 
 May 24 Ool. Meigs attacked the British shipping at Sag Harbor, N.Y., and 
 
 destroyed 12 of their vessels. 
 
 June 22 The British evacuated New Brunsw'ck, N. J. 
 July 7 After a fight, the U. S. frigate Hancock was captured by three 
 
 British ships. 
 " The Americans, under Col. Livingston, were defeated by the Br. 
 
 forces in a battle at Fort Ann, N, Y. 
 " 31 The Marquis Lafayette, by a vote of Congress, was made a 
 
 M;ijor-Gen c ral at the age of 21. 
 Aug. 3 Fort Schuyler, at the head of the Mohawk River, invested by the 
 
 Br. General Gauesvoort, however, held it. 
 " 6 Gen. Herkimer was ambushed by the British and Indians at Oris- 
 
 kany. and was defeated with a loss of 400 men. 
 
 16 Battle of Bennin^ton, Vt. Americans, under Col. Stark, vic- 
 torious. 
 
 " 19 Nicholas Herkimer, a brave officer who was wounded at the bat- 
 tle of Oriskany. died. 
 
 " 22 The sie^e of 'Fort Stanwix (on the Mohawk River) was raised by 
 the British under bt. Leger, who retreated with loss of artillery, 
 tents and stores. 
 Sept. 11 Battle of lirandywine, Del. Americans, under Gen. Sullivan, 
 
 defeated. 
 18 The Continental Congress, now in session at Philadelphia, ad- 
 
 j mrned to Lancaster on account of the approach of the British. 
 ' 19 Battle of Stiilwater, N. Y. Both parties claimed the vicUry. 
 
 Am. under Gen. Gates ; Br., Gen. Burgoyue. 
 
 " 26 The English look possession of Philadelphia without opposition. 
 " 28 21? Gen. Wayne, with 1,500 men, surprised at Paoli, 20 miles 
 
 from Phila., and 3UO of his men killed. 
 Oct. 4 Battle of Germantown, near Philadelphia. Am , under Gen. 
 
 Washington, defeated by the Br. under Gen. Howe. 
 " 7 Second battle of Still water ; Am. victorious. 
 " 13 Kingston, N. Y., burnt by the British. 
 
 " 17 Gen. Burgoyne surrendered his army to Gen. Gates, at Saratoga. 
 " 22 Battle ol Ked Bank, N. J. The HessL.ns, under Count Konop, 
 
 defeated with a loss of 500 killed. 
 
 Nov. 15 Articles of Confederation adopted by the Continental Congress 
 which was the only Constitution during the war.
 
 46-i CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Dec. 11 Washington and his Army go into winter quarters at Valley 
 
 Forge, 20 miles from Philadelphia. 
 
 " 21 At this time great numbers of Am. officers and men -were pris- 
 oners of war in New York, where they wero confined in loathsome 
 jails and sugar houses, and many of them starved to death. 
 
 1778. 
 
 Mar. 4 The American frigate Alfred, 20 guns, captured by the British 
 
 ships Ariadne and Ceres. 
 
 " 11 Bills passed the English Parliament, in which every thing the Col- 
 onies had asked was granted, and Commissioners were sent to 
 America to offer terms of peace ; bnt Congress now rejected them 
 all. Soon after this, France acknowledged the Independence of 
 the United States, and entered into a Treaty of Alliance and Com- 
 merce with them, which Congress ratified. 
 
 " 21 The American Ministers, Franklin, Deane and Lee publicly r 
 ceived at the French Court. 
 
 April IS A French fleet, commanded by Comt D'Estaing, sent to the 
 States to aid them against the English. 
 
 June 12 Philip Livingston, of N. Y., a signer cf the Dec. of Independence, 
 
 died. 
 
 " 18 The English evacuated Philadelphia. 
 
 " 28 Battle of Monmouth, N. J. Washing tip commanding the Ame- 
 rican, and Lord Cornwallis the British forces. Americans vic- 
 torious. 
 
 July 4-5 Nearly 400 American troops, and (he greater part of the 
 inhabitants of the Valley of Wyoming, were massacred by the 
 Tories and Indians known to this day as (he " Wyoming Mas- 
 sacre." 
 
 Sept. 28 A Regt. of American Cavalry at Tapprm, X. Y., surprised by 
 the English, who rushed upon them with thu bayonet, and killed, 
 wounded or captured 67 of thorn. 
 
 Dec. 29 Savannah, Geo., taken by the English 100 Amnicrns killed, and 
 453 taken prisoners. 
 
 1779. 
 
 May 2 Verplank's Point, on the Hudson River, with a gaivison of 70 
 
 men, surrendered to the British, under (Jen. Clinton. 
 10 Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va., taken by the British, wht burnt 
 
 many of the houses and vessels. 
 " 31 Stony Point, on the Hudson, abandoned by the Americana, and 
 
 then taken by the English, under Gen. Clinton. 
 June C Patrick Henry, a distinguished orator and statesman, of Va., died 
 
 aged 63. 
 July 5-7 N. Haven, Conn., plundered, and Fairfield, E. Haven and Nor 
 
 walk burnt by the English. 
 " 15^Gen. \Vayue captured Stony Point from the English, who lost GO" 
 
 men ; the Americans 100. 
 " 19 Battle of Paulus-Hook, N. J. ; when the Americans, under Gea. 
 
 Lee, captured the English troops at that place. 
 
 Aug. 22 Gen. Williamson invaded the Indian country, and burnt 50,00f 
 bushels of their corn.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 465 
 
 Aug. 29" Battle of the Chemung," fought at Elniira, N. Y. Americans, 
 under Gen. Sullivan, victorious. 
 
 Sept. 23 Great battle on the coast of Scotland, between a flotilla of Ame- 
 rican and French vessels, commanded by Paul Jones, and two Br. 
 frigates. One Br. and one Am. ship sunk. 
 
 Oct. 9 The Americans made an assault on Savannah, Geo.. to re-take it 
 from the English, but were repulsed. Count Pulaski and nearly 
 1,000 men were killed. 
 
 Joseph Hews, of North Carolina, Thomas Lynch, of S. Carolina, 
 and George Ross, of Pa., all signers of the Dec. of Independ- 
 ance, died this year. 
 
 1780. 
 
 Hay 6 Fort Monltry, at Charleston, S. C., surrendered to the English, who 
 
 bombarded the city at the same time. 
 
 " 12 Charleston also surrendered. Gen. Lincoln and the troops under 
 his command become prisoners of war, to the number of 2,500, 
 with 400 cannon. 
 June 13 Maj. Gen. Gates ordered by Congress to take command of the 
 
 Southern department. 
 
 " 23 Battle of Springfield, N. J. The British burnt the town. 
 July 10 A French fleet, with Count Rochambeau and 6,000 French soldiers 
 on board, arrived at Rhode Island, for the purpose of assisting the 
 Americans against England. 
 Aug. 6 Battle at Hanging Rock ; GOO Americans, under Sumpter, almost 
 
 entirely destroyed. 
 
 " 16 Battle at Sanders Creek, near Camden, S.C. Lord Cornwallia 
 commanding the English, and Gen. Gates the Americans, who 
 were defeated, and Baron DeKalb was mortally wounded. 
 Bept. The traitor Benedict Arnold agrees to i-urrender West Point, 
 N. Y., to the English; Major Andre, the British officer who nego- 
 tiated with Arnold, was soon after captured and hung, and the 
 plot failed. 
 
 John Hart, of N. J., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, 
 died this year. 
 
 " 21 Major Andre, the British spy. landed in the night from the 
 British ship Vulture, and proceeded to West Point to confer with 
 Arnold for the surrender of that port. 
 
 " 23 Major Andre, taken at Tarrytown, and hung, Oct. 2. 
 Oct. 7 Battle of King's Mountain, S. C. 300 British killed and wounded, 
 
 800 prisoners, and 1,500 stand of arms taken. 
 
 " 25 Gen. Marion, of S. C., attacked 200 British and Tories, under Col. 
 Tyne, killed and took one-half of them. 
 
 1781. 
 
 Jan. 17 Battle of Cowpens, S. C. ; Col. Morgan commanding the American, 
 
 and Col. Tarleton the English forces. Americans victorious. 
 Feb. 23 Geo. Taylor, of Pa., and Feb. 28, Richard Stockton, of N. J , 
 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence, died. 
 March 15 Battle at Guilford Court House, N. C. ; Gen. Green commanding 
 
 the American, and Lord Cornwallis the English forces; the latter 
 
 victorious. Loss of both about equal.
 
 4:66 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 April 25 Battle of Camden, S. C. ; Gen. Green commanding the American, 
 
 ami Lord Itawdun the English forces. The latter victorious. 
 May 21 Ihe Kritish Fort Dreadnought succumbed to the Americans under 
 
 Gen. Lee. 
 " 28 The U. S. frigate Alliance. 32 guns. Capt. Barry, captured the 
 
 British sloops Atalanta, 16 gun*, and Trespasser. 14 guns. 
 June 5 Fort Cornwallis, at Augusta, Geo., surrendered to the Americans, 
 
 with 300 men. 
 
 " 20 Lord Cornwallis evacuated Richmond, Va., and 
 July 4 Wiliiamsburgh. Va. 
 Sept. 6 Fort Griswold taken by the English, under the traitor Arnol 1. and 
 
 the garrison put to the sword. Col. Ledyard, who commanded the 
 
 fort, was run through with his own sw'ord, after he had sum n- 
 
 dered. The same day, New London, Conn., was burnt by the 
 
 same infamous wretch. 
 " 8 Battle of Eutaw springs. S. C. ; Gen. Green commanding the 
 
 American, and Col. Stewart the English forces. 
 Oct. 19 Battle of Yorktown, Va., when alter several days' fijrhting. Lord 
 
 Coriiwallis with 7000 troops surrendered to Gen. Washington. 
 25 <"ol. Willett, of N. Y., defeated 600 Eng.ish troops, under 
 
 Major Ross. 
 Dec. 31 Henry Laurens, U. S. Minister to France, was liberated from 
 
 prison, in London, and exchanged for the British Gen. Burgoyne. 
 
 1782. 
 
 March 4 Resolutions passed the English TTonse of Commons in favor of 
 peace between England and her American Colonies-inconsequence 
 of which very few military operations were carried on this year. 
 
 April 19 The independence uf the United states acknowledged by Holland. 
 
 July 11 The British evacuate Savannah. Geo.. and Gen. Wayne took pos- 
 session of it, who def/ated a body of British troops near that city 
 about the same time. 
 
 Sept. 30 Yorktown, Va., invested by the American and French armies, 
 under Washington and Hoehambeau. 
 
 Dec. 16 The British burnt Fort Arbuthnot, and a new fort on Sullivan's 
 
 Island. S. C. 
 
 " 20 The U. S. frigate Charleston, of 40 guns, was (after on 18 hours' 
 chase) capturtd by the British ships Quebec and Diomede. The 
 first American 74-gun ship was built this year at 1'ortsmouth, N. 11. 
 
 1783. 
 
 Jan. 20 re3ation of hostilities agreed upon between England and the 
 
 United States. 
 Feb. 5 Independence of the United States acknowledged by Sweden. 
 
 ' 25 Independence of the United States acknowledged by D nniark. 
 March 24 Independence of the United States acknowledged by Spain. 
 July Independence of the United States acknowledged by Russia. 
 April 19 Cessation of hostilities between England and the United States 
 proclaimed ju^t eight yeaia from the day on which the revolu- 
 tionary war commenced. Estimated loss of mea in this war, 
 70,000.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 467 
 
 June 18 Washington announces to the Governors of the thirteen Colonies 
 
 th^tt he would soon resign the command of the army. 
 July 21 Three hundred of the revolutionary soldi rs, with fixed bayonets, 
 
 surrounded he liuilding in which Congress were assembled, and 
 
 ('emanded relief from their sufferings 
 Sept. 3 Treaty of peace between England and the United States signed, 
 
 and the independence of the United states acknowledged by the 
 
 former. 
 
 Oct. 18 Proclamation for disbanding the U R. army issued. 
 Nov. 25 New York evacuated by the English troops, and in December 
 
 they evacuated Charleston. S. C. 
 Dec. 4 Washington took leave of the officers of the American army in 
 
 New Y,7rk. 
 " 24 Washington resigned his office as c^mmander-in- chief of the army, 
 
 and del.vered up his commission to congress at Annapolis, mid 
 
 while it was in sess ; on. Caesar Rodney, of Delaware, one of the 
 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence, d.ed this year. 
 
 1784. 
 
 Feb. First voyage from New York to China. 
 
 Oct. 22 Treaty between the United states and the six nations (of Indians) 
 concluded at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N. Y. 
 
 1785. 
 
 July 9_Treaty between the United States and Prussia. 
 " 13 Stephen Hopkins, of Hhode Island, a signer of the Declaration of 
 
 Independence, died. 
 Nov. 28 William Whipple, of New Hampshire, a signer of the Declaration 
 
 of Independence, died. 
 
 1786. 
 
 June 19 Gen. Nathaniel Green, a dist'nguished officer in the Revolutionary 
 war, died, aged 4(5. He was in the battles of Trenton. Princeton, 
 Gerrnantown, Moumouth, and Eutaw Springs, which closed the 
 war at the South. 
 
 This year was distinguished by a Rebellion which broke out in 
 the State of Mass.. also in New Hampshire, called Shay's Rebellion, 
 on account of the heavy taxes which those States imposed on the 
 people to sustain their credit. 
 
 1787. 
 
 Jan. 1 Arthur Middleton, of South Carolina, a signer of the Declaration 
 of Independence, died. 
 In July a large extent of territory north of the Ohio river was 
 
 formed into the Northwestern Territory. 
 Sept. 17 The Constitution of the United States agreed upon in Convention 
 
 at Philadelphia. 
 
 Oct. 5 Thomas Stone, of Maryland, one of the signers of the Declaration 
 of Independence, died.
 
 4:68 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 1788. 
 
 Previous to and during this year eleven of the States adopted the United 
 States Constitution. 
 
 1789. 
 
 Jan. 4 Thomas NYlson, of Virginia, a signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, died. 
 Feb. 13 Ethan Allen, one of the most distinguished revolutionary heroes, 
 
 died. 
 April 30 Washington inaugurated the first President of the United States, 
 
 and the Government went into operation under the Constitution. 
 July 4 Congress passed the first act imposing duties on imported goods. 
 " 27 The Department and Secretary of " Foreign Affairs," created by 
 Act of Congress, but changed to Department and Secretary of 
 State, in the following September. 
 
 Aug. 7 The Department and Secretary of War created by Act of Congress. 
 ' 23 Silas Dean, U. S. Minister to France in 1776, died in England in 
 
 extreme poverty. 
 Sept. 2 The Department and Secretary of the Treasury created by Act 
 
 of Congress. 
 Sept. 22 The Post-office Department temporarily established, and the 
 
 office of Post-Master-General created by a law of Congress. 
 " 24 The act for the establishment of the Judicial System of the U. S. 
 passed. By this act, the U. S. Supreme Court, the Circuit and 
 District Courts were created. Also the offices of the U. S. District 
 Attorneys and Marshalls. 
 
 In this month, Congress passed itwo-thirds of both Houses con- 
 curring) a resolution, proposing ten amendments to the Con- 
 stitution, which were adopted by three-fourths of the States. 
 These are the ten first amendments to that instrument. 
 
 1790. 
 
 March 1 Congress passed an Act, providing for taking the first Census 
 
 this year. 
 
 " 24 First Naturalization Law passed. 
 April 15 First Patent Eight Law passed. 
 " 30 Treason and piracy were defined by Act of Congress, and death 
 
 by hanging was made the penalty in both cases. 
 May 29 U. S. Constitution adopted by llhode Island. 
 " 31 First Act passed for secmiag Copy-Rights for the benefit of 
 authors. 
 
 Gen. Israel Putnam, one of the most intrepid officers of the revo- 
 lution, died this month. 
 
 July 16 Seat of Government, wh ch was at this time at New York, was by 
 Act of Congress removed to Philadelphia, where it was to remain 
 till A.D. 1SCO, when it was to be permanently fixed at Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 During this year, Virginia and Maryland ceded the District of 
 Columbia to the United States as a location for the seat of 
 government. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin, of Pa., William Hooper, of N. C., and Francis 
 Hopkinson, of N. J., all signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, died this year. 
 Tennessee was formed into a territorial government this year.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 469 
 
 1791. 
 
 Feb. 25 First United States Bank chartered by Congress, with a capital 
 not to exceed $10,000.000; charter to continue for twenty years. 
 
 March 4 Vermont admitted into the Union as a State, making the four- 
 teenth State. 
 
 Nov. 4 (Jen. St. Clair attacked in camp by the Indians, eighty miles north 
 of Cincinnati. O., and lost 600 out of 2,000 msn. (See further.) 
 
 Dec. 20 The first United States Bank commenced business in Phila- 
 delphia. 
 This year, by Act of Congress, a tax was laid on distilled spirits. 
 
 This was the first attempt to raise revenue by internal taxes. 
 Benj. Harrison, of Va., one of the signers of the Declaration of 
 Independence, died this year. 
 
 died this yea 
 e preceding y 
 bloody war with the Indians north of the Ohio river. 
 
 During this and the preceding year, the country was involved in a 
 "t)lo< 
 
 1792. 
 
 Feb. 16 BOUNTIES TO FISHING VESSELS, first Act for, passed. 
 " 20 An Act permanently to establish Post Offices and Post Roads in 
 
 the United States. 
 April 2 The Act for establishing the U. S. Mint at Philadelphia passed, 
 
 directing what pieces of coin should be made. 
 
 " 14 First Act apportioning the Representatives in Congress among 
 the several States passed ; this was based on the first census, taken 
 in 1790. 
 May 8 First Act of Congress, providing for a Uniform Militia System 
 
 throughout the United States. 
 
 June 1 Kentucky admitted into the Union. She was the second admis- 
 sion, making the fifteenth State. 
 
 Dec. 8 Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, first President of the Continen- 
 tal Congress, died. 
 
 In the autumn of this year, the second Presidential election 
 occurred, when Washington was unanimously ree'lected Presi- 
 dent, and John Adams Vice-President. 
 
 1793. 
 
 Early in this year, Mr. Genet, Minister of the French Republic to the United 
 States, arrived. But his conduct was so mischievous, that Presi- 
 dent Washington requested the French Government to recall him, 
 which was done. 
 
 Feb. 12 First Fugitive Slave Law passed. 
 
 " is The President's Salary, fixed by Act of Congress at $25,000 per 
 year, where it has remained ever since. 
 
 March 9 It was enacted by Congress that every male citizen, between the 
 ages of 18 and 45, sho;ilii ba enrolled in the mili-ia. 
 
 July 23 Koger Sherman, of Conn., one of the signers of the Declaration 
 of Independence, died. 
 
 Oct. 8 John Hancock, of Mass., the first man who signed the Declaration 
 of Independence, died. 
 
 Dec. 31 Thomas Jefferson resigned his office of Secretary of State.
 
 470 CHEONOLOGY. 
 
 1194. 
 
 March 22 The law passed prohibiting the Slave trade, which maile it a 
 
 cr.me to bring slaves into <>r t;ike ihem out of the country. 
 " 26 Congress bid an embargo on all vessels in United --tales ports 
 for .(0 davs. which was extended to 60 days. 
 
 This year the eleventh Amen Iment of the ' 'onstitution was recom- 
 mended by resolution of Congress, which was adopted by tue 
 States. ' 
 
 June 4 The Pres dent was authorized by Congress to lay embargoes on all 
 vessels in any of the ports of the United States, an I to revoke the 
 same whenever he deemed it necessary for the interests of the 
 
 " 19 Richard H. I.ee, nf Va. ; Sept. Abraham Clark, of Nf. H. ; and 
 Nov 15 John Witherspoon, of N. J., three signers of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence, died. 
 
 Ang. 19 Battle of Maumee, in Ohio, when Gen. Wayne, with a force of 
 3,000 men, met and routed the Indians, and laid their country 
 waste. 
 
