and if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of it, the constitution is adopted. Copies of the constitution are sent to the president and to each house of congress, and, if its provisions are satisfactory, the state is then formally declared to be admitted into the Union. A law to this effect must be passed by congress and approved by the president.

Exceptions. There was no enabling act passed by congress for the admission of Michigan, Kansas, and Oregon.

Vermont, Kentucky, Maine, Texas, California, and West Virginia were never territories. California and Texas were admitted by annexation, and the other four named were erected from the territory of the states to which they had belonged.

West Virginia.- When Virginia decided to secede from the Union at the breaking out of the Rebellion, fortyeight counties in the western part of the state determined to remain loyal to the general government. This they did, and, in 1863, they were admitted as a separate state, and called West Virginia. This was done in violation of the constitution, but it was considered necessary as a war measure. No new state has ever been formed by the junction of other states.

Clause 2.-Territories.

The congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state.

Territorial Government.-By the authority given by this clause, congress has passed laws for the government of the territories of the United States, and for the District of Columbia. Each organized territory has a governor, who

is appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate, a legislature, composed of members chosen by the people of the territory, and a system of courts as explained elsewhere. A territory also elects a delegate to congress, whose duty it is to look after matters of special importance relating to his territory. The territorial delegates sit in the house of representatives. They may take part in the discussion of topics of interest to the territories of the United States, but they are not permitted to vote on any subject. They receive the same salary as members of congress.

SECTION IV.—STATE Government.

The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence.

State Government.-In order that this clause may be properly enforced, congress must consent to the admission of a new state after the proposed constitution has been accepted by the people of the territory seeking admission. In case any rights or privileges of a free people are denied or abridged, or if the proposed constitution is objectionable for any other reason, congress may refuse to admit the territory as a state. The people of Iowa territory made three attempts to gain admission before their efforts were crowned with success. Congress passed a bill for the admission of Colorado in 1866, and another in 1867, but both were vetoed by President Johnson.

Since the states sur

Invasion. - Insurrection. rendered to congress the control of the army and navy of the nation, it is right that there should be some guaranty of

protection to the states in case of invasion or insurrection. During the labor troubles of 1894, the president sent United States troops to Chicago to aid in suppressing the strikes. It is not often that troops have been needed for the purpose indicated in this section.

CHAPTER XXV.

ARTICLE V.-AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as a part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the congress; provided, that no amendment, which may be made prior to the year one thousand, eight hundred and eight, shall, in any manner, affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate.

Processes. The constitution provides two methods for its own amendment, but the first method has alone been tried. All the amendments that have been adopted were proposed by congress and ratified by the state legislatures. Nearly a thousand amendments to the constitution have been proposed in congress, but only fifteen have been adopted.

Bill of Rights.-That the constitution was not entirely satisfactory to the people at the time of its adoption is shown by the fact that the first ten amendments were proposed by congress at its first session. These

amendments are often called the "Bill of Rights." They were ratified by the states, and declared to be a part of the constitution in 1791. Twelve amendments were voted on at this time, but only ten of them received the approval of the states.

Other Amendments.-The eleventh amendment was proposed in 1796, and adopted in 1798. The twelfth was submitted to the people in 1803, and ratified the following year.

The last three amendments relate to the slavery question in the main. Their provisions are sometimes stated in this way: "The thirteenth amendment freed the Negro, the fourteenth made him a citizen, and the fifteenth gave him the right to vote." The thirteenth amendment was proposed and adopted in 1865, the fourteenth in 1868, and the fifteenth, proposed in 1869, was ratified in 1870. The amendments will now be given and discussed.

ARTICLE I.

FREEDOM GUARANTEED.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Religious Freedom, Etc.-The rights guaranteed by this article were very dear to the people at the time our government was organized. Because these rights had been denied them by the British government, they rebelled, and their rebellion resulted in revolution and a new form of government. Every person may be held responsible for the abuse of the right of freedom of speech and of the press.