213. Department of the Naay. The secretary of the navy executes the orders of the president, relative to the procurement of naval stores and materials, and the armament, equipment and employment of vessels of war, as well as all other matters relating to the naval establishment. His salary is $6000 a year.

214. Three officers are appointed by the president and senate, who constitute a board of commissioners for the navy, and who discharge the ministerial duties of the office of the secretary, and furnish all estimates of expenditures which the several branches of the service may require. Their salaries are $3500 a year, each.

215. Attorney General. The act of 24th September, 1789, provides for the appointment of a meet person, learned in the law, to act as attorney general of the United States, who shall be sworn to a faithful execution of his office. His duty is to prosecute and conduct all suits in the supreme court, in which the United States shall be concerned, and give his advice upon questions of law, when required by the president, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments. His salary is $3500a year.

216. Executive Officers Abroad. It is the practice of each civilized nation, to send one of its citizens, in time of peace, to reside at the seat of government in other nations. A person thus sent, is sometimes called ambassador. Ambassadors are either ordinary, or extraordinary. An ambassador extraordinary, is a person sent on some particular occasion, and who retires as soon as the affair on which he was sent is despatched. An ambassador in ordinary, is one who constantly resides at a foreign. court, to maintain a good understanding, and to look to the interests of his prince or nation.

217. The agent sent by the United States to reside at a foreign court, is generally called minister. He is the

213. What are the duties of the secretary of the navy? What is his salary? 214. What is the duty of the navy commissioners? What are their salaries? 215. What are the duties of the attorney general? What is his salary? 216, 217. What are ambassadørs?

representative of the government to which he belongs; and his duties depend on the instructions given him. Ministers of the United States are allowed $9000 a year for their personal services and expenses. A charge des affaires, (French,) meaning charge of affairs, is an agent of the United States, of an inferior grade, sent abroad, charged with the management of the affairs of his nation. He is allowed for his services and expenses, $4500 a year. But the president may allow to a minister or charge des affaires, on going out of the United States, in addition to his salary, an outfit, equal in amount to one year's full salary.

218. Consuls are commercial agents residing in foreign seaports. Their duties are various. They receive the protests or declarations which captains, passengers, and merchants, citizens of the United States, may make there. They dispose of the personal estate left by citizens of the United States, who die within their consulates, leaving no legal representative, or partner in trade, to take care of their effects. They receive the registers, sea letters, or passports, of masters of United States' vessels arriving at the port where they reside. Their business is to render any assistance which merchants or ship masters of their own country may need; and they grant all certificates required by commercial regalations, or by treaty. Consuls are either paid a salary, or depend on fees fixed by law, for each of the several duties they are required to perform.

Where do they reside? What are their duties? What are the names of the different foreign agents of the United States? What are the duties of a minister? Or a charges des affaires? What are their respective salaries? 218. What are the duties of a consul? What is his salary?

CHAPTER IX.

Of the Judicial Power.

219. THE judicial power is that branch of the government, to which the administration of justice, and the interpretation of the constitution and the laws, are entrusted; and no government can be complete, without such a distinct and independent department. Without this power, a constitution could not be carried into effect; and yet, to vest the power of interpreting and applying the laws, together with the power of making and executing them, in a single man, or body of men, would constitute an absolute despotism, subject to no restraint but that of brute force.

220. The constitution declares, that "the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts, as congress may, from time to time, ordain and establish. The judges both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior; and shall, at stated tines, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office."

221. In organizing the judicial department, it was deemed of the first importance to render the judges independent. To secure this object, provision has been made, (1.) in the mode prescribed in the constitution for their appointment. To fulfil the duties of the judicial office, men should be selected of the most inflexible justice, who could not be swerved from a faithful discharge of their duties, by considerations of fear or favor. But as the qualities requisite for this office are not the most popular, men possessing these qualities, would probably too often

219. What is meant by the judicial power of the government? Why is this power necessary? 220. Wherein is the supreme court vested? What are the constitutional provisions for the term of office, and compensation, of the judges? 221. What is particularly important in constituting a judiciary? What provisions are made

G

fail to secure an election resting on universal suffrage. Their appointment was therefore vested in the executive and the senate. The independence of the judges is secured, (2.) by the duration of their offices; which is, in effect, for life, unless sooner removed on impeachment for official delinquency. This is esteemed one of the most valuable of modern improvements in the practice of government. And (3.) the permanent provision for their support is calculated to secure an independent judiciary. Without such a provision, the fittest and most learned men would not relinquish lucrative professional pursuits, for a station in the government, for the labors of which a liberal and permanent compensation was not provided.

222. To ensure a just performance of their duties, they are made amenable for any corrupt violation of their trust; and, on impeachment, they may be removed from office, and disqualified from holding any office whatever, under the government of the United States.

223. The judicial power extends to all cases in law and equity, arising under the constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States is a party; to controversies between two or more states; between a state and citizens of another state; between citizens of different states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states; and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects.

224. The propriety and fitness of these judicial powers, seem to result, as a necessity, from the union of the states in one national government; for without them, a government could not long exist. They are made to extend "to all cases arising under the constitution," because the

by the constitution, to secure the independence of the judges? What is the amount of their salaries? 222. What provision is made to ensure a just performance of their duties? 223. To what cases does the judicial power extend? 224. Why might not the state

meaning and operation of a compact ought always to be ascertained by an authority derived from all the parties, and not from an authority derived from any one of them. The cases here enumerated, are evidently of national concern; and the exercise of the judicial power by any one of the parties, would produce confusion and mutual dissatisfaction, and disturb the peace of the union.

225. The organization of the judiciary was provided for by the judiciary act of 24th September, 1789. By this act were constituted, the supreme court, and courts of inferior grade, called circuit courts, and district courts.

326. The supreme court consists of a chief justice, and six associate justices, any four of whom are a quorum. This court holds annually, at the city of Washington, one session, commencing on the second Monday of January. The session usually continues about eight weeks.

227. The constitution provides that, in all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the supreme court shall have original jurisdiction. In all other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations, as the congress shall make.

228. By original jurisdiction in any case, it is meant, that such case may originate, or commence, and be tried in this court. If a case has been first tried in an inferior court, and a party be not satisfied with the decision of the court, such party may appeal to the supreme court for trial. In such trial, this court is said to have appellate jurisdiction. The grant of original jurisdiction to this court does not imply, however, that it has exclusive jurisdiction. It has original jurisdiction in no other cases than those mentioned in the constitution. Its principal

Courts exercise these powers? 225. When was the judiciary. What ized? 226. Of what officers is the supreme court composer 234. Why and when is its annual session held? 227. In what ca court jurisdiction? 228. What is meant by original