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ARTICLE III.

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

ARTICLE IV.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

ARTICLE V.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

ARTICLE VI.

In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and dis· trict wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

ARTICLE VII.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

ARTICLE VIH.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

ARTICLE IX.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

ARTICLE X.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

ARTICLE XI.

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.

ARTICLE XII.

The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President: and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the president of the Senate; the president of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted: the person having the greatest number of votes for president, shall be the president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as president, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice, And if the house of representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next

following, then the Vice President shall act as President, as in the case of death or other constitutional disability of the President.

The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice President, shall be the Vice President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall conshall choose the Vice President: a quorum for the purpose sist of two-thirds of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice.

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president, shall be eligible to that of vice president of the United States.

PLAN OF THE UNION.

QUESTIONS Concerning the distribution of powers among the different branches of government, are in all countries perhaps the most difficult and perplexing that can possibly occur. Upon the proper adaptation of this distribution to the various interests of communi ties, their governments depend almost entirely for stability, justice, and efficiency. In this country, particularly, they become invested with transcendent magnitude and importance. Embracing, as it does, a vast extent of territory, stretching from the frigid regions of the north even to the flowery fields of the sunny south-on one side washed by the Atlantic's billows, on the other fanned by Pacific's soft breezes-inhabited by men of every hue and clime, by some of almost every tongue and kindred, and of all occupations-its interests are necessarily vast and various. Thus various, perplexing indeed must have been the task of applying to them the powers of government. Yet, mighty as it was, it has been performed by our federal and state conventions, in a manner attesting the greatest wisdom and patriotism, and giving them title to the highest rank as statesmen. While it is acknowledged on all hands that our prosperity and greatness were originated by and still depend upon it, 'tis strange indeed that the manner in which this distribution has been made, has excited so little attention.

The fact that our glory and happiness as a nation depend thereon, being so well attested by experience, should be sufficient to elicit for it the most careful attention. Yet, strange as it may appear, it has failed in latter years to excite it, and, though absolutely necessary to a proper understanding of our government, it has elicited the attention of but a small portion of the community; and even these, for their folly as some considered it, have been sneeringly termed mere theorists, and men of peculiar political notions. But that time seems now to be past, and, it is to be hoped for the sake of our system, past for ever. A spirit of inquiry is now abroad. Knowledge of political science is being more widely diffused. The light of political wisdom, beaming from many a splendid intellect, is fast dissolving the obscurity with which party has enveloped our constitutions of government. The distribution of power as established thereby, is becoming day after day more palpably apparent. The striking contrast of the present with the past, wrought confessedly by the peculiar wisdom and fitness of that distribution, begins to excite the curiosity of the masses, demanding attention from all who aspire to the title and place of statesmen. Indeed, great contrariety of opinion exists, as to the manner of this distribution-opinions diametrically opposite, which necessarily give to the acts of politicians entertaining them, tendencies as opposite, eventuating in results, the one for good the other for evil. This difference of opinion, in regard to a subject of such great importance, is an additional and imperative reason for its examination. Involving, however, as it does, the fundamental principles of the gov

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