 In the autumn of this year, the Whisky Rebellion broke out in Pa. 
 This was a resistance principally by the opponents of the 
 administration to the law of Congress imposing a tax on the 
 manufacture of whisky. 
 Nov. 28 Baron riteuben died at Steubenville, N. Y., aged 61. 
 
 1795. 
 
 Jan. 23 Gen. Sullivan, a gallant and heroic officer of the Revolution, 
 
 died. 
 Jan. 29 Congress passed an Act establishing a Uniform Rule of Xatural'za- 
 
 lion, which was more stringent thau a former law on the samo 
 
 subject 
 May 19 Josiah B.irtlett. of N. H., one of the signers of the Declaration of 
 
 Independence, died. 
 Nov. 28 A peace was concluded with Algiers, with whom a short naval 
 
 war had betn carried on by the Uuited estates this year. 
 
 1798. 
 
 Jan. 1 By Act of Congress, Tennessee was admitted as a State, making 
 
 the 18th state. 
 5 >arnuel Huntington, of Connecticut, a signsr of the Declaration of 
 
 Independence, died. 
 
 June Tennessee admitted as a State. 
 Sept. v\ ashington issued his Kim- we, I Address to the people of the U. S., 
 
 having determined to retire from public life at the end of his second 
 
 presidential term of office. 
 
 In the autumn of this year, the third Presidential Election took 
 
 place, which ri suited in the choice of John Adams. 
 Dec. 14 Gen. Wayne, Comniauder-in-Chief of the United States forces, 
 
 died at Presque Isle, aged 51.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 471 
 
 1797. 
 
 March 4 John Adams inan-rurated the second President. 
 June 14 Ongress enacted that no citizen of the United States shotiM 
 ensrage in privateering a<ra nst any nation in amity with ns 
 Francis L. I.ee. of Va. ; Carter Hraxt >n. of Va. ; and Oliver W a t- 
 cott, of Cnnn., all signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
 died this year. 
 
 During this year the French Republic became exasperated at the 
 United States because they refused to act with France : gainst 
 England, these two powers being then at war. France curried 
 her spiteful feelings so far. as to drive our Minister. Mr Pinck- 
 ney. out of the country. She also authorized the capture and 
 confiscation of American vessels. This state of things came 
 near involving the two nations in a war; but fortunately it was 
 soou afterwards settled. 
 
 1798. 
 
 April 3 The Navy Department created by Act of Congress. Up to this 
 
 time we had no navy department. 
 
 " 7 Mississippi organized into a Territorial Government. 
 11 25 An Act of Congress authorized the President to order any alien to 
 leave the country who he had reasonable grounds to believe was 
 h TC for treasonable purposes. 
 
 July 7 and 9 t 'ongress authorize the capture of Frpnch vessels ; and all 
 treaties with France were declared void. But these difficulties 
 were soon after settled by treaty. 
 
 " Uudsr an apprehension that tin-re would be war with France. Gen. 
 Washington was again appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 
 army. 
 
 During this and the ensuing year, the Alien and Sedition Laws 
 were passed. These laws rendered John Adams' administra- 
 tion very unpopular. 
 
 Lewis Morris, of N. Y. ; James Wilson, of Pa. ; and Geo. Read, of 
 Del., all signers of the Declaration of Independence, died 
 this year. 
 
 1799. 
 
 Fob. 9 Battle between the United States frigate Constitution, of 36 guns. 
 I 'apt. Truxton, and the French frigate Insurgent, of 48 guns and 
 410 men. The Insurgent was captured. 
 
 By Act of Congress, Commercial Intercourse with France was 
 prohibited. Our ships were not allowed to enter French 
 ports. 
 Dec. 19 Washington died, in the 68th year of his age. 
 
 William 1'aca, of Md.. one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, died this year.
 
 4:72 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 1800. 
 
 Jan. 23 Edward Rutledge, of S. C., ono of the signers of the Declaration 
 
 of Independence, died. 
 Feb. 1 Battle between the United States frigate Constitution, Capt. Trux- 
 
 ton, and the French frigate La Vengeance, La Vengeance whippec. 
 April 4 An Act establishing a uniform system of Bankruptcy throughout 
 
 the United States passed by Congress. 
 May 7 Congress pass an Act to organize the Territory of Indiana. 
 
 In the summer of this year the seat of Government was removed 
 to Washington, and the Mississippi Territory was organized 
 into a territorial government. 
 Sept. 30 A treaty was concluded between the United States and France, 
 
 now in the hands of Napoleon Buonaparte, and the long-standing 
 
 difficulties between the two countries were amicably settled. 
 
 In the autumn of this year, the fourth Presidential election occurred, 
 resulting in the choice of Thos. Jefferson. 
 
 1SO1. 
 
 Mar. 4 Thomas Jefferson Inaugurated the fourth President of the United 
 
 States. 
 June 10 The Bashaw of Tripoli, one of the petty Princes of the Barbary 
 
 States in the North of Africa, declared war against the U. States. 
 " 14 Benedict Arnold, the Traitor, died in London. 
 
 1802. 
 
 Jan. 14 An act apportioning the Representatives in Congress among the 
 States, based on the census of 1800, by which a member was al- 
 lowed for every 33,000 population. 
 Ohio was admitted into the Union this year, making the 17th State. 
 
 April 14 Congress pass a new Naturalization law, repealing all former 
 laws on this subject. > 
 
 May 3 The City of Washington incorporated by act of Congress. * 
 
 In October the Spanish Governor of Louisiana (which belonged 
 to Spain at this time,) closed the port of New Orleans against 
 the United States. 
 
 1803. 
 
 Oct. 31 The U. S. frigate Philadelphia, Capt. Bainbridge, ran on a rock in 
 the harbor of Tripoli, whon the Tripolitans captured her. The 
 Philadelphia was one of a number of U. S. ships sent into the 
 Mediterranean sea to punish the Tripolitans for their piratical de- 
 predations upon our commerce. 
 
 Dec. 20 The United States took possession of Louisiana, which they had 
 bought this year of France for $15,000,000. 
 
 Matthew Thornton, of N. Y., Samuel Adams of Mass., and Francis 
 Lewis of N. Y., all signers of the Dec. of Independence, died 
 this year.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 473 
 
 1804. 
 
 Feb. 2 George Walton, of Geo. ; and May 11, Robert Treat Paine, of 
 
 Mass.. signers of the Dec. of Independence, died. 
 
 " 3 Lieut Uecatur. of the U. S. navy, with a small schooner, in the 
 night, ran into the harbor of Tripoli and burnt the U. S. frigate 
 Philadelphia, which had been captured by the Tripolitans. 
 
 July 12 Gen. Alexander Hamilton died of a wound received in a duel with 
 Aaron Burr, the Vice- President of the United States. 
 
 Aug. 3 Com. Prebble, Commanding the American Squadron in the Medi- 
 terranean sea, had a severe action with several Tripo'.itan gun- 
 boats, and captured a number of them ; and then, in this, and the 
 following months, he bombarded Tripoli several times. 
 
 Sept. 12 The American Squadron in the Mediterranean sea captured, near 
 Tripoli, two vessels loaded with wheat, for the city. 
 
 Nov. 18 Gen. Philip Schuyler died at Albany. N. Y. 
 
 In the fall of this year the fifth Presidential election took place, at 
 which Jeflerson was re-elected for President, and George 
 Clinton, of New York, Vice- President. 
 
 1805. 
 
 June 3 A Treaty of peace was made with Tripoli, and the American 
 prisoners liberated. 
 
 This year Michigan, which was a part of the Great North- Western 
 Territory, became distinct, Congress having established a ter- 
 ritorial government for it. 
 
 June 11 Michigan Territory organized into a Territorial government. 
 Sept. 27 William Moultry, a distinguished officer of the Revolution, who 
 so bravely defended Sullivan's Island in 1776, died. 
 
 1S06- 
 
 April 10 Gen. Gates, a very distinguished General in the Revolutionary 
 war, died in New York. 
 
 May 8 Robert Morris, of Pa. ; June 8 George Wythe, of Virginia ; July 
 11 James Smith, of Pa., all signers of the Declaration of In- 
 dependence, died. 
 
 Oct. 25 Henry Knox, a Major-General in the Revolutionary war, and 
 Secretary of War under Washington, died. 
 
 1807. 
 
 Feb. 10 The United States Coast Survey ordered by act of Congress. 
 
 Mar. 2 Congress enacted a law, prohibiting the Slave trade from Africa 
 or any other country, after 1808. 
 
 June 22 The British ship Leopard attacked the American frigate Chesa- 
 peake, and took four men out of her, claiming them as British sub- 
 jects: this, and other similar acts, led to the war of 1812 with 
 .England.
 
 4:74 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 July 2 President Jefferson ordered all British ships of war, iu any of the 
 American waters, to leave. 
 
 During this year Col. Aaron Burr was tried for Treason, but the 
 proof was insufficient to convict him. 
 
 Ang. 25 Com Prebble, of the United states Navy, who subdued Tripoli, 
 died. 
 
 Nov. 26 Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the United States, died. 
 
 Dec. 17 The Mil*n decrees issued by N'apoleon Buonaparte, denationalizing 
 all vessels that submitted to the British Order in Council this led 
 to the capture of American vessels by French cruisers, and came 
 near causing a w.ir between the United States and France. 
 
 Dec. 'Li :ongress laid an Embargo on all the Shipping of the U. States. 
 This was done in retaliation towards England and France for their 
 unfriendly acts towards us. But this annihilated all our foreign 
 commerce ; became unpopular, and was repealed in 1809. 
 
 1808. 
 
 Jan. 1 The act of Congress passed in 1804, abolishing the Slave trade, 
 went into effect this day. 
 
 1809. 
 
 Feb. 3 Illinois organized into a Territorial government. 
 
 liar. 1 Congress repealed tiie Embargo it laid on all American vesseli, 
 
 Dec. 22, 1807. 
 
 " 4 .James Mad;son, inaugurated the fourth President. 
 " 9 Thomas Haywood. of South Carolina, one of the signers of the 
 
 D -c. of Independence, dieJ. And on the 2Gth of Oct., John Penn, 
 
 another of them. died. 
 Aug. 9 President Jefferson, on receipt of information that the late Treaty 
 
 with England was not ratified, suspended all intercourse with 
 
 that country. 
 
 1810. 
 
 Mar. 23 Napoleon Buonaparte, who. at this t'me was at the head of the 
 French government, issuad a decree by which all American ves- 
 sels and cargoes arriving in any French ports, were ordered to be 
 seized and condemned ; but in the following Nov. this, and all 
 other hostile decrees, were revoked. 
 
 1811. 
 
 Feb. 26 Naval Hospitals established by act of Congress. 
 
 May 16 Naviil action between the U. States ship President and the Eng- 
 lish ship Little Bett, which was captured. 
 
 June 1 (Jen. W. Eaton died, distinguished for his heroic conduct in the 
 expedition against Tripoli.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 475 
 
 June 19 Samuel Chase, a Judge of the Supreme Court, died. He was also 
 one of the signers of the Pec. of Independence. 
 
 Aug. 2 Williams, of Conn., another of the signers, died. 
 
 N'ov. 7 The frontier Indians at this time were very hostile to tho 
 United States ; and on this day they attacked our troopa com- 
 manded by Gen. Harrison at Tippecanoe ; a bloody battle ensued, 
 and the Indians were defeated. 
 
 Dec. 2 The third apportionment of Representatives among the several 
 States, based on the census of 1810, by which one Representative 
 was allowed for every 35.000 people. 
 
 1812. 
 
 Mar. 4 The Charter of tho United States Bank expired by its own lim- 
 itation. 
 April 4 Congress laid an Embargo on all vessels in the ports of the 17. 
 
 States. This was done in anticipation of a war with England. 
 " 8 Lousiana admitted into the Union, making tbe 18th State. 
 ' 20 George Clinton, Vice-President of the United States, died. 
 " 25 The General Land Office established at Washington. 
 " 20 The U. S. frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, captured two English 
 
 ships in the Pacific ocean. 
 
 June 4 Missouri organized into a Territorial government. 
 " 18 The President, in conformity with an act of Congress passed a 
 
 few days before, declared war with England. 
 July 12 Gen. Hull, with 2,000 troops, invades Canada. 
 Aug. 8 Gen. Hull, with his troops, evacuate Canada and cross over to 
 
 Detroit. 
 " 9 Major Van Horn met a few British and Indians under the famous 
 
 Chief Tecumseh, and routed them with considerable loss. 
 " 15 The British General Brock summoned the City of Detroit to sur- 
 render, which summons Gen. Hull, moved with cowardice or 
 treason, basely obeyed. 
 
 " 15 Battle of Fort Chicago ; which, after a bloody contest, surrender- 
 ed to the Indians. The men and women were all murdered after 
 the surrender. 
 
 " 19 The American frigate Constitution, of 44 guns, Capt. Hull, en- 
 gaged the English frigate Guerrier, and in'half a hour the G. lost 
 half her men and was a wreck. 
 
 Oct. 13 Queenstown, Upper Canada, captured by the U. S. troops under 
 Gen. Solomon Van Ranssalaer ; but the English were reinforced 
 and recaptured it. They were commanded by Gen. Brock, who 
 was killed in this buttle. 
 
 ' 18 The U- S. sloop of war Wasp, Capt. Johnes, captured the British 
 brig Frolic, on the coast of North Carolina, after a bloody fight of 
 three-fourths of an hour ; but both were recaptured the same day 
 by an English 74-gun ship. 
 
 " 25 The frigate United States. Capt. Decatur, engaged with the Eng- 
 lish frigate Macedonian, which struck her colors after an action ot 
 two hours This occurred west of the Canary Islands. 
 Nov. 22 The British frigate Southampton captured the U. S. brig Vixen. 
 after a severe action.
 
 476 CHBONOLOGY. 
 
 Dec. 29 The U. S. frigate Constitution, Cora. Bainbridge, captured the 
 British frigate Java, and burned her off the coast of Brazil. 
 During this year our men-of-war and privateers captured nearly 
 300 English vessels a year of blood and devastation ! Horrid 
 war 1 1 f 
 
 1813. 
 
 Jan. 17 The English frigate Narcissus, capta^d the U. S. brig Vixen, IV 
 guns. 
 
 " 18 A detachment of U. 9. troops, under Cols. Lewis and Allen, at- 
 tacked Prenchtown, (now Monroe) in Mich., and routed the Eng- 
 lish troops there. 
 
 " 22 The British troops and Indians, under Gen. Proctor, attacked the 
 Americans in the same place, who surrendered upon conditions, 
 which were basely violated by the English. 
 
 " 23 George Clymer, of Pa., one of the signers of the Dec. of In- 
 dependence, died. 
 
 Feb. 8 The United States government borrowed $16,000,000 to carry on 
 the war. 
 
 24 Naval battle off the coast of Demarara, between the U. S. sloop 
 of war Hornet, Capt. Lawrence, and the British brig Peacock, 
 which was sunk in fifteen minutes. 
 
 Mar. U The Delaware River blockaded by several English ships. 
 April 19 Benj. Rush, of Pa., a celebrated Physician and Statesman, and 
 one of the signers of the Dec. of Independence, died. 
 
 " 27 The Americans, under Gen. Pike, capture York, (now Toronto) 
 
 Canada, with a large quantity of public property. 
 
 May 1 The British Gen. Proctor attacked Fort Meigs, Ohio, commanded 
 by Gen. Harrison. 
 
 " 5 Gen. Celay's troops attacked the besiegers and dispersed them, but 
 
 8 while in pursuit, were themselves captured. 
 
 " 20 The U. 8. frigate Congress, Capt. Smith, captured the English 
 brig Jean ; and on the 22d, the brig Diana, of 10 gnus. 
 
 " 27 The English troops, under Sir George Provost, attack Sackett's 
 Harbor, N. Y.. but were repulsed ; and, on the same day, the 
 Americans took Fort George, on the Niagara river. 
 
 June 1 The U. S. frigate Chesapeake, Capt. Lawrence, was captured by 
 the British frigate Shannon, after a terrible and blood v battle 
 Capt. Lawrence, and almost every officer on board, was killed. 
 
 " 20 The English make an attack on Oswego, N. Y., but were re- 
 pulsed. 
 
 " 25 The British Admiral, Cockburn, ordered the village of Hampton, 
 
 Va., to be pillaged. 
 July 31 Pittsburgh, N. Y., taken by the British. 
 
 ' " Com. Ohauncey took York, Upper Canada, and carried off the 
 
 stores of the English army. 
 
 Aug. 2 The English attack our fort at Sandusky, Ohio, bat were bravely 
 repulsed by the Americans, under Major Crogan. 
 
 " " Congress laid a direct Tax of $3,000,000, and apportioned it 
 among the several States. This was done to support the war with 
 England at this time. 
 
 " 12 Samuel Osgood, for a time Postmaster General, died, aged 65.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 477 
 
 Aug. 13 The British ship Alert attacked the U. S. frigate Essex, but struck 
 her colors in eight minutes. 
 
 " 14 The U. S. brig Argus was captured, after a severe battle -with the 
 British brig Pellican. 
 
 " 30 A party of Creek Indians capture Fort Minis, in Ala., and massa- 
 cre nearly 300 men, -women and children. 
 
 Sept. 5 The British brig Boxer, after a fight of forty minutes, surrendered 
 to the American brig Enterprise, on the coast of Maine, 
 
 " 10 Battle on Lake Erie between nine U. S. vessels, commanded by 
 Coin. Perry, and a squadron of six English, commanded by Com. 
 Barclay, all of which surrendered to Com. Perry. 
 
 '* 27 (Jen. Harrison took Maiden, in Upper Canada, evacuated by the 
 
 English un'Jer Gen. Proctor. 
 
 Oct. 5 Battle of the Thames, (Upper Canada) eighty miles from Detroit. 
 Here the great Indian Chief, Tecumseh, who was confederate with 
 the English, was slain. Gen. Harrison commanded the U. States 
 troops, and Gen. Proctor the British, who were nearly all killed 
 or taken prisoners. 
 
 " 25 Battle between the U. S. frigate Congress, Capt. Smith, and the 
 
 British ship Rose, which was destroyed. 
 
 Nov. 3 Col. Coffee attacked 200 of the Cieek Indians, and killed every 
 one of them in retaliation for what they had done at Fort Mima. 
 A number of battles with the Creeks followed this, during this and 
 the next year, and in Jan. 1814, in which nearly all their warriors 
 were killed, and thus ended the Creek war. 
 
 " 11 Battle at Williamsburgh, Canada. American loss 300 ; English 
 
 less than 200. 
 
 Dec. 13 Congress laid an Embargo on all ships and vessels in all the ports 
 of the United States. This was to cut oft all trade with England. 
 
 " 19 Fort Niagara captured by the British, with 250 men and 25 can- 
 non ; and. on the same day, Lewiston and Tuscarora Villages, N. 
 Y., were burnt by the Indians. 
 
 " 30 Buffalo and Black Bock, burnt by the British. 
 
 1814. 
 
 Mar. 24 Congress authorize the President to borrow $25,000,000, to carry 
 
 on the war with England. 
 " 28 The U. 8. frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, was captured in the harbor 
 
 of Valparaiso by two British men-of-war. 
 
 April 24 The British took Washington, and burnt the public buildings. 
 " 23 Batt e between the U. S. sloop-of-war Peacock, and the English 
 man-of-war Epervier, which was captured with $118,000 in money. 
 May 6 The English, under Gen. Drummond, attacked Oswego, N. Y. ; 
 
 the Americans had to retreat. 
 
 June 9 The U. S. brig Uattie Snake, Lieut. Renshaw, captured the Brit- 
 ish brig John. 
 " 28 The sloop of war Wasp, Capt. Blakeley, captured the British 
 
 sloop Reindeer, in nineteen minutes. 
 July 3 The Americans take Fort Erie from the English. 
 " 4 Battle of Chippewa, in Canada. U. S. troops, under Gen. Scott, 
 
 victorious. 
 
