alarming, and their number so formidable, that it became necessary to call out the militia of the State. They were finally dispersed after one or two slight engagements, with the loss of several lives. This disturbance is called Shays' Rebellion, from Daniel Shays, one of the leaders of the insurgents. If some action were not taken by which the public credit could be restored, and the various industries of the people revived, such disturbances were likely to occur at any time and in any locality. Hence the third object of the Constitution was stated to be "to insure domestic tranquillity."

4. Defence.

"To provide for the common defence" had been the leading object in all the various movements towards union. To secure this, the heartiest co-operation of all the States was needed. But, in the present state of affairs, voluntary co-operation could not be hoped for. There must be a central authority competent to inspire confidence at home and respect abroad. The general government must have the power to raise armies, and the power of taxation to support them. Only in this way could the common defence be longer provided for.

5. General Welfare.

All the objects that have been stated would, if attained, have tended "to promote the general welfare;" but there were more direct benefits to be hoped from a national government. Regulating commerce, fostering industries irrespective of sectional interests, carrying on internal improvements, establishing communication between the States, encouraging science-all these it was the object of the Constitution to secure.

The final object of the Constitution is stated to be,

"to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and 6. Security of our posterity." Since the settlement of Liberty. the colonies, their history had been one continual struggle for liberty. This boon they had now acquired. But it needed no peculiar sagacity to foresee that thirteen small sovereign States could not exist side by side, and all retain their independence. Mutual jealousies would provoke hostility; the weaker would become the prey of the stronger; and, thus divided, all might again be brought under the power of some foreign state. History furnishes numerous illustrations of such disasters. To secure the blessings of liberty was as necessary as to acquire them.

While this preamble confers no powers upon the government under the Constitution, it serves to show the scope of its powers, and to throw light upon the interpretation of obscure provisions. We have now to examine the constitution in detail to see how it accomplishes the objects for which the people ordained it.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

ALL legislative powers granted by the Constitution are vested in a Congress of the United States, which consists of a Senate and

House of Representatives.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Name.

Number of
Members.

The number of members of the first House of Representatives was fixed by the Constitution at sixty-five; but subsequently the number has been determined by Congress, and has changed from time to time as the population of the country has increased. The Constitution provides that the number shall at no time exceed one for every thirty thousand inhabitants. The number of members of the present house is three hundred and twenty-five.

Choice.

The representatives are chosen by the people of the several States. The States are divided into congressional districts, in each of which the people elect one representative. But this district system is established by law, not by the Constitution. Any person who, in any State, is entitled by law to vote for members of the larger branch of the legislature, may vote for representative in Congress.

Qualifications of voters are thus determined by the States, not by the general government.

Apportionment.

The representatives are apportioned among the States according to the number of inhabitants, excluding from that number Indians not taxed. When the Constitution was formed, the number of inhabitants on which representation was based was made up by adding to the whole number of free persons those bound to service for a term of years, and three-fifths of the slaves; excluding, as now, Indians not taxed. Since the abolition of slavery, the Constitution has been amended to meet the changed circumstances. This apportionment is made after each decennial census, beginning with 1790. The whole number of people in the United States is divided by the number of representatives, which has been previously fixed by Congress. The quotient is the number of inhabitants entitled to one representative: it is called the ratio of representation. The population of each State is divided by this number; and the quotient is the number of representatives to which the State is entitled. There are remainders, so that the number apportioned to the States is less than the number fixed by Congress. One additional representative is assigned to each of the States having the largest remainders, until the whole number is made up. The Constitution provides that each State shall have at least one representative. If a new State is admitted to the Union between two successive apportionments, it is generally allowed one representative until the next census. The ratio of representation for the present decade is 130,533.

Besides the representatives from the States, provided

for by the Constitution, Congress has by law authorized each organized Territory to send one per

son, who is called a delegate. These per

Delegates.

sons sit with the representatives, and take part in the discussions, but have no vote.

The official

Term.

The term of service is two years. year begins on the 4th of March. As the government was organized under the Constitution in 1789, there is a new house of representatives in March of each odd year. If a vacancy occurs in the representation of any State, it is filled by a new election, ordered by the governor.

The following are the requisite qualifications of a representative:

1. He must be at least twenty-five years Qualifications.1

of age.

2. He must have been at least seven years a citizen of the United States.

3. When elected, he must be an inhabitant of the State.

The House of Representatives is organized in the same way as the State legislatures. The House elects one of its members as speaker.

Officers.

The clerk, sergeant-at-arms, chaplain, and other officers, are not members.

The House of Representatives has two special powers: 1. to present articles of impeachment; 2. to originate all bills for raising revenue, though the Senate may amend these.

Special Powers.

1 In Massachusetts, the representatives are by law required to be residents of the districts in which they are chosen.

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