happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which shall expire at the end of their next session. Congress has accordingly vested in the courts, the heads of departments and the President alone the appointment of the great bulk of the officers of the government, who are termed "inferior" officers, though that term is not susceptible of exact definition. It is considered that the power of removal is given with the power of appointment, except as provided by law. Up to Jackson's time it was the theory of our government that removals should only be made for cause, but then the introduction of the "spoils system" led to frequent removals for purely partisan reasons, and that was the custom followed to a recent date. (See Civil Service Reform.) Prior to 1820 no term of office was provided for any inferior officer, except United States marshals, but in that year a bill was passed providing that district-attorneys, naval officers (these are officials in the customs service), navy agents, surveyors and collectors of customs, paymasters and some other officers, should be appointed for terms of four years. In 1836 a bill was passed providing that postmasters receiving a thousand dollars a year or more should be appointed by the President for terms of four years and confirmed by the Senate, and should be removable at the pleasure of the President. Various other offices have since been given the same term. The "tenure of office act" that is generally meant when the phrase is used, was the one of March 2, 1867. This act, and one passed in 1869, provided that no officer subject to confirmation by the Senate should be removed without the consent of that body, but during a recess of the Senate the President might remove such officer and appoint a successor till the end of the next session of the Senate. There were about 3,500 officers subject to the provisions of these acts, which gave a power to the Senate that was not contemplated in the formation of our government; which increased its power of rewarding political services, and by the "courtesy of the Senate" (which see) have virtually given to the Senators of a State the control of the appointments therein. This was part of the plan by which the spoils system grew and flourished, and many demands have been made that the

government should return to its early policy of unrestricted. terms for inferior officers during efficiency and good behavior, and should take from the Senate its usurped prerogative of passing judgment on the removals of the President. These acts were repealed by the Act of March 3, 1887.

Terrapin War. This was the name applied to the War of 1812 by those who were especially annoyed at the Embargo Acts. They considered that the country, by thus extinguishing commerce, was drawing within its own shell like a terrapin. Caricatures, epigrams and songs were directed against the embargo and also against the act forbidding intercourse with Canada. In one newspaper cut the trade of the United States was represented by a bewildered serpent, which had caught itself between two trees marked, respectively, "Embargo" and "Non-Intercourse." The wondering snake does not understand the trouble, and its head calls out, "What's the matter, tail?" to which the tail replies, "I can't get out." A cock, supposed to represent France, stands by, crowing joyfully. In the spring and summer of 1812 "The Terrapin War" was a popular campaign song with the Federalists.

Territories. Many of the boundaries of the thirteen original States of the Union were not precisely defined, and it was years before the conflicting claims were settled between them. Moreover, aside from the boundaries of the States proper, seven of them claimed territory as far as the Mississippi, under their original charters and grants from the King of England. Four of the present States have been formed out of well-defined territory of four of the original States. Vermont was originally claimed as part of New York, Kentucky and West Virginia were within the original limits of Virginia, and Maine was at the first under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. The remaining territory of the United States east of the Mississippi (which comprises the original extent) was claimed by Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and their claims often overlapped each other. Gradually these claims were ceded to the Federal Government, sometimes freely, sometimes for a compensation. New York in 1781 ceded her

vague Western claims. Virginia followed in 1784, receiving some land in Ohio, and Massachusetts in 1785. Connecticut's cession of 1781, reserving a tract along Lake Erie (a tract in Ohio still known as the "western reserve"), was accepted by Congress in 1786. In 1800 Virginia and Connecticut, while retaining the property in their lands in Ohio, gave up the jurisdiction to the National government. South Carolina gave up her claims in 1787; North Carolina in 1789 ceded Tennessee, which was accepted by Congress in 1790; Georgia ceded her claims in 1802, which were accepted the next year. The region which now comprises the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi were organized into the Northwest Territory by the ordinance of 1787 (which see). In 1800 Ohio, preparatory to its admission as a State, was separated from this region, and the remainder became known as the Indiana Territory. Tennessee and Kentucky, though never organized under one Territorial government, were generally known as the Territory of the United States southwest of the Ohio, or the Southwest Territory. The organization of Mississippi Territory, including the present State of that name, and Alabama, was commenced in 1798 and completed two years later; when Mississippi became a State in 1817 the remainder of the district was called Alabama Territory. The regions which the United States has acquired since 1783 are described under the article Annexations. California was so soon admitted as a State that it was never organized as a Territory, and Texas was annexed as a State. The other portions of these acquisitions have borne various names from time to time; prominent among these are the Territories of Orleans, Louisiana and Missouri. All that portion of the Louisiana purchase south of what is now the northern boundary of the State of Louisiana was by Act of March 26, 1804, organized into the Territory of Orleans. The Act of April 8, 1812, admitted this Territory to the Union as the State of Louisiana. The remainder of the Louisiana purchase was, by act of Congress, March 3, 1805, organized into the Territory of Louisiana, with its capital at St. Louis. On June 4, 1812, shortly after the admission of the Territory of Orleans

into the Union as the State of Louisiana, the name of the Territory of Louisiana was altered to Missouri. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 (which see) resulted in the admission of that State in 1821, and from the Territory of the same name various States and Territories have since been formed. The unorganized Territories are under the direct control of Congress. Each organized Territory has a Governor, appointed by the President for four years, and ratified by the Senate. The Legislature, officially known as the Legislative Assembly, is composed of a Council and a House of Representatives, chosen every two years by the people. A delegate to Congress is elected for the same term. He has the right of debate, but not a vote in the House. Territorial legislation is subject to Congressional control. Territorial courts are provided for, the judges of which are appointed by the President for four years, and confirmed by the Senate, and over which the Supreme Court of the United States has appellate jurisdiction.

Territory Southwest of the Ohio. (See Territories.)

Texas was originally a part of Mexico, from which it declared its independence, and it was annexed to the United States as a State by joint resolution of Congress, December 29, 1845. (See Annexations III.) On February 1, 1861, a State convention passed an ordinance of secession, which was ratified by popular vote. Texas was re-admitted to the Union by act of Congress, March 30, 1870. The capital is Austin. Popularly it is called the Lone Star State.

Them Steers. Solon Chase was a member of the Greenback party, which created some political excitement a few years ago, especially in Maine. He was accustomed to travel through that State with a banner bearing the picture of a yoke of steers and a bushel of corn, together with various other figures. These were used to illustrate Chase's argument that the resumption of specie payments was a mistake. He always referred to the prominent figures on the banner as "them steers."

Thermopylae of Texas. When Texas was fighting for independence, in February, 1836, about 140 of her troops were besieged by 4,000 Mexicans in Fort Alamo on the