 M 24 Battle of Bridgewater, (or Lun-Jy's Line) near Niagara Falls- 
 Gen. Scott, commanding U. 8. forces, was victorious.
 
 478 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Aug. 3 The British crossed Niagara River to attack Buffalo, but were r 
 
 pulsed by 250 riflemen, under Morgan. 
 8 First meeting of U. S. and English Commissioners at Ghent, (i<\ 
 
 Belgium) to treat for Peace, and a Treaty was concluded and 
 
 signed on the 24th Dec. following. 
 
 ' 9-10-11 Stonintrton. Conn., bombarded by the British. 
 " 15 The British attack Fort Eric, but were severely repulsed by Gen. 
 
 Gaines, who commanded ths U. S. troops, with a loss of nearly 
 
 1,000 men. 
 < 25 Washington evacuated by the British troops under command of 
 
 Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn. 
 " 30 Alexandria. Va., capitulated to the British army, and delivered 
 
 up the public property and shipping, to save the city from being 
 
 burnt. 
 Sept. 1 The fj. S. sloop of war Wasp, Capt. Blakeley, fell in with ten 
 
 British vessels, convoyed by a 74-gun ship Capt. 13. sunk one and 
 
 burnt another. 
 < 6-11 Battle of Pittsburgh, or Lake Champlaine for it was on 
 
 both land and water Com. McDonough commanding the Ameri- 
 can fleet, and Com. Downie the English, whose loss was nearly 
 
 2.500 men. 
 " 12-13-14 Battles three days in succession, near Baltimore, one of 
 
 which is called the battle of Baltimore, and the other the battle of 
 
 Fort McHenry Gen. Ross, the English commander, was killed the 
 
 flrst day. 
 
 Kov. 7 Pensacola (Fla.) taken by Gen. Jackson. 
 " 23 Eibridge Gerry, of Mass., once Vice-President, died. 
 
 In Dec., of this year, the celebrated Hartford Convention met. 
 
 1815. 
 
 Jan. 8 Battle of New Orleans Gen. Jackson commanding the U. States 
 troops. 6,0i10 in number; (Jen. Parkenham the English, 12,000 in 
 number. Parkenham and 700 of his officers and men were slain, 
 and 1,000 wounded ; and, astonishing to say, only seven Ameri- 
 c;iD3 were killed and six wounded. This closed the second war 
 with England on the land ; yet there were a number of naval bat- 
 tles after this, because the iiewg of peace was not heard in time to 
 prevent thum. 
 
 " 15 The U. S. frigate President, Com. Decatur, was captured by four 
 English ships, after a chase of eighteen hours. 
 
 Feb. 11 Fort Boyer, at Mobile, with a garrison of 375 men, surrendered 
 to 5,000 English troops, under Lambert, with a fleet of thirteen 
 ships. 
 " 18 The Treaty of Peace concluded at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1314, ratified 
 
 by the U. 8. Senate. 
 " 24 The Secretary of the Treasury was authorized by Congress to is 
 
 sue $'25,000.000 in Treasury notes. 
 
 ' 28 Battle between the U. S. frigate Constitution, Capt. Stewart, and 
 the English frigate Cyane. and sloop Levant, ami both of them 
 were captured by the Constitution, off the island of Madeira. 
 
 Mar. 3 Congress declares war against Algiers, in Africa; and during 
 this month the U. S. frigate Hornet captured the British brig Pan- 
 guin, off the coast of Brazil.
 
 COEONOLOGY. 4:79 
 
 May 3 James McHenry, one of the signers of the Dec. of Independence, 
 died at Baltimore. 
 
 June 17 Com. Decatur, in the Mediterranean sea, captured an Algerian 
 frigate of 46 guns. A Treaty was thereupon negotiated between 
 the United States and Algiers ; after which, these piratical bar- 
 barians behaved themselves. 
 
 " 30 The U. S. vessel Peacock had a fight with the British ship Nau- 
 tilus, which surrendered in fifteen or twenty minutes. This took 
 place in the Straits of Lunda. 
 
 1816. 
 
 In this year the second U. S. Bank was chartered, with a capital 
 of $35.000,000. to continue twenty years. 
 
 Indiana, (a part of the Great North- Western Territory,) was ad- 
 mitted as a State this year making the 19th State. 
 Nov. 5 Governeur Morris, an eminent statesman, died at Morrissania, 
 
 near New York. 
 
 1817. 
 
 Mar. 3 By a law passed this day, all American citizens were enjoined to 
 observe our Neutrality Laws, and forbidden from rendering any 
 aid to any nation who was at war with any other nation which was 
 at peace with us. 
 
 . " 4 James Monroe, the fifth President, inaugurated. 
 June 24 ,Thomas McKean, of Del., one of the signers of the Dec. of Inde- 
 pendence, died. 
 
 December The Mississippi Territory was divided, nnd the western part 
 admitted as a State, making the 20th ; and the eastern part orga- 
 nized into a Territorial government, by the name of the Territory 
 of Alabama. 
 
 In the latter part of this year, the Creek and Seminole Indiana 
 committed depredations in Georgia and Alabama, when Gen- 
 erals Gaines and Jackson were sent to subdue them. 
 
 1818. 
 
 May 24 Gen. Jackson took Pensacola, (Fla.) from the Spaniards, end 
 sent the authorities to Havanna. This was done during his camp- 
 aign against the Seminole and Creek Indians. 
 " 25 Gen. Mitchell, of the Revolutionary war, died. 
 Dec. 3 Illinois admitted into the Union making the 21st State. 
 " 10 Mississippi admitted as a State, by Eesolution of both Houses of 
 Congress. 
 
 1819. 
 
 Mar. 2 Arkansas formed into a Territorial government. 
 
 Dec. 14 Alabama admitted into the Union making the 22 d State.
 
 480 OKEONOLOQT. 
 
 1820. 
 
 Feb. 15 Wm. Ellery, of Rhode Island, a signer of the Dec. of Independ- 
 ence, died. 
 
 Mar. 15 Maine admitted into the Union making the 23d Statn. 
 Aug. 23 Com. Perry, the liero of the battle on Lake Erie, died of yellow 
 
 fever at Trinidad. West Indies, on his birth-day. 
 October Florida ceded by Spain to the United States for $5,000,000. 
 
 The question of the admission of Missouri as a free or Slave State, 
 greatly agitated the country this year. The famous " Mis- 
 souri Compromise'' settled the question. 
 
 1821. 
 
 Mar. 4 James Monroe inaugurated upon his second term of the Presi- 
 dency, and D. D. Tompkins upon his second term of the Vice- 
 Presidency. 
 " 22 Com. Stephen Decatur died at Washington. 
 
 July 1 Gen. Jackson took possession of Florida. 
 
 Aug. 4 Wm. Floyd, of New York, a signer of the Dec. of Independence, 
 died. 
 Missouri was admitted this year making the 24th Stats. 
 
 1822. 
 
 Mar. 7 Congress again apportion the Representatives in Congress 
 among the several States, based on the census of 1820. By this 
 act the Ratio of Representation was fixed at one representative to 
 40,000 persons. 
 
 " 30 Florida was formed into a Territorial government. 
 May 5_Thomas Truxton, a distinguished Naval officer, both in the Revo- 
 lutionary war and in our short war with France, died. 
 " 8 Gen. Stark, a prominent officer of the Revolutionary war, died. 
 Oct. 27 William Lowndes, a distinguished statesman of South Carolina, 
 died at sea. 
 
 Daring this year gangs of pirates infested the West Indies, com- 
 mitting depredations upon our commerce, when the United 
 States government sent a naval force to destroy them. It 
 captured over twenty piratical vessels. 
 
 1823. 
 
 This year Com. Porter broke up and dispersed the remainder of 
 the piratical gan^s in the West India Islands, who had with- 
 stood the onslaught which our government had made upon 
 them last year. 
 
 1824. 
 
 Mar. 13 A Convention, at which the United States and England were re 
 presented, was held for the purpose of adopting measures tc 
 suppress the slave trade.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 481 
 
 April United States and Russian Commissioners met to settle the North- 
 Western boundaries between the two countries. 
 Aug. 2 i Lafayette arrived from France, and made a tour through the 
 
 country. 
 
 Oct. 29 Charles Pincloiey, of South Carolina, an eminent orator and 
 statesman, and one of the framers of the Constitution, died. 
 The tenth Presidential election took place in the fall of this year, 
 but there was no choice by the people, and the election went 
 to the House of Representatives, when John Q. Adams waa 
 elected. 
 
 Mar. 3 An act to establish a Xavy Yard on the coast of Florida, passed. 
 
 " 4 John Quincy Adann, the sixth President, inaugurated. 
 June 11 Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, and ex- Vice-President, died. 
 Nov. 10 Com. McDonough, who commanded the U. 8. fleet at the battle 
 
 of Pittsburgh, on Lake Champlaine, in 1814, died at Middletown, 
 
 Conn. 
 
 1826. 
 
 July 4 John Adams, aged 91, and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom had 
 been Presidents of the United States, and both signers of the Dec. 
 of Independence, died. 
 
 1827. 
 
 We find nothing in the history of the United States worthy of par- 
 ticular notice during this year. We were at peace "with all 
 the world and the rest of mankind :" there was very little po- 
 litical excitement, and the country was prosperous and happy 
 under the good administration of Good President John Quincy 
 Adams. 
 
 1828. 
 
 Feb. 11 De Witt Clinton died, while in the office of Governor of New York. 
 
 A new protective tariff was enacted this year, with a view to en- 
 courage American manufactures. 
 
 The eleventh Presidential election took place in the autumn of 
 this year, and resulted in the choice ol Andrew Jacksou. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Jan. 29 Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State under Washington and 
 
 Adams, died. 
 Feb. 29 The Virginia House of Delegates pass a Resolution, denying the 
 
 right of Congress to pass the tariff. 
 Mar. 4 Andrew Jackson, the seventh President, inaugurated, and John 
 
 C. Calhoun enters upon his second term as Vice-President.
 
 4:82 CHEOXOLOGT. 
 
 May 19 A Treaty of peace, friendship, commerce and navigation, be 
 tween the United States and Brazil, ratified at Washington. 
 
 May 17 John Jay died at Bedford, N. Y. He was one of the Presidents of 
 the Continental Congress. Minister to Spain, and to England, GOT- 
 ernor of New York, and Chief Justice of the United Stat.-s. 
 
 June 4 Tne U. S. frigate Fulton blown up at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn 
 26 lives lost. 
 
 Ang. It Mr. McLane, Minister to England, and Mr. Rives. Minister to 
 France, embark in the U. S. frigate Constitution, at New York. 
 
 Nov. 26 The Hon. Bushrod Washington, one of the Judges of the U. States 
 Supreme Court, died. 
 
 1830. 
 
 May 7 A Treaty signed at Constantinople, between the United States 
 and Turkey, by which the U. States obtained tb.3 free navigation 
 of the Black Sea. 
 " 29 The office of Solicitor of the Treasury created by Act of Congress. 
 
 Aug. 4 (Jen. Philip Stuart, an officer of the Revolution, died at Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 1831. 
 
 Jan. 10 The disputed Northern boundary line, between the Unitsd States 
 
 and England, settled by the King of the Netherlands, to whom tha 
 
 matter had been referred. 
 
 April 19 Dissolution of President Jackson's Cabinet. 
 July 4 -lames Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, died at N. 
 
 York, aged 73. 
 Aug. 25 An Eulogy on James Monroe, delivered at Boston, by John 
 
 Quincy Adams. 
 Sept. 26 The National Anti-Masonic Convention, at Baltimore, nominate 
 
 William Wirt for President. 
 
 Oct 1 A Free-trade Convention meet at Philadelphia. 
 " 26 A Tariff Convention of over 500 delegates meet at New York, and 
 
 adopt a memorial to Congress. 
 Nov. 6 Gen. Philip Van Courtlandt, an officer of the Revolutionary war, 
 
 died at New York, aged 82. 
 Dec. 14 The National Republican Party assembled at Baltimore, and 
 
 nominated Henry Clay for President. 
 
 1832. 
 
 Jan. 25 The Senate, by the casting vote of the President, refuse to con- 
 firm the nomination of Martin Van Buren as United States Minister 
 to Enarland. 
 
 Mar. 3 The United States Supreme Conrt decide that the Law of Georgia, 
 by which several Missionaries to the Indians in that State were 
 imprisoned for four years in the penitentiary, was contrary to tho 
 laws and treaties of the United States, and therefore null and 
 void.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 483 
 
 April" 1 A war broke out between the United States and the Winnebago 
 
 Indians, called the Black Hawk war. 
 " 2 Treaty concluded with the Creek Indians, by which they sell all 
 
 thsir lands East of the Mississippi River to the United States. 
 May 5 The Treaty respecting commerce, navigation, and the boundary 
 line between the United States aud Mexico, ratified at Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 " 21 (Join. Rogers died on board his ship off Buenos Ayres. 
 " 22 Martin Van Buren nominated by the Democrats, at Baltimore, foi 
 
 Vice-President of the United States. 
 
 " 27 An act apportioning the Representatives to Congress, based on th* 
 fifth census, in which the ratio between Representatives and po 
 pu'ation was fixed at one representative to 47,700 people. 
 Juno 1 Gen. Thomas Sumter, an officer in the Revolutionary war, died 
 
 in South Carolina. 
 July 9 The office of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, created by Act of 
 
 Congress. 
 " 10 An Act to establish Naval Hospitals at Charlestown, Mass., 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y., and Pensacola, Fla., passed. 
 " " President J^ck^on vetoed the Bill re-chartering the United States 
 
 Bank. 
 
 Aug. 27 Black Hawk, the celebrated Indian Chief and warrior, captured. 
 Nov. 12 The Anti-Tariff Convention meet at Millegeville, Geo. 
 " 14 Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Md., died. He was the last surviv- 
 ing signer of the Dec. of Independence. 
 
 " 19 A Convention of delegates in South Carolina meet at Columbia, 
 and pass an ordinance declaring the laws of Congress, in relation 
 to the Tariff, unconstitutional and void. 
 
 Dec. 10 President Jackson issues his proclamation, denouncing the pro- 
 ceedings of the South Carolina Convention, and warning the people 
 of that State of the consequences of following its dictates. 
 " 18 Treaty of commerce and navigation concluded, between the U. 
 
 States and Russia, at St. Peters burgh. 
 " 20 Gov. Hay ne, of South Carolina, issues a proclamation in answer 
 
 to that of President Jackson. 
 " 23 John C. Callioun, the Vice-President, resigns his office. 
 
 The twelfth Presidential election occurred this fall, when Andrew 
 Jackson was re-elected. 
 
 1833. 
 
 Mar. 1 The new tariff bill passed, called the Compromise Act. 
 " 4 Andrew Jackson inaugurated upon his second term. 
 41 10 Com. Samuel Tucker, of Maine, died. 
 " 31 The Treasury department building burnt at Washington. 
 Jane 1 Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury under Washington, 
 
 died. 
 
 July 27 Com. Ba'nKridge died, aged 60. 
 
 Sept. 23 Wm. J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury, was removed from his 
 office by President Jackson, because he declined to remove the 
 United States deposits from the U. S. Bank ; and Roger B. Taney, 
 of Md., was appointed in his place, who removed them on the 1st 
 of October.
 
 484 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 1834. 
 
 t'ar. 23 The United States Senate passed a vote of censure of President 
 Jackson, for removing the Government deposits from the United 
 States Bank. 
 
 Sept. 15 Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia, died. He was an eminent states- 
 man, and a candidate for the Presidency in 1824. 
 
 1835. 
 
 Jan. 1 Hugh L. White nominated for President of the United States by 
 
 the Legislature of Alabama. 
 
 " 31 Daniel Webster, nominated for the same office, by the Legislature 
 of Massachusetts. 
 
 Mar. 3 By act of Congress three branch Mints were established ; one at 
 New Orleans ; one at Charlotte, N. C., and one at Dahlohnega, 
 Georgia. 
 
 May 14 A Treaty concluded with the Cherokee Indians, in which they 
 agreed to sell all their lands East of the Mississippi Hiver fur 
 $5,262,251, and retire to the Indian Territory West of the Mississ- 
 ippi River. 
 
 " 20 A Convention of the Democratic party met at Baltimore, and 
 nominated Martin Van Buren for President. 
 
 July 6 Chief Justice John Marshall died, aged 80. 
 
 Aug. 30 Wm. T. Barry. Postmaster General under Gen. Jackson, died at 
 Liverpool, on his way to Spain, as U. S. Minister. 
 
 Dec. 28 Battle of Tampa Bay, Fla., between a Company of 110 U. States 
 troops under Major Dade, when all but three of his men were kill- 
 ed. About the same time another battle with the Indians was 
 fought at Withlacoochie, Fla., and forty of them were slain. In 
 this and the following year, the Semi'nole war raged in Florida. 
 The Indians, under their Chief Osceola, were finally driven out of 
 their country, and across the Mississippi river. This war cost the 
 United States $15.000,000 three times the money originally paid 
 for Florida. 
 
 1836. 
 
 Jan. 20 A treaty of peace, friendship, and navigation concluded between 
 
 the United States and Venezuela, at Caraccas. 
 
 February The U. States Bank was chartered by the Legislature of Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 April 20 Wisconsin organized into a Territorial government. 
 May 23 Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under President Jackson, 
 
 died. 
 
 Jane 15 Michigan admitted making the 2.jth State. 
 " " Arkansas admitted making the 26th State. 
 " 23 State Banks made the depositories of the United States monies, 
 instead of the U. S. Bank ; and, by the same act, the surplus funds 
 of the Government were loaned to the several States in proportion 
 to their represent itives in Congress. 
 " 28 James Madison, ex- President of the United States, died, aged 86.
 
 CHBONOLOGY. 435 
 
 July 4 The office of Commissioner of Patents created. 
 Sept. 14 Aaron Burr, ex-Vice-President of the U. States, died, aged 81. 
 Dec. 15 The General Post Office, the Patent Office, and the Washington 
 Post Office burnt 7,000 models, 163 large folio volumes of records, 
 9.000 valuable drawings, and 10,000 original descriptions were de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 During this year, in addition to the war with the Seminole Indiana, 
 the United States were at war with the Creek Indians, in Geo., 
 but it was terminated this year. 
 
 The thirteenth Presidential election in the autnmn of this year, and 
 Martin Van Buren was elected. 
 
 1837. , 
 
 Jan. 16 The United States Senate passed a Resolution, 24 to 19, to ex- 
 punge from its records (by drawing black lines around it,) the He- 
 solution passed March 28, 1834, viz. : that the President (Jackson) 
 in the late Executive proceedings, in relation to the public Reve- 
 nue, had assumed authority not conferred by the Constitution or 
 law, but deftgatory to both, 
 liar. 4 Martin Van Buren inaugurated the eighth President. 
 
 " 6 A Treaty was signed by the Seminole Indians, agreeing to emi- 
 grate West of the Mississippi River, but through the influence of 
 their Chief, Osceola, they broke it ; after which he was seized by 
 Gen. Jessup, and confined in Fort Moultrie, where he died. 
 Sept. 29 By Treaty between the United States and the Sioux Indians, 
 they sold all their lands East of the Mississippi River (about 5,000,- 
 000 acres.) for $1,000,000. 
 
 Oct. 1 The Winnebago Indians did the same thing for $1,500,000, and 
 agreed to move West of the Mississippi River. 
 
 " 12 Congress authorize the issue of $10,000.000 Treasury notes. 
 
 " 25 A severe battle was fought with the Florida Indians, but the U. S. 
 troops, under Gen. Taylor, defeated them. 
 
 AH the Banks in the United States suspended specie payment 
 during this year, which greatly embarrassed the Government ; and 
 the President called an extra session of Congress, which passed an 
 act to issue $10,000,000 of Treasury notes, as a measure of relief. 
 
 1838- 
 
 Jan. 5 President Van Bnren issued a Proclamation to the People of the 
 United States, warning them not to violate our Neutrality Laws, 
 by taking part in the Rebellion of the Canadians against the Eng- 
 lish Government, at this time. 
 
 June 12 Territorial government of Iowa organized. 
 
