THE CONSTITUTION.

213

vernment, inst

from the indi

e House of Representatives have the sole of impeachment; but the person impeached tried by the Senate. The pay of the of both branches of Congress is eight dolwhile at Washington, and twenty doltravel, for every hundred miles.

HAPTER LIV.

? Administration.

is but a series of rules or

10 carry these into effect, officers must appointed. Upon the character of these persons, the character of the government greatly depends for as these are good or bad, the public affairs will be wisely or unwisely managed. A foolish man can hardly act otherwise than foolishly, however excellent may be the laws which he is called upon to administer.

However good our Constitution may be, therefore, we cannot expect good practical government, unless we put good men into office. Even a good

tool will not cut well of itself: in the hands of a bungler, it will often do mischief. Our fathers, then, in giving us an admirable Constitution, left us only a good tool to work with, and we must take the responsibility of seeing that it passes into the hands only of those who are skilful and honest; those who know what is right, and those who love what is right.

The President of the United States is the chief officer of the government; we look upon him, accordingly, as especially called to administer the

From these considerations, it is clear, that every person in the United States has a deep interest in the Constitution, which establishes a union of the states, for the good of all. Every citizen, therefore, is bound by a regard to his own interest, and duty to his countrymen, to seek to perpetuate it; to obey its laws, to maintain its institutions, and to carry it into effect, according to the wise and patriotic intention of its framers.

CHAPTER LIII.

Congress.

THIS body, as before stated, is divided into two houses, the Senate and House of Representatives. They hold their sessions, separately, in two splendid rooms in the Capitol at Washington.

Senators are chosen for six years; there are two from each state; of course there are fifty-two members. A person cannot hold a seat in the Senate, who is under thirty years of age. Beside its legislative powers, the Senate have the privilege of ratifying or rejecting treaties made by the President, or persons nominated by him to office.

The members of the House of Representatives must be twenty-five years old: they are chosen, by the people of the states they represent, for two years. According to the present apportionment, which is seventy thousand six hundred and eighty inhabitants to one representative, the number of representatives is two hundred and twenty-seven.

The House of Representatives have the sole power of impeachment; but the person impeached must be tried by the Senate. The pay of the members of both branches of Congress is eight dollars a day, while at Washington, and twenty dollars, fees of travel, for every hundred miles.

CHAPTER LIV.

The Administration.

THE Constitution is but a series of rules or principles. To carry these into effect, officers must be appointed. Upon the character of these persons, the character of the government greatly depends for as these are good or bad, the public affairs will be wisely or unwisely managed. A foolish man can hardly act otherwise than foolishly, however excellent may be the laws which he is called upon to administer.

However good our Constitution may be, therefore, we cannot expect good practical government, unless we put good men into office. Even a good

tool will not cut well of itself: in the hands of a bungler, it will often do mischief. Our fathers, then, in giving us an admirable Constitution, left us only a good tool to work with, and we must take the responsibility of seeing that it passes into the hands only of those who are skilful and honest; those who know what is right, and those who love what is right.

The President of the United States is the chief officer of the government; we look upon him, accordingly, as especially called to administer the

Constitution. We, therefore, call the President, with his advisers, the Administration. Thus, as before remarked, we denominate Washington's period of government, Washington's administration, &c.

CHAPTER LV.

The President, &c.

THE President holds his office for four years, and has a salary of $25,000 a year. He is commander-in-chief of the army, the navy, and the militia of the United States, when in actual service; he signs or vetoes bills passed by Congress; and receives ambassadors and other public ministers. He also, by and with the consent of the Senate, appoints the chief naval, military, and civil officers of the government, and signs their commissions.

In addition to all this, the President is charged with the general welfare of the country, and the execution of the laws; and he is required, from time to time, to lay before Congress his views of public affairs.

The Vice President is president of the Senate, with a salary of $6,000 a year. In case of the death of the President, he succeeds to his office.

The President is assisted by several persons, who are his advisers. These consist of the Secretary of State, Secretaries of the Treasury, of the Navy, and of War; the Attorney-General, and the Postmaster-General.

All these persons live in Washington, near the

President, and are frequently called upon by him, to furnish him information, and to offer him their counsel and assistance. They are generally selected from among the ablest men in the nation, and each one is supposed to be especially fitted, by his character and former pursuits, for the particular place assigned to him.

The President not only calls upon these persons separately for assistance, as occasion may require, but once or twice a week they all meet together at his house. When assembled, they form the Cabinet, and when met for consultation, they are called the Cabinet Council.

The cabinet being regarded as personal and confidential advisers of the President, are expected to entertain the same political opinions as the President himself, and are usually selected from the President's political party. In this case, as in the other, the President nominates the members of the cabinet, and the Senate of the United States, in secret session, confirm or reject them, as they please. If rejected, the President makes other nominations.

A large and responsible part of the duty of the President consists in his nomination of persons to office, including the secretaries, judges, ambassadors, charges, consuls, custom-house officers, naval and military officers, postmasters, land agents, and various other persons in the employ of the government. The number of officers he is called upon to nominate, amounts, as before stated, to many thousands.

In all cases, it is necessary that the Senate should confirm the nomination, or the person does not hold his place.