248 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



LESSON 112. 



Constitution of the United States. 



As all the youth of America ought to be well acquainted 

 with the constitution of the country in which they live, and 

 to which they must be subject, it will be proper to exhibit 

 its general outlines. 



A strong sense of the value and blessings of union induc- 

 ed the people at a very early period to institute a federal go- 

 vernment to preserve and perpetuate it. They formed it 

 almost as soon as they had a political existence; (1778) 

 nay, at a time when their habitations were in flames, when 

 many of them were bleeding in the field, and when the pro- 

 gress of hostility and desolation left little room for those calm 

 and mature inquiries and reflections which must ever pre- 

 cede the formation of a wise and well balanced government 

 for a free people. It is not to be wondered at, that a go- 

 vernment instituted in times so inauspicious, should, on ex- 

 periment, have been found greatly deficient, and inadequate 

 to the purpose it was intended to answer. The people per- 

 ceived and regretted these defects. They observed the dan- 

 ger which threatened their union, and more remotely their 

 liberty ; and being persutlded that ample security for both 

 could only be found in a national government more wisely 

 framed, deputies from the several states met in convention 

 at Philadelphia (1787,) to take the important subject into 

 consideration. In the mild season of peace, with minds un- 

 occupied with other subjects, they passed many months in 

 cool uninterrupted and daily consultations ; and finally, with- 

 out having been awed by power, or influenced by any pas- 

 sion except love for their country, they presented and 

 recommended to the people the constitution or form of go- 

 vernment produced by their joint and very unanimout 

 councils. 



The government of the United States is called republican. 

 It is a representative democracy. All power resides ulti- 

 mately in the people ; but they exercise it by means of their 

 representatives, or persons chosen by them for that purpose. 

 All the departments of the government are bound to conform 