 Aug. 19 The United States Exploring Expedition sailed from Hampton 
 
 Roads, Va., with six vessels, their officers, and a corps of scientific 
 
 men, for the pmrpose of exploring the Arctic Regions. 
 
 Near the close of this year the Cherokee Indians, of Georgia, com 
 
 pleted their emigration from that State to the Indian Ter 
 
 ritory, West of the Mississippi River. This was in conse
 
 486 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 qnence of the hostile legislation of the State of Georgia 
 a>ainstthem. The Supreme Court of the United States had 
 decided these laws to be unconstitutional ; but this decision 
 was disregarded, and the Indians were driven off. " Lo ! the 
 poor Indian !" 
 
 1839- 
 
 In the early part of this year. Gen. Macomb induced the Seminofe 
 Indians to make a treaty of peace with the United States, but 
 they were treacherous, and many murders w^re still com- 
 mitted. 
 
 This year there was -trouble between the United States and Eng-_ 
 land, respecting our N. E. Boundary line. For the settlement 
 of this question, see July, 1842. 
 Dee. 2 Congress assembled, but it was three weeks before the House 
 
 was organized. 
 
 " 4 A Wbig Convention, at Harrisburch, Pa., nominate W. H. Har- 
 rison as their candidate for President. 
 
 1840. 
 
 May 5 A Democratic Convention assembled at Baltimore, and nominated 
 
 Martin Van Buren as their candidate for the office of President. 
 June 30 Congress passed the Sub-Treasury Act, which had been defeated 
 
 in 1837. 
 
 Dec. 19 Felix Grundy, U. S. Senator from Tennessee, a .very prominent 
 statesman, and zealous friend of President Jackson, died. 
 The fourteenth Presidential election arrives this fall, when the 
 Whig candidate, Wm. H. Harrison, was elected. This was the 
 !3ost exciting election ever hald in th-j country. 
 
 1841. 
 
 Jan. II Congress abolish imprisonment for debts due to the United States 
 wherever it was abolished by the State laws. 
 
 March 4 William II. Harrison inaugurated the ninth President. 
 17 The President called (by proclamation) an extra session of Con- 
 gress to meet on the 31st instant, to consider the subjects of the 
 Revenue and Finances of the country. 
 
 Aprfl 4 William H. Harrison, President of the United States, died, and 
 John Tyler, the Vice-President, became acting President. This 
 was the first time such an event had happened. 
 
 May 14 Ac ing President John Tyler had issued a Proclamation recom- 
 mending this day to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, on 
 account of President Harrison's death, which was so observed. 
 
 June 25 Alexander Macomb, chief in command of the United States army, 
 died at Washington. 
 
 July 21 Congress authorize the President to borrow $12,000,000 for th 
 support of Government.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 487 
 
 Aug. 9 The Bub-Treasury Act repealed. 
 " 18 The United States Bankrupt Law went into operation ; but it was 
 
 repealed in 1843. 
 
 " 16 The President vetoed a bill to charter a Uuited States Bank. 
 Sept. 9 He vetoed another for the sama purpose. This made the four- 
 teenth time the vato power had baen used ; Washington vetoed 
 two bills, Madison four. Monroe on3, Jackson five, Tyler two. 
 " 10 All the numbers of Tyler's Cabinet, except Daniel Webster, 
 resigned. 
 
 1842. 
 
 June 25 Congress again apportion the Representatives to Congress among 
 the States, on the basis of the sixth Csnsus (1840), fixing the ratio 
 of one Representative to 70,603 people. 
 
 July 23 The Bunker Hill monument finished, which had been in progress 
 seventeen years. 
 
 In July the Senate ratified the treaty which had just been nego- 
 tiated by Daniel Webster, for the United States, and Lord 
 Ashburton, for England, in relation to the Northeastern bound- 
 ary between the U. S. and the British possessions in North 
 America. 
 Aug. 14 It was officially announced that the war with the Indians in 
 
 Florida had ceased. 
 " 2G By law the fiscal year of the United States Government was made 
 
 to commence on the first day of July of each year. 
 Oct. 2 The U. S. sloop of war Concord, lost on the rocks in the Mozam 
 
 biqus Channel. 
 
 Nov. 26 Robert Smith, a member of the Cabinet under Jefferson and Madi- 
 son, died in Baltimore, aged 85. 
 
 1843. 
 
 March 3 Congress make an appropriation of $30,000 to enable S. P. B. 
 Morse to erect an experimental telegraph between Washington and 
 Baltimore. This was the first electrical telegraph in the world. 
 
 March 3 Com. Porter, of the United States navy, but at this time Ameri- 
 can Minister to Turkey, died at Constantinople. 
 
 April 1 John Armstrong, a prominent officer of the Revolutionary war, 
 and Secretary of War under Madison, died at Red Hook, N. V. 
 
 June In this month, the Dorr Rebellion broke oat in R. I. 
 
 Aug. 26 The United States frigate Missouri, lying at anchor at Gibraltar, 
 Spain, took fire and was consumed. 
 
 Dec. 18 -imith Thompson, a Judge of the U. S. Supreme Court, died at 
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y., aged 76. 
 
 1844. 
 
 Feb. 28 A very large wrought iron gun burst on board the U. S. steamer 
 Princeton, while firing a salute, and killed Abel P. Upsher (then 
 Secretary of State) and a nainbar of other distinguished gentlemen 
 who were on board. 
 
 May 1 Henry Clay, nominated for President, and Theodore Frelinghnysen, 
 for Vice-President, by a Whig Convention assembled at. Baltimore.
 
 488 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 May 7 Morgan Lewis, a distinguished officer and statesman during tho 
 
 Revolution, died in New York. 
 
 ' 27 James K. Polk, nominated by the Democratic party assembled at 
 Baltimore, for President, and George M. Dallas, for Vice-Presideut. 
 
 The fifteenth Presidential election occurred during the Fall, and 
 resulted in the election of Jas. K. Polk, of Tenn., against 
 Henry Clay, of Ky. 
 
 1845. 
 
 Jan. 16 The treaty made by Mr. Cashing, United States Minister to China, 
 and the Chinese Commissioners ratified by the United States Senate 
 unanimously. 
 
 " 23 Congress enact that hereafter all Presidential elections shall be 
 held on the same day in all the States, viz., on the first Tuesday 
 after the first Monday in November in each year when such election 
 shall be held. 
 
 " 23 A joint resolution to annex Texas to the United States passed the 
 Hjuse (it hai previously passed the Senate), by a vote of 120 
 to 98. 
 
 March 1 Texas annexed to the United States by resolution of both Houses 
 of Congress. 
 
 < 4 James K. Polk inaugurated the tenth regular President. 
 
 4 Florida admitted into the Union, making the 27th State. 
 June 18 Andrew Jackson died. 
 
 " 18 A joint resolution pissed both Houses of the Texas Congress, 
 
 assenting to the annexation to the United States. 
 
 Sept. 10 Joseph Story, one of the Judges of the United States Supreme 
 Court, and one of the most able of American jurists, died, 
 aged 66. 
 
 Dec. 15 A resolution offered by Mr. Cass, in the United States Senate, 
 and a speech made by him caused much excitement, as they por- 
 tended a war with England about ths boundary line between 
 Oregon and the Northwestern British possessions. It was this 
 originated the democratic saying : " 54.40 or fight." 
 
 " 24 Texas admitted into the Union as a State, making the twenty- 
 eighth. 
 
 " 28 Iowa, having complied with the conditions imposed upon her by 
 an Act of March 3. this year was now fully admitted into the Union, 
 making the twenty-ninth State. 
 
 1846. 
 
 March 28 The American army, 3,500 strong, nnder Gen. Taylor, post 
 themselves on ths Itio Grande, opposite Matamoras. This was the 
 immediate cause of the Mexican war. The Mexicans rightly said 
 this was an invasion of their territory. 
 
 April 24 Hostilities commence between the United States and Mexico. 
 " 26 First battle, when the Mexicans made an attack on sixty-thro* 
 United States dragoons, Capt. Thornton, who surrendered, with a 
 loss of 16 men.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 48 9 
 
 May 8 Battle of Palo Alto, with 6,000 Mexicans against 2,300 Americans, 
 
 under Gen. Taylor. Mexicans whipped, with a loss of 100 men 
 
 killed. Americans killed, 4 and 4'J wounded. Major Ringold was 
 
 killed at this battle. 
 " 9 Battle of Resaca de la Palma. The Mexicans again defeated, and 
 
 their Gen. La Vega taken prisoner. Gen. Taylor commanded the 
 
 Unit d States forces. 
 " 12 Congress passed an Act, declaring that war existed between tha 
 
 United States and Mexico, by the act of Mexico (?) Authorized the 
 
 raisiag of 50,000 troops, and voted $10,000,000 to carry ou 
 
 the war. 
 " 13 President Polk issued a Proclamation that war existed with 
 
 Mexico. 
 July 6 Com. Sloat, of the United States navy, took Monterey, ou the 
 
 coast of California, and issued a proclamation that that country 
 
 was annexed to the United States. 
 
 In the same month Com. Stockton took San Diego from the 
 
 Mexicans. 
 " 9 Congress retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of 
 
 Columbia, back to Virginia. 
 " 17 The treaty between the United States and England respecting the 
 
 boundary line between Oregon and the English possessions in 
 
 North America, was ratified in London. 
 " 22 Congress authorize the issue of $10,000,000 treasury notes. By 
 
 this means the loan above mentioned was issued. 
 " 30 Congress pass a new Tariff, reducing the duties on imported goods. 
 
 This is known by the " Tariff of 1846." 
 Aug. 3 President Polk vetoed the River and Harbor Bill, on the ground 
 
 that it was unconstitutional, and that the money was wanted to 
 
 carry on the Mexican war. 
 " 8 He also vetoed the French Spoliation Bill, on the ground that it 
 
 had not been sufficiently considered (it had been only forty years 
 
 before Congress), and that the money could not be spared in time 
 
 of war. 
 " 18 Gen. Kearney took peaceable possession of Santa Fe, in Mexico, 
 
 and issued a proclamation, absolving the Mexicans from their alle- 
 giance to the Mexican government. 
 " 19 Com. Stockton declared all the Mexican ports, south of San Diego, 
 
 in a state of blockade. 
 " 22 The whole of California was at this time in the military possession 
 
 of the United States. 
 Sept. 21, 22. 23, 24 Battle of Monterey between 4,700 United States troops, 
 
 under Gen. Taylor, and 10,000 Mexicans, under Gen. Ampudia. On 
 
 the 24th an armistice of eight weeks was agreed to, when the 
 
 Mexicans surrendered the city. 
 Oct. 25 Tobasco was bombarded by the Gulf squadron, under Com. Perry, 
 
 and all the Mexican vessels in the port were captured or 
 
 destroyed. 
 Nov. 14 Com. Connor took peaceable possession of the Mexican sea port, 
 
 Tampico. 
 Dec. 8 The United States brig Somers was capsized by a squall off Vera 
 
 Cruz, and sank in ten minutes, with a losa of two officers and 
 
 thirty-nine men. 
 " 25 Battle of Brazito, near El Passo, between 450 Americans, nndei 
 
 Col. Douiphau, and a body of Mexican cavalry, who were defeated.
 
 490 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 1847. 
 
 Jan. 8 The Mexican Congress voted to raise $15,000,000 for the war against 
 the United .States, by a mortgage upon or a sale of the property 
 of the clergy. 
 
 Feb. 23 Battle of Buena Vista, with 4,759 Un-ted States troops, under 
 Gen. Taylor, and from 17,000 to 22.000 Mexicans, under (ien. Santa 
 Anna, who was defeated, with a loss of 1,500 men. United States 
 loss 756. 
 
 " 23 On this day, ex-President John Quincy Adams died at Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 March 1 Gen. Kearney, by proclamation, absolved the people of California 
 from their allegiance to Mexico, auJ regarded them as citizens of 
 the United States. 
 3 Wisconsin admitted into the Union by Act of Congress, which 
 
 took effect on the 29th May, 1848. making the thirtieth State. 
 " Gen. Scott landed with 12.000 men at Vera Cruz. On the 
 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th and 26th he bombarded the city, which linally 
 surrendered. 
 
 April 18 Battle of Cerro Gordo ; United States forces under Gen Twiggs, 
 Mexican under Gen Santa Anna, who was defeated, with a loss of 
 3.000 prisoners, 43 pieces of artillery, and 5,000 stand of arms. 
 
 Aug. 20 Cherubusco (near the city of Mexico) stormed and taken by GPU. 
 Worth, with 9,000 troops, against a much superior force of Mexi- 
 cans. 
 
 Sept. 8 Molino Del Key stormed and taken by Gen. Worth. 
 " 13 Chepultepec (near the city of Mexico) stormed and taken by the 
 United States forces, under Gen. Scott ; and on the 14th Sept. he 
 took the city of Mexico. This ended the Mexican war. 
 " 17 Gen. Scott imposed acontribution of $150,000 en the city of Mexico 
 for the protection the United States army had given to the public 
 property. 
 
 Dec. 31 The several Mexican States were assessed $3,000,000 for the sup 
 port of the American army while it held the country. 
 
 1848. 
 
 Feb. 2 Treaty of peace agreed upon between the United States and 
 Mexico at Guadaloupe Hidaigo (a small city four miles from the 
 city of Mexico). By this treaty Mexico relinquished all claims to 
 Texas, and ceded Upper California and New Mexico to th? United 
 States, in consideration of which the United States gave Mexico 
 $15,OUO.OOO, and assumed Mexican debts owing to our citizens to 
 the amount of $3,500,000. This treaty was subsequently ratified by 
 the United States Senate, 10th Marcu, and by the Mexican govern- 
 ment on the 20th May following. 
 
 March 31 Congress authorize a loan of $16,000,000, to pay Mexico 
 probably. 
 
 June 7 Gen. Zachary Taylor nominated at Philadelphia by a Whig C^n- 
 
 vention for Present, and Millard Fillmore for Vice-President. 
 " 22-23 A convention of Democrats, dissatisfied with the nomination of 
 Lewis Cass. as the candidate of that parly for President, met at 
 Utica, N.Y., and nominated Martin Van Buren for that office.
 
 CnEONOLOGY. 401 
 
 This was called the " Free Soil Party," because they opposed the 
 extension of slavery. 
 
 Aug. 14 A Territorial Government organized for Oregon. 
 
 Nov. 7 According to the provisions of an Act of Congress previously 
 passed, all the States vote on the same clay for President and Vice- 
 President. This was the sixteenth Presidential election, and 
 resulted in the choice of Gen. Z. Taylor, the Whig candidate. 
 
 1849. 
 
 Jan. 26 The ratification of the Postal Treaty with England exchanged at 
 
 London. 
 March 3 Congress ordered Gold Dollars and Double Eagles to be coined. 
 
 A Territorial Government organized for Minnesota. 
 " 4 Gen. Z. Taylor, the eleventh President, inaugurated. 
 May 7 Gen. Worth, of the United States army, died. 
 Aug. 12 Albert Gallatin, a distinguished [Statesman, and Secretary of the 
 
 Treasury under President Jefferson, died, aged 83. 
 Sept. The people of California form a Constitution, prohibiting slavery 
 
 in the State, preparatory to admission into the Union. 
 Deo. 31 The House of Representatives on the sixty-third trial elected 
 
 Howell Cobb. of Georgia, Speaker. His competitor was R. C. 
 
 Wiuthrop, of Mass. 
 
 1850. 
 
 Jan. 21 The chiefs of the Seminole Indians (of Florida) met Gen. Twiggs 
 in Council, and agreed to abandon the country and move to the 
 West of the Mississippi river. 
 Feb. 22 The original manuscript of Washington's Farewell Address sold 
 
 in Philadelphia for $2,300. 
 July 9 President Taylor died, and Vice-President Fillmore became acting 
 
 President. 
 
 Aug. 3 -Jacob Joues, an eminent naval officer, died, aged 82, 
 Sept. 9 California admitted into the Union, making the thirty- first State. 
 " 9 Utah placed under a Territorial Government. 
 " 12 The Fugitive Slave Law passed. This, to the Northern States, 
 
 was probably the most offensive act ever passed by Congress. 
 ' 20 The slave trade abolished in the District of Columbia by Act of 
 Congress. 
 The above last four Acts have ever since their passage been known 
 
 as the Compromise Measures of 1850.'' 
 Nov. 19 Richard M. Johnson, formerly Vice-President, Uied. 
 
 1S51. 
 
 March 3 By Act of Congress, postage was reduced to three cents on all 
 
 letters not weighing over haf an ounce, and for all distances ns 
 
 exceeding 3,000 miles, if pre-pai 1, but to five cents if not p>-e-paid. 
 
 " John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, aa eminent Siatssman, en* 
 
 onc Vice-president, died.
 
 492 CHEONOLOOT. 
 
 1852. 
 
 June 28 Henry Clay died. 
 
 July 3 A branch of the United States Mint established at San Francisco, 
 Cal., by Act of Congress. 
 
 Oct. 24 Daniel Webster died. 
 
 Nov. In this month the seventeenth Presidential election took place, 
 which resulted ill the choice of Franklin Pierce, the Democratic 
 candidate, over Gen. Scott, the Whig candidate. 
 
 1853. 
 
 March 2 Washington Territory cut off from the Northern part of Oregon, 
 
 and put under a Territorial Government by Act of Congress. 
 " 4 Franklin Pierce inaugurated the twelfth regular President. 
 
 Aug. 11 President Pierce issued a proclamation warning citizens of the 
 United States against connecting themselves with Lopez against 
 the island of Cuba. 
 
 1854. 
 
 March 23 A treaty of Commerce with Japan, negotiated by Com. Perry, 
 of the United States navy. 
 
 May 19 John Davis, a Ssnator from Mass., and an eminent orator and 
 statesman, who was known by the name of " Honest Johu Davis," 
 died. 
 
 " 30 The Kansas and Nebraska Bill passed in Congress. By this Act 
 these two Territories were organized under Territorial Govern- 
 ments, and in the 14th Section, the far-famed "Missouri Compro- 
 mise " Act of 1820 was repealed, after it had been the law of the 
 
 land thirty-four years. This opened afresh the old slavery discv 
 siou, and brought on the civil war * 
 
 in Kansas. 
 
 1855. 
 
 Feb. 24 The Court of Claims established jn Washington by Act of Congress. 
 
 1856. 
 
 March 4 The Free State Legislature, of Kansas, assembled at Topeka. 
 
 " 20 Com. Connor died. 
 May 18 John C. Spinner, Secretary of the Treasury under Pierce, died at 
 
 Albany, N.Y. 
 
 " 31 John M. Niles, Post-Master-General under Van Buren, died. 
 Nov. In this month the eighteenth Presidential election took place, 
 resulting in the choice of James Buchanan, the Democratic candi- 
 date, against John C. Fremont, the Republican, and Millard Fill- 
 more, the American candidates.
 
 CHRONOLOGT. 
 
 1857. 
 
 493 
 
 Feb. 2 Nathaniel Banks, of Mass., after 133 ballotings (which occupied tho 
 House of Representatives from the 3d of 'December of the last 
 year to this time), was elected Speaker. 
 
 March 4 James Buchanan inaugurated the thirteenth regular President. 
 
 July Wm. L. Marcy, Secretary of War under President Polk, and 
 Secretary of State un 'or President Pierce, died, aged 71. 
 
 1858. 
 
 May 11 Minnesota admitted into the Union, making the thirty-second 
 
 State. 
 
 Feb. 14 Oregon admitted into the Union, -which made the thirty third 
 State. 
 
 1860. 
 
