Chapter II: Introduction

It is our happiness to live in an age whose master-pieces of accomplishment, in science, industry and commerce, put to shame the extravagant fictions of Oriental tales and the wonders ascribed to the gods and heroes of ancient mythology. The changes produced by recent investigations and discoveries are so vast and so rapid that it is difficult to follow them or comprehend the power and thoroughness of the transformations that are taking place in the world around us. The applications of steam and electricity astonish us by their wide spread influence on the condition and relations of men; the ease and speed of movement and intercourse, constantly increasing, are ever putting us in new and unfamiliar situations. We have hardly accustomed our thoughts and habits to one before we are hurried on into another. The constantly clearer and more abundant light shed by science and the press does not suffice to keep our minds fully up to the progress that goes on in all departments of life.

It is plain that we have entered on a New Era, the most extraordinary and momentous the world has ever seen. The old and imperfect is being cleared away and everything thoroughly reconstructed. The explanation is that we are now setting up the grand Temple of Civilization, the separate stones and pillars of which each nation and age was commissioned to hew and carve, and, so to speak, left in the quarry to await the time when, all the material being ready, the Master Builder should collect all the scattered parts and raise the whole edifice at once, to the astonishment and joy of mankind.

All the institutions and civilizations of the past may be considered temporary, erected in haste from the materials nearest at hand, not for permanence, but to serve the present turn while the special task of the nation or age was being performed. The races and ages nearer the birth of mankind worked on rougher parts of the edifice, that entered into the foundations; those grand races, the Greek and the Roman, furnished the noble outline which the nations of modern Europe perfected while they supplied what was still lacking for use and adornment.

America was reserved, designedly, for so many ages, to furnish a suitable and unencumbered location for the central halls and mightiest pillars of the completed structure. Our fathers cleared the ground and laid the foundation deep down on the living rock, that is to say, on Human Rights. That they seldom failed to place stone, pillar and column in just position the work, as we find it, proves, and we have little to do but to clear away the rubbish, beautify the grounds, and put the whole to its proper use.

We begin to see that Time, Thought and Experience have not wrought in vain, that Progress is not a phantom of the imagination, that the human race is essentially a Unit, that it has been growing through all the centuries and is now approaching the prime of its manhood, just ready to enter on its special career with its grandest work still to do. The energies of all the races are preparing for unheard of achievements. The world was never so completely and so wisely busy as now, and America stands between modern Europe and ancient Asia, receiving from, and giving to, both. Her institutions are founded on principles so just and so humane that, when administered with due wisdom and skill, they will embarrass and restrain the proper activities of men at _no point_. America stands a _model_ which other nations will carefully copy, in due time, as they can adapt themselves and change their institutions. It may not be a _literal_ copy, a servile imitation; but there is little doubt that our Declaration of Independence will finally enter, in spirit and potential influence, into the intimate structure of all governments.

It is the Course of Human Progress, and the important elements that were successively added as each leading phase of civilization appeared, that is endeavored to be traced in the Historical Review of the First Part of this book. While following the general march of events chronologically, we have stopped here and there to take a general survey, in order the better to understand the significance of detached facts, or to examine a new influence that enters among the forces moulding the future. Our space did not allow an exhaustive process; nor was it desirable. We have taken note of only the more important landmarks of Progress. Too much detail would confuse the mind by engaging it in an intricate mass of facts. It is the _thread_ of events, that joins the nations and ages together, or the _channel_ by which they sent down to our day—from Asia to Europe, and from Europe to America—each their special contribution to the political wisdom and the free institutions of America, that we have endeavored to find.

We hope we have not underrated any people or any time, and that we have not _overrated_ the value and glory of America. America is yet young. Its founders, the authors of its Constitution, were unaware of the singular excellence and nobility of their work. Like all other people, they built according to their genius and instincts. Time only could show whether they built for immortality. They feared and trembled over their work; but Time has set on it his seal of approval. Our people are busy using their liberties and energies, each for his individual benefit, as is quite right and proper; since the welfare of individuals makes the prosperity of the community. But a government left to take care of itself is prone to do that work only too well. We have done well and wisely in important crises; but a more intelligent and constant watchfulness over the ordinary course of public affairs would have been still better.

