CHAPTER LXXXVII.

Political Divisions.

1. WHEN We wish to understand the geography of our country, we take a map and notice its boundaries, its mountains, lakes, rivers, towns, &c.

And if we wish to understand its government we must notice how it is divided for political purposes; first, into States, and then into a variety of districts. We shall find Congressional districts, judicial districts, collection districts, land districts, and light-house districts. All these have their uses, and are parts of the machinery by which the government is operated. If it were not for the necessity there is of frequently changing the boundaries, numbers and localities of these districts, it would be useful and interesting if the United States were mapped out so as to show all these political divisions at a glance, in the same manner as the States and counties are now shown.

2. The first great division is into States. These have particular reference to the constitution of the Senate and House of Representatives. Each State is entitled to two Senators, regardless of its size or population; and to as many Representatives as its population will admit. Each State is really a Senatorial district in its relations to the general government; and as Congressmen are elected by single districts, each State is sub-divided into as many Congressional districts as it has Representatives in the lower House. But when a State has only one Member of Congress,

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 one of the most insignificant places in the United States. It is not a State or Territory, but a small district 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 80,000, 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. The city which has grown up around the capitol is named Washington, after the great and good father of his country,

2. The people who live here occupy an anomalous position, for, with the exception of the political rights granted to them by Congress in their own local affairs, they have no political power whatsoever. They cannot vote for President or Vice President; they have no Representative in Congress, nor any voice in the enactment of the laws by which they are governed, further than to make their own municipal regulations as granted to them in the charter which Congress gave to the city; this they do through a mayor and common

council. They are governed by Congress, which is their legislature, although they have no power to send a single member to represent them in it.

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 villages of Alexandria and Georgetown were both included in the District; but in 1846, Alexandria, which stands on the west side of the Potomac, was thrown out by the re-cession to Virginia.

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