members of the lower house, and 68 of the senate; making a total of 301 electoral votes. The president and vice-president are elected by a majority of these representatives of the sovereignties of the states. They do not assemble together from all parts of the Union; but the electors of each state meet at their own capital, and formally and publicly organise. Each member of this body can vote for whom he pleases. The majority in this assembly does not determine the choice of the state; but each elector is independent of the other. The record of the ballot thus cast, viva voce, is sealed and transmitted to Washington, where, on the second Wednesday in February succeeding, it is opened by the vice-president of the United States, in the presence of the two houses of Congress assembled together. On this occasion takes place the election for the president and vice-president. The election by the people for the presidential electors, takes place in the respective states on the first Wednesday in November: the electors meet in their respective states on the first Wednesday in December; and on the second Wednesday in February, the ballots are opened by the vice-president, before the two houses of Congress assembled together.

The president is vested with certain powers, as prescribed in the constitution, and as may be delegated to him from time to time by Congress. The vice-president presides over the senate; and, in case of the death of the president, he succeeds to that office.

THE JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT.

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The Supreme Court of the United States, with appellate jurisdiction, sits annually in Washington city. There are nine judges, one of whom is styled the chief justice. These judges preside over certain federal judicial circuits, one of which may comprise several states. In each state there is a federal district judge. There is, therefore, a federal or United States' court in each state, over which presides the United States' circuit and district judges for the state, and the former as chief. There is but a nominal difference between the sittings of this tribunal as á "district" or as a "circuit" court. If the federal judicial theory were practically carried out, there would be thirtyfour district courts-being one for each state; and thirtyfour district judges. There would, also, be nine United States' circuits-being one circuit for each of the judges of the Supreme Court at Washington; and each of these judges should preside at a court in each state once or twice each year. But this is not the case. has expanded beyond the judicial organisation, and several of the states never have the presence of circuit judges.

The country

The federal courts have jurisdiction only in national affairs-cases originating under the constitution, or the laws of Congress, such as patent and copyrights, &c. The judges are appointed by the president, and confirmed by the senate; and they continue in office during good behaviour. The function of the judicial departments of the government is to interpret the laws, and to define their meaning. The legislature enacts the laws; the judiciary

interprets them; and it is the sworn duty of the president to execute them as thus enacted and defined.

We have, in the preceding remarks, briefly explained the practical organisation of the government of the United States, under the constitution of 1787. That great charter was adopted by the delegates from eleven of the thirteen states; and subsequently to the organisation of the government, in 1789, it was ratified by the states of North Carolina and Rhode Island, which consummated a union of the whole of the thirteen colonial members of the confederation. These independent sovereign republics delegated to the United States' government the powers incorporated in the constitution. In this manner they gave birth to a new republic! Its career has been rapid, prosperous, and full of import: the civilised world has appreciated its greatness nations have admired the splendour of its escutcheon. It remains with the people of that great republic to determine whether or not they will continue as one nation, united in affection; and the excelsior in noble deeds, having in view the general amelioration of the condition of man.

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CHAPTER IX.

The President and Cabinet of the United States' Government.

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET.

THE executive department of the United States' government is vested in the president. He is the sole responsible agent of the nation respecting administrative affairs. He appoints the heads of the respective departments, foreign ministers, and consuls; all the postmasters throughout the country, custom officers, land and Indian agents, territorial officers, district marshals and attorneys-all of whom he can dismiss at pleasure, without accountability to any person or branch of the government. Many of the appointments have to be confirmed by the senate; but the removal of any of the above officers is within the power of the president. Nearly all of the deputy-postmasters are nominated by the postmaster-general. The office of the president, or executive, is created by the constitution; but all the foregoing officers are authorised by congressional law. He also appoints the judges of the federal courts, but he cannot remove them. The constitution provides for their removal by impeachment.

The cabinet is an unauthorised assembly, and is composed of the president, and the heads of the respective departments-namely, the secretaries of state; navy, war, treasury, interior; postmaster-general, and the attorney

general: in all, numbering eight. On a given day of the week these different officers meet together at the president's house, and assemble around a table, the president acting as chairman. There is no special ceremony observed-no more than at the assembling of a board of directors of a railway company. The president presents to the meeting such questions as he may deem important, upon which he wishes the opinions of the subordinates. there assembled. Each, in turn, discusses the subject presented; and sometimes a vote is taken upon the question, the president voting as but one of the eight. At other times he requests the opinions of those present, and does not take a vote upon the affair, but acts upon the information obtained, according to his own judgment. After the president has nothing further to present for the consideration of the meeting, the members of the cabinet, in turn, submit such questions as pertain to their respective departments, upon which advice may be desired. The president and others discuss the measure submitted; and a vote may or may not be taken, as preferred by the member proposing the subject for consideration. Notwithstanding all this formality, the president can say to any and all of his cabinet officers to do as he directs. ican wholly disregard their advice, as is sometimes the case; and if they fail to comply with his directions, he removes them, and appoints others who will be obedient. Prior to 1829, the postmaster-general had been looked upon as the head of a bureau-the same as the commissioner of patents at the present time: but President Jackson invited Mr. Barry to a seat in his cabinet meetings; since

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