It is plain that the general mind among us has grown clearer and more accurate in its judgments as experience has accumulated, for the original direction toward popular freedom has not changed. Various incongruities have been laid aside and oversights corrected, the severe strain of civil war and an unheard of rapidity of growth have not shaken, but more clearly revealed the strength and unity of the nation. Yet, more intelligence and more care would have saved us many shocks and made our success more pronounced and more brilliant. “Knowledge is power,” when wisely applied; and a more accurate acquaintance with their government and its history will enable American Citizens to mould it more wisely still, to correct all defects of administration, and to speedily reach that minimum of governmental interference with the efforts and interests of the citizens which shall give them the fullest liberty consistent with security and surrender the whole round of human life, as completely as possible, to the beneficent action of natural law.

C. B.

CONTENTS.

PART FIRST.

THE FOOTPRINTS OF TIME, OR HISTORICAL PROGRESS.

CHAPTER I.

HISTORICAL PROGRESS IN THE OLD WORLD 29

SECTION I. The Dawn of History—Uncertainty of Tradition—Aid
afforded by recent studies—Ethnology, Philology,
etc.—Primitive Home of Mankind—The three great races—The first
Migrations—Commencement of Civilization—China—The Euphrates—The
Hamites in Egypt.

SECTION II. Direction of Pre-historic Growth—Rudeness
of early races—Character of the Primitive Man—Testimony
of language—Imperfection of Turanian Growth—Seen in
China—Superiority of Indo-European races.

SECTION III. Gradual Development—Condition of the first
Men—Establishment of the Family—Patriarchal Authority—The
Growth of Monarchy—Origin of the Priesthood—Development of both
in Chaldea and Egypt—Influence of War and Commerce.

SECTION IV. Ancient Monarchies—Five Monarchies on the Euphrates
and Tigris—The Scythian, the two Hamitic, the Assyrian and the
Medo-Persian Monarchies—Testimony of the ruins—Mysterious and
Singular character of Egypt—Moses and the Jewish State—Tyre and
its Commerce.

SECTION V. The Grecian States—Origin, intelligence and
vigor of the Greek race—Their Mythology and Heroic
History—Their opposition to the dangerous centralizing
tendencies of Monarchy—Greek Republics—Colonization—Sparta
and Athens—Commencement of Authentic History—Foundation of
Rome—Chronological review during the time of the Roman Kings.

SECTION VI. The Roman Republic—Character of the Romans—Greeks
and Romans compared—Roman constancy.

SECTION VII. Greece and Rome—The influence of each on the
future of mankind—Chronological history from B. C. 500 to B. C.
133—The great career of the Roman Republic.

SECTION VIII. Decay of the Republic—Unhappy effects of conquest
and wealth on Roman character—Death of the Gracchi—The Civil
Wars—Marius, Sylla, Crassus, Pompey, Julius Cæsar—The Senate
Suspends the Constitution and ends the Republic—Death of Cæsar.

SECTION IX. The Roman Empire—Impossibility of restoring
the Republic—Triumvirate and wars of Augustus, Antony and
Lepidus—Augustus Emperor of the World.

SECTION X. Influence of Christianity—The Jewish State—Influence
on it of Egypt, Asia and Greece—The New Morality of
Christianity—The persecution it provokes—Its growing influence
on life and manners—Unhappy effect of state patronage.

SECTION XI. The services of Great Men to Mankind—Difficulties
of progress among the Ancients—Assistance rendered by Great
Men—Office of early Poets—Of Legislatures—Philosophers,
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle—Orators, Demosthenes and
Cicero—Influence of Great conquerors on progress—Alexander the
Great—Hannibal the unfortunate—Cæsar, the successful—Brutus,
the Patriot—Augustus the Emperor—The elements of greatness in
all men—Jesus Christ the Perfect Man.

SECTION XII. The Christian Era—Chronological history of the
Emperors—The triumph of Christianity and its corruption—The
fall of the Empire.

SECTION XIII. Rise of Modern Nations—Incursions of
Barbarians—Their settlement in Gaul—Spain, Africa,
Italy and Britain—Mahomet and the great success of his
followers—Charlemagne and the Popes—Failure to found a Western
Empire.

SECTION XIV. The Feudal System—Results from the condition of
the Empire and the character of the invaders—Rise and character
of Chivalry—The Crusades.

