The powers of a Federal Government naturally extend not only to
peace and war, and all questions which arise between the country and
foreign governments, but to making any other arrangements which are,
in the opinion of the States, necessary to their enjoyment of the full
benefits of union. For example, it is a great advantage to them that
their mutual commerce should be free, without the impediment of
frontier duties and custom-houses. But this internal freedom cannot
exist if each State has the power of fixing the duties on
interchange of commodities between itself and foreign countries; since
every foreign product let in by one State would be let into all the
rest. And hence all custom duties and trade regulations, in the United
States, are made or repealed by the Federal Government exclusively.
Again, it is a great convenience to the States to have but one
coinage, and but one system of weights and measures; which can only be
ensured if the regulation of these matters is entrusted to the Federal
Government. The certainty and celerity of Post Office communication is
impeded, and its expense increased, if a letter has to pass through
half a dozen sets of public offices, subject to different supreme
authorities: it is convenient, therefore, that all Post Offices should
be under the Federal Government. But on such questions the feelings of
different communities are liable to be different.
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