tion. The philosophical mind considers the royal person merely as one man appointed by mutual consent to preside over many others. But the mass of mankind would become insolent and refractory, if they were taught to consider their prince as a man of no greater perfection than themselves. The law, therefore, ascribes to the king in his high political character, certain attributes of a great and transcendent nature, by which the people are led to consider him in the light of a SUPERIOR BEING; and to pay him that AWFUL RESPECT which may enable him, with greater ease, to carry on the business of government. The first of these attributes is sovereignty. The king's person is sacred, and no power on earth can try him in a criminal way, much less condemn and punish him." Bracton says: "The king is the minister of God on earth; that every power is under him, and he is under no one but God. It is a maxim of law that the king can do no wrong. The law ascribes to the king absolute perfec tion. The king is not only incapable of doing wrong, but even of thinking wrong. He can never mean to do an improper act. In him is no folly or weakness. The law also ascribes to him absolute immortality. THE KING NEVER DIES. Henry, Edward, George may die, but the king survives them all."

6. The people of the United States have adopted the philosophic view. They regard their officers of government only as servants or agents authorized to perform certain duties, according to the laws of the State and

archical government? How does the philosophical mind view the royal person? What instruction would render the mass of mankind insolent and refractory? What does the law, therefore, ascribe to the king? How are the people led to consider the king? What do they pay him? What is the first of these attributes? How is the king's person regarded? Can he be tried and punished for any offence? What does Bracton say of the king? What power is under him? What power is he under? What does the law ascribe to the king? Of what is the king incapable? What does the law ascribe to him? Does the king die?

6. What view have the people of the United States adopted? How do they regard their officers of government? How are the great mass

nation. The great mass of the American citizens are taught to consider them as men of no greater perfection than themselves. They are not regarded in the light of superior beings, nor is there any theory of law to inspire that "awful respect." Presidents can do wrong; governors can do wrong; magistrates can do wrong. They are held accountable to the people for all their acts.

7. The king has power to make treaties; to send and receive ambassadors; to make peace and declare war; to grant letters of marque and reprisal. These powers belong to the national government in the United States, and the States have no authority in these matters.

The king is the fountain of honor; and honor and office are regarded as inseparable. In the United States, the people are the fountain of office; and all titles of honor are abolished.

The king is the arbiter of commerce, in-1. Regulating trade; 2. Regulating weights and measures; 3. Coining money. These powers, in the United States, are vested in Congress. They are uniform throughout the government. Most nations have regulated their standard of measures of length by comparison with parts of the human body. Henry I. commanded that the yard should be made of the exact length of his own arm; and this became the standard of measure of length. The other measures were obtained by multiplying or dividing the standard yard. Gold and silver alone are a legal tender in England. The same law prevailed in the United States previous to the rebellion.

of the American people taught to consider them? Are they regarded as superior beings? Is there any theory of law to inspire that "awful respect?" To whom are all the officers of government held respon

sible?

7. What powers are mentioned as belonging to the king? In whom are these powers vested in the United States? Who is the fountain of office and honor in England? Who in the United States? In what is the king the arbiter of commerce? In whom are these powers vested in the United States? How have most nations regulated their standard of measure? What did Henry I. command? How were the other measures obtained? What is made legal tender in England? In the United States?

8. The king is the supreme head of the Church in England. King James I. declared, "that as it is atheism and blasphemy to dispute what the Deity may do, so it is presumption and sedition in a subject to dispute what the king may do in the height of his power." In the State and national governments of the United States, all connection of Church and State is expressly prohibited.

9. The president can convene Congress, or the Senate alone, on extraordinary occasions. The governors of the several States can convene the State legislatures; and the king has the same power in reference to parliament. The vice-president, when acting as president, possesses all the powers of the president; and the lieutenant-governors, when acting as governors, possess all the powers of the governors. The secretaries of state have the care of all books and papers deposited in their office. Comptrollers and treasurers, or secretaries of the treasury, superintend the fiscal concerns of the State and nation, and manage the same in the manner required by law. The treasurer receives all moneys paid into the treasury. The attorney-general prosecutes and defends all civil suits in which the State or nation are a party.

8. What position does the king hold in the Church? What did King James I. declare? Is there any connection between Church and State in the State and national governments of the United States?

9. When may the president call an extra session of Congress or of the Senate? What powers in this respect have the governors of States? What power has the king? What powers belong to the vice-president when he acts as president? What powers belong to lieutenant-governors when they act as governors? Of what does the secretary of state have the care? What do comptrollers and treasurers, or secretaries of the treasury, superintend? What does the treasurer receive? What suits does the attorney general prosecute and defend?

CHAPTER XXXIX.

COUNTY AND TOWN OFFICERS.

1. WE have already seen that the States are divided into counties, and that the counties are divided into towns. Each county is a body corporate, and each town is a body corporate. In their corporate capacity they may sue and be sued; purchase and hold real or personal property for corporation purposes; and use or dispose of corporate property in such manner as may be deemed conducive to the interests of its inhabitants. Towns hold town meetings, and select their town officers. County officers are also elected,-such as county treasurer, county clerk, sheriff, and district attorney. The county treasurer receives all moneys belonging to the county, and applies the same in a manner prescribed by law. The county clerk has the custody of the books and records of the county. The district attorney prosecutes, on behalf of the people, all criminal suits.

2. The sheriffs of counties are invested with great powers. In England, three names are presented to the king by the judges, and the king selects one of the three, whom he appoints sheriff for four years. As keeper of the king's peace, he is the first man in the county, and superior in rank to any nobleman therein. 1. He may apprehend, and commit to prison, all persons who break the peace, or attempt to break it, and may bind any one in a recognizance to keep the peace. 2. He is bound, by

1. How are States divided? What is each county and town? In their corporate capacity, what may they do? For what purpose do towns hold town meetings? What county officers are elected? What does the county treasurer receive? Of what has the county clerk the custody? What is the business of district attorneys?

2. How are sheriffs selected in England? For what time? As keeper of the king's peace, what is their rank? Whom may he apprehend and

virtue of his office, to pursue and take all traitors, murderers, felons, and other criminals, and commit them to jail for safe custody. 3. He is bound to defend his county against any of the king's enemies; and for this purpose, as well as for keeping the peace and pursuing felons, he may command all the people of his county to attend him; and every person over fifteen years of age, and under the degree of a peer, is bound to obey under pain of fine and imprisonment. The sheriff executes all process issued to him from the courts. When an action is brought on for trial, he summons the jury. When the action has been tried, he carries into execution the judgment of the court. His duties in criminal actions are: 1. To arrest; 2. To commit to prison; 3. To summon a jury; 4. To execute the sentence of the court. The sheriff's deputies may perform nearly all the duties of the sheriff. Most of these duties are exercised by sheriffs in the several counties of the several States.

CHAPTER XL.

MARRIAGE.

1. THE institution of marriage may be regarded as the foundation of civil society. Families begin with marriage; and hence arise the various relations of husband, wife, father, mother, children, brothers, sisters, and all the

commit to prison? What is he bound to do by virtue of his office? Against whom is he bound to defend his county? For this purpose, whom may he command to attend him? What is the penalty for disobedience? What process does the sheriff execute? When an action is brought to trial, who summons the jury? Who carries the judgment into execution? What are his duties in criminal actions? What duties may be performed by his deputies? Where, except in England, are most of these duties performed by sheriffs?

1. How may the institution of marriage be regarded? With what do families begin? What relations arise from marriage? What is the