CHAPTER XXIII.

FEDERAL UNION.-CONSTITUTIONS OF THE SEVERAL STATES.-ELECTIVE FRANCHISE IN THE SEVERAL STATES.-WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO OFFICE.-COLONIAL ROYAL CHARTERS.-ADOPTION OF STATE CONSTITUTIONS.-OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.-ADMISSION OF STATES INTO THE UNION.

IN considering the political affairs of the American Republic, one important fact must always be kept in view, namely: that the people constitute the Government; that unlike other nations whose Governments are conducted by a small class of the inhabitants, presided over by an hereditary Monarch, in America every office is filled by popular vote. True, in judicial and other positions, appointments are made by the President and Cabinet; but the President who makes the nomination is elected, and in so far as he regards his political standing and chances for future success, he is amenable to the people; and the Senate, which confirms and acts in the appointments, is also elected. Besides, all officers are liable to impeachment, be they elected or appointed; and the Court to preside over such impeachment, in matters connected with the Federal Government, is the United States Senate, the members of which are elected.

The division of the people of the Nation into political bodies, known as States, is for the more convenient administration of municipal government, just as counties are created within States, and cities within counties. It is a political absurdity to denominate these political societies Sovereign States, unless we acknowledge sovereignty to belong to every body politic

that is not absolutely beneath the dignity of a village corporation.

That the thirteen Colonies were "sovereign and independent States" before the adoption of the Articles of Confederation, no one versed in the history of the country, or in the science of government, will dispute; but on the adoption of that instrument, they relinquished their highest political rights, and handed them to the United States, which became the paramount legislative and executive head of all the States; not in all things, but in all such powers as were specifically delegated, and those were the highest political functions of the States.

By Article VI, Sec. 1, of the Articles of Confederation, "No State shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any corference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any King, Prince, or State."

Section 2d, of the same article, clearly indicates, that even under the Articles of Confederation, the States did not retain the position of Sovereign States, and that not a vestige of nationality existed in them, save in their being fractions of the sovereign power the United States created by the general laws binding them together. The section alluded to reads as follows: "No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation, or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled."

It is most difficult to see where the "sovereignty" or "nationality" of these States were, after the adoption of the above. By Article IX, Sec. 1, "The United States in Congress assembled" had the sole power of declaring war, concluding peace, and of sending and receiving Embassadors.