THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Its True Nature and Character

Being a Review of Judge Story's Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States The Federalists had desired to clothe the Federal Gov't with almost monarchial power; whereas the States had carefully and resolutely reserved the great mass of political power to themselves. The powers delegated to the Federal Gov't were few, and were general in their character. Those which they reserved embraced their original and inalienable sovereignty, which no State imagined it was surrendering when it adopted the Constitution. Mr. Madison dwelt with great force upon the fact that "a delegated power is not a surrendered power." What powers were delegated to the Federal Gov't were done so for the sole purpose of protecting the rights and sovereignty of the individual states.