 Nov. 6 The nineteenth Presidential election occurred, and Abraham 
 
 Lincoln, the Republican candidate, was elected, against Stephen 
 
 A. Douglas, John C. Breckenridge and John Bell. 
 Dec. 10 Howell Cobb, U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, resigned, and 
 
 President Buchanan appointed P. P. Thomas, of Maryland, iu his 
 
 place. 
 " 14 Lewis Cass, United States Secretary of State, resigned, when the 
 
 President nominated Jeremiah S. Black, of Pa., in his place. 
 " 20 South Carolina seceded from the Government of the United 
 
 States. This was the first act of Secession ; but ten more of the 
 
 slave States soon followed her example in the early part of 1861. 
 " 23 John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, robbed the Indian Trust Fund 
 
 of nearly half a million of dollars. 
 " 28 The United States Arsenal, Post-office, and Custom House at 
 
 Charleston, S. C., seized by the authorities of that State. 
 " John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, resigned, and Joseph Holt, of Ky v 
 
 was appointed in his place the next day. 
 
 1881. 
 
 Now we have come to the period when the Great Rebellion of the 
 Southern States was fairly inaugurated. A number of events had occurred 
 in the month of December in 1860 which foreshadowed the coming storm, 
 such as the resignation of the Southern members of Mr. Buchanan's Cabi- 
 net, and of Southern Senators and members of Congress, with the seizure 
 of property, belonging to the United States, in Charleston, &c., &c. But 
 hopes were still entertained of a pacification, as the spirit of Rebellion lia<! 
 not showed itself in much strength outside of South Carolina ; but this 
 "smoking flax" ourst into a consuming flame with the opening of this
 
 494. CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 year. To chronicle all the events of this most terrible war, daring the fopr 
 following years, would require a volume of the size of this to contain them ; 
 we must therefore only notice the most important of them, and many of 
 these we shall so condense as to preserve the facts without recording, iri 
 every case, the day of the month on which they occurred. 
 
 January During this month, Fort Macon, at Beanfort : the United States 
 works at Wilmington, and the U. S. Arsenal at Taylorsville ; Forts 
 Caswell and Johnson, in North Carolina ; the Forts Pulaski and 
 Jackson, and the Arsenal at Savannah, Geo. ; Fort Morgan and 
 the U. S. Arsenal at Mobile, Ala. ; Forts St. Philip and Jackson, 
 Fort Pike and the U. S. Arsenal at Baton Rouge, in Louisiana ; 
 Fort Barancus and the U. S. Navy-yard, Fla. ; the U. S. Arsenal at 
 Augusta, Geo. ; the U. S. Custom-house and Mint in New Orleans, 
 were all seized by the Rebels in the States where they stood. 
 And in this month Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, 
 five States, all passed ordinances of Secession, and the mem- 
 bers of Congress from Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi with- 
 drew during this month. 
 
 " 29 Kansas admitted into the Union making the 34th State. 
 Feb. 1 Texas seceded from the Union. 
 
 " 4 A Peace Convention, with delegates from eighteen States, as- 
 semble at Washington ; and on the same day a Convention from 
 the Seceded States assembled at Montgomery, Ala., to organize a 
 Confederate Government. 
 
 11 6 John Slidell and Judah P. Benjamin, U. S. Senators from Lousi- 
 ana. withdrew from the Senate. 
 
 " 9 Jeff. Davis and Alex. Stephens chosen President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the Confederate States for one year. 
 
 44 25 About this time (Jen. Twiggs, in command of the U. S. troops in 
 Texas, turned traitor to his government, and delivered up his men 
 to the Rebels as prisoners of war. 
 
 " 28 Colorado organized into a Territorial government. 
 March 2 Dakota and Nevada organized into Territorial governments. 
 " 4 Abraham Lincoln inaugurated the fourteenth regular President 
 
 of the United States. 
 
 " 5 Gen. Beaurcgard takes command of the Rebel forces at Charles- 
 ton. 
 
 " 6 The Senate of the Confederate States confirm Jeff Davis' nomi- 
 nations of the members of his Cabinet, viz., for Secretary of State, 
 R. Toombs, of Geo. ; for Secretary of Treasury. C. S. Mominger, of 
 South.Uarolina; for Secretary of War, L. P. Walker, of Ala. ; for 
 Secretary of Navy, S. R. Mallory, of Fla. ; for Postmaster, J. 11. 
 Reagan, of Texas; for Attorney-General, J. P. Benjamin, of La. 
 
 ' 11 The Constitution of the Confederate States adopted in Con- 
 vention at Montgomery, Ala., wii.ch was ratified afterwards by 
 the several Confederate States. 
 
 April 11 Gen. Eeauregard demands of Major Anderson the surrender of 
 Fort Sumter, which was refused. 
 
 " 12 Bombardment of Fort Sumter by the Rebels. This was the real 
 commencement of the great Civil War between the North aad 
 South.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 495 
 
 Aptil 14 Major Anderson and his men leave Fort Sumter. 
 
 ' 15 President Lincoln calls for 7o,000 men to defend Washington. 
 
 " 17 Virginia secedes, and the Governor recognizes the act by pro- 
 clamation. 
 
 " 18 The U. S. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry destroyed, to prevent its 
 falling into the hands of the Rebels. 
 
 " 19 A Rebel mob, in Baltimore, attacked the Massachusetts troops 
 who were going to Washington, in obedience to the President's 
 call ; and the Mayor of Baltimore notified the President that no 
 more troops should pass through that city. 
 
 " 19 The President, by proclamation, declares the ports of the 
 Seceded States Blockaded. 
 
 " 20 The U. S. Mint at Charlotte. N. C.. seized by the Rebels, and on 
 the same day the railroads in Maryland were destroyed and bridges 
 burnt. On the same day, the U. S. Navy-yard at Gosport, Va., 
 was destroyed by the men having it in charge, to prevent its 
 falling into the hands of the Rebels. Property lost worth 
 $25.000,000. 
 
 " 26 Gov. Brown, of Geo.. forbids the citizens of that State from pay- 
 ing their debts due to the people of the North. 
 Jfay 3 President Lincoln calls for 82,714 additional troops. 
 
 " C Virginia admitted as one of the Confederate States, and the State 
 of Tennessee passed an ordinace of Recession. 
 
 " 10 Gen. R. E. Lee took command of the Rebel troops in Virginia. 
 
 " 15 Tiie Legislature of Massachusetts ofler to loan tke U. t>. govern- 
 ment $7,000.000 to carry on the war. 
 
 " 21 North Carolina secedes from the United States. 
 
 " 21 Rebels blockade the Mississippi River at Memphis. 
 
 " 24 Col. Ellsworth shot by the Rebel Jackson. 
 
 " 27100 slaves took refuge in Fortress Monroe, and Gen. Butler de- 
 clared them contraband of war. 
 
 " 27 Mobile blockaded ; Savannah ditto, on the next day, by the U. S. 
 bloc %ading squadron. 
 
 " 31 A fight of two hours between the Union gun-boata at Aqnia 
 
 Creek and the Rebel batteries at that place. 
 Jnne 2 Battle of Philippa, Va. Rebels defeated. 
 
 3 U. S. Senator Douglas, of Ilinois, died. 
 
 " 10 Battle of Big Bethel, Va. Union troops repulsed. 
 
 " 14 Rebels evacuate and burn Harper's Ferry, when the Union forces 
 occupy the place. 
 
 " 17 A Convention of Union men vote the independence of West 
 Virginia in other words, that part of Virginia seceded from Old 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 " 18 Battle of Booneville, Mo. Rebels, under Gen. Price, routed by 
 the Unionists under Gen. Lyon. 
 
 14 23 Forty-eight Locomotives of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. 
 destroyed by the Rebels. % 
 
 " 26 President Lincoln recognizes the Wheeling government as the 
 
 government of Virginia. 
 
 July 2 Battle near Martinsburgh, Va. Patterson, Union, defeated. Gen. 
 Jackson, Confederate. 
 
 " 5 Congress assembled, and the President called for 400,000 men and 
 $40^,000.000 to put down the Rebellion. 
 
 " 5 Battle at Carthage, Mo. Gen. Siegel commanded the Union, and 
 Gen. Jackson the Rebel forces.
 
 496 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Ju'y 11 Battle at Rich Mountain, Va. Union, Gen. Rosecrans. Rebel, 
 Gen. Pegram, who was defeated. 
 
 " 11 U. 8. Senate expelled nine Senators from the Confederate Statei 
 for treason. 
 
 < 13 Battle of Carrickford, Va. Union, Gen. Morris. F.ebel, Garnett, 
 who was killed. 
 
 11 21 Battle of Bull Run. Union, Gen. McDowell. Rebel, Gen. Beau- 
 regard. Union troops defeated after ten hours fighting, yet the 
 Rebels lost the most men. 
 
 " 25 Gen. George B. McClellan took command of the Army of the 
 
 Potomac. 
 
 Aug. 2 Congress pass an Act for raising 500,000 men, and $500,000,000 by 
 tax and tariff. 
 
 < 7 The village of Hampton, Va., burnt by the Confederates, to pre- 
 vent its falling into the hands of the Unionists. 
 
 " 10 Battle of Wilson's Creek. Union, Gen. Lyon, killed 2G3 troops 
 killed, and 421 Rebels. Battle lasted six hours. 
 
 15Jeff Havis ordered all Northern men to quit the Confederate 
 States in forty days. 
 
 " 16 President Lincoln, by proclamation, declared all commercial in- 
 tercourse with the Rebel States at an end. 
 
 " 23 The Cherokee Indians join the Confederates. 
 
 " 28 Bombardment and capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark, N. C., by 
 the combined action of the Army, nnder Gen. Butler, and the 
 Navy, under Com. Stringham. 
 
 " 31 Gen. Fremont issued a proclamation confiscating the property of 
 Rebels in Missouri, and also freeing the -slaves. This was counter- 
 manded by the President. 
 Sept. 1 The village o f Boom Court House, Va., burnt. 
 
 " 12 Col. John A. Washington, of the Confederate Army, killed while 
 reconnoiterin?. 
 
 " 12 Battle of Cheat Mountain, Va. Rebels defeated. 
 
 18 Some of the members of the Legislature of Maryland arrested and 
 
 imprisoned for talking treason. 
 Oct. 3 Battle of Greenbrier, Va. Rebels defeated. 
 
 " 16 The U. S. troops re-capture Lexington, Mo. 
 
 " 16 Battle of Pilot Knob. Mo. Rebels defeated. 
 
 " 21 Battle of Ball's Bluff which was a severe fight the Unionists de- 
 feated ; Col. Baker killed, with 918 men killed or wounded. 
 
 " 29 The great Naval and Military force, consisting of 75 vessels, (of all 
 sorts) and 27,000 men, sailed from Hampton Roads, Va.. and 
 bound South, under command of Com. DuPont, and Gen. T. W 
 Sherman. 
 
 Nov. 1 Gen. Scott retired from the command of the army, with full pay ; 
 and Gen. McClellan took his place. 
 
 " 1 Confederate Gen. Floy tried to capture Gen. Rosecrans and hia 
 army, at Gauley, Va., but failed. 
 
 " 4 Houston. Mo., taken by the Union troops, who captured a large 
 amount of Rebel property. 
 
 " 4 A part of the Great Naval Expedition arrived at Port Royal, S. C. 
 
 " 7 A great naval battle at Hilton Head, S. C., when the Rebel Forts 
 Beuuregard and Walker were captured. 
 
 " 8 Battle of Balmont, Mo. Great slaughter on both sides. - 
 
 " 8 Mason and Slidell, Rebel Commissioners to Europe, were taken 
 from the liritir-h steamer Trent, by the U. S. ship San Jacinto, bu*
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 497 
 
 on the demand of the English government they were given up to 
 her. 
 
 Nov. 10 The village of Gnyandotte, Va., burnt by Union soldiers, because 
 some of them had been murdered by the inhabitants. 
 
 " 20 Thirty old whale ships, loaded with stone, sailed from New Lon- 
 don and New Bedford, to be sunk in the channels of some of the 
 Southern sea ports. This was accomplished. 
 
 Dec. 3-4 Congrpssmen Bennett, of Ky., Reed, of Mo., and John C. Breck- 
 enridge, U. S. Senator from Ky,, were expelled from Congress for 
 treason. 
 
 " 5 At this time there were, as shown by the reports of the Secre- 
 taries of War and of the Navy, nearly 700,000 men in the Army 
 and Navy of the U. States. 
 
 ' 16 Platte City, Mo., burnt by the Rebels. 
 
 " 17 More than twenty stone vessels sunk in the channels to the har- 
 bors of Charleston and Savannah. 
 
 " 31 At the close of this year, there were 246 vessels (of all kinds) in 
 the U. S. navy, carrying 22,000 men and nearly 2,000 guns. 
 
 1862. 
 
 Jan. 2 Battle on Port Royal Island, S. C. Confederates driven from the 
 Island. 
 
 " 10 A fight near Prestonburgh, Ky., between Union Gen. Garfield, and 
 Rebel Gen. Humphrey Marshall'.s forces. Marshall defeated. 
 
 " 10 Senators Johnson and Polk, of Mo., expelled from the U. States 
 Senate as traitors. 
 
 " 12125 vessels, with 15,000 troops, left Fortress Monroe for the South, 
 under Com. Goldsborough and Gen. Burnside. 
 
 " 13 Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, resigned, and Edwin M. Stan- 
 ton, of Pa., was appointed in his place. 
 
 " 18 John Tyler, of Va., and once acting President, died. 
 
 " 19 Battle of Mill Spring, Ky. Union forces under Gen. Thomas com- 
 pletely victorious over Gens. Crittenden and Zollicoffer the latter 
 was killed. Unionists make a great haul of provisions and arms. 
 
 " 27 Bishop Ames, of the Methodist Church, and Gov. Fish, of New 
 YorK, appointed to visit our prisoners at Richmond and other 
 places, but the Rebels would not allow them to enter their line.-s. 
 Feb. 4 Congress enact that the names of every person who had taken up 
 arms against the United States should be struck from the pension 
 rolls. 
 
 " 5 Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, expelled from the U. S. Senate for 
 his secession sentiments. 
 
 " 6 The Western gun-boats capture Fort Henry, on the Tennessee 
 River, under Com. Foote. Rebel Gen. Tiighman taken prisoner. 
 
 " 8 Great battle on Roanoke Island, which, with all its fortifications 
 and guns, were captured, together with over 2,500 Rebel pris- 
 oners. Gen. Burnside commanded the Union forces. 
 
 10 Naval battle between U. 8. and Rebel gun-boats, off Elizabeth 
 City, N. C. All but one of the enemy's boats captured. 
 
 " 12 Gen. Grant, with 40,000 troops, invests Fort Donnelson, on the 
 Cumberland River, where there were 18,000 Rebel, troops under 
 Geuls. Floyd, Pillow and Buckner. The fighting continued during
 
 498 CHEOSOLOGY. 
 
 the 13th, Uth, 15th and 16th. when the Fort surrendered to the 
 Uuion forces, with 13,300 prisoners of war, 3,000 horses, 43 gun^ 
 and 20,000 small arras. 
 
 Feb. 13 Congress authorize the construction of twenty iron clad gua- 
 boats. 
 
 " is Rebel Congress assembled at Richmond, Va. 
 
 " 19 Jeff Davis and Alexander H. Stevens were unanimously elected 
 President and Vice-President of the Confederate States for six 
 years? 
 
 " 23 Nashville occupied by the Union forces. 
 
 " 25 Congress authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to issue $150,- 
 000,000 of United States notes, (green backs) and make them a legal 
 tender. . 
 
 JIar. 2 A battle between the Union gun-boats and the Rebel batteries, at 
 Pittsburgh Landing, Tenu. Rebels repulsed with great slaughter. 
 
 44 3 (Jen. Beauregard took command of the Rebel Army in Mississippi. 
 
 44 4 Congress fix the number of Representatives in Congress at 241 
 based on the census of 1860. 
 
 6-8 Battle of Pea Ridge. Union Gen. Curtis, with 22.000 men. 
 against Benj. McUuIlough with 35,000 men McC. was killed. This 
 battle lasted three days. 
 
 8-9 The Rebel steamer " Merrimac," or " Virginia," with four gun- 
 boats, attack the U. S. ships lying at Hampton Roads, and burnt 
 and sunk several of them, when the U. S. " Monitor' 1 cann into tho 
 fight and very soon disabled th'd Merrimac. This was the first 
 trial of iron clads. 
 
 " 14 Battle of Newbern. N. C. ; where the Unionists found an iramenso 
 amount of stores and ammunition. Rebels fled. 
 
 14 23 Battle of Winchester, Va. Confederates defeated with great loss. 
 April 6-7 Battle of Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh, on the Tennessee River : 
 the Unionists victorious the Rebel Genl.. A. S. Johnson, killed, 
 and 3,00;) of his men. This was one of the most terrible battles 
 during the Rebellion, and would have been lost but for the aid of 
 the gun-boats. Gen. Grant commanded the Union forces, and 
 Gen. Beauregard the Rebels. 100,000 men were in the battle, and 
 20.000 were killed, wounde 1 or missing. 
 
 44 11 Fort Pulaski bombarded thirty-six hours, and taken by General 
 Hunter. 
 
 41 16 Slavery in the District of Columbia abolished by act of Congress. 
 
 " 18 The Union Fleet of 51 vessels, under Com. Farragut and Porter, 
 ascend the Mississippi River and bombard Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip six days, and ran past them on their way to New- Orleans, 
 where they arrived on the 2>th, when Com. Farragut demanded 
 the surrender of the city, which was done. 
 
 " 21 A branch Mint established at Denver, in Colorado, by Act of Con- 
 gress. 
 May 1 '251 Union Cavalry captured at Pulaski, Tenn. 
 
 " 4 Yorktown, Va., evacuated by the Rebels, and occupied by the 
 Union forces. 
 
 " 5 Battle of Williamsburgh, Va., lasting all day Confederates 
 routed. 
 
 " 10 Norfolk, Va., surrendered to the Union troops. 
 
 44 11 Rebels burn their ship Merrimic. 
 
 " 11 Rebels evacuate Pensacola, Fla., and burn the public buildiugs 
 and Navy-yard.
 
 CHKOXOLOGY. 499 
 
 May 15 The Agricultural Department created by Act of Congress. 
 " 24 Battle at Bottom's Bridge, over the Chickahominy Eiver, a Union 
 
 victory. 
 " 30 The Union forces occupy Corinth, Miss., and 2,000 Confederate 
 
 prisoners taken. 
 " 31 Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. After long and hard fighting the Union 
 
 troops retreated. 
 June 1 Battle of Fair Oaks re-commenced Rebels driven back. Union 
 
 loss 4,739 killed, wounded and prisoners Rebel, nearly 6,000. 
 " 6 Gun-boat-fight at Memphis, on the Mississippi River. Memphis 
 
 surrendered, and nearly all the enemy's boats were destroyed or 
 
 captured. 
 " 8 Battle of Cross Keys, Va. Union loss 581 killed and wounded 
 
 Rebel, about 1,000. 
 
 " 14 Battle on James Island, S. C., near Charleston Unionists de- 
 feated. 
 
 " 17 125 Union men killed and wounded by the explosion of the gun- 
 boat " Mound City," on the White River, Ark., while in a fight. 
 " 19 Congress pass an Act prohibiting Slavery in any of the Territories 
 
 of the U. States. 
 
 " 25 Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. Rebels repulsed. 
 " 26 Battle near Mechanicsville, Va. Rebels 60,000 strong, under 
 
 Jackson. Union troops driven back to Games' Mill, where the 
 
 loss was heavy on both sides. This battle was renewed the next 
 
 day, and lasted all day. 
 
 " 27 Bombardment of Vicksburgh by Union gun-boats. 
 " 30 Battles of White Oak Swamp, and Charles City Cross Roads, Va. 
 
 Loss heavy on both sides. 
 July 1 The Internal Revenue Bill passed. 
 " 1 Congress pass an Act prohibiting Polygamy in any part of the U. 
 
 States (a hit at the Mormons.) 
 
