clearly in conflict with the Constitution of the United States
and yield thereto.

Another class of thinkers, equally interested in woman's
enfranchisement, maintain that there is, as yet, no power in the
United States Constitution to protect the rights of all United
States citizens, in all latitudes and longitudes, and in all
conditions whatever. When the constitution was adopted, the
fathers thought they had secured national unity. This was the
opinion of Southern as well as Northern statesmen. It was
supposed that the question of State rights was then forever
settled. Hon. Charles Sumner, speaking on this point in the
United States Senate, March 7, 1866, said the object of the
constitution was to ordain, under the authority of the people, a
national government possessing unity and power. The
confederation had been merely an agreement "between the States,"
styled, "a league of firm friendship." Found to be feeble and
inoperative through the pretension of State rights, it gave way
to the constitution which, instead of a "league," created a
"union," in the name of the people of the United States.
Beginning with these inspiring and enacting words, "We, the
people," it was popular and national. Here was no concession to
State rights, but a recognition of the power of the people, from
whom the constitution proceeded. The States are acknowledged; but
they are all treated as component parts of the Union in which
they are absorbed under the constitution, which is the supreme
law. There is but one sovereignty, and that is the sovereignty of
the United States. On this very account the adoption of the
constitution was opposed by Patrick Henry and George Mason. The
first exclaimed, "That this is a consolidated government is
demonstrably clear; the question turns on that poor little thing,
'We, the people,' instead of the States." The second exclaimed,
"Whether the constitution is good or bad, it is a national
government, and no longer a confederation." But against this
powerful opposition the constitution was adopted in the name of
the people of the United States. Throughout the discussions,
State rights was treated with little favor. Madison said: "The
States are only political societies, and never possessed the
right of sovereignty." Gerry said: