§ 6. Except on the final passage of a bill, questions generally are not taken in this manner, unless called for by members, who, for certain reasons, desire to have the yeas and nays entered on the journal. The constitution of the state declares what number of members shall request the yeas and nays, in order to require them to be taken. The constitutions of some states, require the yeas and nays on the final passage of all bills and resolutions.

§ 7. According to the strict rule of parliament, a question once put and decided, can not be brought up again at the same session, but must stand as the judgment of the house. This rule prevails in this country also, but with a modification which has often been found useful in relieving an assembly from great inconvenience and difficulty otherwise unavoidable.

§ 8. When a question has been decided in the affirmative or negative, it is in order to move that the vote be reconsidered. If such motion prevails, the matter is restored to the state in which it stood before the vote reconsidered was taken. In many legislative bodies, there is a special rule, providing that a motion to reconsider may be made only on the same or the next day, and by a member who voted with the majority. But this rule, like other special rules, is binding only where it has been expressly adopted.

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES.

The following Notes are supplementary to the Chapters and Sections of the same numbers in the body of the work.

CHAPTER XXVI.

§ 6. Persons only who are householders are entitled to the benefits of the homestead exemption. The laws of different states, though not uniform in every particular, generally secure to the head of a family, and after his decease, to his wife and children, a lot of land and buildings. thereon, not exceeding a certain amount in value, to be occupied as a residence or homestead. The following named states have enacted laws of this kind, exempting from execution such property to the amount of the sums annexed to the names of the states respectively :

Maine, $500; New Hampshire, $500; Vermont, $500; Massachusetts, $800; New York, $1,000; New Jersey, $500; South Carolina, $500; Florida, a farm of 40 acres, of which ten are cultivated; land and improvements not to exceed in value $200; Alabama, homestead with 40 acres of land, not exceeding in value $500; Mississippi, 160 acres and buildings, not in any city, town, or village; or, in a city, town, or village, land worth $1500 exclusive of buildings and improvements; Texas, 200 acres not in a town or city, or any town or city lots to the value of $2,000; Arkansas, 160 acres, or one town or city lot; Tennessee, homestead, $500; Ohio, $500; Michigan, 40 acres, not within a town-plat, city, or village, or a lot in a town, city, or village, $1,500; Indiana, real or personal property, or both, $300; Illinois, lot and buildings, $1,000; Iowa, farm of 40 acres, the buildings not to be in a city, town, or village; or one-fourth of an acre in a town, city, or village; Wisconsin, same as Iowa; Minnesota, $1,000 ; California, $5,000.

In Georgia, it was enacted, that, on contracts made after May, 1, 1842, 20 acres, and for each child under fifteen

years, five acres additional, were exempted; provided no part of it was the site of a city, town, village, mill or factory; the 20 acres to include the dwelling-house and improvements of the original tract; the value of the house and improvements not to exceed in value $200-the same being extended to cities, towns, and villages. By a later act, 50 acres were exempted on contracts made after January 1, 1844; the land being liable, however, for the purchase money, which is probably the case in all the states.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

§ 6. The necessity of giving to congress complete and exclusive power at the seat of government, is shown by a certain occurrence near the close of the revolutionary war, which probably suggested the incorporation of this provision in the constitution. At the time alluded to, the old congress, then sitting at Philadelphia, was surrounded and insulted by a small body of mutineers of the continental army. The executive authority of Pennsylvania, (then vested in a council of thirteen members,) wanting the requisite energy and courage, failed to afford protection; and congress removed to Princeton, in the state of New Jersey. After having remained there for some time undisturbed, they adjourned, for the sake of greater convenience, to Annapolis, in Maryland. It is hence evident, that the members of the general government ought not to be dependent upon a state for protection in the discharge of their duties.

The establishment of a permanent seat of government, after the treaty of peace with Great Britain, received the early attention of congress. In October, 1783, it was resolved, that buildings for the use of congress should be erected on the banks of the Delaware. A few days later it was resolved, that buildings for a similar purpose should be erected on the Potomac, with the view of reconciling the conflicting wishes of the northern and southern states, by establishing two seats of government. In December, 1784, it was further resolved, that a district should be purchased on the banks of the Delaware for a federal town; and that contracts should be made for erecting a house for the use of congress and the executive officers, and suit

able buildings for the residence of the president and the secretaries of the several departments. But the appropriation of the necessary funds for these purposes, requiring the assent of nine states, was prevented by the southern interest. In 1790, a compromise was made, by which the friends of Philadelphia, in consideration of having the seat of government at that city during ten years, the time estimated to be necessary to erect the public buildings, agreed that the seat of government should be permanently fixed on the Potomac.

CHAPTER XLI.

§ 6. By more recent acts of congress, the bounty of the government has been largely extended. In 1850, a "military bounty land bill" was passed, granting lands to the surviving soldiers, and to the widows or minor children of deceased soldiers, who served in the war of 1812, or in any of the Indian wars since 1790, and to the commissioned officers who served in the late war with Mexico, as follows: To those who engaged for twelve months, or during the war, and actually served nine months, 160 acres ; to those who engaged for six months and served four months, 80 acres; and to those who served one month, 40 acres. Those honorably discharged in consequence of disability in the service before the expiration of their period of service, were to receive the same as if they had served out their terms. In 1852, the benefits of the act of 1850 were extended to state troops whose service had been paid for by the United States subsequent to the 18th of June, 1812; and by the act of 1855, persons having served in the navy were included; moreover, all who had served for any period, in the militia or the navy, were to be allowed 160 acres; and those who had received, under former acts, a less quantity, were to receive in addition enough to make, in the whole, 160 acres. Wagon-masters and teamsters employed by competent authority, were entitled to the same compensation.

§ 10. Postmasters whose commissions amount to $1,000 or more a year, are appointed by the president, by consent of the senate. The number of post-offices in the United States and territories, is about 30,000, From the report

of the postmaster-general in 1857, it appears that the aggregate length of mail routes was 242,600 miles; that the mails were transported 74,906,067 miles, at a cost of $6,622,046. The gross revenue from all sources, including receipts from letter carriers and foreign postages, together with $700,000 paid by the government for the transportation and delivery of matter franked by public officers, $8,053,951. The compensation to postmasters, $2,285,609; transportation, including foreign mails, $7,239,333; together with other expenses, make the total expenditures, $11,508,058.

§ 12. The transportation of the matter franked by the of ficers of the government, is paid for out of the public treasury, and the amount is included in the receipts of the post-office department.

The present rates of inland postage are, on every letter or package, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, sent not more than 3,000 miles, three cents; over 3,000 miles, ten cents. Each additional half ounce, or fraction of half an ounce, is charged with an additional single postage. No letters sent unless the postage is prepaid. Drop letters, one cent each. On newspapers, periodicals, unsealed circulars, or other article of printed matter, sent to any part of the United States, weighing not over three ounces, one cent; and one cent for each additional ounce.

Newspapers and periodicals, weighing not more than one ounce and a half, and not sent out of the state where published, are charged half a cent.

Small newspapers published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets containing not more than sixteen octavo pages, sent in single packages, to one address, and prepaid by postage stamps, when weighing at least eight ounces, four cents, and for each additional ounce, half a cent.

Books, bound or unbound, weighing not over four pounds, any distance not over 3,000 miles, prepaid, one cent for each ounce; over 3,000, two cents an ounce. If not paid in advance, fifty per cent. additional is charged.

Weekly newspapers only, sent to subscribers within the county, free.

Newspapers and periodicals sent from the office of publication to actual subscribers, and paid quarterly in advance, are charged one-half the above rates. Quarterly pay