CHAPTER II.

THE NATIONALITY OF THE CONSTITUTION 24

The question is whether a national government or a confederacy of nations was made by the adoption of the Constitution--The doctrine of nullification and secession considered--The State governments and the National government have limited powers--The foundation of our government was necessarily a compact--The compact was for a national government--The failure of the government of the Confederacy of the revolution--The Constitution had the sanction of the Confederacy, of the State government and of the people--Preamble of Constitution declares its perpetuity--Supremacy of the Constitution over State judiciaries and laws--All really sovereign powers given to United States--Restriction of State powers--Powers of States only local--People of States or parts of States making war against the United States guilty of treason--Originally States, like counties, were suable by the Constitution--By amendments to the Constitution the United States can assume any power over the States--Other provisions giving the general government great power over States--Restriction of States to prevent their making resistance--Constitution established a government over individuals not States--Authority of the judiciary.