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be superadded unremitting vigilance on the part of the people. No barriers which the constitution interposes, nor all the restraints of law, are sufficient to protect the liberties of the people, if the public eye cease to inspect the conduct of those who are intrusted with the powers of government; and if the sovereign people be not disposed to call those to account who abuse the trusts confided to them.

§ 496. "The president, vice president, and all civil officers "of the United States, shall be removed from office on im. "peachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."—Art. 2, sec. 4.

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CHAPTER XXIV.

Executive Auxiliaries.-Department of State-of the Treas. ury-of War-of the Navy-Attorney General.

§ 497. To aid the president in the administration of the government and laws of the United States, the following de. partments have been established: The department of state, the department of the treasury, the department of war, the department of the navy, and the post office department. The head officers of these departments, together with the attor ney general, form the principal home ministers of the execu tive, and constitute what is called the cabinet. Until recent. ly the postmaster general was not considered a cabinet

officer.

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§ 498. The department of state existed for many years before the adoption of the constitution. It was called the department of foreign affairs," and the chief officer was entitled the "secretary of the department of foreign affairs." By the act of 1789, it was denominated the "department of state," and the principal officer therein, the " secretary of state."

safeguard is necessary? § 496. What officers are removable by impeachment?

§ 497. What auxiliary executive departments are there? § 498.

§ 499. The secretary of state performs such duties as are committed to him by the president, relating to foreign inter. course, and to public ministers and consuls; or to negotia tions with foreign powers; to memorials and other applica. tions from foreign ministers or other foreigners; or to such other matters as shall be assigned to his department by the president. Through this officer, the views of the executive are officially expressed, and instructions given to diplomatic officers. Hence he is sometimes called the diplomatic agent. Diplomacy means the power or forms of negotia tion; or, the customs, rules, and privileges of ambassadors and other representatives at foreign courts.

§ 500. The secretary of state keeps the seal of the United States; he makes out, records, and seals all civil commis. sions to officers appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, or by the president. He causes the laws, and all treaties ratified by the government, to be published in the newspapers designated for that pur. pose in the several states and territories. He causes to be published, at the close of every session, the necessary number (formerly eleven thousand copies) of the acts of congress to be distributed among the officers of the general gov. ernment, and among the several states. (§ 250.) There are other duties, of a similar nature, which devolve upon this officer. The patent office is connected with this department. The secretary of state employs a chief clerk, and a number of subordinate clerks, whose compensation is fixed by law. The salary of the secretary of state is $6,000 a year, of the chief clerk $2,000.

§ 501. The department of the treasury existed under different forms, during the confederation, and for many years after the adoption of the constitution. It received its present organization by the act of March, 1817. The officers of this department are, a secretary, who is the head of the departinent, two comptrollers, five auditors, a treasurer, a register, and a commissioner of the land office; each of whom is allowed one chief clerk, and such additional clerks as the bu. siness of their respective offices renders necessary.

When was the state department established? § 499, 500. What are the duties of the secretary of state? What is diplomacy? § 501. When

§ 502. The secretary of the treasury prepares and lays before congress, at the commencement of every session, a report of the finances, containing a statement of the public revenue and expenditure during the past year, the value of the imports and exports for the same period, and estimates of the revenue and expenditures for succeeding years, and plans for improving the revenues. He also makes, annually, a statement of appropriations of money, and of sums remaining in the treasury. He superintends the collection of the revenue, and provides for building and keeping in repair the light houses, beacons, buoys, and public piers; and performs such other duties as appertain to his office. His sal. ary is $6,000 a year.