 " 1 The Union Pacific Railroad Chartered by Congress. 
 " 1 Battle of Malvern Hill, Va., Union victory. With this battle ended 
 
 the seven days' fighting near Richmond, which cost the Union 
 
 Army over 15,000 men in killed, wounded and missing. 
 " 1 President Lincoln called for 600,000 volunteers to put down the 
 
 Rebellion. 
 ' 2 Congress pass an Act, in which a new oath of office is prescribed, 
 
 much more comprehensive than any former oath, which has been 
 
 called " The Iron Clad Oath." 
 7 Gen. Curtis' army encountered 1,500 Rebels at Bayou de Cache, 
 
 Ark., when a severe fight ensued of two hours' length the enemy 
 
 routed, leaving over 1UO dead on the field. 
 " 11 Gen. H. \V~. Halleck made Commander-in-Chief of the Army of 
 
 the United States. 
 " 12 Rebels, with 4,000 cavalry, capture Murfreesborough, Tenn., 
 
 after a severe fight, with about an equal loss on both sices. 
 Aug. 4 The President ordered a uraft of 300,000 men to serve in the 
 
 Army nine months. 
 " 5 Battle of Baton Rouge where Rebel Gen. Breckenridge, with 
 
 6,000 troops, attacked the Unionists under Gen. Williams, who, 
 
 after a bloody fight, forced the enemy to retreat. 
 " 5 The U. S. gun-boat Essex attacked the Rebel steamer Arkansas, 
 
 a little below Baton Rouge; fired red hot shot into her and blew 
 
 her up.
 
 500 CHEONOLOGY. 
 
 Sept. 5 Gen. Robert McCook assassinated by the Rebels while sick. 
 
 9 Battle of Cedar Mountain, Va. Union troops under Gon. Banks; 
 Confederates under Gen. Jackson. After a three hours' fight, both 
 parties retired. 
 
 " 16 Gen. McClellan leaves Harrison's Landing on the James River. 
 
 " 21 Gen. Siegel opened his masked batteries on live regiments of 
 Rebels, who had just crossed the Rappahannock River, slaughtered 
 700 of them, and took 2,000 prisoners. 
 
 " 26 A Union naval expedition went up the Yazoo River, Miss., cap- 
 turing every thing in its way. 
 
 " 28 Battle at Centreville, Va., under Union Genls. Siegel and McDow- 
 ell ; Confederate Gen., Jackson, who was defeated, 
 
 " 29 Battle of Groveton, near Bull Run, Va. Unionists under Gen. 
 Pope. The battle lasted all day, when the enemy retreated. Col. 
 Fletcher Webster was killed here. The fight was renewed the 
 next day, and with great loss, when Pope retreated. 
 
 < 30 Battle near Richmond, Ky. Unionists, under Gen. Nelson, da- 
 feated with great loss. 
 
 " 31 Battle of Weldon, Va. Confederates badly beaten, 
 gept. 1 On this day, three battles were fought. 1. At Chantilley, two 
 miles from Fairfax Court House, Va., in which two Union Generals 
 were killed, to wit, Kearney and I. J. Stevens ; their loss in men 
 was also large. 2. At Britton's Lane, Teun., lasting four hours 
 enemy fled. 3. A.t Jackson, Tenn., where the Conf derates left 
 110 dead on the field. 
 
 " 6 Confederate Army ford the Potomac River and cross into Mary- 
 land, and on the 6th they occupy Frederick City, in that State. 
 
 " 61,200 Rebels attack the Union Garrison, at Washington, N. C., 
 but were repulsed. 
 
 " 8 Gen. Lee (Confederate) issued a Proclamation to the people of 
 Maryland. 
 
 41 9 Ou this day these three events happened 1. Col. Grierson at- 
 tacked the Rebels at Coldwater, lli*s., and drove them back. 2. 
 They attack the Union forces at Williamsbnrg, Va., where they 
 were repulsed. 3. Fredericksburgh, Va., was evacuated by the 
 Rebels. 
 
 ' 10 Gov. Curtin, of Pa., (expecting a Rebel invasion of the State) 
 called on all the able bodied men to organize to defend the State. 
 
 " 10 In Cincinnati, 0., so great were the fears that the Rebels would 
 attack that city, that 3.000 laborers were put into the trenches to 
 fortify the city. 
 
 " 11 The Union forces at Ganby, Va., burn all the government prop- 
 erty and abandon the place. On the same dav, Mayville, Ky., 
 and Bloomfield, Mo., were taken by the Rebels. 
 
 " 12 Fight on Elk River, Va., near Gnnloy, which lasted all.day. On 
 the same day Charleston was bombarded aad burnt. 
 
 " 13 The Confederates opened fire on Harper's Ferry, when an 
 artillery duel was fought all day. 
 
 " 14 BattLs of South Mountain, Md. Unionists, under McClellan, at- 
 tacked the Rebel Army the battle lasted all day, when the Rebels 
 fled in the night. Here General Reno was killed, with about 350 
 men. 
 
 " 15 Harper's Ferry surrendered to the Rebels, who took 11,500 pris- 
 oners aud sixty cannon. 
 
 " 16-17 Battle of Autietam, Md. 100,000 men on each. side. This was
 
 CHEONOLOGY. 501 
 
 one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Union Generals Hooker, 
 
 Porter, Burnside, and McOlellan Rebel General? Lee, Hill. 
 
 Jackson, and Longstreet. Union Loss over 12,000 Rebel, about 
 
 25,000. 
 Sept. 20 Battle of luka, Miss. Enemy defeated with a loss of over 14,000. 
 
 Union loss over 700. 
 " 22 President Lincoln's Proclamation, declaring all the Slaves free in 
 
 the Rebel States, in case they continued their war 100 days longer. 
 " 23 About this time the Sioux Indians in Minnesota became very 
 
 troublesome, and many of them were killed. 
 " 27 The Union garrison at Augusta, Ky., surrendered to 600 Rebel 
 
 cavalry, after 90 of them were killed. 
 
 Oct. 4 Battle of Corinth, Miss. Union loss in killed, wounded and miss- 
 ing 2,300 Rebel over 9,000, including prisoners. 
 " 8-9 Battle of Perry ville, Ky. Gen. Rosseau commanded the Union 
 
 forces Bragg, Buckner, and Cheatham the Confederates, who 
 
 were routed with a loss of GOO killed Union 468. 
 " 10-11 Rebel Cavalry reach Chambersburgh, Pa., captured 500 horses, 
 
 a quantity of government stores, and fled back to Virginia. 
 " 14 A donation of $100,000 was sent from San Francisco for the Sani- 
 
 tory Commission. 
 " 15 A hard battle was fought near Richmond, Ky., between 45,000 
 
 Confederates and 18,000 Union forces, who lost 2,900 men Rebel 
 
 loss 3,300. 
 
 22 Battle of Maysville, Ark. 5,000 Rebels routed. 
 " 24 The English steamer Scotia, loaded with arms and powder for the 
 
 Rebels, captured on the coast of South Carolina. 
 
 " 30 Gen. Mitchell (the astronomer), in command of the Southern divi- 
 sion of the U. S. Army, died at Beaufort, S. C. 
 Nov. 5 The Rebels attack Nashville, Tenn., but were repulsed. 
 " 25 Rebels attack Newbern, N. C., but left soon. 
 11 28 Battle of Cane Hill, Ark., when 5,000 Union soldiers, under Gen. 
 
 Blunt, drove the Rebels, under Gen. Marmaduke, twelve miles, in 
 
 a running fight. 
 Dec. 5 Battle of Coffeeville, Miss., of two hours' duration. Rebel loss 
 
 heavy Union light. 
 
 " 7 Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. Union loss 1,000 in killed and 
 rounded. 
 
 8 Steamer Lake City destroyed by the Rebels. 
 9 Concordia, on the Mississippi Rive 
 
 srdia, on the Mississippi River, burnt by the Unionists. 
 " 10 Port Royal was bombarded by the Unionists. 
 " 11 Fredericksburgh shelled. 
 " 13 Battle of Fredericksburgh, Va., where Generals Taylor, Bayard, 
 
 and Jackson, of the Union Army, and Gregg and Cobb, of the 
 
 Rebel, were killed. 
 44 14 Battle of Kingston, N. C., where the Union men killed and 
 
 wounded several hundred, and took 400 prisoners and a quantity of 
 
 arms. 
 11 16 Fredericksburgh evacuated by the Union Army which was equal 
 
 to a defeat at the battle there on the 13th. 
 " 17 Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, captured by Gen. Banks' 
 
 troops. 
 19 the Rebels re-took Holly Springs, Miss. ; 200 Unionists killed and 
 
 wounded, and half a million of dollars in property destroyed, wit* 
 
 4,000 bales of cotton.
 
 602 CHEONOLOQY. 
 
 Dec. 28 Thirty-eight Indians hung in Minnesota, for murdering the whites, 
 27 Vicksburgh, Miss., attacked by the Union troops on land, and by 
 
 the gunrboats on the river, but on the 29th had to fall back. 
 " 31 The famous iron "Monitor," which whipped the "Merrimack,' 
 
 was sunk at sea in a storm. 
 
 " 31 A severe fight at Murfreesboro', Tenn. ; Unionists driven back. 
 This battle was renewed the next morning and continued four 
 days, when the Confederates retreated. Union loss in killed, 
 wounded and prisoners, over 11,000 Confederate, much less. 
 
 1863. 
 
 Jan. 1 Battle of Galveston between United States Blockading Squadron 
 and the Confederate batteries. Here the U. S. " Harriet Lane " 
 was captured, and the steamer " Westfield " was blown up by her 
 commander, and all hands on board were lost. 
 
 " 1 Gen. Sullivan, with 60,000 men, attacked the Rebels under Gen, 
 Forrest, near Lexington, Tenn. This battle lasted all day, with a 
 great slaughter on both sides. Enemy defeated. 
 
 ' 1 President Lincoln issued his Proclamation liberating the slaves In 
 all the Rebel States. 
 
 " 1 Battle of Stone River, for ten hours without any result. 
 
 ' 9 Twenty thousand prisoners exchanged. 
 
 " 11 On this and the day previous, there was hard fighting at Forts 
 Hindman and Arkansas Post. Union loss about 1,000; Rebel 
 prisoners nearly 8,000. 
 
 " 11 Union gun-boat " Hatteras " sunk by the Rebel eteamer Alabama 
 
 " 13 The Rebel steamer " Oreto." afterwards called " Florida," escapes 
 from Mobile. 
 
 17 By joint resolution of Congress, $100,000,000 United States notes 
 were issued to pay off the soldiers. 
 
 " 21 Engagement on the coast of Texas, when the Rebels capture two 
 United States vessels. 
 
 " 22 Gen. Fitz John Porter dismissed from the U. 8. service. 
 
 " 25 First regimentof negro soldiers organized at Port Royal, S. C. 
 
 " 26 Gen. Hooker succeeds Gen. Burnside in the command of the Army 
 of the Potomac. 
 
 " 26 The barque Golden Rule burnt, and the ship Washington captured 
 
 by the Rebel steamer Alabama. 
 
 Feb. 3-5 Rebels attack Fort Donelson OD both these days, but were 
 repulsed. 
 
 " 5 The Union ram " Queen of the West" destroys three Rebel trans- 
 ports loaded with supplies, on the Red River. 
 
 " 9 Gen. Hunter (in S. C.) conscripts all able-bodied negroes in his 
 department. 
 
 " 12 The ship "Jacob Bell," captured and burned by the Rebel pirate 
 "Florida." Her cargo was worth $1,000,000. 
 
 " 21 Ships " Golden Eagle " and " Olive Jane," burnt by the Rebel 
 pirate " Alabama," on the coast of Africa. 
 
 " 24 Arizona, a Territorial Government for, created by Act of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 " 24 Gun-boat " Indianola" (Union) taken by four Rebel steamers. 
 
 " 25 Cavalry fight at Strasbnrgh, Va. Two hundred (Union) loss in 
 killed and prisoners.
 
 CHEONOLOGT. 503 
 
 Feb. 25 An Act to prevent Correspondence with Rebels, under a penalty 
 of $10.000, passed and approved. 
 
 " 25- The Bureau of Currency created in the Treasury Department, the 
 head of which is the Comptroller of the Currency, who is appointed 
 for five years by the President, upon the nomination of the Sec. of 
 the Treasury. This Act also provides for a national currency, 
 secured by a pledge of United States stocks. Under this Act, our 
 present National Banks were organized. 
 
 " 26 The Cherokee Council repeals their act of Secession, and abolish 
 
 " 28 Rebel iron-clad " Nashville," which laid in the Ogeechee River, 
 
 Geo., destroyed by the Union gun-boat " Montank." 
 March 1 The third fruitless attack on Fort McAllister, Geo., by the Union 
 gun-boats. 
 
 " 2 By Act of Congress the number of Generals in the service of the 
 United States (of all grades) were increased from 253 to 358. 
 
 " 3 Act of Congress approved authorizing the Secretary of the 
 
 Treasury to borrow $900,000,000 on the credit of the United States, 
 
 and to issue $50,000,000 in fractional currency. This loan was 
 
 .. issued in what is called 10.40 Bonds, because they had from ten to 
 
 forty years to run. 
 
 " 3 Congress authorize the President to suspend the privilege of the 
 writ of Habeas Corpus during the Rebellion. 
 
 " 3 The office of Assistant Treasurer created by Act of Congress. 
 
 " 3 An Act to establish a Branch Mint at Carson City, Nevada, 
 approved. 
 
 " 3 The Act forming a Territorial Government for Idaho approved. 
 
 " 3 The gun-boat "Indianola" destroyed by the Rebels, and the 
 gun-boat " Geo. Washington " was blown up in Broad River. 
 
 " 3 The President authorized to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal 
 to Privateers for three years. 
 
 " 6 Rebel Gen. Van Dorn attacks the Union troops at Springfield, 
 Tenn., routed them, and captured many prisoners. 
 
 6 Franklin, Tenn., taken by the Rebels, who killed 300 and took 
 1,000 prisoners. 
 
 " 10 Jacksonville, Fla., taken by United States negro troops. 
 
 " 13 Battle at the mouth of the Tallahatchie River between the gun- 
 boat " Chillicothe " and the Rebel Fort Pemberton, which was 
 silenced. 
 
 " 14 The United States fleet bombard Fort Hudson, La. In the 
 attempt to pass the Rebel batteries, the Flag-ship " Mississippi " 
 was disabled, and burnt by order of Com. Farragut. 
 
 " 17 Averill's Cavalry (Union) reach Kelly's Ford, where they 
 attacked the Rebels, under Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee. The battle 
 lasted. five hours, when the Rebels fell back. This battle was one 
 of the most gallant cavalry fights of the whole war. 
 
 ' 19 The English steamer " Georgiana," with arms for the Confede- 
 rates, destroyed off Charleston, S. C. 
 
 " 25 Two Union rams (boats) destroyed in attempting to pass the 
 
 batteries at Vicksburgh. 
 April 1 Admiral Farragut's fleet pass all the Rebel batteries at Grand Gulf. 
 
 6 To show the effects of the war on the South, we quote the prices 
 of several articles at Richmond, Va. At this date, butter $3 per B. ; 
 hams $1.45 per &.; brandy $24 per gal. ; com $7.50 per bushel; 
 candles $3 per ft. ; coffee $4.50 per BJ.
 
 504 CHBONOLOGY. 
 
 April 7 A number of iron-clads attack Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, 
 
 but they were badly punished, and left. Here the Union monitor 
 
 "Keokuk," sunk two days after the fight, from the damages 
 
 received. 
 " The ship "Morning Star," captured by the Rebel steamer 
 
 "Alabama." 
 
 8 The Rebels capture and burn two Union steamboats on the Cum- 
 berland River, Tenn. 
 
 " 8 Admiral Farragut captures the Rebel steamer " J. D. Clark." 
 " 12 Battle at Teclie, La., between Unionists, under Gen. Banks and 
 
 the Rebels. Another fight occurred on the 14th, between the 
 
 same parties, when the Rebels ran, and lost three of their gun- 
 boats. 
 16 Porter's fleet of six gunboats and a number of transports, ran by 
 
 all the Rebel batteries at Vicksburgh. 
 " 20 President Lincoln issued his proclamation that West Virginia had 
 
 complied with the Act of Congress, imposing a certain condition 
 
 of admission as a separate State ; gave notice that in sixty days 
 
 from this date, she would come into the Union. 
 44 23 Gen. Hunter gives Jeff. Davis notice that he will retaliate for the 
 
 killing of our negro soldiers and their officers. 
 " 24 On this day the Union forces were defeated in a fight at Beverly, 
 
 Va., and the Rebels at Weber Falls, Ark., and also on the Iron 
 
 Mountain Railroad, near St. Louis, Mo. 
 " 26 Three hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn destroyed on 
 
 Deer Creek, Miss., by a party of Union raiders. 
 " 27 Texas Rebel Legion captured at Franklin, Tenn. 
 " 28 Cavalry fight at Sand Mountain, Ga. Rebels flee, leaving 200 
 
 dead and wounded. 
 
 During this month, no less than eighty-five battles, skirmishes or 
 attacks took place between the Union and Rebel forces, on 
 land and upon the water (the latter principally by gun- 
 boats). 
 May 1 Battle at Port Gibson ; 11,000 Rebels defeated. They also suffer 
 
 another defeat at Monticello, Ky., and another at South Quay, Va. 
 
 The Unionists suffer a defeat also in a skirmish at Lagrange, Ark. 
 
 The battle at Chancellorville, Va., also commenced this day. 
 " 2 Battle of Chancellorville, Va. This was the second day of the 
 
 fight. The Union forces, under Gen. Hooker ; Rebel under Gen. 
 
 Lee, who were victorious. On the third day loss heavy on both 
 
 sides. 
 41 2 Col. Grierson's raiders reach Baton Rouge, La., after 15 days' ride 
 
 through Mississippi, in which time they had several fights, took 
 
 prisoners, destroyed railroads, burnt bridges, and did the Rebels 
 
 much damage. 
 '< 3 Col. Streight's Union raiding force of 1,600 men captured near 
 
 Gadsden, Ala. 
 44 3 Gen. Sedgewick captures Fredericksburgh, Va., but the Rebels 
 
 retook it the next day. 
 
 " 3 Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., by Admiral Porter's fleet. 
 " 6 Vallandigham arrested in Ohio for treason. 
 14 10 Stonewall Jackson died, one of the ablest of the Rebel generals. 
 41 12 Battle of Farnden's Creek, Miss. Rebels under Gen. Gregg ; 
 
 Unionists under Gen. Logan each about 5,000 men. Union 
 
 victory.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 5D5 
 
 May 13 Yazoo city captured by the Union gun-boats, with $2,000,000 ol 
 
 Eebel property. 
 " 16 Battle at Baker's Creek, Miss. ; Gen. Grant, Union, against Gen. 
 
 Pemberton, Rebel, who was defeated, with a loss of 4,000 men. 
 
 This victory was followed up by another battle the next day, when 
 
 2,000 more Eebel prisoners were taken. 
 " 18 Vicksburgh invested by the forces of Gens. Grant, Sherman, 
 
 McPherson and McClernand, and the terrible battle began ; while 
 
 Admiral Porter aided them with his fleet of gun-boats. (See 
 
 4th of July next.) 
 
 " 21 The Rebels offer terms of capitulation, being completely sur- 
 rounded in their fortifications at Vicksburgh; but Gen. Grant 
 
 refused any other terms than ' Unconditional Surrender." 
 " 26 Rebel cavalry, under the traitor Gen. Breckenridge, defeated in 
 
 Tennessee. 
 " 27 Gen. Banks repulsed by the Rebels in his second attack on Port 
 
 Hudson, La. He also failed in two or three subsequent attacks on 
 
 the same place. 
 June 7 Battle at Milliken's Bend. The Rebels had attacked this place on 
 
 the Mississippi River. The Union force in the main action were 
 
 negroes, who drove back the Rebels. 
 " 9 Two cavalry fights' take place this day on the Rappahannock 
 
 River, the latter at Brandy Station. 
 " 11 Col. Montgomery starts from Hilton Head, S. C., with a regiment 
 
 of colored troops, for a raid in Georgia, 
 " 11 The Rebel pirate " Clarence," captures six vessels off the Chesa- 
 
 " 15 President Lincoln calls for 100,000 men to repel Gen. Lee'a army, 
 now marching North. 
 
 " 16 The Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey call for volunteers 
 to defend Pa. from Rebel invasion. 
 
