ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

Hitherto the several states had acted only as separate nations allied together. It was now proposed that the people of each and all of the states should unite themselves together under one National Gov

ernment.

Therefore, the people of the several states, by virtue of the sovereign powers given to them by their Creator, chose representatives, who met and prepared a Constitution.

This constitution was submitted to the legislatures of the several states, and the legislatures called conventions of the people in each of the several states for the adoption of it.

By the Seventh Article of the Constitution, the ratification of the conventions of nine states, established it between the states, so ratifying, and constituted them a nation.

The preamble of the constitution declares that "We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union," &c.,-" Do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America." Now the adoption of the constitution was

How had the several states acted hitherto ?
What was now proposed?

By whom was the constitution prepared?
To whom was it submitted?

By whom was it adopted?

How many states were to ratify the constitution before it could

go into operation?

not the act of all the people of the United States, acting at once, and as the people of one vast nation, but it was the act of the people of each state separately.

At first, the people of only one state adopted it, and it read then as it reads now, "We, the People of the United States," &c., but all "the people" who had then adopted it, were the people of one single state. At that time not one of the other states had adopted it, and the term, "We, the People," could not include the people of any of the remaining twelve states, for they were not yet parties to the constitution. They were still independent nations.

When the people of the second state adopted the constitution, they adopted it as the people of one state alone. They could not adopt it in conjunction with the one state which had already adopted it, for that would make the first state adopt it twice. They could not adopt it in conjunction with any or all of the remaining eleven states, for they had not yet acted at all. They could, therefore, adopt it only as the people of a single state.

They too, adopted the whole constitution, with its preamble, saying, "We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union," &c. When the people of the second state had adopted it, then "We, the People," included the people of both

In what way was the constitution adopted?

How did the people of the next state adopt the constitution? Who composed the people of the United States when only two states had adopted the constitution?

states, notwithstanding the people of one state had adopted it first.

In the same way the people of the third state adopted the constitution, and thus became part of "We, the People of the United States." So, also, the people of each successive state adopted it, till the ninth, when, by the Seventh Article, the Constitution was established as the government of these nine states, who then composed the "United States of America." And "We, the People of the United States," then included the people of these nine states, and no more. The then remaining four states, adopted the constitution in the same manner as the previous nine. And when they had so adopted it, they were on equal footing with each and all the rest. By the Third Section of Article Fourth of the Constitution, new states may be admitted into the union by a vote of congress. In accordance with this section, new states have been successively admitted to the number of eighteen, so that now, (A. D. 1854,) the number of states is thirty-one, over twice the number of the original thirteen. Therefore, "We, the People of the United States," now includes the people of the thirty-one states as now organized.

There is still a large tract of territory belonging to, and under the government of, the United States.

Did all the original thirteen states adopt the constitution?

How were new states to be admitted?

How many new states have been thus admitted?

How large is the whole number of states now?

All the people residing on this territory are subject to the government of the United States. This territory has been sub-divided for the purposes of government. One tract is called the Territory of Oregon, another, the Territory of Minnesota, &c.

When the people of any one of these territories are sufficiently numerous, and apply to congress for admission, they may be admitted into the Union as another new state, in the same way that the eighteen new states have already been added to the thirteen original states.

In the same way new states may continue to be formed, from the territory lying west of the Mississippi, till all may be formed into states, even to the mouth of the Columbia River. And then, "We, the People of the United States," will extend in one unbroken mass from the Atlantic to the Pacific, under definite forms of government.

POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

We have seen that the states became by the Declaration of Independence, free and independent nations; and that the people of the several states by the exercise of their own sovereignty, adopted a constitution, and thus united the states under one Na

Under what government are the inhabitants of the territories belonging to the United States?

How can the people of a territory be admitted into the union as a

state?

tional Government. All the powers, therefore, possessed by the government of the United States, are derived through the constitution, and were granted by the states, or rather by the people of the states.

These powers are of three kinds, Legislative, Judicial, and Executive, which are called the three coordinate branches of the government. Upon these three great powers all governments rest.

The Legislative power, is the power of making laws, and is sometimes exercised by one man, as in absolute monarchies, and sometimes by a number of men, as in limited monarchies, and sometimes by the people themselves, as in republics. In some countries it is vested in two assemblies, called houses or chambers, who act separately.

The Judicial power, is the power of administering justice according to the laws, and the persons appointed for that purpose, are usually called Judges.

The Executive power, is the power of executing the laws, which is vested in the chief ruler of a nation, and those authorized by him. In the United States, executive power is vested in the President. In monarchical governments it is vested in a king.

Whence are the powers of the government of the United States derived?

Of how many kinds and what are they?

What is the legislative power?

By whom is it exercised?

What is the judicial power?

What are those persons called who perform that duty?

What is the executive power?

In whom is the executive power vested in the United States?