is bound to obey them as the law of nature and

reason.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

About the close of the Revolutionary war, the continental congress, then sitting at Philadelphia, was surrounded and insulted by a body of mutineers from the continental army. Congress applied to the executive authority of Pennsylvania for protection, but were unable to obtain it. They then adjourned to Princeton, in New Jersey. And from thence they soon after adjourned to Annapolis, in the state of Maryland. In order to guard against such intimidation, the constitution gives congress "exclusive legislation over a district not exceeding ten miles square, which may become the seat of government of the United States."

In 1790, the States of Maryland and Virginia ceded a tract of land ten miles square to the United States, which has since been called the District of Columbia. In 1800, the city of Washington, situated in that district, became the seat of government of the United States, and has so continued till the present

When and where was congress surrounded and insulted by a mob? What measures did congress take to guard themselves against any like occurrence in future?

When and by what states was the District of Columbia ceded to the United States?

When did Washington become the seat of government?

time. The President of the United States and the chief executive officers of the general government reside there. Congress and the supreme court of the United States meet there every year.

Congress exercises exclusive legislation over this District, and has the same power in regard to the citizens of it that legislatures have over the several states. In 1846, that part of the District of Columbia south of the Potomac was retroceded to Virginia.

AUXILIARY AND IMPLIED POWERS OF CONGRESS.

The several specified powers of congress having been enumerated, the constitution concludes by giving a general authority to congress, to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, vested by the constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or office thereof.

One of the implied powers of congress is the power to erect corporations.

A corporation is an artificial person. A corporation is generally composed of several individuals, and is then called a corporation aggregate. A bank is a corporation aggregate.

What officers reside at Washington?

What bodies meet there?

Has the District of Columbia any representative in congress? Has congress any implied powers?

What is a corporation?

Of what is it generally composed, and what is it then called?
What is a bank?

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The question whether congress has power to make appropriations of money for internal improvements, has undergone much discussion. If the improvement is of a local nature, and of local benefit only, congress undoubtedly has no power to make any appropriation for such a purpose.

But, if the improvement is of a general nature, and is, or will be, of general use to the United States, congress has power to make all necessary appropriations to carry it on.

As incidental to the power to declare war, congress has authority to purchase grounds and build forts, arsenals, dock-yards, navy-yards, magazines, &c. For, whenever any power is granted to congress by the constitution, every right necessary for the full exercise of that power is included in the grant.

There is no express power given to congress to add new territory to the United States by treaty, purchase, cession, or otherwise; and yet, congress, by the purchase of Louisiana and Florida, has added to the United States a territory equal to the whole original territory of the union. This has been done under the implied powers of congress, by giving a very

Under what circumstances has congress power to make appropriations for internal improvements?

What power has congress incidental to the power to declare war? Is there any express power given to congress to add new territory to the United States?

liberal construction to the constitution.

The argu

ment of necessity was strongly urged; for the safety and general welfare of the United States required the possession of the mouth of the Mississippi, it being the highway to the Gulf of Mexico.

The purchase of Florida was considered necessary for the protection of our southern frontiers.

EMBARGO.

An embargo is a prohibition of vessels to go into or out of a port for a limited time.

Under the general power to regulate commerce, congress in 1807 laid an embargo on all ships within the jurisdiction of the United States, bound for any foreign port.

By this means all foreign commerce was cut off. The commercial states suffered severely before the embargo act was repealed, which was done in about a year and a half afterwards.

RECORDS, &c.

Each state is still a sovereign state as to the exercise of all powers not granted to the general govern

Under what authority was Florida and Louisiana added to the

United States?

What is an embargo?

Under what power of congress can an embargo be laid?

As to what is each state still sovereign?

ment. Therefore each state ought to recognize the public acts, records, &c., of every other state as valid and conclusive, for otherwise one state might interfere with the acts of another state, reverse its judicial decisions, &c., &c. The constitution therefore declares that "full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state."

NEW STATES.

Congress also has power to admit new states into the union.

The states at the time of the adoption of the constitution, were thirteen in number. They are called the thirteen original states. Their names are as

How are the public acts, records, &c., of each state to be regarded

in the other states?

Who has power to admit new states to the union?

How many states were there at the time of the adoption of the

constitution?

What are their names?