Eighteen new states have been admitted into the union by congress since the adoption of the constitution, so that the whole number of states is now thirty one. The names of the new states are as follows: Square Miles. Settlement. Admitted. How many new states have been admitted to the union? What are their names? How many states are there now in the United States? Which state is the largest, and how many square miles does it contain? Which state is the smallest, and how many square miles does it contain? Which state was first settled? Which last? Congress cannot form any new state within an old one, or by joining two states or parts of states, unless with the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned. There remains yet a vast extent of territory west of the Mississippi, belonging to the United States, out of which other new states may hereafter be formed. "Congress has power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory and other property belonging to the United States." All such territory is the property of the United States, and therefore subject to the control of congress. Thus, congress may sell the lands, may erect a territorial government, and confer upon it such legislative, judicial and executive power as may be deemed necessary, &c. Which states were last admitted to the Union? Can congress form a new state within an old one? What power has congress over the territory and other property belonging to the United States? POWERS PROHIBITED, SLAVE TRADE The constitution having specified certain powers which congress may exercise, also mentions other powers which congress is prohibited from exercising. Thus, congress is forbidden to prohibit the slave trade previous to the year 1808. HABEAS CORPUS. When a person is illegally arrested or imprisoned, he is not compelled to wait for a hearing till the regular term of the court, but he may have a writ of "habeas corpus," and be immediately brought before a judge. And if it appears that he is illegally detained, he is entitled to an immediate discharge. The term habeas corpus, means you may have the body. The writ of habeas corpus therefore authorizes the officer to whom it is directed, to bring forth the body of the prisoner from confinement, to have an immediate hearing. This writ of habeas corpus has justly been considered the "bulwark of personal liberty." Congress has therefore been prohibited from suspending the privilege of habeas corpus, unless in 66 What is the remedy when a person is illegally arrested or imprisoned? What does the term habeas corpus mean? What does the writ of habeas corpus authorize the officer to do? What has congress been prohibited from doing? time of rebellion or invasion, when the public good requires it." BILL OF ATTAINDER. The legislature of England has power to pass special acts authorizing the infliction of capital punishment, without trial, on persons suspected of high crimes, such as treason and felony. And such a special act is called a "bill of attainder." If such act authorize a less punishment than death, it is called a "bill of pains and penalties." Such power in a legislature is contrary to the spirit of liberty, and inconsistent with a free government. In order to prevent any such power from ever being assumed by our national legislature, the constitution prohibits congress from passing any such bills. EX POST FACTO LAWS. In the European governments, sometimes laws have been passed by which an act previously done may be punished as a crime, although there was no law against it when done. Such laws are called ex post facto laws. Where laws can be made in that way, the most What is a bill of attainder? Is congress allowed to pass any bill of attainder': What is an ex post facto law? innocent transactions may subsequently be declared to be crimes, and punished as such. Congress is therefore very properly "prohibited from passing any ex post facto law." Congress can grant no title of nobility. The only nobility which a free country can permit, is nature's nobility. And every titled foreigner wishing to become a citizen of the United States, must renounce his title before he can be naturalized. To prevent undue foreign influence and interference, the constitution provides that no person "holding any office of profit or trust under the United States shall, without the consent of congress, accept of any present, office or title, from any king, prince, or foreign state." Hence, when the Imaum of Muscat sent a span of beautiful Arabian horses to the President of the United States, as a present, he was not allowed to receive them, and they were accordingly sold at auction as the property of the United States, and the proceeds of the sale deposited in the treasury. STATE POWERS PROHIBITED. We have said that when the colonies shook off the British yoke they became independent, sovereign na Why is congress prohibited from passing any ex post facto law? Can congress grant any title of nobility? What must a titled foreigner do before he can be a citizen of the United States? What is said about receiving presents? |