the same text-books, and nearly the same mode of discipline which are used in other schools: we should notice nothing very remarkable in the general formula of that school; but if we were to hear him speak, we should soon discover that he had an active, vivacious, vigorous mind; that he was continually alert and enterprising; that with him life was in every thing; the world was revealed in beauty, and all creation bloomed and beamed in living light. In one word, he is a live man. He sees vividly, feels strongly, and judges sensibly. To sum the whole up, he is a man of quick perceptions and sound judgment, well informed.

Now the theory of his influence over his pupils, and the impulse he gives to their minds, is very simple. He hears them recite their books as others do; but when he talks, then he vivifies his young hearers with pictures of the living world; communicates his own ardent spirits; sends his own energy through their thoughts; directs their ambitious steps; and paints on the horizon of futurity glorious castles of hope, with lofty spires and golden domes!!

This is the influence of mind upon mind: it is the communion of spirits by conversation: it is an inspiration which those whom God has gifted with great and noble talents, are able to diffuse on all around. Happy are they who are thus gifted, and happy those who, fallen within such blessed influences, know how to use and enjoy such inspiration with wisdom and with meekness.

CHAPTER XII.

THE CONSTITUTION-THE LAW-BOOK OF THE NATION.

"The unity of government which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence; the support of your tranquillity at home; your peace abroad; of your safety, of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.”— Washington.

The Constitution is

WHAT is the Constitution? the constituted form of government. It embodies in it all the powers and duties with which the nation has thought proper to invest the administrators of government. It is the fundamental law; the regulation which determines the manner in which the authority vested in government shall be executed.*

There are certain great principles of national organization which are as necessary to national life in a state of civilization, as the structure of the body is to its motions and functions. The administration of the civil laws is absolutely essential to the order, peace, security, and harmony of society. Civil law, however, must have its limitations; it will not answer to intrust the administrators of law with discretionary powers; for such a government must soon become a despotism, in consequence of the abuses which the ambition and selfishness of public officers.

* Mansfield's Political Grammar-Definition 4.

would create.

The imperfection of human nature shows itself in nothing more palpably than in matters of government. Hence it is necessary to define and restrict all grants of power. There must, therefore, be a fundamental frame-work of what powers the people grant; what functions are to be performed ; what duties are required; and what penalties and tribunals are provided to maintain the law. This frame-work is organic; but it is only organic. As the circumstances and wants of the people change continually, there must be special laws adapted to their condition, which may be enacted and repealed from time to time. There must, therefore, be legislative bodies under the Constitution, and subsidiary to it there is, therefore, in the Republic, the major and the minor laws, the organic and the functional. The organic law is the Constitution. tains all the essential and elementary principles of republican government; it is, therefore, a fit and most useful part of the studies in an American education.* Our CONSTITUTION may be termed the last and best result of all the experiments upon govern

This con

* In the year 1834, I prepared the "Political Grammar" for the use of young men, and to encourage the study of our organic law in the colleges and high-schools of the country. At that time it was an experiment. Since that period, this subject has been steadily advancing in the educational institutions of the country. The “Political Grammar," which is an outline of the theory and practice of our government, has been widely circulated, and is now in market. It is published by Truman and Spoffard, Cincinnati.

ment since the creation of man. It would be ridiculous to look into antiquity for forms of government; it would be equally ridiculous to look to Europe for examples of government, when all its institutions are tottering and tumbling. What one country of Europe is there of which it can be affirmed with the least probability, that its political institutions can last a single century? It is in the elementary principles of our own country that intelligent men in every nation look for a final solution of the difficulties in gov

ernment.

THE NATURE OF THE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution is the organic law, and therefore defines and limits the functions of government. Now these functions, in their nature and action, constitute a science, just as much as the anatomy and physiology of the human body, or the geometry of matter. Government is, in its very origin and nature, a system of principles, and there is no government, however despotic or however much abused, which does not in some measure exhibit these principles. Government may be a tyranny; but it cannot be a chaos: the moment it becomes a chaos, it ceases to exist. Society must be recognized, and must re-institute its political institutions.

The functions of government commence in the family; for that is the primitive society. There originates every institution which is valuable; there we

shall find the germs of government.

For example,

take what we may suppose to be the condition and manner of the family of Abraham: he was a patriarch, with a large number of persons under his control. He commands, that in their journey through the land (not unlike the recent emigrant movements through the centre of this continent), certain things shall be prepared, arranged, and done by his family and servants. This is the law: Abraham in this is a lawmaker. The law is made and declared. This is the first and highest function of government. But laws are dead and of no effect unless they are executed, administered; and this requires officers, functionaries. Thus Abraham made Eliezer of Damascus his steward, and no doubt had other subordinate officers. These executed the laws under his directions. But there comes a time when some child or servant disobeys the law; then there must be some mode of determining whether the law is violated, and if violated, how the violation shall be punished, and the law vindicated. This is the office of a judge. We thus have the judicial function. In Abraham's family this function was exercised by himself, as in reality were all the powers of government. But we see that these three great powers of government are founded in nature. They are part of the original elements of human society, as much as the forms of geometry are essential attributes of matter.

It is obvious, therefore, that there can be no knowledge of the science of government, and consequently