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§ 13. Whether this is a wise measure for regulating the commerce of a nation, is a question in political economy, upon which statesmen differ; one which it is not the design of this work to discuss. The above facts are given simply to explain the objects and use of the power to regulate fo reign commerce.

14. Congress has power, also, to regulate commerce "among the several states." Without this power, each state might adopt regulations favorable to its own citizens, and injurious to the people of other states. This was actually done under the confederation; and to restore and preserve harmony, and to secure equal justice to the citizens of all the states, which could be done only by one uniform system for the whole, this power was given to the general govern

ment.

§ 15. Under the power to regulate commerce, congress has also made navigation laws, or laws relating to the ship. ping of the nation. These laws require vessels to be mea. sured, to ascertain how much they hold; and prescribe the manner in which they are enrolled or registered, and licensed, and in which they are to enter and leave the ports, and the duties of the masters of vessels, declaring what papers they are to carry, &c.

16. These regulations are especially necessary for the collection of the revenue arising from foreign commerce. There is, in every port of entry, a collector of customs, who superintends the collection of duties. When a vessel ar rives, it is submitted, with the cargo, and all papers and invoices, to the inspection of the proper officers; and the goods subject to duty are all weighed or measured, and the duties estimated according to law.

§ 17. On some articles a specific duty is charged, which is a duty of so much a pound, yard, or gallon; as, two cents on a pound of iron, or fifty cents on a yard of cloth. Others are charged with an ad valorem duty, which means a duty

under the constitution? What was one of the objects of this law? 14. What other commerce may congress regulate? Why is this power neces sary? 15. Under what power are navigation laws made? What is navigation? What do these laws require? 16. For what special purpose are these regulations necessary? What is done when a vessel comes into port? What is a port? 17. What is a specific duty? Ad valorem!

according to the value, being a certain per centage on the value of an article; as forty per cent. on what costs one dollar, would be forty cents; or thirty per cent. on every hundred dollars would be thirty dollars. In certain cases, tonnage duties are charged, upon foreign vessels, at so much per ton of their measurement.

§ 18. All this business requires a vast amount of labor. Nearly five hundred men are employed at the custom-house in the city of New-York. The whole amount derived from customs in the United States, in 1842, was about $22,000,000. Besides this a considerable sum was received into the treasury from the sale of public lands. These two sources produce nearly the whole revenue of the nation; from which are paid the salaries of officers, and other expenses of the government.

CHAPTER XLIX.

Powers of the General Government, continued.

§1. ANOTHER power given to congress, is the power "to establish a uniform rule of naturalization." It has already been stated, that foreigners, or aliens, are not entitled to the privileges of citizens till they become naturalized. Before the constitution was adopted, every state established its own rules for naturalizing foreigners. But as a person, on being made a citizen in any state, becomes a citizen of the United States, it is evident that there should be but one rule of naturalization.

§2. An alien must have lived in the United States five years, before he can become a citizen. Two years before he is admitted as a citizen, he must declare, on oath, in writing, before a proper court, that he intends to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce his allegiance

Tonnage duty? 18. What is said of the custom-house business? In the city of New-York? How much revenue is derived from customs? For what purposes is the income of the nation expended?

31. What is naturalization? Why should this power be in congress! $2. How soon may an alien become naturalized? What is the rule of

to his former government; and he must declare, on oath, that he will support the constitution of the United States. Then, two years thereafter, the court, if satisfied as to his moral character and his attachment to the constitution, may admit him as a citizen.

§ 3. On his being naturalized, a man's minor children, if dwelling in the United States, also become citizens. If a man has lived at least three years in the United States before he becomes of age, he may, at the expiration of the five years' residence, be admitted by the court, without having previously made a declaration of his intention to become a citizen.

$4. The power "to coin money and regulate the value thereof," is properly given to congress. Formerly the system of reckoning was by pounds, shillings, and pence; the value of which was different in different states. For instance in the New-England states, six shillings make a dollar, in New-York eight, in Pennsylvania seven shillings and sixpence. This rendered dealing between the people of different states quite inconvenient. The present decimal mode of calculation, in dollars and cents, established by congress, together with the use of decimal coins, has removed the former inconvenience.

