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nation against a foreign enemy, and the like, agreed upon 

 a sort of partnership; and entered into a written agree, 

 ment, or understanding, on the subject. This written 

 agreement is called the Constitution of the United States. 

 Whatever is clearly written down in this agreement, as 

 belonging to the United States to make laws upon, the Con- 

 gress of the United States has a right to manage. What- 

 ever is not written down, or plainly implied, is left entirely 

 to the individual States; and Congress has no more right 

 to meddle with it, than have the majority of those who 

 compose the coal-mining company, to meddle with the pri- 

 vate affairs of one of the members of the company. 



The thirty States are like the thirty men in the coal 

 company : each has a right to manage its own affairs, in 

 its own way, by its own Legislature. The General Gov- 

 ernment has the right to meddle with such matters only as 

 are plainly laid down in the Constitution. 



We are thus particular in elucidating this idea, as it 

 is one to which the emigrant is not accustomed. 



The General Government, by the terms of the written 

 Constitution, has the power 



To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, 

 to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and 

 general welfare of the United States; but all duties, im- 

 posts, and excises, shall be uniform throughout the United 

 States : 



To borrow money on the credit of the United States : 



To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among 

 the several States, and with the Indian tribes : 



To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and 

 uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies, throughout 

 the United States : 



To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of for- 

 eign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures: 

 15* 



