employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by congress.

Training Militia.-If it were not for this provision, by means of which uniformity in military training is secured, the militia would be of little value, when called into the service of the general government. It is proper to permit the states to choose the officers of the militia, but the training of all, officers and privates alike, should be the same for all the states.

Clause 17.-Exclusive Legislation.

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by the cession of particular states, and the acceptance of congress, become the seat of government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings.

Seat of Government.-Washington was empowered by congress, at its first session, to locate the seat of government at some point on the Potomac river. This he did in 1790, and the capital was removed from Philadelphia, to the city of Washington in 1800. The site chosen for the seat of government is known as the District of Columbia. Maryland gave sixty-four square miles of territory, and Virginia, thirty-six. In 1846, the government ceded to Virginia its original part, leaving only the Maryland grant in the District.

How Controlled.-For seventy years congress gov. erned the District of Columbia by direct legislation, and

then it tried the experiment of giving it a territorial organization. This did not prove satisfactory, and, after three years' trial, the government was placed in the hands of three commissioners who are appointed by congress.

Washington. The city of Washington contains the capitol and many other large and costly buildings belonging to the United States. It is there that much of the business of governing the country is transacted. Congress, the president and his cabinet, and the supreme court do their work there, and the ambassadors from foreign countries reside there during the time of their appointment.

United States Property.-The United States owns custom houses, navy yards, postoffices in many large cities, and other property in different parts of the country. Land is obtained for these purposes from the several states, but the states usually reserve certain rights to the land. As a rule, the deed to the land contains a reverting clause, so that the land will become the property of the state or individual granting it, in case the government fails to use it for the purpose for which it was granted. The right to serve writs or other legal notices for the enforcement of the laws of the state is also reserved by the state. This is done to prevent these places from becoming a place of refuge for criminals fleeing from state authority.

Clause 18.-Legislative Power.

To make all laws which shall be necessary for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

Summary. This clause is a grand summary of the
It will be seen that the constitution

powers of congress.

states many things about which congress may legislate, but this is only for the purpose of pointing out some of the most important subjects requiring general legislation. In order to show that congress has power to legislate in matters not specified, this last provision is wisely inserted. There are in the employ of the general government-in all branches of the public service, including the military, naval, and marine departments-fully two hundred thousand persons. All laws relating to these officers, their duties, terms, and salaries, have been passed by congress.

.CHAPTER XVII.

PROHIBITIONS.

Clause 1.-The Slave Trade.

The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.

Slavery. The curse of slavery had its beginning in this country in 1620, when a Dutch trader brought twenty negroes from Africa and sold them to the planters of Virginia as slaves. Other importations followed, until, at the time of the Revolution, slaves were owned in all the colonies.

Sectional.-Slavery was never very popular at the North, partly because slave labor could not be made so profitable as in the milder climate of the South, and yet there were some slaves owned in New England as late as 1840.

Cotton Gin.-The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, in 1793, gave a wonderful impetus to the production of cotton at the South, and as slave labor could be used to great advantage in the production of cotton, the value of slaves rapidly increased. Although Washington owned slaves, he was opposed to slavery as an institution, as were many other members of the constitutional convention.

Concession. To satisfy some members of the convention, it was agreed that congress should not pass any law to prohibit the importation of slaves prior to 1808. It was supposed that the new government would be organized about the beginning of 1788, and this prohibition was intended to last for twenty years thereafter.

Restrictions.-The importation of slaves after the first of January, 1808, was prohibited by congress, and penalties were prescribed for the violation of the law. But because slavery had become profitable, the law was often violated. In 1820, congress declared that any citizen of the United States who should engage in the foreign slave trade was guilty of piracy, and attached the death penalty to the crime. Slavery was finally abolished by the thirteenth amendment to the constitution, which was adopted in 1865.

Clause 2.-The Writ of Habeas Corpus.

The privileges of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

Habeas Corpus.-The right to a writ of habeas corpus is one of the strongest safeguards to personal liberty. An innocent person may be arrested, charged with having committed a heinous crime. Instead of being compelled to wait several weeks or months for a hearing, he may demand a writ of habeas corpus in the method prescribed by law. This writ is placed in the hands of the sheriff, or other ministerial officer, and he is directed to take the person under arrest before the proper judicial authority, who will at once decide whether the person accused of the crime is legally held to answer for the crime, or not.