SECTION XV. The Liberties of the People—Influence of the
Crusades—Revival of Commerce and Learning.

SECTION XVI. The Situation on the Discovery of America.

SECTION XVII. Conclusion—Summary of Progress—The work assigned
to America.

CHAPTER II.

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA 148

Geographical ignorance of the Ancients—Columbus and his
Ideas—His difficulty in getting a hearing—Queen Isabella of
Spain—Sets sail for the New World—Why he thought it Asia—Origin
of the name America.

CHAPTER III.

HISTORY FROM 1492 TO 1763 151

Various Discoveries—Sir Humphrey Gilbert fails twice
to establish a Colony—Sir Walter Raleigh—Settlements
in Florida—Jamestown—Landing of the Puritans—Other
Settlements—Liberal character of Colonial Governments—Colonies
resist oppression—Indian Wars—French Wars—Training they give
the Colonies—Capture of Louisburg—Braddock’s Defeat—Colonists
as Soldiers.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY—ORIGIN OF THE REVOLUTION 162

British resolve to tax Colonies—Folly of that
measure—Resistance in the Colonies—British repeal the tax,
BUT CLAIM THE RIGHT—Indignation in the Colonies—Taxes
again tried—Soldiers sent to Boston—“Boston Massacre”—Tax
on Tea—Colonies Organize against it—“Boston Tea
Party”—Philadelphia—Boston Port Bill—First Congress—“American
Association”—Battle of Lexington—Second Congress—Siege of
Boston—Bunker Hill—British driven out—Battles in Canada.

CHAPTER V.

FORMATION OF THE ORIGINAL UNION 173

History of the various stages of Union among the
States—Adoption of the Articles of Confederation.

CHAPTER VI.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 175

Noble character of this Document—It speaks for all men and all
times—The Declaration.

CHAPTER VII.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 181

Full text of the Articles adopted in 1777, forming the
Constitution for 12 years.

CHAPTER VIII.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR FROM 1776 TO 1783 191

Battle of Long Island—Silent retreat at night—Washington
driven across the Delaware—His success in the Jerseys—Battles
near Philadelphia—Surrender of Burgoyne—Treaty with the
French—French fleet—British evacuate Philadelphia—Washington’s
success again in the Jerseys—Southern War—Defeat of
Gates—Treason of Arnold—Gen. Green and Cornwallis—Lafayette and
Cornwallis—Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown—Review of the
War—Financial Difficulties—Character of the People—Peace at
Last!

CHAPTER IX.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 203

The Constitutional Convention of 1787—Defects of the Articles
of Confederation—Caution of Statesmen and the People—Result of
the Convention—Full text of the Constitution and Amendments.

CHAPTER X.

THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 225

Names of Presidents of the Continental Congress—The various
Seats of Government from 1774 to 1789.

PART SECOND.

THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION 226

The Three Branches of the Government—Arrangement of this
Work—Excellence of the Organization—Comparison of the United
States with Mexico—With Ireland—_Why it has prospered_.

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

CHAPTER I.

THE PRESIDENT 229

His place in the Government—He is its active force—Conditions
of birth, age, and residence—How he is elected—His powers and
duties—List of all the Presidents.

CHAPTER II.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT 234

His position mainly honorary—His only duty—When he may become
President—List of Vice-Presidents.

CHAPTER III.

THE CABINET 236

Number and offices of members—Their duties—President’s will
supreme—Their means of aiding him—The character and ability
required.

CHAPTER IV.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 239

Title of chief officer—Conducts our Foreign business—Range of
his duties—Qualifications required—Lists of Secretaries of
State.

CHAPTER V.

OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN FOREIGN LANDS 243

The dignity of their Official Character—The
immunities it confers—Ambassadors—Ministers
Plenipotentiary—Ministers-Resident—Charge
d’Affaires—Commissioners—The high abilities required in Foreign
Ministers.

CHAPTER VI.

TREATIES—EXTRADITION TREATIES 246

Nature of a Treaty—Its binding power—Has the force of Law—The
Russian Treaty in full—What Extradition Treaties are—What
classes of criminals they apply to—Countries with which we have
Extradition Treaties.

CHAPTER VII.

BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES 256

Consuls and their duties—Their official character—Their
number—Extra powers in Turkey, etc.

