NOTE. A circuit or district court of the United States, or a district or supreme court of Territories, or a court of record of any of the States hav ing common law jurisdiction, is a court of competent jurisdiction.

III. Five years must have elapsed after a foreigner becomes a resident, and two years after a declaration of intention as above, before he can become a citizen. At this time he must take the oath of allegiance.

IV. The oath of allegiance must be preceded by the oath of other witnesses-to the 5 years' residence, and good moral character of the applicant.

V. An exception to this is, that an alien soldier having served in the Union Army one year and having obtained an honorable discharge, may become a citizen of the United States on making oath to these facts and taking the oath of allegiance.

VI. When a foreigner becomes naturalized, his children under 21 years of age, if residents of the United States at the time, become citizens without further formality.

VII. If a foreigner makes his declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, and dies before the time to become fully naturalized, his wife and children become citizens at that time, on taking the oath of allegiance.

HABEAS CORPUS

What is a writ of Habeas Corpus?

I. An instrument in writing issued by a judge, com manding the sheriff or whoever has the prisoner in charge, to bring him before the judge.

II. The case is not tried, but the judge simply examines the case to see whether the imprisonment is lawful;

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that is, whether any crime is charged, or whether there is any proper complaint, or commitment.

III. If the prisoner be lawfully held, he may send him back to prison, or if unlawfully held, release him.

IV. This famous writ protects the rights of personal liberty by causing the case of the person under arrest to be examined by a competent judge.

V. The privilege of this writ shall not be suspended, unless, when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety requires it. (See page 137.)

NOTE.-The writ of habeas corpus was suspended by President Lincoln, May, 1861; in December of the same year, Congress passed an act approving the action of the President, and authorizing the suspension of the writ as long as he should deem it necessary.

EX POST FACTO LAWS.

What is an Ex Post Facto Law?

An Ex Post Facto Law, as defined by the Supreme Court of the United States, is one which renders an act punishable in a manner in which it was not punishable when the act was committed. For this and other prohibitions, see pages 137 and 138.

What is Treason?

TREASON.

I. Treason against the United States consists in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.

II. A conviction requires the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or a confession in open court. III. The trial for treason will be conducted in all respects like any other criminal trial for a capital offence. V. The penalty may be death, but by an act of Congress July 17, 1862, the punishment is discretionary

with the Court, and may be imprisonment for not less than five years, and a fine of not less than $10,000.

NOTE. No person has ever been convicted of treason in the United States. Jefferson Davis was captured May 10, 1865, and placed in Fortress Monroe, May 19, where he was confined for two years. In May, 1867, he was brought before the United States Circuit Court at Richmond on a charge of treason, and was admitted to bail. In December, 1868 he was discharged.

POLITICAL DISABILITIES.

What persons were deprived by the Fourteenth Amendment from holding any civil or military appointment under the United States? I. Those who, having taken an oath as a member of Congress, or

II. As an officer of the United States, or

III. As a member of any State Legislature, or

IV. As an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in the insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. (See page 151.)

How were these Disabilities removed?

I. By laws enacted by Congress to that effect by a two-thirds' vote.

II. By the same being proclaimed by the President in the several amnesty proclamations of May 29, 1867, in which fourteen classes of persons were excepted, followed by other proclamations dated September 7, 1867; July 4, 1868; December 25, 1868.

NOTE. The last one was as follows: "I do hereby proclaim and declare, unconditionally and without reservation, to all and to every person who di rectly or indirectly participated in the late insurrection or rebellion a full pardon and amnesty for the offence of treason against the United States."

AMENDMENTS.

How may Amendments be made to the Constitution?

I. Whenever two-thirds of both houses of Congress

shall deem it necessary, they may prepare amendments, which shall become binding when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the States.

NOTE. --The above is the usual way.

II. On application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the States, Congress shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which must be ratified in conventions held by three-fourths of the States.

III. A prohibition in regard to amendments is that no State without its consent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. (See page 144.)

NOTES ON NATURALIZATION.

I. All persons born in this country are citizens.

II. Children under 21 years of age, born in other countries, become naturalized by the naturalization of the father.

III. When a foreigner has lived in this country three years and has made application to become a citizen, and the application is on file in the office of the Secretary of State, he is then entitled to hold lands by deed and convey the same lawfully: he is also entitled to vote at school meetings, but for no other officers until fully naturalized.

IV. Any woman, who might lawfully be naturalized under the existing laws, married, or who shall be married to a citizen of the United States, shall be deemed and taken to be a citizen.

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS.

The following questions and answers are given for the purpose of keeping some of the more difficult points before the minds of the advanced students.

What is a Quorum?

A majority of either body in the Legislature or in Congress constitutes a quorum for doing business. See pp. 56, 104.

Where do Bills originate?

Bills may originate in either house of the Legislature; but in Congress, all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives: yet the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on any other bills. See pp. 56, 133.

Who are Members of the Court of Impeachment?

The State Senators or a majority of them, the Judges of the Court of Appeals, or a majority of them, and the Lieutenant Governor. The United States Senate is also a court of impeachment. See pp. 58, 107.

Who may grant Reprieves and Pardons? See pp. 63, 94.

What is an Ex-post Facto Law? See page 113.

What is a Writ of Habeas Corpus? See pp. 112, 154.

What is Treason? See page 113.

NOTE.-A difficulty existed between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, growing out of a political controversy which culminated in a duel, fought July 11, 1804, in which the latter was killed. Burr was disfranchised by the laws of New York, for having fought a duel, and was indicted for murder in New Jersey. His term of office as Vice-President closed March 4, 1805. In