ers are charged with an ad valorem duty, which means a duty 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 treas ury from the sale of public lands. These two sources pro. duce nearly the whole revenue of the nation; from which are paid the salaries of officers, and other expenses of the government.

CHAPTER XLVII.

Powers of the General Government, continued.

"to

1. ANOTHER power given to congress, is the power 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

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?

1. What is naturalization? Why should this power bei 2. How soon may an alien become naturalized? What

gress? raie of

2

citizen of the United States, and to renounce his allegiance 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 66 to coin money and regulate the value thereof," is properly given to congress. Formerly the sys. tem 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 six. pence. This rendered dealing between the people of dif ferent 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 for mer 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. 97 Sciences and arts are much

Baturalization? 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. Whore is money coined? What is bullion? 6. What is the object of the power

aided by new books and new inventions. But if everybody had the privilege of printing and selling every new book or other writing, and of reaping equal benefits from 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: and may be renewed for a farther term of seven years, if the inventor shall not have been reasonably rewarded.

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 anywhere.

10. Congress has power "to exercise exclusive legisla tion," (that is, congress only, has the power to make laws,) over the District of Columbia, in which is the seat of gov.

to promote the progress of science and useful arts? 7.at privilege does a copy-right give to an author or proprietor of a book or other wri ting? 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 re prisal? 10. Over what territory may congress exercise exclusive legislation? What is meant by exclusive legislation? What is here said of

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

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 re store or preserve peace, and sometimes to regulate trade between nations. It is plain, therefore, that this power ought to be in the national governmet; 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 Cons. 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 gov ernments 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 government advised of what is done. abroad. There is, at the city of Washington, a minister from Great Britain, France, Russia, and other foreign coun tries. 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 chargés d'affaires. The duties of all these several agents are not always precisely the same. An envoy, and sometimes an the district? Where is the seat of government? 11. In whom is the power to make treaties vested? What is a treaty? 12. Describe the manner of making treaties? What practice of civilized nations is here poken of? 13. What are the names of the different foreign represen

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. Chargés d'affaires are minis ters of a lower grade. The name is French, and means a person having charge of the affairs of his nation. Consuls reside in foreign seaports, as much of their business relates to the commercial intercourse between nations, and is done with masters of vessels and with merchants.

14. Ministers of the United States receive a salary of $9,000 a year; chargés d'affaires, $4,500: and both receive, besides, on going out of the United States, an outfit, equal to a year's salary.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Powers prohibited to Congress and the States.

1. WHILE the constitution gives many important powers to the general government, there are many things which it expressly declares shall not be done. [See Art. 1, § 9.]

2. "No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed." A bill of attainder is an act of the legislature, inflicting the punishment of death upon a person pronounced guilty of some crime, without trial. If it inflicts a milder punishment, it is called a bill of pains and penalties.

3. An ex post facto law is, literally, a law which has ef fect upon an act after it is done. But the phrase here means a law to punish, as a crime, an act that was lawful when it was done. Thus, if a law should be passed, by which a man should suffer death for an act of justifiable homicide, committed before the law was made, such would be an ex post facto law. A law is also an ex post facto law that inflicts a more severe penalty for an unlawful act, than was imposed for such offence when committed. Thus, if a law tatives? In what do their duties differ? What is a chargé d'affaires? Why do consuls reside in seaports? 14. What is the compensation of ministers, &c.?

2. What laws shall congress not pass? Define bill of attainder. 3