CHAPTER VIII.

PASSPORTS 258

Their character—Their protective power—Who give them.

CHAPTER IX.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 260

Its importance—Secretary of the Treasury—Great extent of his
department—Its thorough organization—The security of public
funds—The various bureaus—List of Secretaries of the Treasury.

CHAPTER X.

THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES 263

How government income is obtained—Duties—Internal
Revenue—Difference of views—Finance a study for the people.

CHAPTER XI.

DUTIES AND TARIFFS 266

Explanation of terms—Ease of raising revenue from Tariffs—Two
kinds of Tariff—What is a Protective Tariff—Tonnage.

CHAPTER XII.

COLLECTION OF DUTIES 272

Custom Houses—Their number and location—Officers and their
duties—Their compensation—Revenue Cutters—Ship’s papers.

CHAPTER XIII.

GOVERNMENT COINAGE 278

The Mint—Relations to the United States Treasury—Artistic
skill—Coins—Assay offices—Their relation to commerce and to
individuals.

CHAPTER XIV.

NATIONAL BANKING 283

Relations of Currency to the Treasury—Government control of
Banks and their issues—Security of Currency.

CHAPTER XV.

FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES 286

Great resources of the country—Aggregate wealth of
the people—Resources of the general government—Public
lands—Mines—National wealth—The National Debt—Reasons for not
paying it at once—_Table of Statistics_—Public Debt for every
year—National Securities.

CHAPTER XVI.

WAR DEPARTMENT 291

Secretary of War—Organization of his department—Various
Bureaus—List of Secretaries of War.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE U. S. ARMY 294

Its history shows great military ability—The peaceful policy of
the country.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MILITARY ACADEMY 295

Its object and location—The results secured.

CHAPTER XIX.

DEPOTS OF WAR MATERIAL 298

Armories and Arsenals—Their uses—Location—Officers.

CHAPTER XX.

ARTICLES OF WAR 299

Peculiar relations of military forces to civil
government—Object of Articles of War—Range and vigor of their
provisions.

CHAPTER XXI.

MILITARY HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS 300

Their object—Their location—Their excellent management—Their
success in the Civil War.

CHAPTER XXII.

NAVY DEPARTMENT 302

Secretary of the Navy—His duties—Various Bureaus—List of
Secretaries of the Navy.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE UNITED STATES NAVY 306

The U. S. a commercial country—Gratifying success of the early
navy—The importance of this arm to the country—Its value to us
abroad—Number of U. S. vessels of war.

CHAPTER XXIV.

NAVY YARDS 309

Their location and number—Materials and stores—Workshops and
repairs.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE NAVAL ACADEMY 309

Its purposes, location and value.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY 311

Dependence of Navigation on Astronomical Science—Value of
Observatory.

CHAPTER XXVII.

COAST SURVEY 312

Necessity of this work—Scientific accuracy—Value for commerce
and defense.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LIGHT HOUSES 314

Why and where they are built—Official Superintendence—Light
Money.

CHAPTER XXIX.

LETTERS OF MARQUE AND REPRISAL 316

Objects of Privateering—Immorality and injustice of it.

CHAPTER XXX.

NAVY AND MARINE HOSPITALS 318

The purpose of those institutions—Their means of support—Their
location.

CHAPTER XXXI.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 319

History of this department—Secretary of the Interior—Bureaus of
the department—List of Secretaries.

CHAPTER XXXII.

PUBLIC LANDS 322

How the government obtained them—What disposition is made
of them—Land offices—Sale of Lands—Pre-emption—Bounty
Lands—Homesteads—School Lands.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

HOW TO SECURE PUBLIC LANDS 326

Pre-emption Laws—Land Warrants—Soldiers’ Homestead Laws—List of
Land Offices.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

PATENTS 336

Patent office—Commissioner of Patents—Mode of obtaining a
Patent.

CHAPTER XXXV.

PENSIONS 339

The object of Pensions—Pension office—Amount of Pensions—How
paid—Pension Laws of various dates.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

INDIAN AFFAIRS 351

Aboriginal inhabitants—Mode of acquiring their lands—Indian
Policy—Reservations—Annuities—Agents—Indian Territory—Condition
and number of Indians—Their probable extinction.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

CENSUS BUREAU 355

How the census is taken—Value of census statistics—Tables of
Population.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 357

The objects of this department—Commissioner of
Agriculture—Buildings and grounds—Extent of information
collected and circulated—Value of this department.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT 360

Postmaster General—Various Bureaus—Extent of organization—Its
remarkable vigor and success—List of Postmasters General.

