XI.
In my last number, I endeavored to prove, that by their several ratifications of the Constitution of the United States, the Sovereign States of the Union thereby established, entered into a covenant with each other, to support this Constitution—that for the observance of this covenant, each State pledged its faith to its co-States; and that this faith must be kept by all. I endeavored to prove further, that none could violate the faith plighted by this covenant, save some of the Sovereign parties to it; but that they might do so, either directly, by their own acts or omissions, or indirectly, by adopting as their own the acts or omissions of any others over whom they might lawfully exercise control. I am thus brought to enquire, what is the course that may be rightfully pursued by any State, should its co-States break their faith pledged to it, by doing directly any act in violation of that pledge, or by adopting as theirs, any such net done by others amenable to their authority?
I present the question in this abstract form, purposely; because, I wish to avoid, for the present, the investigation of any other matter not necessarily involved in the enquiry immediately before me.
Hence, instead of stopping to examine, whether any particular act is or is not a violation of the Constitution—or what is or is not the adoption by a State of such an act, when not done directly by itself—or whether the agents by whom the act has been perpetrated are or are not under its control.—I have assumed, that the act done is a violation of the Constitution—that it is done by a State directly, or when done by some other, is adopted by it as its own act—and that the act adopted as its own act, is done by such as are amenable to its authority. Thus the question
