CHAPTER LX.

Postmaster-General.

THE General Post Office is a new marble edifice at Washington, about half-way between the Capitol and the President's house. Here the Postmaster-General has his office. He is assisted by a deputy postmaster, and various other officers.

The number of post-offices in the United States is about fourteen thousand: the whole extent of all the post routes is about one hundred and fifty thousand miles; the annual transportation of the mails is near thirty-five millions of miles. The annual income is about four millions of dollars; and the expenditure nearly the same.

The President has the nomination of all postmasters whose income of office is over one thousand dollars a year: all others are appointed by the Postmaster-General. His salary is six thousand dollars.

THE province of the Attorney-General is to advise the President in matters of law; to manage cases in which the United States are interested before the United States court, &c. He resides at Washington, and has a salary of four thousand dollars.

Several eminent lawyers have held this high station; among them William Pinckney and William Wirt, both of Maryland.

CHAPTER LXII.

Patent Office.

THE Patent Office is one of the finest edifices in the United States, and is situated near the General Post Office. Here models of new inventions are deposited, and the Superintendent issues letters patent, or patent rights, for new and useful inventions.

By virtue of these grants, the patentees are enabled to have the exclusive making and vending of their inventions for fourteen years. The object of this is to encourage useful improvements, by giving the profits thereof to the inventors for the stipulated period.

The models now lodged in the Patent Office are numerous, ingenious, and interesting, though many were destroyed in the Patent Office, burnt down a few years since. Those which exist, afford a pleasing evidence of the ingenuity of our countrymen. The whole number of patents issued since 1790, is over twelve thousand.

Beside these models, there are various articles of curiosity, belonging to the government of the United States; such as the uniform worn by Washington when he took leave of the army; various rich gifts presented by foreign princes; and a great collection of specimens in natural history, particularly ornithology, conchology, botany, &c.

The Patent Office is under the charge of a Superintendent, who is assisted by various draftsmen, clerks, and others. The whole establishment is subject to the supervision of the Secretary of State. It is one of the most interesting objects at the seat of government.

CHAPTER LXIII.

Judiciary.

THE Judiciary of the United States consists of a Supreme Court, nine Circuit Courts, and thirty District Courts. The judges are nominated by the President, and submitted for approval or rejection, to the Senate. They hold office during good behavior.

The Supreme Court is composed of a chief justice and eight associate judges, who hold a court every winter at Washington. Each of the judges also attends a certain circuit, comprising several districts. In each district he holds a Circuit Court at stated times, being assisted by a local judge, called a district judge. The District Courts are held by the district judges, alone.

All these circuit and district courts are inferior to the Supreme Court, and their decisions are liable to be overruled by it. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial tribunal in the country, and its decisions are final. It can even decide upon the acts of Congress, and declare them to be unconstitutional, and therefore void.

It will be remarked, however, that cases which arise under state laws, between citizens of the same state, cannot be brought before the United States Court. This court has jurisdiction (that is, the power of acting and judging) only in cases which arise under the laws of Congress, or between citizens of different states, and a few other cases. The state courts adjudge all cases between their own citizens.

In each district there is a District Attorney, whose duty it is to prosecute all offences against the laws of the United States; such, for instance, as piracy, which is robbery upon the high seas; or smuggling goods; that is, bringing them into the country with a view to avoid paying duties. The District Attorney also manages all cases in which the United States are a party.

In each district is a Marshal, who performs the duties of a sheriff; that is, he attends the court of the district, and executes the precepts directed to him. He keeps persons accused of crimes in custody, and when required, brings them before the court; he also executes sentence upon criminals, and in general, is the executive officer of the court.

Each district has a place where the court sits and where its records are kept; and here a clerk attends to the business of the office. It is in these offices that the titles of books are deposited, upon which authors desire to obtain copyright. The clerk issues certificates that such titles are deposited; and when his book is published, the author leaves a copy at the clerk's office; his copyright is then complete; and he only, and those whom he may authorize, have a right to print or publish it.

The salary of the chief justice is five thousand dollars a year: each of the associate judges has four thousand five hundred dollars; the district judges receive from one thousand to three thousand dollars a year.

Among the eminent men who have held the office of chief justice of the United States Court, are Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, who died in 1807, and John Marshall, who died in 1838.

CHAPTER LXIV.

State Governments.

We have now taken a brief view of the national government: that government which binds twentysix separate states or republics, into one great federal republic. Let us now take a survey of the several states, which are at present twenty-six in

number.

Each of the states has a written constitution; some of these were adopted during the revolutionary struggle, and have since been revised, remoddled or amended. Others have been made anew, at later periods. Rhode Island is the only state which retains its colonial charter. Efforts are now making in this state for the adoption of a new constitution, which are likely to prove successful.

Several of the state constitutions consist of two parts, first a bill of rights, setting forth certain. abstract principles of government and law; and second, a series of rules for the organization and administration of the government.

All these constitutions prescribe a republican form of government; that is, a government in which the people choose certain officers to represent them, and act for them in public affairs.

In all the state constitutions, provision is made for keeping the three powers-legislative, executive, and judicial-distinct and separate.

In every state there is a Governor, and in most a Lieutenant Governor. The Governor constitutes the executive branch, being assisted in some cases by an executive council. He is generally the