ified electors. In the colonial government, the legislative power was vested in one body of men, known as the House of Representatives. In the State governments, the legislative power was vested in two bodies of men, known as the Senate and House of Representatives. In the government of England, the legislative power was vested in a House of Lords and a House of Commons. Our territorial governments very much resemble the old colonial governments. Each territory has a governor, appointed by the President of the United States. The legislative power is vested in one body, known' as the House of Representatives.

2. The national government, under the Articles of Confederation, consisted of one body of men, appointed by the legislatures of the several States for one year, and that body selected one of their number as president. This plan of government was found to be impracticable, and in 1789 the Articles of Confederation were abandoned, and the constitution of the United States adopted. By the national constitution, the choice of president was transferred from Congress and vested in the qualified electors of the nation. The legislative power was vested in two branches, known as the Senate and House of Representatives. Representatives were chosen by the direct vote of the electors in each congressional district. Senators were chosen by the joint ballot of the State Senate and House of Representatives. We shall now proceed to examine the State and national constitutions; and as they are all formed

der the colonial governments, where was the legislative power? Under the State governments? In the government of England, where vested? What do our territorial governments resemble? Who is the chief executive officer in the territories? How appointed? Where is the legis lative power vested?

2. Of what did the national government, under the Articles of Confederation consist? How appointed? For what time? What executive officer did they select? How did this form of government succeed? When was it abandoned? What was substituted? To whom was the choice of president transferred? Where was the legislative power vested? How were the representatives chosen? How were the senators chosen? Is there any resemblance in the several constitutions?

upon the same plan, and after the same model, we can examine them together, instead of taking them separately.

3. The government of the United States is really but one government, although it exercises its powers through the State governments and the national government. In the State governments each State acts by itself in all matters which belong to that State alone, and it possesses sovereignty and jurisdiction over all its private affairs. In the national government, all the States act together in all matters which belong equally to all the States. As each planet in our solar system has its own independent rotary motion on its axis, by which the length of its days and nights is determined, yet all revolve in harmony, governed by one law, around the centre of the solar system; so each State has its separate sovereignty and jurisdiction, while all move in harmony around one common centre. The State governments are republics, and the national government is a republic. The States have adopted constitutions, which are the supreme law of the several States. The nation has adopted a constitution, which is the supreme law of the nation. The State constitutions differ in a few minor points, but all are formed after the same model. The national constitution is also formed after the same model. These constitutions, both State and national, commence with a preamble. A preamble is an introduction, which generally refers to some circumstance which has previously occurred.

4. In the preambles of the national and State constitutions, some of the particular circumstances under which

3. Is the government one or many? How does each State act? Over what does it possess sovereignty and jurisdiction? In what matters do the States act together? What motion is peculiar to each planet in the solar system? What motion is common to all? What is the form of the State government? What is the form of the national government? What is the supreme law in the nation? What is the supreme law in the State? With what do the constitutions commence? What is a preamble?

4. What is set forth in the preambles of the national and State consti

the constitution was formed are set forth. The govern ment which had been formed under the Articles of Confederation did not secure perfect union, insure domestic tranquillity, fully provide for the common defence and promote the general welfare. This preamble is as follows: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

5. In the preambles of most of the constitutions of the thirteen States, which were formerly colonies of Great Britain, the causes which impelled the colony to throw off that government, and assume a new government, are set forth. In the preamble of the constitution of Virginia, it was declared that George III. had endeavored to pervert the government into a detestable and insupportable tyranny. Twenty-two specific charges are then made. It was further declared, that by these several acts of misrule, the government of this country, as before exercised under the crown of Great Britain, was totally dissolved. That having maturely considered the premises, and in compliance with the recommendation of Congress, they ordained and established a new government.

6. When a State is formed from a territory, that fact is generally set forth in the preamble. The preamble of the constitution of Alabama began as follows: "We, the people of Alabama Territory, having the right of admis sion into the general government as a member of the

tutions? For what purpose was the Constitution of the United States established, as set forth in the preamble?

5. What is set forth in the preambles of the States which were formerly colonies of Great Britain? In the preamble to the constitution of Virginia, what charge was made against George III.? What effect did these acts of misrule have upon the government, as formerly exercised under the crown of Great Britain? In compliance with what recommendation did they ordain and establish their constitution?

6. When a State is formed from a territory, what is set forth in the

Union, consistent with the Constitution of the United States, by our representatives assembled in convention at the town of Huntsville, on Monday, the 5th day of July, 1819, in pursuance of an act of Congress, entitled, 'An Act to enable the People of Alabama to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the Admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States,' do ordain and establish the following Constitution."

7. In the preamble to the constitution of Massachusetts, it was affirmed that the end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying, in safety and tranquillity, their natural rights and blessings of life. And whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity, and happiness. The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals. It is a social compact, by which the whole people covenant with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in forming a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation and a faithful execution of them, that every man may at all times find his security in them. We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the great Legislator of the Universe in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity,

preamble? How is that fact set forth in the preamble to the constitution of Alabama? Upon what did they found their right to admission into the general government? By what act were they authorized to hold a

convention?

7. In the preamble to the constitution of Massachusetts what was affirmed to be the object of the institution, maintenance, and administra tion of government? Whenever these objects are not obtained, what is the right of the people? How is the body politic formed? Into what

deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other, and of forming a new constitution of civil government for ourselves and posterity, and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

8. The preambles of ten of the constitutions are very short, not containing more than four or five lines. The preamble of the constitution of New York is as follows: "We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this constitution." From the preambles of the several constitutions, State and national, we obtain the following political principles: 1. That the people ordain and establish the government. 2. That the body politic is a voluntary association of individuals. 3. That each citizen enters into a covenant with the whole people, and the whole people enter into a covenant with each citizen. 4. That these covenants are constitutions and laws. 5. That governments are instituted to secure union; to establish justice; to insure tranquillity; to provide for the common defence; to secure the blessings of liberty and transmit them to posterity.

CHAPTER XII.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

1. IMMEDIATELY following the preambles of most of the State constitutions is a declaration of rights. In the Dec

covenant do they enter? What is the duty of the people in forming their constitution?

8. What is the preamble to the constitution of New York? What political principles do we obtain from the preambles of the several constitutions? For what objects are governments instituted?