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probably first applied to duties, meaning a notification, a publishing of them to all persons concerned. The course latterly practised in regulating the tariff, has been to impose the heaviest duties on such articles as are produced or manufactured in this country. The effect of this is to raise the price of the imported articles so that domestic articles have an advan

tage over them in the market. This system is called the protecting system. Its object is to protect or encourage domestic industry and skill, that we may not be dependent on foreign nations. It has been a source of much dispute and contention between different parts of the union, since, it is said, some of the states being largely concerned in manufactures and others not at all, its operation has been unequal. It has been denied by one party that congress has any power by the constitution to lay duties with reference to any other object than merely raising a revenue. In consequence of such disputes the tariff has been recently modified.

What are some of the advantages which result from giving congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations? Ans. Twen ty-four states united and pursuing one general line of policy are much better able to maintain

their commercial interests against the power and the arts of foreign nations, than twentyfour states disunited and each pursuing its own course. Another advantage is, that the causes of dispute and war between one united government and foreign nations, are much fewer than they would be between twenty-four distinct governments and the same nations.

What are some of the advantages of giving congress power to regulate commerce between the states? Ans. It has a tendency to prevent disputes and jealousies between the states and to keep the channels of commercial intercourse open through all the parts of the country.

Remark. The internal commerce of the European states is much obstructed and harassed by restriction laws of the different states and by duties collected at custom houses established throughout their borders.

What are some of the advantages of giving congress power to regulate commerce with the Indian tribes? Ans. By pursuing one uniform policy towards the Indians, disputes with them are less likely to arise, and a more fair and just trade will be carried on with them

than if the subject were left open to the conflicting interests of the different states.

What is naturalization? Ans. It is the admission of aliens to the privileges of native citizens. Who are aliens in the view of the American law? Ans. With some exceptions they are all persons born out of the jurisdiction of the United States. The principal exceptions are children of citizens of the United States, born out of such jurisdiction, and the children of persons duly naturalized, being under the age of twenty-one years at the time of such naturalization, provided they be resi. dent in the United States. What are some of the privileges which aliens do not enjoy? Ans. They cannot hold real estate, and they are excluded from voting in political elections, and from holding political offices. What is the rule of naturalization established by congress? Ans. The act of congress requires a five years' residence in the United States, and a two years' previous declaration in writing, on the part of the alien, before some court, of his intention to be naturalized. After the expiration of the two years, the alien must appear be fore the court, present the declaration aforesaid, renounce his allegiance to his sovereign, and

his title of nobility if he have one, and swear allegiance to the United States. He must also prove his residence and his good character. The court are then authorized to grant him a certificate of his admission to the privileges of citizenship.

Remarks.

Under the confederation, the right of passing naturalization laws was left with the states. The propriety of vesting it in the general government is evident. The citizens of each state, are according to the constitution, entitled to all the privileges of citizens in the several states. If aliens could be naturalized by the laws of one state after a two years residence, and the laws of another state should require four years, the alien naturalized in the former state would be entitled to the privileges of a citizen in the latter, her naturalization laws notwithstanding.

What is the meaning of the term bankruptcy? Ans. In the common acceptation, it is an inability to pay one's debts. The word bankrupt, is derived from two Latin words, bancus, a bench, and ruptus, broken. In Italy, money-lenders, like the exchangers of money spoken of in the New Testament, used to sit on benches; when one of them failed, his bench

was broken. Hence the term bench-broken or bankrupt. Have congress passed any act on the subject of bankruptcy? Ans. They passed an act in 1800 which was to continue in force five years. At the expiration of the five years it was not renewed and no other has been passed. What is the object of bankrupt laws? Ans. To prevent the punishment of the honest debtor, to provide for the punishment of the dishonest, and to secure an equal distribution of the property among all the

creditors.

Remark. "The power of establishing uniform laws of bankruptcy, is so intimately connected with the regulation of commerce, and will prevent so many frauds where the parties or their property may be removed into different states, that the expediency of it seems not likely to be drawn into question."

In whom was the right to coin money vested under the confederation? Ans. Both in congress and in the state governments, congress having the right, however, to regulate the value of all coin struck either by their own authority, or by that of the states.

Remark. The propriety of vesting the sole power of coining, and also of regulating the

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