PREFACE. THE object of this book is to give a clear and brief explanation of the political organization and fundamental principles of the American Government. By the peculiar division of power in the American system, the people of every state live under two Governments-the National and State Governments—each having its separate sphere and special objects and duties, and each sovereign in its particular capacity. This is a system peculiar to America, and mostly unknown in the European Governments. A knowledge of these peculiar principles, it must be admitted, is essential to a proper understanding of the political news we are constantly receiving and a correct comprehension of the principles involved in the great contest now raging in the New World. While there are expensive works from which this information may in a measure be obtained, there is none within the knowledge of the compiler especially adapted to the object; and the belief that a cheap work of the kind would supply a want which has long been felt in England has induced the compilation of this Manual. It is a book of facts, and not opinions; and entire impartiality has been aimed at. The materials are derived from the best authorities The statistical matter is compiled from the official returns of the Eighth Decennial Census (1860), inaccessible until recently in America, and now for the first time published in this country. ORIGIN OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. THE continent of North America was chiefly settled by emigrants from Great Britain. The jurisdiction over the new region, as well as the title to its lands, was claimed by the mother country, by right of discovery and conquest. Hence, to acquire the right of property, as well as to sustain themselves against opposition, the authority of Great Britain became necessary to the early colonists. This was given in the form of grants and charters to companies and large proprietors. Such was the grant of the territory of Massachusetts to the Plymouth Company, and of Maryland to Lord Baltimore.* There were originally three different forms of government in the colonies, viz., the Charter, the Proprietary, and Royal Governments. The Charter Governments were confined to the New England states: the middle and Southern colonies were divided between the Proprietary and Royal Governments. These different governments, operating also upon a people of different habits and manners, as the Puritans of New England, the Cavaliers of Virginia, and the Quakers of Pennsylvania, produced many diversities of legislation and political character. Notwithstanding these, however, the necessities of a common danger from *Pitkin's Civil History, p. 31. hostile tribes of Indians, and of a common interest from similarity of circumstances, soon induced a union or confederacy of the colonies. In 1643, the colonies of Massachussets, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, formed a league, which, by their articles of confederation, was declared to be a perpetual league, offensive and defensive, under the name of the United Colonies of New England. The chief points in this confederation were:-1st. That each colony should have peculiar jurisdiction and government within its own limits. 2nd. That the quotas of men and money were to be furnished in proportion to the population, for which purpose a census was to be taken from time to time of such as were able to bear arms. 3rd. That to manage such matters as concerned the whole confederation, a congress of two commissioners from each colony should meet annually, with power to weigh and determine all affairs of war and peace, leagues, aids, charges, and whatever else were proper concomitants of a confederation offensive and defensive; and that to determine any question, three-fourths of these cominissioners must agree, or the matter is to be referred to the general courts. 4th. That these commissioners may choose a president, but that such president has no power over the business or proceedings. 5th. That neither of the colonies should engage in any war without consent of the general commissioners. 6th. That if any of the confederates should break any of these articles, or otherwise injure any of the other confederates, then such breach should be considered and ordered by the commissioners of the other colonies. But this confederacy was, by agreement, a mere league, from motives of amity, for objects of general offence and defence. As such, it was as good a model as any which history presents us; but as a government, it was utterly inefficient, its principal defects in the last point of view were-1st. The want of an executive, without which it could never act as a whole. All the acts of the commissioners had to be enforced by each separate colony: they did not act upon individuals. 2d. The want of a General |