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Crimes against the Laws of the United States.

The courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction of all crimes, which are committed in violation of laws enacted by Congress; and these laws are such, and only such, as the constitution of the United States expressly or impliedly provides for. As the sovereignty of the United States is a limited one, and that of each state an absolute one, excepting only as the powers granted to the United States make it otherwise, the question arises, How is the line drawn, which separates the one sovereignty from the other in matters of criminal jurisdiction? The answer is, that all which does not expressly, or by necessary implication, oelong to the United States, is reserved to the states. This rule will settle every question of jurisdiction between the two sovereignties; viz. The act done, the place in which it was done, and the person against whom, or thing in relation to which, it was done, must all be such as to give jurisdiction to the United States' courts; and if any one part be wanting, the jurisdiction belongs to the state. For example; a stage coach is stopped, and robbed, between Washington and Baltimore. This is a crime against the laws of Maryland. An hour afterwards, a MAIL stage coach is stopped by the same persons, in the same spot, and robbed. This is a crime against the laws of the United States. Again; a citizen holds a civil office, under the United States. His dwelling-house is entered, and gold coin of the United States is stolen therefrom. This is an offence against the state. This citizen was not robbed in relation to his office; his gold was not taken as coin of the United States, but as money. But if any unlawful act were done to this citizen, even in his own dwelling-house, in relation to his office, it would be an offence against the laws of the United States. The places in which the United States have exclusive jurisdiction are the high seas, forts, arsenals, and particular places ceded by the states for national use; as, navy-yards, sites for light-houses, and all within their limits. The persons or things are all officers, in respect of their official rights and duty, and all things which are exclusively national, or national property, or which exist in virtue of laws of Congress; as, the national bank, post-offices, coin, public debt, records, courts, revenue, &c. The acts done, and charged to be crimes, are the same, everywhere, as to mere agency; as murder is murder wherever it occurs, &c.; but by what tribunal they are to be judged of, and punished, depends on the distinctions above-mentioned. As the United States have the exclusive power to legislate as to the army and navy, crimes and punishments in these departments are, in some degree, dependent on the circumstance, whether a state of war exists or not; some offences are capital in time of war, which are not so in time of peace. Trials in such cases are had in courts martial (held only by military or naval officers).

Among the crimes (and, as far as recollected, all the crimes) punishable with death by the United States laws, are these:-piracy (a word derived from both Latin and Greek), which is forcible robbery on the high seas (engaging in the slave trade is classed with piracy, and punished in like manner); murder; malicious burning or destroying of ships at sea; arson; robbery of the mail on the highway.

The crimes which are felonies less than capital, and misdemeanors, are very numerous, and provision is made, in the statutes, for their trial and punishment.

In general, the United States have not court-houses; but use those in which the state courts are held; nor have they jails or penitentiaries. These places of confinement and punishment, built under state authority, are used in judicial proceedings of courts of the United States; and sentences of these courts are executed in state jails and prisons; but this is so by consent of state legislatures, expressed in statutes.

The distinction between national and state authority, may seem, at first view, confused, and difficult to be understood. But all becomes clear from understanding the fact, that there is a distinct, and perfectly organized government, for the whole people of the United States (as though there were no state governments), for certain defined purposes, in which all the people have a common interest; and that there are state governments, for all other purposes, which act within their own limits, and on their own citizens. Every citizen is, at all times, subject to both these governments. But the rights and duties under the one, are entirely distinct from those under the other. Hence, a crime committed in violation of a law of the United States, is no offence against any state law; and crimes against state laws, are not offences against laws of the United States. There are no judicial magistrates, in the national government, inferior to district judges. It sometimes happens, that some judicial act must be done, when a district judge is not at hand (there being but one in each district, however extensive); as a previous examination on a charge of some crime against a law of the United States. In such case, justices of the peace may examine, and, if they think proper, secure the accused, to be further dealt with, by committing him to prison.

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APPENDIX.

CHAPTER I.

Pursuits in Life.

In order to supply all the real or imaginary wants which grow out of the condition of man in a state of society, a great variety of pursuits have become necessary. Of these the most important are those which furnish him with food, guard him from heat and cold, protect him from the inclemencies of the weather and the seasons, and enable him to inhabit the different climates of the earth.

To these are added numerous others, which have sprung from his desire of improvement. These render his habitation and his garments convenient and comfortable, excite and gratify his taste, and bring to him, while dwelling in a little corner of the earth, all the delights and advantages of every other region.

That he may possess these enjoyments in security, and, possessing them, may employ his leisure in occupations worthy of his intellectual and immortal nature, other arts and professions have been found necessary, to record and ascertain his acquisitions, to extend his power over nature, to enrich him with knowledge of the distant and the past, and to enable him to prepare for the future.

If a man would be skilful in any one of these pursuits, he must spend a considerable portion of his youth in preparation for it. If he would be useful and eminent, he must devote a large part of his middle life exclusively to his particular calling.

All the different pursuits are in themselves equally respectable. But all are not suited, nor agreeable, to every person. They require very different kinds of preparation; and some require a much longer and higher preparation than others. It is the object of this Appendix to give some account of the various kinds and degrees of preparation, which it is necessary to make for some of the most important of these pursuits. It has been thought not unsuitable to annex this account to a book which points out the duties and rights of the American citizen. Its importance is obvious from the fact, that while ample provision is made for a course of study for persons destined to become physicians, lawyers or

ministers of the gospel, no such provision is made for young persons who are desirous of qualifying themselves to be good farmers, mechanics or instructers.

CHAPTER 11.

Agriculture.

THE pursuit which occupies the greatest number of persons, in a civilized state, and which is essential to the subsistence of men in a social community, is the cultivation of the earth, or agriculture.

This includes the raising of all kinds of vegetables for the food of man and other creatures that depend on him; the rearing of cattle, horses, and other domestic animals; the management of the dairy; the preparation of fruits and their juices, such as the making of cider; the planting and preservation of fruit and forest trees, and whatever else is necessary to the bringing to perfection the productions of the earth. It is commonly suppos ed, that very little information is necessary to enable a man to conduct the business of a farm. But to be an intelligent and successful husbandman, requires no trifling acquisitions.

He must understand the nature and management of soils. Without this knowledge, he cannot be sure that he tills his ground on right principles, or applies the different soils to their right uses. He ought therefore to be acquainted with chemistry,* which treats of the nature and qualities of soil. Chemistry will also give him much valuable information upon the qualities of milk, and the processes of making butter and cheese; upon the management of fruits, and the modes of making cider, perry and wine; and upon the preparing and applying of manures. So that some knowledge of it should be considered indispensable to the well-informed farmer.

Indeed, without a knowledge of chemistry, a farmer cannot avail himself of the advantages of his situation. There are often to be found, beneath the surface of the ground, clays, marls, and other substances, which, when properly applied, are excellent The knowledge of chemistry will assist in finding and

manures.

applying them.

Then the farmer should be well acquainted with the mode of growth, and the diseases, of the different kinds of vegetables, grains and fruits which he cultivates. He will otherwise often waste his labor in attempting to cultivate a plant upon soil which does not yield it proper food, or lose his crop from not knowing what remedy to apply, to remove an evil which he does not understand.

*The word chemistry is derived from an Arabic word, signifying the secret science. It was early cultivated by the Arabians, who sought thereby for the means of prolonging life, and converting inferior metals into gold.

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