5. Money is coined at the mint, which is in Philadelphia. The business of coining is under the superintendence of a director. The gold and silver, before it is coined, is called bullion. Individuals, as well as the government, may get money coined at the mint. Six principal men employed in the mint, receive salaries of $1,000 to $2,000 each. Gold and silver are also coined at New-Orleans; and gold, to some extent, is coined at some place in North Carolina, and at another in Georgia.

6. Another power of congress is "to promote the progress of science and useful arts." Sciences and arts are much aided by new books and new inventions. But if every body had the privilege of printing and selling every new book or other writing, and of reaping equal benefits from

naturalization? 3. How do children become citizens? In what case may persons be admitted as citizens, without first declaring their intention to become such? $4. What were the inconveniences suffered from the old system of reckoning? How have they been removed? $5. Where is money coined? What is bullion? 6. What is the object of the power

every new invention or discovery, there would be less enCouragement for men of ability and genius to spend their time and money in preparing new works for the public.

7. Congress has therefore passed an act by which an author may get, for his writings, a copy-right, by which all other persons are prohibited, for twenty-eight years, from printing or publishing the same without the proprietor's consent. And the proprietor may, at the expiration of that time, get the right renewed for fourteen years longer. Patents for new inventions are granted for fourteen years; may be renewed for a farther term of seven years, if the inventor shall not have been reasonably rewarded.

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8. The powers relating to war and the public defence, are also given to congress. It would be dangerous to allow a single state to make war; and to depend on the state governments to provide the means of prosecuting a war, had already been found to be unsafe. And as the people of all the states become involved in the calamity and expense of a war, the power to declare war ought to belong to the representatives of the whole nation.

9. So also the power "to grant letters of marque and reprisal." Letters of marque and reprisal give to persons injured by citizens of another nation, the liberty to seize the bodies or goods of any of the citizens of such nation, and detain them till the injury shall be repaired. It is not clear that such license ought ever to be given. But the power to grant it ought to be vested in congress, if any where.

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10. Congress has power "to exercise exclusive legislation," (that is, congress only, has the power to make laws,) over the District of Columbia, in which is the seat of ment. The "ten miles square,' "" as appears from the language of the clause, was not yet in possession of the national government; but it was in contemplation, by the states of Maryland and Virginia, to cede it to the United States for the purpose mentioned. As it is the property of the

to promote the progress of science and useful arts? 7. What privilege does a copy-ight give to an author or proprietor of a book or other writing! What privilege does a patent confer upon an inventor? 8. For what reasons is the power given to congress to declare war, and provide for the defence of the nation $9. What are letters of marque and reprisal? $10. Over what territory may congress exercise exclusive legislation What is

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nation, it is proper that congress alone should be allowed to make laws for the people therein.

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§ 11. A very essential power of the general government is the power "to make treaties." This power, however, is exercised by the president and senate. A treaty, is an agreement between two nations. Treaties are made to restore or preserve peace, and sometimes to regulate trade, between nations. It is plain, therefore, that this power ought to be in the national government; and for wise reasons it is given to the president and senate alone. And for reasons equally strong, the power to appoint ambassadors and others, by whom treaties are negotiated, should be in the same hands. (See Con. Art. 2, § 2, clause 2.)

§ 12. In making a treaty, the terms are arranged and agreed upon by the agents of the two governments; and the articles of agreement are sent to their respective governments to be ratified. Hence, what is meant by the president and senate's making treaties, is their approving them, or giving them effect. Each civilized nation has some officer at home, and a representative at the seat of each foreign government, to transact business for his nation, and to keep his govern. ment advised of what is done abroad. There is, at the city of Washington, a minister from Great Britain, France Russia, and other foreign countries. The person who corresponds with them on the part of our government, is the secretary of state. And we also have a minister in each of those countries.

§ 13. Representatives at foreign courts are differently styled, ambassadors, envoys, ministers, and chargès d'af faires. The duties of all these several agents are no always precisely the same. An envoy, and sometimes an ambassador, is sent on a special occasion, and returns when the particular business on which he was sent is done. The others reside abroad, and act in obedience to instructions sent them from time to time. Chargès d'affaires are ministers of a lower grade. The name is French, and means a person

meant by exclusive legislation? Where is the seat of government? treaties vested? What is a treaty? treaties? What practice of civilized What are the names of the different

What is here said of the district? 11. In whom is the power to make 12. Describe the manner of making nations is here spoken of? $13 foreign representatives? In what de

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