STATE OF DELAWARE 387 



thousand difficulties in the way. Thus the United 

 States authorized the Congress to borrow money and to 

 pledge the honor of the nation ; but to pay these debts, 

 there is no authority granted.* Each individual state 

 has it own independent government which is concerned 

 for its especial welfare and inner security ; its own 

 laws, police, execution of justice, and all other institu- 

 tions looking to the furtherance of the common good, 

 with no immediate influence on the general union of 

 the states, free and regulated according to its own 

 pleasure. It is competent to these governments of the 

 several states to resist all ordinances and proposals of 

 the Congress which are unpleasing to them ; and if they 

 had not the right, they would do so none the less. 



The power conferred by the people on the govern- 

 ment of each separate state, and conferred by these 

 governments on the Congress is subject to incessant 

 change, in so far, that is, as the members of these assem- 

 blies are from time to time replaced by others. Thus 

 continually the private man is taking up the business 



* This is still sorrily the case : The debts of the Congress 

 at the beginning of the year 1786 amounted to 54 million dol- 

 lars, of which, distributed into 14 parts, 6 parts are due to 

 France, 3 to Holland, 2 to British subjects, and the remainder 

 to Americans. 



The Congress, on the 2 nd day of August 1786, determined 

 the budget for this year, the total 3,770,000 dollars in amount, 

 of which 317985 dollars for interest on the debts made in 

 France and Holland, 169352 dollars the costs of the Civil de- 

 partment, 168274 dollars for the Military department, 4/1294 

 for sundry other disbursements, and I million 392059 dollars 

 are needed for funds payable during the next year. The Con- 

 gress ivill with difficulty be able to effect the procuring of this 

 sum. Hamb. polit. Journ. October. 1786. 



