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State and Local Government

The powers to enact laws which concern only the States directly and immediately are among the reserved rights of the States, and as such vested in the State Legislatures. The Constitutions of the several States all agree in their main features and the modes of administration are virtually alike. In all there is the same form, and the same principles lie at the foundation. The executive in every State is vested, in a Governor. The duties of the Governors are in general analogous to those of the President, as far as the several State Governments are analogous to that of the Union. In some States the Governors have the nomination, and, in conjunction with the Senate, the appointment, of many important officers; but in most States appointments in the power of the Governors are comparatively unimportant; in New York, for example, nearly all officers and all judges are elected by the people. Like the President, they make recommendations to the legislature, and take care that the laws are executed. Like the President, they may be impeached and removed for treason, bribery, or other crimes.

In the Indian Territory, between Kansas and Texas, there are settled about 25 native tribes, of which five are civilized. Each race has a government of the republican form. In each, a Chief, Vice-chief, a Senate, and Council are chosen for two years, and a deliberative body, composed of delegates from the different races in proportion to their numbers, meets every year. The land assigned to them is not regarded as separate property, but each race holds its portion in common. Individuals settle upon particular lands, but these lands may pass from father to son, but there is no legal right to their possession, and they cannot be sold or exchanged even by the Indian Governments. The authority of these Governments extends only to the persons and personal property of their own citizens. They cannot even repel an intruder of the white race, but must, for such purpose have recourse to the United States authorities, and in their courts no suit to which a white man is a party can be decided.

The District of Columbia is the seat of the United States Government, provided by the State of Maryland for the purposes of government in 1791. It includes the cities of Washington and Georgetown, and embraces an area of about 72 square miles. The district has no municipal legislative body, and its citizens have no right to vote either in national or municipal concerns. By an Act of Congress of 1878, its municipal government is administered by three commissioners appointed by the President.

Slavery was abolished throughout the whole of the United States by the thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution passed December 18, 1865. The vast change in the political and social organization of the Republic made by this new fundamental law was completed by the fourteenth and fifteenth Amendments of the Constitution, passed in 1868 and 1870, which gave to the former slaves all the rights and privileges of citizenship.