and defensive ends, but which failed from its own inherent weakness, from the lack of that cohesiveness which nothing but centralization can give.  Prior to the adoption of the Federal Constitution, these different States were like so many different individuals outside of any regular society; were merely so many isolated aggregations of non-nationalized individuals.  Experience showed them their unfortunate condition; as separate States they had no strength to repel a common enemy, no credit, no money, no authority, commanded no respect.  So it is with an individual outside of society.  These States were then in the enjoyment—­no, not in the enjoyment but merely in possession—­of State rights to the fullest extent.  They had the right to be poor; the right to be weak; the right to get in debt; the right to issue bills of credit, (was any one found who thought it right to take them?) the right to wage war with any of their neighbors; the right to do any and all acts pertaining to an independent sovereignty; but these rights were not all that the people of these States desired; and after trying the independent and the confederate State policy until experience had shown the utter fallacy of both, they met in convention and passed the present Constitution, and formed themselves into ONE NATION.  This Constitution, compact, copartnership, confederation, combination, or whatever it may be called, was and is the written foundation (voluntarily made) on which the NATION is built and maintained.

The charter, instrument, or Constitution, defines, by common consent and mutual agreement of the parties voluntarily forming it, the powers, rights, and duties of the national government growing out of and based on this Constitution.  Among the powers thus delegated to the National or Federal Government, and to be used by the legislative authority thereof, are the following: 

    ’ARTICLE I.—­SECTION 8.

    ’The Congress shall have power—­

’1.  To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

    ’2.  To borrow money on the credit of the United States.

    ’3.  To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the
    several States, and with the Indian tribes.

    ’4.  To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform
    laws on the subject of bankruptcies, throughout the United States.

    ’5.  To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign
    coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures.

    ’6.  To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities
    and current coin of the United States.

    ’7.  To establish post-offices and post-roads.

    ’8.  To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by
    securing, for limited times, to authors and inventors the
    exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.