§ 503. The business of the comptrollers and auditors relates chiefly to examining and settling the public accounts, and to the recovery of debts due to the United States. The treasurer receives and keeps the money of the United States, and pays out the same on warrants drawn by the secretary of the treasury; and on the third day of every session, lays before congress copies of all accounts settled with the comp. troller, and a true account of the state of the treasury. The register annually prepares statistical accounts of the commerce of the United States with foreign countries for the preceding year, to be laid by the secretary of the treasury be. fore congress at every session. Such accounts state the goods imported and exported, and the navigation employed in the foreign trade. The commissioner of the land office su perintends and performs such acts as relate to lands patented or granted by the United States. No person holding an office in this branch of the department, is allowed to have any interest in the purchase of any public land; nor may he take any fee or emolument for negotiating or transacting the business of the office, other than his salary. The salary of the first comptroller is $3,500; the salaries of the other comptroller, auditors, treasurer and register, each $3,000 ; of the chief clerk of each, $1,700; of the commissioner of

was the treasury department established? (See § 168.) When reorganized? What are its officers? § 502. What are the duties of the secretary? His salary? § 503. What are the duties of the comptrollers and auditors? The treasurer? The register? The commissioner of the land office? What are their respective salaries? § 504.

the land office, $3,000; of the inferior officers of the same, from $1,500 to $2,000 each.

§ 504. The laws regulating the treasury department, prescribe the manner of keeping, settling, and collecting the public accounts. In cases of insolvency, debts due the United States on revenue bonds, must be first satisfied. The United States cannot be sued. A creditor who is refused payment must apply to congress.

§ 505. The secretary of the war department performs such duties as relate to military commissions, or to the land forces, and warlike stores of the United States; and to such other matters respecting military or Indian affairs, as shall be assigned to his department. He is required to make an annual statement to congress of the expenditure and appli. cation of moneys drawn from the treasury for his department, and to make such suggestions to congress relative to the condition of his department as he shall think proper. His salary is $6,000 a year. The chief clerk receives $2,000. The heads of the several sub-departments receive, some $2,500, others $3,000; and their chief clerks from $1,150 to $1,700 each.

§ 506. In this department is transacted the business relating to military pensions. A pension is a yearly allow. ance to a person by the government, in consideration of past services. Laws have existed from the first organization of the government, granting pensions to persons disabled in the war of the revolution, in such manner as to render them unable to procure a subsistence by manual labor. After the close of the late war, persons were added to the pension list, who had been disabled by wounds while in the service during the late war. Pensions were also allowed, by the act of 1818, to all the soldiers of the revolution who had served nine months or longer in such war, and who were in necessitous circumstances. By the act of 1832, the pension list was so extended as to include all who had served in the army and navy, during the war of the revolution, for at least six months.

What provision respecting creditors and insolvent debtors? § 505. What are the duties of the secretary of war? His salary? Salaries of the subordinate officers? § 506. What is a pension? What has

$507. The secretary of the department of the navy, exe. cutes the orders of the president, relating to the procurement of naval stores and materials, and the armament, equipment, and employment of vessels of war, and all other matters pertaining to the naval establishment. Three of

ficers are appointed by the president and senate, who constitute a board of commissioners for the navy, and who discharge the ministerial duties of the office of the secretary, and furnish all estimates of expenditures which the several branches of the service may require. The secretary of the navy receives for his salary $6,000; chief clerk, $2,000; three commissioners, each $3,500; a secretary, $2,000; and a chief clerk, $1,600.

§ 508. The act of 1789 provides for the appointment of a meet person, learned in the law, to act as attorney general of the United States, who shall be sworn to execute faithfully the duties of his office. His duty is to prosecute and conduct all suits in the supreme court, in which the United States shall be concerned, and give his advice upon ques. tions of law, when required by the president, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments. His salary is $4,000 a year.

Ministers at foreign courts, and consuls, are also considered executive officers. Their duties have been described. (§ 483-485.)

CHAPTER XXV.

Judicial Department.—Organization and Powers of the several Courts.

§ 509. "THE judicial power of the United States shall be "vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts, "as the congress may, from time to time, ordain and estab

been provided by the pension laws? § 507. What are the duties of the secretary of the navy? Of the other officers? § 508. What are the duties of the attorney general? His salary?

§ 509. In what courts is the judicial power vested? How is the

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