STATE SOVEREIGNTY. 35

under which, with but slight modifications we
now live.

The adoption of the constitution and the or-
ganization of the general government gave no
occasion to change the constitution of the state.
State sovereignty and independence remained
unimpaired. Special powers for special purpo-
ses, such as to regulate commerce and foreign
intercourse, to make peace or declare war, to
settle disputes between the states, &c. with the
powers thereto incidental, were granted to the
general government. All other powers were
expressly reserved.

Not only is the power of the general go-
vernment restricted to special purposes, but the
construction of that power is federate rather
than national. The people of the Union have
not as much power by their immediate represen-
tation, as the states of the Union have by theirs.
In the senate, the states arc equally represent-
ed. That body have not only legislative but
also executive powers. They are constitutional -
ly the guardians of state interests, as represen-
ted in the general government, and they are
armed with provisions to preserve that equali-
ty of power between the states, which is tie
very essence of their independence. Without
such an equality, the small states would be at the
mercy of the larger ones.

A principle object for the introduction of
this article, was to point the attention of lea-
ders to the true nature of our institutions of go-