THE

GOVERNMENTAL INSTRUCTOR,

OR

A BRIEF AND COMPREHENSIVE VIEW

OF THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

AND OF THE

STATE GOVERNMENTS,

IN EASY LESSONS,

DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS.

BY J. B. SHURTLEFF.

NEW YORK:

COLLINS & BROTHER:

No. 254 PEARL STREET.

1847.

KD 323 88

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
047* 172.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, BY COLLINS, BROTHER & CO.,

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.

STEREOTYPED BY T. B. SMITH,

216 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.

PREFACE.

THE rapid growth of the United States, and the variety of interest which the improvements of our country are daily exciting, both as it regards the progress of our nation in literature as well as in art, seem to demand an especial effort in suitably impressing upon the public mind, the importance of augmenting every facility for cultivating a proper taste in the minds of the rising generation, for such advancement in useful knowledge, as may prove beneficial in afterlife. And as under our free and liberal government, the poorest as well as the richest may reasonably anticipate distinction, every means should be employed by those who have the guardianship of our literary institutions, to open as wide as possible the door that leads to knowledge.

It is to be regretted that our common schools have, in many instances, been neglected, so far as they are regarded as important auxiliaries in imparting useful information. Many entertain the idea that it is quite immaterial what books are put into the hands of young children, when they first commence reading, if the words can be but easily understood and readily pronounced. Now, in practising upon this principle, the most silly stories are often got up, sometimes accompanied by a picture, and spread before the young pupil to learn him to read. He looks upon the picture and is pleased with it, and he becomes remarkably fond of lessons thus illustratedso much so, that he forms an attachment for light reading, and can hardly be induced to abandon his picture-book for one that treats upon plain matters of fact, useful in boyhood and in old age.

To a vast number of children, our Common Schools afford the only opportunity they enjoy of improving their minds, or of becoming enlightened in regard to the general principles of the American Government, and in support of which, as citizens, they are to take an active part. In view of these considerations, then, how import

ant it is that they should early become acquainted with the organi-
zation of that Government-by inquiring into its peculiarities-as-
certaining its fundamental principles-all the branches of which
have so admirably harmonized as to prove to the world that a Na-
tion can be great, and at the same time be FREE.

It will be generally admitted that many children in obscure life,
leave our Common Schools and enter work-shops, or seek employ-
ment upon farms, with but limited ideas of the general organization
of the National and State Governments; and being subsequently
merged in the business of life, they find but little opportunity of sup-
plying any deficiency that may have existed, in receiving the rudi-
ments of their education.

Now, the GOVERNMENTAL INSTRUCTOR is intended to supply the
vacuum which has heretofore existed, in this particular, and instead
of placing before the young learner a large volume of confused mat-
ter beyond the reach of his comprehension, the Author has endeav-
ored to suit it to his capacity; trusting that the work may prove not
only interesting, but that it may be the means of urging the young
mind to higher and praiseworthy attainments in the knowledge of
our admirable form of Government.

NEW YORK CITY, FEBRUARY, 1845.

J. B. S.