By placing the power to regulate commerce with Indians in the hands of the general government it was hoped that uniformity of regulations and the strength of the government would secure peace and safety to the frontier states.

Clause 4.—­Naturalization and Bankruptcy.

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization[1] and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies[2] throughout the United States.

[1] Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes a citizen.  The mode is given on page 319.

[2] A bankrupt is one who has been declared by a court to be owing more than he can pay.

The purposes of a bankrupt law are: 

1.  To secure an equitable distribution of all the debtor’s property among the creditors.

2.  To secure to the debtor a complete discharge from the indebtedness.

Clause 5.—­Coinage and Measures.

To coin money,[1] regulate the value thereof[2] and of foreign coin,[3] and fix the standard of weights and measures.[4]

[1] This is another “sovereign power,” and cannot be exercised by states, counties or cities.  Coinage by the United States secures uniformity in value, and thereby facilitates business.

To “coin money” is simply to stamp upon a precious metal the value of the given piece. [Footnote:  When metals were first used as money, they were weighed and their purity was determined by testing.  This invited fraud.] For convenience in business transactions, these are coined of certain sizes.  To discourage the mutilation of coins for sinister purposes, they are “milled” on the edges, and the stamp covers each face so that the metal could hardly be cut off without the coin showing defacement.

[2] The value is shown by the stamp.

[3] Otherwise, foreign coin would become an article of commerce, and it would be more difficult to regulate the value of domestic coin.

[4] This power congress has never exercised.  But see Johnson’s Cyclopedia, article Gallon.

Clause 6.—­Punishment of Counterfeiting.

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States.

This is “an indispensable appendage” of the power granted in the preceding clause, that of coining money.

To discourage counterfeiting, the “securities” are engraved with rare skill and upon peculiar paper.  The penalties for counterfeiting are printed on the back of some of the “greenbacks.”

Under “securities” are included bonds, coupons, national currency, “greenbacks,” revenue and postage stamps, and all other representatives of value issued under any act of congress.

Clause 7.—­Postoffices.

To establish postoffices[1] and post roads.[2]

[1] The beneficence and usefulness of the postoffice every one can appreciate; it ministers to the comfort of all, rich and poor.