'  This  Constitution,'  says  the  sixth  article,  '  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States


THE  UNITED  STATES  AS  A  NATION.  57

and  the  powers  intrusted  to,  the  general  government,
are  adapted  to,  and  sutHcieut  for,  tliat  purpose.'

g  97.  When  the  people  of  the  nation  ordained  and
established  the  Oonkitution  of  the  United  States,  they
thereby  instituted  a  national  government,  amenable
only  to  themselves  as  a  nation  ;  and  they  clothed  it
with  authority  and  power  sufficient  for  national  pur-
poses.'* And  by  the  same  ordinance  they  denied  to  the
State  governments  the  right  to  exercise  authority  over
national  subjects,  or  over  any  other,  except  within  their
own  State  limits.'

S  98.  The  people  of  the  United  States,  in  whom,  as  a
nation,  sovereignty  inheres,  when  they  instituted  the
national  government,  and  conferred  upon  it  jurisdiction
and  authority  over  matters  pertaining  to  the  nation  as

which  shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made  orwhlch  shall
be  made  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  stiall  be  the  supreme  law  of
the  land,  and  the  Judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in
the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.'  If  it
Is  the  supreme  law,  how  can  the  people  of  any  State,  either  by  any  form  of  Its
own  Constitution  or  laws,  or  other  proceedings,  repeal,  or  abrogate,  or  suspend
it?"    Jcfem,?354.
■  "  But,  if  the  language  of  the  Constitution  were  less  explicit  and  irresistible,
no  other  inference  could  be  correctly  deduced  from  a  view  of  the  nature  and
objects  of  the  Instrument.  The  design  is  to  establish  a  form  of  government.
