who need their protection, and who would be subjected to much delay and expense, by going or sending home, to to procure them.

Passports are not granted to any other than citizens of the United States, whether issued by the Secretary, or by any diplomatic or consular agent of our Government.

3. Besides these passports, which are given only to our own citizens when in foreign countries, or who intend to go there, there is another kind issued to foreigners who wish to go among the Indians in the Indian Territory, or on the Indian reservations. Indeed our own citizens are not allowed to go among them without permission. But foreigners cannot go without a passport from the Secretary of War; which specifies the route over which the bearer must pass, and the length of time he is allowed to remain among them. This is done to prevent unfriendly foreigners from fomenting mischief, or from exciting unkind feelings towards our Government or people. Such unfriendly feelings have been created by foreigners, and we have often experienced the bitter fruits of it, espe cially in times of war.

4. Still another kind of passports is used in this country, and should be noticed under this head. They are passports for American ships or vessels. When they are

about to sail for a foreign port, the laws of the United States require each to procure one, under a penalty or fine of two hundred dollars upon the master, if he departs from the United States for a foreign country (other than some port in America), without it. The passport is prepared by the Secretary of State and is approved by the

President. This is given to the master by the collector of the port from which the vessel sails, and is one of the ship's papers, by which her nationality is known, and her pro tection shown to be that of the United States.

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CHAPTER LXXIX.

Reports.

1. As Congress is the law making power of the Government and legislates for every department thereof, assigning such business to each as it deems proper, giving directions, and prescribing the duties of all the Government officials, agents, commissioners and employees, nothing is more obvious than that it should be kept well informed and advised of what has been done in each department and bureau; and by every head, or principal officer and agent of the Government wherever employed. And for this purpose, it is enacted, that the Secretaries of State, Treasury, War, Navy, Interior, and Post-master General, together with the commissioners of the different bureaus, and boards attached to these departments, shall annually report to Congress. Heads of departments report directly to Congress. So do many of the commissioners who are at the head of bureaus. Boards report to the heads of departments to which they are attached.

2. In this way Congress is kept advised of whatever is done in every department, bureau, or board, to which any of the public business is entrusted. These reports nct only furnish the law-making power with such information as it needs, but serves as a check to any official miscon

duct. The annual reports of the Secretaries of the Treasury, War, and Navy, together with that of the Postmaster General, are State papers which rank in importance. next to the annual message of the President. To them the people look for a detailed account of the state and condition of those great departments over which these Secretaries preside, and which so materially affect the pecuniary and other great interests of the nation.

3. The foregoing remarks upon reports, may not be considered of sufficient importance to deserve an insertion here, but they throw some light upon the movements of the machinery by which the Government is operated, and show how officials are held responsible to the superior power.

In this connection we may notice another kind of reports, which come from another source. After each Congress has convened and organized, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, appoint what are denominated the Standing Committees of each of these bodies.

When bills are presented to be passed into laws, or petitions are sent in, they are always referred to the appropriate committee, which examine thein and then report to the body (of the Senate or House) their conclusions upon the merits or demerits, propriety or impropriety, of granting the petition, or of passing the bill under consideration.

These reports generally govern the action of Congress when they come to vote upon the passage of the law. But this is not always the case, the body of either house may think differently from its committee and act contrary to its recommendations.

CHAPTER LXXX.

Commissioners.

1. In the history and laws of the United States, the word Commissioners occurs so frequently, that it may add something to the utility of our work to make a few remarks about them, to show their relations to the Govern ment, when acting either in permanently established official positions, or as temporary agents.

In the first place, they act as heads of bureaus in the various departments. These bureaus, with their Commissioners at their heads, are permanent sub-departments and officials of the Government, established and provided for by law; such are the Commissioners of the Land office, Patent Office, Pension Office, &c., &c.

2. In the second place, they can hardly be considered officers, but rather temporary or special agents. In the multifarious duties devolving upon Congress, the Presi dent, and all the departments, it not unfrequently happens that it is impracticable for them to do certain things, necessary to be done. The business to be transacted may be at a great distance from the capitol, even in a foreign country. In these cases Commissioners are appointed to do such business. They have been appointed to negotiate a peace, to make treaties of various kinds between us and other powers, and to negotiate with the Indians for the