in the manner provided in the instrument itself; to wit, by a vote of two-thirds of both houses. These ten amendments were subsequently ratified by the requisite number of States (three-fourths,) and became a part of the Constitution. In the same manner the eleventh amendment was proposed, passed and adopted in 1794, and the 12th in 1803. From this last date the Constitution remained unchanged until January 31, 1865, when the House passed a resolution in favor of another amendment; the Senate passed the same resolution during the previous session.

4. In order to show more fully how the Constitution is amended, and what proceedings are taken in order to do it, we here insert the resolution, and the subsequent doings of all the parties who must act upon it to consummate the proposed amendments. This example will show how all the amendments have been made, and how others may hereafter be made.

THE RESOLUTION.

5. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures,shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of said Constitution, viz.:

Article 13. First, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Second. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

This, as numbered, made the thirteenth article of the amendments, twelve having been made as before stated. [See the Constitution and amendments as inserted in the latter part of the book.]

6. After this resolution had passed both Houses of Congress, and after the proposed amendment had been ratified by the requisite number of States, the Secretary of State, as the laws direct him to do, caused the resolution and the amendments to be published in all the States and Territories, and declared it to be valid as a part of the Constitution of the United States.

This thirteenth article of the amendments to the Constitution as it now stands, is one which has probably received more public attention, and caused more discussion than any other article in the whole document: because by it slavery in all the dominions of the United States has been constitutionally abolished.

7. We will make one other remark in relation to this thirteenth article, to wit: it grew out of the result of the war between the North and South. President Lincoln had, on Jan. 1, 1863, by virtue of his authority as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, issued his proclamation, declaring slavery to be abolished in all the States which had seceded from the Union, but this did not touch slavery in the slave States which had not seceded, viz.: Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Delaware, and West Virginia. Moreover there were doubts as to the constitutionality of Mr. Lincoln's act in this respect. But this amendment superseded that question, and made a clean sweep of the whole matter, both in the seceded and in the loyal States.

8. The framers of the Constitution undoubtedly borrowed many ideas incorporated therein from the laws of England, under which they had formerly lived; they constituted Congress with two Houses, the same as the English Parliament, the House of Lords answering to our Senate, and the House of Commons to our House of Representatives. Many other analogies

between the two governments can be traced.

9. But while this is true, they as studiously avoided every thing in the English laws which they deemed inconsistent with the principles of a free Republican government.

In article 3, section 3, we find the following:

"No attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted."

This is precisely the opposite of the English law in relation to treason; for when a man is there guilty of treason, his children cannot inherit the father's titles or property. The parent being corrupted by treason, his children are considered corrupted also; this is what is meant by "corruption of blood" in the language of the Constitution. It then declared that no such thing should be allowed in the United States: in other words, it follows the law of God, which expressly declares, "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son." Which do you like best, the English or the American law?

The Constitution of the United States has served in some respects as a model for the State Constitutions;

and no State would be admitted into the Union, whose Constitution contained any thing contrary to that of the United States. It extends its authority over every State and Territory, restraining them from making a Constitution or enacting any laws inconsistent with any of its provisions. It is the supreme law of the land. It binds the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial branches of the government as much as the humblest individual. It should be carefully read and understood by every one who lives under it, especially by every one who exercises the elective franchise. It teaches us our rights, our exalted privileges and our duties as citizens of the Republic.

10. Throughout our work we have so often alluded to it and its provisions, that we have thought it advisable to append the whole document to this work that the reader may at any time turn to its pages, and consult its provisions on any point upon which he may desire information.

Read, learn and digest its meaning-keeping in mind that it is the supreme law of the land. Its provisions are binding upon every officer and every citizen; upon Congress, upon every State Legislature, and upon every court, from the Supreme Court of the United States down to the lowest State tribunal. All are bound to act, legislate, and adjudicate in conformity with the principles of the Constitution.

CHAPTER III.

Congress.

1. THE Legislative branch of our government is styled Congress; in that of England it is denominated Parliament; and in that of France, the Corps Legislatif. Our Constitution places the power of enacting laws in Congress; no other branch of the government can do it. It is emphatically a representative body. Its members represent the people, and are supposed to do just what the entire mass of the people would do if it were practicable for them to assemble in one great body, and there to discuss, and then pass the laws by which they are willing to be governed.

2. It consists of two parts, or Houses, as these parts are called; the Senate and House of Representatives.* Both assemble at the same time, in Washington, on the first Monday of December in each year, for the transaction of business. The meeting at this time is called the regular session-regular, to distinguish it from extra sessions, which the President may call if he deems it necessary. This division of the National Legislature into two branches, was undoubtedly borrowed from the English government; for the law

*The Legislatures of all the States and Territories are formed after the model of Congress; that is, all have a Senate and a lower House, called in some States by one name, and in others by another, but all meaning the lower branch of the legislative body.