On the Decline and Fall of State’s Rights – Part I
Previously the unique nature of this Republic has been discussed, in that this nation was not created by a central, national government, but was constituted by a group of States that first united as a confederate government under the Articles of Confederation. However, when the deficiencies of the initial confederation became apparent, those States subsequently created a federal government, in order to provide – along with other mentioned benefits – a “… more perfect union, …”a of those States that would strengthen their position in relation to foreign powers and provide for peaceful relations between the States. This league was created under the legal auspices of The Constitution of the United States of America, under which law the Union was constituted and the new Federal Government established, by the authority of those thirteen founding States. Under this law the States granted to the Federal Government certain specified powers, and gave up their own authorities in those areas for the common good. Under the law the States retained the primary authorities relating to internal affairs and their own citizens. Thus, the Constitution is a legal compact dividing authority and powers between the Federal Government and the States, granting to the Federal Government only those powers requisite to its purposes and leaving to its founders – the States – those powers relating to their own internal affairs, making “… us several as to ourselves, but one as to all others.” in the succinct words of Thomas Jefferson.
Harold
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