its having power to call to its assistance and support the resources of the whole Union. It merits particular attention in this place, that the laws of the Confederacy, as to the enumerated and legitimate objects of its jurisdiction, will become the supreme law of the land; to the observance of which, all officers, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, in each State, will be bound by the sanctity of an oath. Thus the Legislatures, Courts, and Magistrates, of the respective members, will be incorporated into the operations of the National Government as far as its just and constitutional authority extends; and will be rendered auxiliary to the enforcement of its laws.[1] Any man, who will pursue, by his own reflections, the consequences of this situation, will perceive, that there is good ground to calculate upon a regular and peaceable execution of the laws of the Union; if its powers are administered with a common share of prudence. If we will arbitrarily suppose the contrary, we may deduce any inferences we please from the supposition; for it is certainly possible, by an injudicious exercise of the authorities of the best Government that ever was, or ever can be instituted, to provoke and precipitate the People into the wildest excesses. But though the adversaries of the proposed Constitution should presume, that the National rulers would be insensible to the motives of public good, or to the obligations of duty, I would still ask them, how the interests of ambition, or the views of encroachment, can be promoted by such a conduct?
PUBLIUS.
- ↑ The sophistry which has been employed, to show that this will tend to the destruction of the State Governments, will, in its proper place, be fully detected.—Publius.
