Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-26
From the National Journal.
Digest of the Laws of the United States:

OtSeH OF me L0US q INC o""eo D
Among the petitions presented 10 the mouse
Of Representatives on the 22d inst. was one oy
Mr. Kt,era, from Thomas F. Gordon Of rhi'a-
delphia, requesting the patronage OF congress
Tor a codal digest of the United states, wh'ch
he has printed and is about 10 publish.
This work, we understand, is OF very COM
urehensive character, embracing the Gonst'tu-
ton, the treaties with foreign nations, and with
Indian tribes, the conventions with the several
states, the statutes, the judicial decisions upon
| the Constitution, tie treaties and the statutory
law, and all the rules of the Supreme Court
| The labor, difficulty and uncertainty o. explor-
ing the extensive undigesled mass OF written
law is known 10 US all, and such work as the
one about to be given to the public has been
long desired Besides the interest which be-
| longs to an attempt 10 compress into single
| manual volume the whole lee scriptH OF the
United States, this book claims attention as the
first instance of codfca,ion, (neaning by this
word only classification Of the laws according
to the nature Of their subjects, and their rela-
tons with each other which has been publish
ed in the United States. 1t is divided into
codes, books, titles, chapters, sections and art-
cles. There are five codes; the political, civil,
commercial, military and criminal.
From the nature Of the government OF the
United States it is obvious that the political
code must be greatly the most extensive; in fact,
ii occupies more than half The book. We will
offer here, in order to illustrate the plan Of this
work, q short analysis Of this code. Besides a
preliminary title which treats Of the origin, ef-
feet and sanction of the laws; it is divided into
nine books, which are devoted respectively to
t,ai afr taftu thn
the judiciary-new states and territories-re-
latlens with foreign powers-lDdian relations
citizens and aliens-the revenue and the pub
lie domain.
Book I. Is divided into ten titles. |. Of the
legislative power. Ofthe Senate. ). ofthe
House Of Representatives. 4 Ofthe Senate &
House OF Representatives. S. OF the general
powers Of Congress. s. OF the restrictions on
the Legislative powers Of Congress Z. OF re-
strictons on the powers Of the States, 8. or
the powers Of the President iniegislation. g.
Of the officers Of Congress. 10. Of the libra
ry of Congress.
Book II. Of the Executive power. is dis,ri-
buted under three titles. |. Ofthe Executive
power generally. 2. Ofthe President and Vice
President of the United States. 8. OF the ex.
ecutive auxiliaries. Title !. contains the arti-
Gle Of the Constitution establishing the execu.
tive power, and the law fixing the commence
ment OF the term Of the Presidents service
Title ., comprises five chapters, treating o. the
election of the President and Vice President, of
qualifications for Office, of vacancy in the Off
ces Of President and Vice President, of their
compensation, Of the duties and powers of the
President. Title s. has eight chapters, appro-
pviated to the executive auxiliaries. Chapter
|, treats OF the Department of State. Chapter
2, of the Department Of the Treasury. This
chapter is divided into sections which relate
respectively 10 the organization Of the Depart
G6mptfofTer, OF the Auditors, Treasurer, Re-
gis,er, Commissioner Of the Land Office, and
to public contracts and accounts. Chapter 4,
of HE Department of War. Chapter 5, of the
Department of the Navy, and herein of the Sc
cretary Of the Navy and Navy Commissioners.
Chapter 6, OF the public prosecutors. Chapter
7, of the Post Office. Chapter s, of the execu-
tive ministers abroad, and herein of ministers
and consuls.
Book III OF the Judiciary, is divided into
eight chapters, which relate, respectively, 10
the jurisdc ton and powers common TO the sew
eral Courts OF the United Stales--to the Su.
preme Court, its organization, original and ap-
pel!ate jurisGiction-to the Circuit Courts.
their organization, circuits, jurisdiction, o-igi-
nal and appellate, in civil, criminal and equity
cases-of the District Courts, their orgarza-
ton, boundaries of the respective districts, ju-
risdic,ion in civil and criminal cases-of the
territorial courts in the respective territories
Of the Jurisdiction of the state Judiciary under
the laws Of the United Stales-of the officers Of
the courts--of civil procedure, including the
process and practice of the courts. This book
contains also The Judicial decisions relating to
the statutory provisions contained in it, and all
the rules established by the Supreme Court.
Book W. Comprehends he laws admitting
new states into the Union, ard those constitu-
ting the several territories, Ind their govern
ments, with references to ndes on the history
of such states and territories
Book " Contains the exiting treaties be-
tween the U. S. and foreignIpowers, the pro-
visions of each treaty being ,lassed under ap-
propriate heads, with such JUDICIAL decisions as
have been made thereon: and in order to a sa-
tisfactory view Of our foretn relations, the
notes appur,enant TO this boR have very full
notices of such treaties as hse expired or are
annulled
Book vi. And the notes bpendant thereto,
contain all the Indian treaties and the statutory
nroy;.;one rel.,;ny IN ADMINISTRATIONS