linquent, to be adjudged by a court martial composed of militia officers only, and held in the manner prescribed by the articles of war. Every free able bodied white male citizen, of the age of eighteen, and under forty-five years, is liable to do military duty, except such as are by law exempted from the same.

356. The law prescribes the manner in which the militia is to be organized, armed, disciplined and governed; and provision is also made for drafting, detaching, and calling forth the quotas, or shares, to be furnished by the respective states, when required by the president.

357. Persons exempted by the law of the United States are, the vice president, and all executive and judicial officers of the government of the United States; members of both houses of congress, and their respective officers; all custom-house officers, with their clerks; post officers and drivers of mail stages; ferry-men employed at ferries on post roads; all pilots and mariners; together with all other persons who may be exempted by the laws of the respective states.

358. The militia, when called into the actual service of the United States, are not considered to be in that service, until they are mustered at the place of rendezvous; until that be done, a state has a right, concurrent with the United States, to punish their delinquencies: but after the militia shall have been thus mustered into the service of the United States, their character is changed from state to national militia, and the authority of the state government over them ceases.

359. The militia is organized, by their formation into bodies of men, and the denomination and rank of officers, which is done by congress. Congress also prescribes the manner of arming the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and

How are delinquents adjudged. 356. By what is the government, drafting, &c. of the militia prescribed? 357. What persons are exempt from duty by the laws of the United States? 358. When is the militia to be considered in the service of the United States? 859. What is meant by organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia?

other descriptions of force: as also the mode in which they shall be disciplined; that is, the system of exercise in which they shall be instructed.

CHAPTER XXII.

Of the Post Office.

360. CONGRESS has power "to establish post offices and post roads." The general object of this power is to provide for facilitating the transmission of intelligence, and for promoting a free and easy intercourse among the different parts of this union.

361. A general post office was established by the colonial congress, as early as the year 1775. The laws by which it has been regulated, have been changed, from time to time, as improvements were suggested, and the increase of its business demanded. The business of the general post office is under the supervision of a post master general. This officer has, for the last few years, been considered a member of the president's cabinet; and the general post office is spoken of as being an auxiliary executive department.

362. The post master general has the direction of the affairs of the department; he has two assistants, and such clerks as may be necessary to perform the business of his office. He establishes post offices, and appoints post masters, and all other persons employed in any of the departments of the general post office, and gives instructions relative to their duties. He provides for carrying the mail on all post roads, as often as he may think prop

er; and he pays all the expenses of the department.

360. What is the object of the power to establish post offices and post roads? 361. What is the chief officer of the general pos office called? 362. What are his duties? 363. How are contract

363. Contracts for the transportation of the mail, are made as follows:

The post master general gives twelve weeks previous notice, in one newspaper published at the seat of government, and in one or more in the state in which contracts are to be made for transporting the mail, that such contracts are to be made. Those who wish to engage to transport the mails on any of the routes advertised, send their proposals to the post master general, stating the lowest sum for which they will agree to carry the mail. He that proposes to carry for the least sum, has the contract. 364. The rates at which letters, newspapers, pamphlets, &c. are carried, are established by law, and are as follows:

For every letter composed of a single sheet of paper, not exceeding thirty miles, six cents: over thirty, not exceeding eighty, ten cents: over eighty, not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve and a half cents: over one hundred and fifty, not exceeding four hundred, eighteen cents and three fourths: over four hundred, twenty-five cents.

For every double letter, or letter composed of two pieces of paper, double those rates: for every triple letter, three times those rates; and for every packet of four or more pieces of paper, and weighing one ounce, four times those rates; and in proportion for all greater weights. No packet of letters transported by water mails, are charged with more than quadruple postage, unless the same contain more than four letters; and no post master may put into the mail any packet of more than three pounds weight.

365. Every four folio pages, or eight quarto, or sixteen octavo, or twenty four duodecimo pages, or pages of less size than that of a pamphlet or magazine, are considered a sheet. The rates of postage on newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, &c. are as follows:

made for the transportation of the mail? 364. At what rates are single letters carried by mail? Double letters? Triple letters? When a packet contains four or more pieces of paper? 365. How any printed pages are considered a sheet? What are the rates

On every newspaper carried any distance within the state, the postage is one cent: if carried over one hundred miles, and out of the state in which it is mailed, one cent and a half.

On periodical pamphlets and magazines, such as are issued in numbers at regular intervals, carried not over one hundred miles, one and a half cents a sheet: over one hundred miles, two and a half cents.

366. Any memorandum or writing on a newspaper transmitted by mail, is charged with letter postage: but the publisher of a newspaper may send a printed or writ ten notice to a subscriber, stating the amount due on his subscription; for which notice there shall be charged the same postage as for a newspaper.

367. The following officers are allowed to send and to receive their letters and packets free of postage:

Every post master, provided each of his letters or packets shall not exceed half an ounce in weight; every member of congress, provided each letter or pamphlet, (except documents printed by order of congress,) shall not exceed two ounces in weight, during his attendance in any session of congress, and sixty days before and after such session; and all the civil officers at the seat of government and each may receive a newspaper free of postage; provided that no post master shall receive, free of postage, more than one daily newspaper, or what is equivalent thereto; and that no member of congress shall receive newspapers, free of postage, after his privilege of franking shall have ceased. To frank, means to exempt a letter or packet from postage. The person entitled to this privilege, writes on the outside of the letter or packet, his name and office; and the same is sent free.

Every printer of a newspaper may send one newspaper to every other printer of a newspaper, free of postage.

of postage on newspapers, pamphlets, and magazines? 366. What is charged on a paper on which there is a memorandum or writing? What privilege has a publisher of a newspaper? 367. What officers may send and receive letters and packets free? and to what extent? What is it to frank a letter or packet? What privilege

368. At the end of every quarter, every post master is required to publish in a newspaper, at or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining in his office, or shall cause a num ber of such lists to be posted up, in his vicinity; and he is required, at the expiration of the next three months, to send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to the general post office, where they are examined; and such of them as are found to contain any matter of value, are returned to the writers thereof.

369. Post masters are allowed as a compensation for their services, a commission on letter postages by them received, not exceeding the following several rates on the amount received in one quarter :

On a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, 30 per

cent:

On any sum over and above the first hundred dollars, and not exceeding four hundred, 25 per cent.:

On any sum over and above the first four hundred dollars, and not exceeding two thousand four hundred, 20 per cent.:

On any sum over and above the first two thousand four hundred dollars, 8 per cent. :

On moneys received for the postage of newspapers, magazines and pamphlets, a commission of 50 per cent. :

Post masters whose compensation does not exceed five hundred dollars a quarter, are allowed two cents for every free letter delivered out of their offices. Whenever the yearly emoluments of any post master exceed two thousand dollars, over and above all the expenditures incident to his office, the surplus is paid over to the department.

370. The post master general renders to the secretary of the treasury, a quarterly account of all the receipts and

has the printer of a paper? 368. When, and in what manner, are letters advertised? How are dead letters disposed of? 369. What compensation do post masters receive for their services? 370. How often are the accounts of the department settled? What is the post master general's salary?