serves processes, and executes the orders of that body upon solemn occasions.

Socage, a word of feudal origin, and, in that system, the tenure, by which a man holds lands, is to render therefor some certain and determinate service, in contradistinction to tenure of lands by uncertain and precarious services, where the tenant was obliged to render such service as the grantor might, from time to time, require of him. Free Socage is a tenure by certain and honorable service. Stamp Act. An act or statute, which requires certain papers and enumerated documents to be stamped with a stamp by the government, before they have any validity; and imposes a certain tax or duty for the stamping such papers or documents. Thus, if the government should declare, that every deed or promissory note should be written on paper stamped by the government, and require the party to pay a fixed sum or tax for such stamped paper, the Act or Law, making such provisions, would be called a Stamp Act. Stand seised. A man is said to stand seised of land, who is in posses

sion of it under a claim or title to it, either in fee, or, at least, for life. State Trials are trials for crimes or offences in Courts of justice. They are called State trials, because the State or Government prosecutes the suit or indictment.

Statute. An act or law, passed by a Legislature.

It is called a

Statute, from Statutum, a thing ordered or appointed by the Legislature.

Statute of Limitations. A statute or law, which limits the time within which a suit or action may be brought in a court of justice. Such statutes exist in every State in the Union.

Suit at Law is the remedy, which a person, aggrieved by any wrong done to him, seeks, in a court of law, for redress of the wrong. Tonnage Duty is a tax or duty laid by the Legislature, or other competent authority, upon ships, or vessels, in proportion to their tonnage. Tort is a wrong or injury done by one man to another, or to his property or rights. It includes all trespasses; but is a word of larger signification.

Treaty of Peace, of 1783, is the treaty made between Great Britain and the American States, by which Great Britain acknowledged our Independence, and surrendered her claims to our Territory. It closed the War for our Independence; and will be found in the Appendix to the present Volume, pp. 324–329.

Trespass is a wrong or injury done by one man to another, or to his property or rights. When the word is used, alone, it means some wrong done by violence, or force, or some illegal act. Thus, if a man unlawfully strikes another, or unlawfully takes possession of the land or goods of another, he is said to be guilty of a trespass. V. is often put for versus, or against. Thus, a suit is said to be by A versus B.

Viva Voce, literally, by the living voice, or orally. Thus, when a witness gives his testimony in open court, in the presence of the au dience, and answers, by word of mouth, we say, his testimony is vivâ voce. If his testimony is written down, and read, it is called

his Deposition.

Warrant is a written, sealed order, command, or writ, requiring and authorizing an officer or other person to do a particular act. It is usually applied to the process, by which criminals are arrested for trial or examination.

Writ of Error is a writ, which authorizes a Court of justice to bring a record before it, either of the same court, or of another court, in order to examine and decide, whether there is any error of law in the judgement, or other proceedings in that record; and, if there be, to correct the error.

Writ of Habeas Corpus, see Habeas Corpus.

INDEX.

leges of the, 19. Legislative
powers of the, 19. Common
law of England introduced into
the, 20. Political state of the,
at the time of the Revolution,
22. Their connexion with Great
Britain and with each other, 22.
Controversies between the, de-
termined before the King in
council, 200. Declaration of
Independence of the, 275.
American Revolution, see Revo-
lution.

Annapolis, meeting of commission-

ileged as to, 93, 292; under
the Confederation, 281.
Arsenals, 129, 295. Reservation
respecting, 130.

Articles, of Confederation, 279.
Of the Constitution, 289. Of
Amendments to the Constitution,
303. Provisional, of Peace,sign-
ed at Paris, in 1782, 324. Of
the Definitive Treaty of Peace,
of 1783, 325. Of compact, be-
tween the original States and
the People and States in the
Territory northwest of the river
Ohio, 334. See Confederation.
Arts and sciences, promotion of
the, 118, 294.

Assemblies of the people, 264,

ers at, in 1786, 33.
Appellate jurisdiction of the Na- |
tional Judiciary, 212, 300.
Suggestions respecting it, 213-
228. Of inferior tribunals, 214,
218. On the exclusion of, by
original jurisdiction, 215. Ex-
tent of the, 217. Meaning of
and mode of exercising, 224.
Qualified, 227, 304.
Appointments to office, power of,
172-175, 299. By the Presi-
ident, 172, 299. By Congress
and the Heads of Departments,
172, 174, 299. When discre- Authors, copy-rights for, 118, 294.
tionary in Congress, 172, 174, || Ayes and noes, in Congress,92,292.
299. See Commissions, and
Vacancies.

303. Claimed in the Declara-
tion of Rights, of 1774, 274.
Assemblies, Provincial, 17. Dis-
solution of, by English gover-
nors, 92, 272.
Attainder, effect of, in treason,
134, 135, 239, 301. Bills of, not
to be passed, 144; by Congress,
144, 295; nor by the States,
146, 150, 296.

B.

Apportionment, of Representa- Bail, excessive, unconstitutional,
tives, 56-62, 104, 290. Of di-
rect taxes, 56-60, 97, 104, 290.||
Appropriations, for armies, 122,
123, 294. Before drawing
money from the treasury, 144,

295.

Aristocracy, absolute, or despotic,

47.

Arms, on keeping and bearing,
264, 303.

Army, power of Congress as to
the, 43, 122, 141, 294. Rev-
olutionary, 122. Restrictions
respecting the, 123, 294. A
standing impolitic, 265; con-
demned in the Declaration of
Rights, of 1774, 274.

238, 304.
Baltimore, Lord, 18. William
Penn versus, 201.
Bankruptcy, power of Congress
respecting, 114, 294. Impo-
tency of the States as to, 115.
Bills, power of the President to

approve and negative, 98, 293.
Bills for raising revenue and tax-

es, 96, 293.

Bills of attainder, not to be passed

by Congress, 144, 295; nor by
the States, 146, 150, 296.
Bills of credit, 146, 148. States
forbidden to emit, 146,147,296.
Meaning of, 147. Emission of,
under the Confederation, 286.

Arrest, members of Congress, priv- || Bills of indictment, 231.