 " 17 The Rebel steamer " Nashville " captured. 
 
 " 18 Rebels under Milroy arrive at Bedford, Pa., and within a few days 
 after, several other large bodies of their troops enter the State, at 
 Chambersburgh, Carlisle, Shippinsburgh, Gettysburgh, and York 
 amounting in all to more than 100.000 men. 
 
 " 20 The new State of West Virginia organized. 
 July Missouri abolishes slavery in that State. 
 
 <" 1-2-3 Successive fighting for three days at Gettysburgh, Pa., whicl 
 ended in a Union victory. This was one of the greatest battles of 
 our civil war 6,000 men were buried on the field, and abou* 
 200,000 were in the fight ; Union loss 23,000 in killed, wounded ani 
 missing ; Rebel loss unknown. General Lee commanded tht 
 Rebel forces, who in the night crossed the Potomac River int 
 Virginia. 
 
 " 4 Vicksburgh, Miss., surrendered to Gen. Grant, after holding out 
 against our bombarding and shelling since the 18th of May last. 
 Gen. Pemberton (Rebel) not only surrendered the place, but his 
 whole army of 31,000 men, 220 guns, and 70,000 small arms. The 
 battle of Gettysburgh and the surrender of Vicksburgh broke the 
 backbone of the rebellion. 
 
 ' 4 Gen. Lee fled. President Lincoln announces the victory of Gettys- 
 burgh, and Gen. Mead issues a congratulatory address to his army 
 on their victory. 
 
 M 8 Surrender of Port Hudson, on the Mississippi River, to Gen. Banks
 
 506 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 with 7,000 prisoners, and a great number of cannon and snnli 
 
 arms. This opened the Mississippi to trade. 
 Jaly 13 Great riot in New York, the object of which was to aid the Rebe t 
 
 lion, as it became necessary for the Government to send troops to 
 
 New York to put it down. The colored Orphan Asylum waa 
 
 burnt, negroes hung in the streets, houses robbed and burnt. 
 " 16 The Riot ia New York continues. The United States troops had 
 
 arrived; they lire upon the rioters, and kill and wound several 
 
 hundred of them. 
 " 15 President Lincoln issues a proclamation, appointing the 6th of 
 
 August as a day for Thanksgiving for the recent great victories by 
 
 our armies. 
 " 23 Battle at Manassas Gap, Va. ; Rebel loss about 400 in killed and 
 
 wounded. 
 " 26 Morgan, the great Rebel Guerrilla, who had been scouring Indiana 
 
 and Ohio, burning, killing and robbing, was captured with 400 of 
 
 his men in Ohio. 
 "26 John J. Crittenden, long in the Senate of the United States from 
 
 Kentucky, died at Frankfort in that State. 
 Aug. 1 Two battles between the Union and Rebel cavalry took place this 
 
 day in Virginia; one at Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, and 
 
 one at Culpcpper. 
 I The steamboat "Ruth" accidentally burnt on the Mississippi 
 
 River, with $250,000 of Government money on board. About this 
 
 time, the Indians in Minnesota were very hostile, and Gen. Siblee 
 
 had three battles with them and drove them off. 
 " 12 to 20 Gen. Gilmore bombards Fort Sumter, and on the 21st, 22d, 
 
 23d and 25th threw shells into Charleston, S.C., at a range of 
 
 nearly six miles. 
 " 27 John B. Floyd, Secretary of War under Buchanan, but now a 
 
 Rebel general, died. 
 31 A squadron of United States War vessels attack Fort iloultrie, in 
 
 Charleston harbor. 
 
 During this month, Mississippi and Tennessee swarmed with 
 
 guerrillas.. 
 
 Rept. 1 Knoxville, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside's troops. An artil- 
 lery fight at Port Royal, Va. 
 
 " 2 Kingston, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside. 
 " 5 Forts Wagner and Gregg, near Charleston, bombarded by Gen. 
 
 Gilmore, and on the 6th the Rebels evacuated them. 
 " 8 Cumberland Gap, with 2,000 prisoners, surrendered to Gen. 
 
 Burnside. 
 " 10 Little Rock, Ark., evacuated by the Rebels, and occupied by the 
 
 Union troops. 
 " 19 Battle of Chickamauga, Geo. This battle raged for two days, and 
 
 ended in a great defeat of the Union army, and a loss of over 
 
 15,000 men in killed, wounded and missing. Rebel loss also very 
 
 heavy. Gen. Rosecrans commanded the Union, and Gen. Bragg 
 
 the Rebel troops. 
 
 " 22 A heavy battle at Madison Court House, Va. Rebels defeated. 
 " 28 Rebels attack Gen. Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn,, but were 
 
 repulsed. 
 
 Oct. 3 Union troops throw Greek fire into Charleston. 
 ' 5 Rebel attack on Murfreesboro, Tenn., but were repulsed. 
 
 Chatanooga, Tenn., bombarded by the Rebels under Gen. Bragg.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 507 
 
 Oct. 5 The " New Ironsides," in Charleston harbor, attacked by a Rebel 
 
 gun-boat and torpedo, but they failed iu the attempt, and the 
 assailants were captured. 
 
 14 Battle of Bristow's Station, Va. Result, 450 Rebel prisoners. 
 " 16 Henry Ward Beecher lectures in England in relation to our Civil 
 
 War. 
 " 16 Gen. Grant takes command of the Departments of Tennessee, Cera. 
 
 berland and Ohio. 
 
 i' 17 The President calls for 300,000 more troops. 
 
 "21 Three fights occur this day 1. At Tuscumbia, Ala. 2. At Phila- 
 delphia, Tenn. 3. At Corinth, Miss. 
 " 26 Charleston again bombarded from Forts Wagner, Gregg, and the 
 
 Union gun-boats. 
 " 27 Battle of Brown's Ferry, on the Tennessee River, near Chatanooga. 
 
 Rebels repulsed with loss. 
 "28 Lookout Mountain taken from the Rebels by Gen. Hooker's 
 
 forces. 
 " 31 Battle of Shell Mound, Tenn. Union troops under Gen. Hooker, 
 
 gain another victory. 
 Nov. 2 Rebels capture two trains of cars after destroying the railroad near 
 
 Mayfield, Ky. 
 " 2 Gen. Banks lands his army in Texas, and two days after takes 
 
 peaceable possession of Brownsville. 
 
 " 6 Chatanooga bombarded for several days about this time. 
 ' 6 Gen. Averill defeats the Rebels at Lewisburgh, Va., capturing a 
 large amount of arms, wagons, and other properly. Rebels lost 
 in killed and wounded over 1,200 men. 
 " 6 About this time the North was horrified at tlie starvation of Union 
 
 prisoners in the Rebel prisons at Richmond, Va. 
 " 7 Gen. Mead drives the Rebels across the Rappahannock River, and 
 
 captures 2,000 prisoners. 
 * 11 The British Minister (Lord Lyons) informed our Government that 
 
 the Rebels intended to invade the United States from Canada. 
 ' 15 Gen. Banks captured Corpus Christi Pass, Texas. 
 < 15 Gen. Longstreet (Rebel) drives Gen. BurnsiJe from Holston, Tenn., 
 
 to Bull's Station. 
 . 4 is Gen. Sherman and Gen. Thomas' forces unite at Chatanooga, 
 
 Tenn. 
 17 Gen. Longstreet besieges the city of Knoxville, Tenn., at this time 
 
 in Gen. Burnside's possession. 
 
 17 Charleston again shelled, as it had been on the 10th and llth inst. 
 " 19 Union National Cemetery consecrated at Gettysburgh for the 
 
 soldiers who fell in the Great Battle at this place in July. 
 " 20 Mosby, having his men disguised by Union uniforms, attacks our 
 
 troops at Beatton Station. This was discovered and frustrated. 
 <i 23 Battles of Chatanooga and Lookout Mountain. The fight was con- 
 tinued three days. Gen. Hooker drove the Rebels from the 
 mountain. This fight was above the clouds. Geus. Hoker, 
 Thomas and Sherman commanded the Union, and Gen. Bragg tha 
 Confederates. 
 " 26 The Union troops pursue the Rebels to Chickamauga. But thej 
 
 had fled, alter destroying their stores. 
 
 " 26 Cavalry fight near the Rapidan River. Rebels repulsed. 
 n 26 Gen. Grant reports that Gen. Bragg's route is complete, with a losa 
 of sixty guns.
 
 508 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 NOT. 28 The Rebel Gon. John Morgan escapes from the prison at Colum- 
 bus, Ohio. 
 
 " 28 Rebels attack Knoxville, Tenn., and were repulsed the next day 
 
 with great slaughter. 
 
 Dec. 4 Gen. Longstreet abandons Knoxville, and two days after, Gen. 
 Sherman's troops arrive there to relieve Gen. Butnsfde. 
 
 " 7 President Lincoln, by proclamation, recommends a day of Thanks- 
 giving, to be observed by all loyal people, on account of the recent 
 prcat victories. 
 
 '< g The President issues another proclamation, offering pardon (with 
 few exceptions) to all who had taken part in the rebellion, upon 
 consideration of their taking an oath hereafter to support the 
 Constitution, the union of all the States, and the laws of 
 Congress. 
 
 ' 12 Gen. Butler gave notice that the Confederate authorities refused to 
 receive any more supplies for the Union prisoners at Richmond. 
 
 " 16 Gen. Averill's cavalry destroy the Virginia and Tennessee Rail- 
 road, and a depot containing 4,000 barrels of flour and meat, 
 160,000 bushels of grain, and other military supplies. 
 
 " 17 The steamer "Chesapeake," which had been captured by Rebel 
 passengers on the 6th inst., retaken by a United States gun-boat 
 near Halifax, N. S. 
 
 " 24 The bombardment of Charleston still continued. 
 
 1864. 
 
 Jan. 7 Two blockade runners were captured this day 1. The " Dare," a 
 
 British steamer, was run ashore at Wilmington, N. C., and destroyed. 
 
 2. The "John Scott," at Mobile Bay. 
 " 11 Two more blockade runners, beached and burned, on the coast of 
 
 North Carolina. These made 22 which had been captured or 
 
 burnt in the last six months. 
 
 " 19 The office of Assistant Secretary of War created by Act of Con- 
 gress. 
 " '^5 Cornelius Yanderbilt received a vote of thanks from Congress for 
 
 his gift to the Government of the s earner " Vanderbilt," worth 
 
 $800,000. This ship had just returned from a year's cruise after 
 
 Rebel pirates. 
 Feb. 1 The President orders a draft of 500,000 men for three years, or 
 
 during the war. 
 " 5 The United States gun-boat " Cambridge '' destroys the English 
 
 steamer " Dee," and the gun-boat ' De Soto " captures the British 
 
 steamer " Cumberland," with a cargo of arms for the Rebels, off 
 
 Mobile. 
 " 9 Over 1,000 bales of cotton burnt at Wilmington, N. C., valued 
 
 at $700,000. 
 " 20 Battle of Olustee, Fia. Union troops under Gen. Seymour were 
 
 defeated with great loss. Two negro regiments covered Ms retreat 
 
 and saved his army. 
 *' 23 Admiral Farragut began his six days bombardment of Fort Powell, 
 
 below Mobile. 
 " 25 Grierson and Smith's cavalry return to Memphis. During their 
 
 expedition they took 200 Rabels, 1,500 negroes, and 300 horses;
 
 CHRONOLOGY 509 
 
 destroyed 3,000,000 bushels of corn, 4,000 bales of cotton, 2,000 
 hides, and forty miles of Railroad. 
 
 Feb. 27 Gen. Sherman's expedition returns to Vicksburg, having destroyed 
 150 miles of Railroad, 20 locomotives, 10,000 bales of cotton, 
 2,000,000 bushels of corn, and freed 10,000 negroes. 
 During this month, in addition to the two raids above mentioned, 
 several others of less importance took place. The amount of pro- 
 perty destroyed was immense, besides which, eighteen vessels 
 (blockade runners and others) were captured or destroyed, and 
 the power of the Rebellion was nearly broken. 
 
 March 1 Gen. Ulysses S. Grant nominated for Lieutenant-General, and 
 confirmed by the Senate the next day. 
 
 " 12 He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the United States 
 army. 
 
 " 15 The President calls for 200,000 more men. 
 
 " 25 Rebel Gen. Forrest, with 6,500 men, attack Paducah, Ky., but 
 was repulsed, by aid of Union gun-boats, with heavy loss. 
 
 " 18 Battle of Cane River, Li., when 8,000 Union troops, under Mower 
 
 and Dudley, defeat 12,000 Rebels, under Gen. Taylor. 
 April 4 Gen. Steele defeats the Rebel Gen. Marmaduke's cavalry, 4,000 
 strong, on the Little Missouri River, Ark. 
 
 " 6 Gen. Sheridan put in command of the cavalry of the Army of the 
 Potomac. 
 
 " 8 Gen. Banks' troops defeated, with a loss of 2,000 men and 24 guns, 
 at Mansfield, La., by the Rebels, under Kirby Smith. 
 
 " 8 Gen. Banks' forces again attacked by the Rebels, who were 
 repulsed. Banks now gives up his Red River expedition, having 
 lost about 4,000 men and 300 wagons. 
 
 " 12 Rebel Gen. Forrest, by abusing a flag of truce, storms Fort Pillow, 
 and after its surrender, in cold blood, murders the garrison, con- 
 sisting of 250 whites and 350 negroes ; not 200 escaped. This was 
 one of the blackest deeds of the Rebellion. 
 
 " 21 North Carolina Salt Works, near Wilmington, destroyed by a party 
 from our gun-boats. These works were worth $100,000. before 
 this, the Union commanders had made it their business to destroy 
 all the salt works in the Rebel States which could be found, and 
 millions of dollars worth were thus destroyed. 
 
 May 2 400 Union prisoners reach Annapolis, almost dead from starvation 
 and other cruelties practised upon them while in Rebel prisons. 
 
 " 4 Grant's army, consisting of about 80,000 men, cross the Rapidan 
 and encamp at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness. 
 
 " 5 The great battle of the Wilderness, Va., begins Grant command- 
 ing the Union Army, and Lee the Rebel. Nothing decisive tnis 
 day. but loss heavy on both sides. 
 
 " 6 Second days' fighting commenced early in the morning. Here 
 Gen. Wadsworth (U.) was mortally wounded, and about 30,000 
 men, on both sides, were killed or wounded. Neither party* could 
 claim victory. 
 
 " 6 At this date Sherman's Army, posted on the borders of Tennessee 
 and Georgia, (not far from Chatanooga) amounted to nearly 100,- 
 000 men and 250 guns ; while the Rebels, under Joe Johnson, in 
 the vicinity, were not over 00,000 strong. 
 
 " 7 Lee retreats to-day from t.ie battle-ground of ths Wilderness for 
 Spottsylvania Court House the Union Army starts for the sajie 
 place several fights occur on the way.
 
 5lU CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 May 7 From official reports, it appeared that from the commencement o' 
 the war to this date, there had been over 150,000 Rebel officers 
 and men taken prisoners. 
 
 ' 8 Hard battle to-day, at Spottsylvania Court House, between Grant ' 
 and Lee's forces Gen. Sedgwick (Re.) was killed, but no de- 
 cisive result, except that Gen. Sheridan captured immense supplies 
 at Beaver Dam station. 
 
 10 The same battle still continued, but nothing decisive, with a loss 
 on each side of probably 10,000 men. 
 
 " 12 Another hard fight to-day, but stilt undecisive. 
 
 " 16 Gen. Butler's besieging forces at Fort Darling, on the James river, 
 were attacked and defeated by a loss of 3,500 men in killed, 
 wounded and prisoners Rebel loss 2,600. 
 
 " 26 The Territory of Montana organized under a Territorial govern^ 
 
 ment, by Act of Congress. 
 
 Jun/ 1 Battle of Cold Harbor, Va. This continued three days, but was 
 undecisive. 
 
 ' 7 A. Lincoln nominated, by a Republican Convention at Baltimore, 
 for a second Presidential term. 
 
 " 14 The Rebel General and Bishop (Polk) killed by a cannon shot. 
 
 " 15 Gen. \V. F. Smith attacks Petersburg, Va., with 15,000 men, prin- 
 cipally colored, for three successive days. Attacks were con- 
 tinued, but without success. These various assaults cost the 
 Unionists nearly 10,000 men. 
 
 " 19 The Rebel steamer " Alabama," commanded by the Pirate B. 
 Semmes, was sunk on the coast of France by the U. S. gun-boat 
 " Kearsarge," Capt. Winslow, after a two hours' tight. 
 
 " 28 The Fugitive Slave Law, of 1850, Repealed. 
 
 " 30 Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, resigns his office, 
 
 and Senator Fessenden was appointed in his place. 
 July 1 The Public Debt of the United States, at this date, was $1,740.- 
 
 690,489.49. 
 1 1 Gen. Sherman takes 3,000 Rebel prisoners this day. 
 
 " 4 Act passed by Congress to establish a branch Mint at Dalles 
 City, Oregon. 
 
 " 8 Rebel Pirate ' Florida' 1 burns several vessels off the coast of Mary- 
 land. 
 
 " 9 Battle of Monocacy Rebels, under Gen. Early victorious. 
 
 " 18 President Lincoln calls for 500,000 more troops. 
 
 " 20 Fight at Winchester, Va., between Rebel Gen. Early, aud Gen. 
 Averill Rebels retreated with loss. 
 
 " 20-22 Two severe battles in Georgia. The Rebel General, Hood, at- 
 tacks Genl. Sherman's army Rebels defeated, with a loss of 20,- 
 000 men in killed, wounded and prisoners. Union Gen. McPherson 
 killed on the 22d. 
 
 ' 25 The mine under the Rebel Fort before Petersburg completed, 
 and charged with four tons of powder. 
 
 " 2*8 Battle of Four Mile Creek, North of the Jamea River, Va. The 
 Rebels attack Gen. Sheridan aud gained nothing, but lost 000 men. 
 
 " 30 The great mine, under the Rebel Fort at Petersburg, exploded 
 blowing up the Fort, with the regiment which garrisoned it but, 
 from bad management, it proved a far more disastrous affair to us 
 than to the Rebels. Union loss 4,000 Rebel, only 1,050. 
 
 " SO- -The Rebel Gen. McCausland entered Chambersburg, Pa., and . 
 burnt it. Loss, $1,000,000.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 611 
 
 July 30 Gen. Stonemau's troops attacked by a great Eebel force at Macon, 
 Geo. ; and, after some hours' fighting, surrendered. 
 During this month Petersburg, Va., was cannonaded nearly every 
 
 day. 
 
 Aug. 2 Gen. Banks puts all the Negroes, between the ages of 18 and 40, 
 (in the Department of the Grand Gulf.) into his army. 
 
 " 3 Rebel Gen. Hood attacks Gen. Logan's lines at Atlanta, Geo., 
 and drove them back, but in the evening Logan regains his po- 
 sition. 
 
 11 6 Admiral Farragut enters Mobile Bay with 32 vessels, silencing the 
 Forts as he passed them. Inside, he attacks the iron clad rani 
 " Tennessee," which surrendered with her Admiral, Buchanan, and 
 her crew. At this engagement the Monitor "Tecuinseh" waa 
 blown up and sunk, by a torpedo. 
 
 6 Fort Powell, on Mobile Bay, abandoned by the Rebels, when it 
 fell into the hands of Gen. Granger, with 18 guns. 
 
 " 7 Gen. Averill defeats the combined force of the Eebels at Moor- 
 field, W. Va., taking all their guns, 420 prisoners, and 400 horses- 
 when they fled to the mountains. 
 
 " 7 English steamer " Prince Albert" sunk in Charleston harbor by 
 our fleet. 
 
 " 7 The shelling of Petersburg continues. 
 
 8 Fort Gaines, at Mobile Bay. surrenders to Farragut and Granger 
 56 officers, 818 men, and 26 guns. 
 
 9 Atlanta, Ga., bombarded from all parts of Sherman's lines. 
 
 " 11 The Pirate "Tallahassee," off Fire Island, burns five merchant 
 vessels, and during this month she burnt and sank as many more. 
 
