before the adoption of the Constitution. Since the adoption, our territory has been greatly extended in the acquisition of Louisiana, Florida, California, and the Russian possessions in America. § 3. It is the duty of Congress to make the necessary rules and adopt the necessary measures to govern this vast territory, until such time as, by the increase of its population, it shall be divided and erected into independent States, and admitted into the Union. More than a dozen States have already been formed from this acquired territory, and have been adopted as members of the National Union. 2. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. § 4. Speaking of the powers of Congress over the seat of gov ernment, Judge Story says, A moment's consideration will establish the importance and necessity of this power. Without it, the National Government would have no adequate means to enforce its authority in the place in which its public functionaries should be convened. They might be insulted and their proceedings might be interrupted with impunity. And, if the State in which it were situated should array itself in hostility to the proceedings of the National Government, the latter might be driven to seek another asylum, or be compelled to a humiliating submission to the State authorities. § 5. Nor let it be thought that the evil is wholly imaginary. It actually occurred to the Continental Congress at the very close of the Revolution, who were compelled to quit Philadelphia, and adjourn to Princeton, in order to escape from the violence of some insolent mutineers of the Continental army. § 6. "It is under this clause that the cession of the present District of Columbia was made by the States of Maryland and Virginia to the National Government; and the present seat of the National Government was established at the city of Washington in 1800. That convenient spot was selected by the exalted patriot whose name i it bears for this very purpose.' The District of Columbia was a tract ten miles square. That part of it obtained from Virginia was re-ceded to that State in 1846: so that now the District is confined to the Maryland side of the Potomac. § 7. Before the year 1800, the seat of government was not permanently fixed at any place; and, being moved as it was from place to place, the public suffered great inconvenience. It had been temporarily established at the following places, at the following dates: Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774. Princeton, June 30, 1783. 3.-FUBLIC WORKS. § 8. If the National Government needs a site for the erection of a fort, magazine, arsenal, dock-yard, or any other building, there are two steps necessary to procure it: first, the consent of Con gress; and, second, the consent of the legislature of the State in which the proposed site is. When the cession is made, the government comes into full possession; and now Congress may exercise over such place exclusive legislation. § 9. Unless the State of which such purchase is made reserves the right, no legal State authority can be exercised in such places, even to the serving of writs of any kind, civil or criminal. All judicial jurisdiction in such cases is national. If crimes are committed in such places, they must be tried in the United-States courts. Judge Story says, however, that the States have generally reserved in such cessions the right to serve all State processes, civil and criminal, upon persons found therein. § 10. The object of such reservations when they are made is, that these places shall not become retreats and asylums for fugitives arom justice who may be guilty of crimes against State authority. Almost every State has more or less of these places within its limits subject to the jurisdiction of national authority. 4.- ALIENATION. § 11. The power to dispose of the territory belonging to the United States has been discussed in another place, and therefore need not be repeated here. (See Art. I. of Chap IV., Part II.) 5.-NEW STATES. § 12. By reference to the Articles of Confederation, it will be seen that Canada was to be admitted into the Union by "acceding to the Confederation, and joining in the measures of the United States;" but no other (British) Colony was to be admitted unless such admission were agreed to by nine States. Nothing is to be found in those articles providing for the admission of new States into the Union. This was an important omission, as the events of our history since the adoption of the Constitution have proved. § 13. At the close of the Revolutionary War, there were immense tracts of vacant territory lying within the chartered limits of several of the States. These States, with this extensive domain, constituted, in part, the area of the Confederation. This vacant territory, as well as the territory of the States proper, had been wrested from British jurisdiction by the common efforts, sacrifices, treasure, and blood of the inhabitants of all the States engaged in the struggle. § 14. Several of the States were reluctant to ratify the Articles of Confederation, and refused to come into the Union unless this vacant territory should become the common property of the National Government. Congress earnestly urged the States holding this territory to surrender their claims for the common benefit of all the States. § 15. On the 10th of October, 1780, the Congress of the Con federation 66 Resolved, That the unappropriated lands that may be ceded or relinquished to the United States by any particular States, pursuant to a recommendation of Congress made 6th September of the same year, shall be disposed of for the common benefit of the United States, and be settled and formed into distinct republican States to become members of the Federal Union." § 16. This resolution also suggested that the necessary and reasonable expenses should be re-imbursed which any State had incurred since the commencement of the Revolutionary War in subduing any British posts, or in maintaining forts or garrisons within the country and for its defense, or in acquiring any part of the territory that might be ceded or relinquished to the United States. § 17. In pursuance of these recommendations of Congress, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia made the desired surrender of their respective claims to the aforesaid vacant lands. New York took the lead in the noble and generous sacrifice, March 1, 1781; and was followed by the other States, one after another, at various dates, ending with Georgia, April 24, 1802. § 18. Since that time, our territory has been vastly extended by the purchase of the Louisiana tract (1803) of France; by the purchase of Florida of Spain (1819); the annexation of Texas in 1845; the addition of California, by treaty with Mexico, in 1848; and by the recent purchase of nearly five hundred thousand square miles of Russian territory in North America. § 19. It was foreseen by the authors of the Constitution, that this power to admit new States into the Union would soon become necessary; and it was accordingly vested in Congress. Under this provision, the following States have already been admitted at the following dates respectively: May alter the times, places, and manner of holding elec tions for senators and representatives prescribed in the several States by the legislatures thereof, except as to the places of choosing senators. 15. 2. ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. May determine, 1st. The times when the States shall choose their electors of President and Vice-President of the United States. 2d. Also the day on which the electors shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. 55. 3. ACTS, RECORDS, JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. May by general law provide the manner in which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of the several States shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 71. 4. IMPOSTS AND DUTIES. May revise and control any State laws in reference to lay ing any imposts or duties on imports or exports. 52, |