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Sheriff. The chief ministerial officer of a county to whom is intrusted

the execution of the laws.

Solicitor. An attorney in a court of equity.

Solvency. Ability to pay all of one's debts.

Specialty. A contract, or obligation by deed, under seal.

Statute. An act passed and completed by the law-making power. Subornation of Perjury. Procuring or inducing a person to take a false oath constituting perjury.

Subpœna. A legal writ or process used for summoning a witness into

court.

Suit. The attempt to secure redress by appeal to a court.

Summons. A writ issued by a court, at the instance of the plaintiff, citing or warning the defendant to appear at a certain time, to answer to claims preferred against him by the plaintiff.

Surety. One who becomes responsible for another.

Surrogate. An officer who presides over the probate of wills, and the settlement of the estates of deceased persons.

T.

Tenant. One who has temporary occupation or possession of lands or tenements, the title of which is in another by permission of the owner. Tender. An offer to pay money, deliver specific articles, or to perform service, according to the conditions of a contract.

Tenure. The manner, act, or right of holding property, especially real estate, whether by exclusive title or by lease.

Testator. One who leaves a valid will at death.

Testatrix. A female testator.

Testimony. The statements of witnesses under oath or affirmation. Title. That which gives the right to exclusive possession.

Tonnage. A tax or duty on ships or vessels in proportion to their capacity or their actual cubical contents.

Tort. Wrong or injury to one's property or rights, for which an action will lie.

Traitor. One who violates his allegiance, and betrays his country. A person guilty of treason.

Treason. An attempt to overthrow the government to which one owes allegiance. In the United States, the levying of war against the gov ernment, or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort. Treaty. A compact, league, agreement, or contract between two or more nations or sovereigns, executed in legal form.

Trespass. An unlawful act committed with force and violence by one person on the property or right of another.

Trustee. One who holds or is intrusted with property for the benefit of others, or for corporate bodies.

U.

Unalienable. Not capable of sale, transfer, or release.

Unconstitutional. Contrary or not agreeable to the Constitution. Use. The benefit or profit of lands and tenements, usually held by a trustee for the benefit of another.

Usury. A premium paid or promised for the use of money, beyond the rate of interest established by law. Illegal interest.

V.

V. This letter is often put for versus, or against, in legal documents.
Vendee. The purchaser, or person to whom a thing is sold.

Venue. The place or county in which an act or fact is alleged to have been committed.

Verdict. The unanimous decision of a jury, as reported to the court, on matters submitted to them in the trial of a cause civil or criminal. Verification. The act of proving to be true; confirmation. Veto. A Latin word, signifying I forbid. It is applied to the refusal of the executive to sign a bill passed by the legislature.

Vicinage. Contiguous or neighboring places.

Viva voce. Literally, by the living voice, or orally.

Void. Of no legal or binding force whatever, and incapable of confirma tion or ratification.

Voidable. Capable of being avoided and adjudged invalid.

Vote. The means employed to express one's choice, preference, or will, either at elections, in legislative bodies, or in the course of other proceedings; sometimes done by balls, sometimes by written ballot, or by the voice.

Voter. One who votes, or has the legal right to vote.

W.

Ward. An infant placed by authority of law under the care of a guar dian. Warrant. A writ authorizing the arrest of a person to be brought be

fore the officer issuing the same, or some other officer of concurrent jurisdiction. It is directed to the sheriff or other officer authorized to make arrests. This is its usual application.

Warrantee. The person to whom land or other property is warranted

Warrantor. The person who makes a warranty.

Warranty. An engagement that a certain fact regarding the subject of

a contract is or shall be as expressly or impliedly promised by the

warrantor.

Will. The legal declaration of a person, in view of death, as to the manner in which he would have his property disposed of after that event. The instrument making this declaration.

Witness. A person who testifies in a court, on oath or affirmation, as to his knowledge of the facts in issue between the parties. One who sub scribes to a piece of writing to authenticate it.

Writ. An instrument in writing, issued by a court or magistrate, com

manding the performance or non-performance of some act by the person to whom it is directed; as a writ of entry, execution, injunction, summons, &c.

INDEX.

A.

Absent members of Congress may be compelled to attend, 58, 83, 148, 149.
Account of receipts and expenditures of public money, to be published, 2, 90
214, 215.

Acts, public, of the States, faith to be given to, 68, 93, 230.

Adams, John, first Vice-President of the United States, 30; President, 296.
Adams, John Quincy, elected President of the United States by the House of
Representatives, 129; President, 297.

