I have been a daily visiter at the capitol. The proceedings of the two houses are never without interest, since they control the entire foreign policy of this growing republic, which is daily becoming of more importance in the eyes of Christendom. Some of the peculiar practice of American legislation may be of interest, and before I write of individuals, I will attempt a brief outline of their forms.

You probably know already that the president of the United States is assisted by a cabinet. It is composed of four secretaries, (state, treasury, war, and navy,) and of the attorney-general. As the president is alone answerable for his proper acts, these ministers have no further responsibility than as their own individual agency is concerned. They have no seats in congress, since the constitution forbids that any officer of the general government should be a representative either of a state (a senator), or of the people (a member of the house of representatives). Thus, the judges and generals, and colonels, of which one reads in congress, are not officers of the United States, but of the states themselves. The difference is material, since the authorities by whom they are commissioned have no power over the measures on which they are called to legislate. You will understand me better if I go a little into detail.