as is the case with several, the whole State is comprised in one Congressional district.

JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.

3. We now come to another sort of districts, made for an entirely different purpose. For the convenience of the people the United States courts are held in every State, and at different places in the same State. For this purpose the whole country is first divided into judicial circuits. Several States-3, 4, or 5 -are embraced in one circuit. In all these States and at different places in them, a Circuit Court is held.

4. Then comes a lower grade of courts, called the United States District Court. These also are held at different times and places in each State; and for this purpose the whole country is divided into judicial districts, each State forming at least one, but some of the larger ones, two or three. Thus much for divisions for judicial purposes.

COLLECTION DISTRICTS.

5. Another class of districts has been formed, for the purpose of collecting the duties on imported goods. These are called "collection districts." They extend along, and embrace the whole sea coast and the shores of navigable lakes and rivers. In a few instances they are located inland, at points where goods may be brought into the United States by land. Each collection district has a port of entry, and very often several ports of delivery; also a collector of customs, and generally a custom house.

6. Another class of collection districts was formed

during the late civil war. They grew out of the war, and were established for the collection of the tax termed the "internal revenue," which had to be levied to pay the war expenses. These districts differ entirely, both in their objects and in the Territory embraced within them, from those established for the purpose of collecting duties on imports, and correspond as far as practicable with the Congressional districts in each State.

LAND DISTRICTS.

7. Land districts may also be noticed among these divisions. In every State and Territory where there are public lands for sale, after they are surveyed and mapped, they are divided into districts-two, three or four, in each State and Territory-as convenience and economy may dictate. In each district a land office is established for the sale of the lands in said district.

LIGHT HOUSE DISTRICTS.

8. Again, the whole of our sea coasts, both on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, together with the shores of the navigable lakes and rivers, are divided into twelve light house districts (or their number must not exceed that), for the purpose of building, repairing, illuminating and superintending the light houses on all the coasts and shores wherever located. These are the principal divisions we have to notice. It is important to have a knowledge of them, for with such knowledge we can better understand how government affairs are conducted.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

District of Columbia.

1. THE District of Columbia, in regard to its size, population, or political power, is somewhat insignificant. It is not a State, but a very small Territory only ten miles square, originally cut out of the States of Maryland and Virginia and ceded to the United States as a site for the capitol. Here the capitol or house in which Congress meets is located, together with the Presidential mansion, and other public buildings occupied by the government. Its population has grown to the present size, about 131,706, since the year 1800, when it became the capital of the nation, and when Congress first assembled here; its former sessions having been held at New York and Philadelphia.

2. The people who live here held an anomalous position in the Government, until February 21st., 1871, for up to that time this District was neither a State nor Territory, and the people had only such rights as Congress granted them; they had no Representative in Congress, nor the right to vote for President or Vice President. But by the above named act, this was changed, and the District was made a Territory, having a Territorial Legislature, and the right to be represented by one member in the House of Representatives. This makes their political condition quite different from what it ever was before, when they only had a few rights which they exercised by virtue of a Charter granted them by Congress.

3. Besides the courts of justice of the peace, there are four high courts, with their judges, and other law officers; first, a Circuit Court; second, a District Court; third, an Orphan's Court, and fourth, a Criminal Court; all these must be recognized as United States courts, because they were established by the laws of Congress, and because their judges are all appointed by the President and Senate, and are paid out of the United States Treasury.

In saying that the District is ten miles square, and that it was ceded to the United States by Virginia and Maryland, we state what was the case up to 1846, when Congress re-ceded to the State of Virginia that part of it which formerly belonged to her. This part lies west of the Potomac river, and is of no use to the United States; as the capitol, with all the other public buildings, and, indeed, the whole city of Washington, stands on the east side of the river, and in the part formerly belonging to Maryland.

The towns of Alexandria and Georgetown were both included in the District; but in 1846, Alexandria, which stands on the west side of the Potomac, was restored to Virginia.

The capitol is one of the finest buildings in the world. It has been much enlarged, and has cost nearly $5,000,000.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

States.

1. As has been said in another place, people who live in the United States, live under two separate and distinct governments; first, that of the United States, and second, that of the particular State in which they reside. This at first thought, would seem to create confusion, if not a conflict of authority, and to place the citizen in doubt as to what law he should obey when in his own mind there seems to be an antagonism between the laws of the two governments. This is easily overcome, however, for the Constitution of the United States, which is paramount to all other law, regulates this by its own provisions. Neither Congress, nor the legislature of any State can make any law contrary to it; and if either of these legislative bodies should do so, there is a power which has the authority to set any such law aside; and that is, the United States Supreme Court. Its decision in regard to any question which may arise as to the rightful authority of Congress, or any State legislature, is final; there being no appeals from its decisions.

This court is the regulating power and the final resort. To use a mechanical figure, it keeps all the small wheels (the State governments), revolving within one great wheel (the general government), with but little friction, and without any serious collisions.

2. In the preceding pages we have treated only of