 " 13 Moseby, the Guerrilla leader, attacks and captures a Union sup- 
 ply train of 75 wagons, 500 horses, 200 cattle, and 200 prisoners, 
 near Berryville, Va. 
 
 44 19 The Rebels attack the Union lines at Ream's Station, Va., and 
 took 3,000 prisoners. 
 
 " 21 A Rebel attempt to drive Gen. Warren from the Weldon Rail- 
 road lost them 600 men killed, and 1,100 prisoners among their 
 killed were Generals Saundors and Lamar. 
 
 " 23 Fort Morgan (in Mobile Bay,) surrenders to Admiral Farragut 
 and Gen. Granger ; 600 men and 60 guns were taken. 
 
 25 Battle at Ream's Station, Va., in which the Rebels drive our 
 troops out, kill and wound 1,000 of them, and make prisoners of 
 2,000 more. 
 
 At the close of August, we may say summarily, that during this 
 month Gen. Grant was operating before Richmond, Va. ; 
 Gen. Thomas at Atlanta, Geo., and Admiral Farragut in Mobile 
 Bay. 
 
 Sept. 2 Gen. Hood, the commander of the Confederate forces at Atlanta, 
 Geo., evacuates the place after destroying 80 car loads of ammu- 
 nition and a vast quantity of military stores ; and the Union 
 troops, under Gen. Slocum, take possession, while Gen. Thomaa 
 pursues Hood. 
 
 " 8 Petersburg, Va., still cannonaded and shelled. 
 
 " 12 Gen. Sherman sends all the inhabitants of Atlanta out of the 
 place. 
 
 " 13 Gen. Sheridan capturing Rebels, and operating generally in tha 
 Slienandoah Valley, Va.
 
 512 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Sept. 16 A strong Rebel cavalry force, under Hampton, at C'asrgin's Point, 
 ou the James River, Va., drove off 2,500 Beeves, intended for the 
 Union Army there. 
 
 19 Battle of Opequan, Va. Here Sheridan defeated the Rebel Gen. 
 Early, who lost over 8,000 men in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
 besides 6,000 small arms. 
 
 " 20 A shotted salute over Sheridan's victory, fired into Petersburgh, 
 which caused an artillery duel all along our lines. 
 
 < 22 Battle of Fisher's Hill, when Gen. Sheridan again defeats Early, 
 who lost 1,500 killed and wounded, besides 2,400 prisoners, 21 can- 
 non, and a great quantity of small arms. 
 
 30 Our blockading force captured and destroyed abont fifty block- 
 ade runners this month. 
 
 Oct. 7 Gen. Sheridan returns from his raid up the Valley of the Shen- 
 andoah, where he had destroyed 2,000 barns and their contents, 
 with 70 mills. He also took 4,000 cattle, 3,000 sheep and great 
 numbers of horses. 
 
 7 Commander Collins, of the ship " Wachussett," ran down the 
 Rebel Pirate " Florida," at Bahia, Brazil, and brought her home. 
 
 ' 10 The English blockade running steamer " Bat," captured off Wil- 
 mington, N. C., on her first trip ; she and her cargo were of great 
 value. 
 
 " 11 Maryland votes for a new Constitution, with a section in it abol- 
 ishing slavery. 
 
 " 19 Great battle at Cedar Creek. Va., in which Gen. Sheridan defeats 
 the Rebel Early. This great victory was gained after Sheridan's 
 troops had fled from the battle-field. Sheridan stopped the re- 
 treat, turned his men about and whipped the enemy; who, flying, 
 left every thing behind them. Rebel loss 2,000 men, with 1,300 
 prisoners, 48 cannon, 398 horses, 65 ambulances, 50 wagons, with 
 an immense amount of arms and ammunition. 
 
 " 19 A number of Rebel Refugees, who were harbored in Canada, enter 
 St. Albaus, \t., and robbed three banks, stole what they wanted, 
 and returned to Canada. 
 
 " 27 Gen. Grant's army make a reconnoisance on both sides of the 
 James liiver, but it resulted in nothing but the loss of 1,500 men in 
 killed, wounded and prisoners. 
 
 " 28 The Rebel Gen. Price, with his army, driven out of Missouri into 
 Arkansas. This was the end of Price's invasion of that ytate. He 
 left it with about one-third of his men. 
 
 Nov. 3 The battle of Franklin, Teun., to-day, resulted in a decided Union 
 victory Gen. Hood commanding the Rebels, and Gen. Stanley 
 the Unionists. Union loss 2,500 to 3,000 ; Rebel much larger. 
 8 Abraham Lincoln re-elected President of the United Stutes, and 
 Andrew Johnson, Vice-President. 
 
 " 8 Gen. George B. McClellau resigns his commission as Commander- 
 in-Chief of the United States Army. 
 
 " 9 Gen. Sherman issues orders for his army to march from Atlanta, 
 Geo., to Savannah. 
 
 " 11 The gun-boat Tulip bursts her boiler on the Potomac River, kill- 
 ing nearly all on board. 
 
 " 13 The Rebel Gen. Breckenridge attacks Gen. Gillem, near Bull's 
 Gap, Tenn., in the night, and routed his army. 
 
 " 14 Gen. Sherman leaves Atlanta, Geo., after blowing up and burn- 
 ing the public buildings and factories. His army moves in two
 
 CHBONOLOGY. 613 
 
 columns towards the sea one under Gen. Howard, and the othei 
 
 under Gen. Slocum. 
 JTov. 15 Atlanta burning all day. 
 " 19 At the approach of Sherman, GOT. Brown and his Legislature, 
 
 of Geo., run away from Milledgeville, the capital of the State. 
 " 22 Sherman's army enter Milledgeville ; and, on the 
 " 23 Some of his soldiers held a mock session of the Legislature, and 
 
 pass highly loyal resolutions, 
 i 24 Thanksgiving was observed by the Army of the Potomac, with 
 
 59,000 Ibs. of turkeys, sent them by the North, which also sent 
 
 3G,000 to Sheridan's army. 
 " 25 An attempt was made to-night to fire New York by Rebel 
 
 Agents, who set fire in their rooms in fifteen hotels in the city ; 
 
 also in several other places but the plot failed of success. 
 Dec. 1 Including those now in course of construction, we have 671 ves- 
 sels in our navy, carrying over 4,600 guns and 51,000 men. These 
 
 have captured 324 vessels during the past year, and 1,379 since 
 
 the war began 267 of which were steamers. 
 " 6 Up to this date, 65 blockade runners (steamers) have been either 
 
 taken or destroyed belore Wilmington, N. C. Ships and cargoes 
 
 worth $12,000,000. 
 " 6 Ex-Secretary (of the Treasury) Chase appointed Chief-Justice of 
 
 the United States Supreme Court, in place of Roger B. Taney, 
 
 deceased. 
 ' 12 Sherman's army reach Savannah, where Rebel Gen. Hardee is 
 
 found, with 15,000 troops. In his march from Atlanta to this place 
 
 his army destroyed 15,000 bales of cotton, captured 6,000 beeves, 
 
 and 1,800 horses and mules, and 15,000 negroes come into our 
 
 lines. 
 " 13 Gen. Hazen's division, under Sherman, storm Fort McAlister, near 
 
 Savannah, Geo., and take it, with 200 prisoners and all its stores. 
 " 14 Gen. Dix issues an order to follow any invaders from Canada on to 
 
 Canadian soil, if necessary, to seize them, but the President dis- 
 approved this order. 
 " 15 battle of Nashville, Tenn., in which Gen. Thomas (Union) gained 
 
 a victory over Gen. Hood (Rebel). This battle lasted two days, on 
 
 both of which the Unionists were victorious. 
 " 15 Battle of Murfreesboi'o'. Tenu., in which Gen. Rosseau (Union) 
 
 defeats Gen. Forest (Rebel), who lost 1,500 men. 
 " 19 President Lincoln issues a call for 300,000 volunteers. 
 " 20 Gen. Stoneman attacks three Rebel forts at Saltville, drove out the 
 
 Rebel forces, and destroyed their salt works and lead mines, with 
 
 50 railroad bridges. 
 " 20 Gen. Sherman demands the surrender of Savannah. Gen. Hardee 
 
 refuses, but fled during the night. 
 " 21 Gen. Sherman enters the city without opposition ; captures 800 
 
 prisoners, 33,000 bales of cotton, 150 cannon, 13 locomotives, 190 
 
 cars, 3 steamers with much ammunition and stores ; makes Gen. 
 
 Geary military Governor the people submit gracefully to their 
 
 new masters. 
 * 21 Admiral Farragut made Vice- Admiral, as a reward for his great 
 
 services.
 
 514 OHE02TOLOGY. 
 
 1865. 
 
 Jan. 1 Since Jnly 3, 1861, 66,390 pension certificates had been granted. 
 
 11 The Missouri State Convention pass an ordinance emancipating 
 the slaves in that State. 
 
 U_0ne vessel starts from Boston and another from New York, with 
 charitable supplies for the people of Savannah, Geo. ; and on the 
 16th instant another vessel left New York with further supplies, 
 worth in all $100,000. 
 
 u 15 G e n. Terry, with a force of 9,000 men, aided by the fleet at that 
 
 place, captures Fort Fisher, on the coast of North Carolina, after 
 three days' fighting Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb commanded 
 the fort. We took 1,800 prisoners ; killed and wounded 400 more ; 
 our loss was over 1,000 killed and wounded. This was a terrible 
 blow to the rebels it left them without a single port. 
 
 i< is Eiiward Everitt, a most distinguished scholar, statesman and 
 orator, died at Boston, aged 71. 
 
 " 16 The magazine at Fort Fisher exploded, and killed and wounded 
 300 of our troops. 
 
 " 17 The monitor " Patapsco," blown up and sunk by a Rebel torpedo 
 in Charleston harbor 7 officers and 65 men went down with her. 
 
 " 23 The Rebel General Hood formally takes leave of the Rebel Army 
 having been succeeded by Gen. Taylor. 
 
 28 (Jen. Breckenridge succeeds Mr. Seddon, as Rebel Secretary cf 
 War. 
 
 " 29 A. H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and A. J. Campbell, all dis- 
 tinguished Rebels, obtain permission of Gen. Grant, at City Point, 
 Va., to go to Fortress Monroe, to try and negotiate a peace. 
 
 i 31 The House of Representatives passes the Senate joint Resolution 
 to amend the Constitution, so as to abolish Slavery in the United 
 States, by 119 to 56. 
 
 Feb. 1 Secretary Seward goes to Fortress Monroe to meet the three 
 Rebel Commissioners. 
 
 1 The Legislature of Illinois ratifies the Emancipation Amendment, 
 just passed both Houses of Congress. This was the first State 
 which did so. 
 
 2 Pi esident Lincoln goes to Fortress Monroe to meet the three Rebel 
 Peace Commissioners ; but nothing was agreed upon. 
 
 " 2-3 Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland 
 and West Virginia, all ratify the Constitutional Amendment and 
 on the 7th, Maine aud Missouri do the same, and on the 8th, Ohio 
 also. 
 
 17 Columbia, S. C., Kurnt, accidentally? 
 
 A Rebel paper dollar was worth but two centa in specie, in 
 Richmond, Va. 
 
 " 18 The Union troops enter Charleston this day, and take 450 good 
 caniion, and the blockade runners " Cyrene" and ' Deer." 
 
 " 18 Gen. Lee writes a letter in favor of arming the Slaves, saying the 
 whites could not carry on the war alone. 
 
 " 25 Eight hundred Rebel soldiers came into our lines, all of whom had 
 
 deserted during the last week. 
 
 Mar. 1 The Legislature of New Jersey rejects tha Constitution Amend- 
 ment (the 13th).
 
 CHRONOLOGY. SI 5 
 
 Mar. 2 Gen. Sheridan attacks Gen. Early between Statmton and \Vaynes- 
 boro', Va., and completely routed him, capturing nearly 1,700 of 
 his troops. 
 
 ' 4: President Lincoln is inaugurated on his second term. 
 9_Verniont ratified the 13th Amendment of the United States Con- 
 stitution. 
 
 " 14 Gen. Sherman destroys the great Rebel Arsenal, with much ma- 
 chinery, at Fayetteville, N. C. 
 " 15 At this date it was estimated that more than 60,000 Union soldiers 
 
 had been starved to death in Rebel prisons. 
 
 " 16 The battle of Averysboro', between a portion of Sherman's army, 
 and the Rebels under Gen. Hardee. Our loss was nearly 1,000 
 men. At night Hardee's troops ran away. 
 
 " 18 The Rebel Congress adjourns sine die, sine nocte, sine every 
 thing never to meet again. One of its last acts was the passage 
 of a law for raising a negro force, but it was too late. 
 " 19 Battle at Bentonsville, west of Goldsboro, N. C., between Rebel 
 Gen. Johnson's infantry of 30,000 men and Gen. Slocum's wing of 
 Gen. Sherman's army. This battle lasted all day, but Slocum held 
 the field. 
 
 " 25 Rebels under Gen. Gordon attack and take Fort Steadman, near 
 Petersburg, Va. ; but we soon retook it, capturing over 1,700 
 Rebels, and defeated their whole force. 
 
 " 28 Gen. Grant's lines before Richmond extend thirty-nine miles, and 
 well fortified all the way. 
 
 At the close of this month, we may make this general remark : 
 Gen. Grant had laid with his army before Richmond for a long 
 time, and now Gen. Sherman's army from the South had 
 arrived, or was near at hand, and so had Gen. Sheridan's from 
 the Shenandoah Valley. The Rebel Gen. Lee was hemmed in, 
 and it was clearly seen that Secession and Rebellion had been 
 " weighed in the balance, and found wanting,'' and that their 
 end drew nigh. 
 April 1 Gen. Sheridan's forces capture 6,000 Rebels and fifteen guns 
 
 to-day. 
 " 2 The Rebels in the night blow up at Richmond their forts and 
 
 rams, preparatory to evacuating the city. 
 
 " 2 Gen. Lee, the Rebel commander, evacuates Richmond and Peters- 
 burg, in consequence of an attack all along Gen. Grant's line. 
 Lee retreated westward, with his army utterly demoralized. The 
 power of the Southern Confederacy was gone, and our great civil 
 war virtually finished. Jeff. Davis, his family, and some of his late 
 cabinet, fled from Richmond. 
 
 The same day, Gen. Wilson attacks the Rebel Gen. Forrest, who 
 held the defenses at Selma, Ala., with 7,000 troops ; they were 
 utterly routed, after one hour's fight. Wilson took the town, 
 with 2,000 prisoners, 100 guns, stores, etc. 
 
 " 3 The Union black troops, under Gen. Weitzel, enter and take pos- 
 session of Richmond. On the same day the Union troops enter 
 Petersburg. When the Rebels left Richmond they set fire to it and 
 burnt a large portion of the city. The " Richmond Whig " quotes 
 flour at $9UO to $1,000 per barrel, corn at $100 per bushel, and 
 butter at $20 per &., in Confederate money. 
 
 " 4 Gen. Grant pursues after Gen. Lee. In this fight and " skedaddle," 
 Lee lost 50,000 men in killed, wounded, deserters, etc., etc.
 
 516 CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 April 4 Gen. \Veitzel reports that he took in llichmond 28 locomotives, 
 150 cars, 500 caniion, 5,000 stand of arms, with 1,000 well and 5,000 
 sick prisoners. 
 
 " 4 Jeff. Davis issues a proclamation from Danville, N. C., claiming 
 that the Eebel cause was not hopeless, and urges further re- 
 sistance ! ! ! 
 
 " 8 A correspondence between Gens. Grant and Lee respecting the 
 surrender of the Rebel army is carried on to-day. 
 
 8 Gen. Canby's troops capture Spanish Fort, near Mobile, by 
 assault, with 25 officers, 25 guns, and over 500 men. 
 
 41 Gen. Lee surrenders his army to Gen. Grant, by the name of the 
 Army of Northern Virginia. 
 
 10 Gen. Lee issues his farewell address to his army, congratulating 
 them upon faithfully discharging their duty to their country ! ! ! 
 
 41 10 The liebels evacuate Mobile. 
 
 " 11 The parolling of Lee's troops begins to-day ; but all but about 
 18,000 had run away. 
 
 44 12 Gen. Stoneman defeats the Rebel force defending Salisbury, N. C., 
 and occupies the place, capturing and destroying 7,000 bales of 
 cotton, with a million rounds of ammunition, and an arsenal. 
 
 ' 12 Gen. Canby's troops enter Mobile without resistance. 
 
 " 13 The official report of Lee's surrender in men and property, was 
 stated at 20,115 men, 15,918 small arms, 159 cannon, 1,100 wagons, 
 and 4,000 horses. 
 
 41 14 President Lincoln assassinated by J. Wilkes Booth in Ford's 
 Theatre. 
 
 " 14 One of Booth's confederates, by the name of Powell, gets into 
 Mr. Seward's room and stabs him while in bed. 
 
 " 14 Gen. Anderson, who four years ago was obliged to surrender 
 Fort Sumter, to-day hoists the United States flag in the same place 
 from which it had been lowered when it surrendered to the 
 Rebels in 1861. 
 
 44 15 President Lincoln died at twenty-two minutes past seven tniB 
 morning. 
 
 " 15 Andrew Johnson, the Vice-President, sworn in as President. 
 
 44 15 The United States 7.30 bonds were yesterday and to-day sub- 
 scribed for to the amount of over $9,000,000, such was the confi- 
 dence in our Government, notwithstanding the President's 
 death. 
 
 " 1C The whole country was in mourning for Lincoln's death, by every 
 demonstration of sorrow which could be shown. 
 
 " 18 Paine, or Powell, who attempted to assassinate Secretary Sew- 
 ard, was arrested at Mrs. Surratt's house in Washington. Mrs. 
 Surratt was also arrested. 
 
 44 18 Gen. Sherman agrees to a basis of peace with the Rebel Gen. 
 Johnson, which was approved of by Jeff. Davis and Brecken- 
 ridge. 
 
 44 19 Funeral ceremonies of President Lincoln are performed at 
 Washington. 
 
 41 21 Lincoln's body lies in State in Baltimore. 
 
 " 21 Gen. Sherman's terms made with Johnson for peace were disap- 
 proved of by the Cabinet, and orders sent for him to resume 
 hostilities. 
 
 " 23 The body of President Lincoln lies in State at Philadelphia, and 
 was visited by an immense concourse of people.
 
 CHRONOLOGY. 517 
 
 April 24 It arrives in New York. 
 
 ' 24 Gen. Grant arrives at Gen. Sherman's head-quarters, when word 
 was sent to Gen. Johnson that no civil matters could be treated 
 of with him. 
 
 " 25 Great military and civic procession in New York on the removal 
 of Lincoln's remains westward. Some say there were over 700.000 
 people out to see it. 
 
 " 26 Booth, the assassin of Lincoln, and Harold, his confederate, cap- 
 tured in a barn three miles from Port Royal, Va. Harold surren- 
 dered ; Booth refused, and showed fight, when Sergeant Corbett 
 shot him in the neck, and he died four hours afterwards. " The 
 way of the transgressor is hard. 1 ' 
 
 " 26 Gen. Johnson surrenders to Gen. Grant all the Rebel troops from 
 Virginia to Chattahoochee River on the same terms granted to 
 Gen. Lee. 
 
 " 28 The steamboat "Sultana," with over 2,000 persons on board, 
 mostly United States soldiers, blew up on the Mississippi River, 
 near Memphis ; not more than 700 of all these were saved. 
 
 " 29 The arms and military stores of Gen. Johnson's army are 
 delivered up to the United States at Greensboro. 
 
 Here, in the month of April, 1865, just four yesrs from its commence- 
 ment, ended the great Civil War in the United States, unsurpassed either in 
 ancient or modern times, in expensiveness, in the loss of blood, in tho 
 destruction of property, and in results which have and which must hereafter 
 follow. 
 
 And here, at this eventful period, we close our UNITED STATES 
 CHRONOLOGY.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
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