Adjournment of Congress, effect of, when bills are in the hands of the Presi-
dent, CO, 89, 210; restrictions on each house in reference to, 58, 83, 152.

Affirmation, substitution of, for oath, 154.

Admiralty and maritime, 67, 105, 293, 294.

Alliances, States forbidden to enter into, 63, 96, 240, 241.

Ambassadors, appointment of, 66, 82, 102, 141, 144; reception of foreign, 66, 103,
279; definition of, 277.

Amendments to the Constitution, when the first twelve were made, 32; power of
Congress over, 69, 87, 202.

American Revolution, causes that led to the, 16.

American Colonies under the British Government, 11.

Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, 67, 105, 294; meaning of, 290.
Appointments, power of Congress over, 66, 102, 201, 202; by the President, 66,
102, 275, 276.

Apportionment, of representatives, 56, 79, 106, 116-119; of direct taxes, 56, 84,
90, 157.

Appropriations, for armies, restrictions as to, 61, 90, 214, 215; must be made by
law before money can be drawn from the treasury, 62, 90, 214, 215.
Arkwright, Sir Richard, invents the spinning-jenny, 205.
Armies, Congress may raise and support, 61, 85, 184, 185.

Arms, on keeping and bearing, 70, 91, 224.

Army, standing, 187; of several European countries, 187, 188.

Arrest, members of Congress privileged from, under the Confederation, 47; under
the Constitution, 59, 99, 259, 260.

Arsenals, restrictions concerning, 194.

Articles of Confederation. See Confederation.

Arts and sciences, promotion of the, 61, 85, 179–181.

Attainder, bill of, not to be passed by the United States, 62, 90, 216; definition

of, 216; nor by the States, 63, 96, 245.

Attorneys-General, 310; list of, 311.
Authors, copyrights for, 61, 85, 178-180.

Ayes and Noes, in Congress, 58, 83, 150, 151.

B.

Bail, excessive, not allowed, 72, 98, 255; definition of, 255, 257.

Bankruptcy, power of Congress to pass a uniform law respecting, 60, 85, 171, 172.
Bankrupt laws by the States, forbidden, 172; definition of, 172.

Bills, power of the President to approve or negative, 59, 60, 88, 89, 209, 210.

Bills for raising revenue, to originate with the House of Representatives, 59, 80
126, 128.

Bills of Attainder, not to be passed by Congress, 62, 90, 216; nor by the States, 63
96, 216; definition of, 216.

Bills of credit, States forbidden to emit, 63, 96, 242; meaning of, 242; emissio
under the Confederation, 242.

Bills of indictment, 250, 253.

Borrowing money under the Confederation, 53; under the Constitution, by Con-
gress, 60, 84, 159, 160.

Breckinridge, John C., Vice-President of the United States, 298.

Bribery, impeachment for, 66, 93, 228.

Buchanan, James, President of the United States, 298.

Burr, Aaron, candidate for President of the United States, 128; is Vice-President,
297.

C.

Cabinet, the President's constitutional advisers, 312; their salaries, 312.
Calhoun, John C., twice Vice-President of the United States, 297.

Capitation taxes to be in proportion to the census, 62, 90, 157, 213.

Captures on land and water, Congress may make rules concerning, 61, 85, 184, 294.
Cartwright, Edmund, invents the power-loom, 205.

Ceded places, power of Congress over, 61, 62, 86, 193, 194.

Census, how and when made, 56, 80, 124-126.

Charter governments, 16.

Chief Justice to preside on the trial of the President by the Senate, 57, 82, 142,
146; salary of, 289.

Citizenship, privileges and immunities of, 68, 93, 106, 230; of representatives, 56
79, 119, 120; of senators, 57, 80, 130, 131; of the President of the United States,
64, 100, 262.

Clay, Henry, candidate for the Presidency of the United States, 129.

Clinton, George, Vice-President of the United States, 297; is re-elected, 297.
Coin, domestic and foreign, value of, how regulated, 60, 84, 85, 169-171.

Colonial governments, divided into three classes, 14-16.

Colonies, unity of, 18.

Commerce, power of Congress to regulate, 60, 84, 166-168.

Commercial. Matters auxiliary to commerce, power of Congress over, 61, 84 85
168-172.

Commissions issued by the President of the United States, 66, 103, 281.

Commissioners appointed by Maryland and Virginia, 24.

Committee of the States under the Confederation, 20, 21, 51.

Common law of England introduced into the Colonies, 14; definition of, 256.

Common defense, one of the objects of the Constitution to provide for, 55, 78, 104.
165.

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