CHAPTER XL.

RATES OF POSTAGE 365

Letters—Papers—Packages—Foreign Rates.

CHAPTER XLI.

REGISTERED AND DEAD LETTERS 368

Security of registered letters—Certainty of finding the
thief—Description of the whole process—Facts about dead letters.

CHAPTER XLII.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 372

Why he is a cabinet officer—Range of his duties.

CHAPTER XLIII.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS 374

Object of the authors of the Constitution—Why Electors failed
to meet their expectation—How they are elected and discharge
their duties.

CHAPTER XLIV.

HISTORY OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FROM WASHINGTON TO GRANT 377

CHAPTER XLV.

CABINETS OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS 390

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

CHAPTER XLVI.

CONGRESS 400

Careful separation of the different branches of
government—Powers and duties of Congress—Organization and
powers of the Senate—Of the House of Representatives.

CHAPTER XLVII.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, CONGRESSMEN 405

Mode of electing Members of House of Representatives—Advantages
of the district plan—Number of districts.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY 407

The objects of the Library—Who may use it—Duties of the
Librarian.

CHAPTER XLIX.

COPYRIGHTS 408

The object of Copyrights—Mode of applying for them—Fees—Full
directions from the Librarian of Congress.

CHAPTER L.

PRESIDING OFFICERS OF CONGRESS 411

Speaker of the House—How he is chosen—President of the
Senate—Their duties and powers—List of all the Speakers of the
House.

CHAPTER LI.

SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OF CONGRESS 414

Secretary of the Senate—Clerk of the House—Their duties—The
Sergeant-at-Arms—The Doorkeeper—The Postmaster.

CHAPTER LII.

CONGRESSIONAL WORK 415

Mode of doing business in
Congress—Organization—Bills—Committees—Reports—Connection
of two Houses—President’s signature—Veto—Passing over the
veto—Resolutions and their character—Amount of business
done—Members of Congress and the People.

CHAPTER LIII.

PUBLIC PRINTING 418

How it was formerly done—Changes made—People should inform
themselves.

CHAPTER LIV.

SIGNAL SERVICE 420

Origin of Signal Service—Scientific and useful character—Mode
of conducting it—School of Instruction—Grades of officers—Their
duties—Number of Stations—Smithsonian Institution—Its Origin,
Objects and Value.

CHAPTER LV.

REPORTS 424

Mode of doing Legislative and Executive business—Reports useful
to furnish information—To facilitate business.

CHAPTER LVI.

IMPEACHMENTS 426

Who may be impeached—House of Representatives the
Accuser—_Senate the Court_.

THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 427

Importance of this Department in our System—Constitution of the
Department.

CHAPTER LVII.

THE SUPREME COURT 428

The high range of its duties—Its original and appellate
Jurisdiction—Its Judges—Their term of office—Officers of the
Court—List of Supreme and Associate Justices.

CHAPTER LVIII.

CIRCUIT COURTS 431

Their powers and uses—Circuits—Judges.

CHAPTER LIX.

DISTRICT COURTS 434

Their jurisdiction—Appointment of Judges—Number of
districts—Places of holding.

CHAPTER LX.

ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME JURISDICTION 436

Confined to naval affairs—Belongs to District Courts.

CHAPTER LXI.

COURT OF CLAIMS 437

Where it sits—Object to relieve Congress—Advantages to
claimants against government.

CHAPTER LXII.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS 439

Business confided to them—Government lawyers.

CHAPTER LXIII.

UNITED STATES MARSHALS 440

Where they are employed—Connection with census.

CHAPTER LXIV.

GRAND JURY 441

Admirable features of Grand Jury—Do not pronounce
judgment—Security afforded to reputation.

CHAPTER LXV.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 444

General, State, County, and Municipal governments parts
of a whole—No conflict—The harmonizing authority in the
Supreme Court—How State governments are formed—Their
powers—Modeled on the General Government—Various
Courts—Subdivisions—Counties—Towns—School districts—Minor
divisions indispensable.