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.