Page:A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Confederacy, Including the Diplomatic Correspondence, 1861-1865, Volume I.djvu/666

 634 Messages and Papers of the Confederacy. was familiarly called " Uncle Sam." The letters " U. S." came to be used by him as a shipping mark. United Confederate Veterans. A federation of all the associations of Confederate veterans, soldiers and sail- ors. The federation has a written con- stitution which fully sets forth its objects and purposes. It endeavors to promote the cultivation of ties of friendship be- tween ex-Confederates, and to aid and assist their widows and orphans, and also to assist in the collection of data in re- spect to the war, and the preservation of the records of the Confederacy. The or- ganization is by camps, which are formed into brigades, divisions, and departments. There are 3 departments, called the Army of Virginia, Army of the Tennessee, and Army of the Trans- Mississippi. United States Army. (See Army, United States.) United States Constitution. (See Con- stitution, United States.) United States Flag. (See Flag, Unit- ed States.) United States of America. A Federal Republic occupying the cen- tral part of North America. It comprises (1905) 45 States, 4 Territories, and the District of Columbia; also Alaska, Ha- waii, Porto Rico, the Philippine archipel- ago, and certain other small islands. The capital is Washington City, which is lo- cated in the District of Columbia. The name was adopted in 1776. In its govern- ment there are 3 great Departments, the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The Executive power is vested in a Pres- ident, chosen every 4 years. He is as- sisted by a Cabinet, the members of which are appointed by him, by and with the consent of the Senate. The Legisla- tive authority is vested in Congress, com- prising a Senate and House of Repre- sentatives. The Senate consists of 2 mem - bers from each State, and the House at present of 386 members, chosen by the electors in the various States, in the pro- portion of one for about every 193,000 in- habitants. The Judicial authority is vest- ed in a Supreme Court and such inferior tribunals as may be created from time to time, by Congress. The several States have each a republican form of govern- ment, administered by a Governor, and a Legislature composed of two houses, and each State has extensive independent powers reserved to it under the Constitu- tion of the United States. The Govern- ment is supreme in all powers delegated to it by the Constitution, while the sever- al States are supreme in all reserved or nondelegated powers. Area of 45 States, 4 Territories, and District of Columbia, 3,025,601 square miles; including Alas- ka, 3,557,000 square miles. Population in 1900, of States, District of Columbia, and 4 Territories, 75-994.575- Army of. (See Army, United States.) Attitude of, toward Confederate States and beginning of war dis- cussed, 32, 63, 117, 184, 277. Constitution of. (See Constitu- tion, United States.) Constitutional rights of States dis- cussed, 32, 63, 121, 184, 277. Debt of, referred to, 186. Declaration of war against Confed- eracy referred to, 63, 74. Military preparations of, discussed, 71 (see also 60, 63, 82), 11S, 277. President of. (See Lincoln, Abra- ham.) Rights and powers of, discussed, 32, 63, I2i, 184, 277. Vacancies in Public Office, recom- mendations regarding, 260. Van Dorn, Earl: Report of, on battle with Generals Sigel and Curtis in Arkansas transmitted, 214. Resolution of thanks tendered com- mand of, 232. Vessels: In Chesapeake Bay for exporting cotton or tobacco referred to, 195- Restrictions upon, leaving ports of Confederate States referred to, 147. Seized for public use referred to, ,247. 3 08 . 3 IC, » 3 11 -