If it be asked what is to be the consequence,
in case the Congress shall misconstrue this part of the Constitution, and exercise powers not warranted by its true meaning, I answer,
the same as if they should misconstrue or enlarge any other power vested in them; as if the general power had been reduced to particulars, and any one of these were to be violated; the same, in short, as if the State legislatures should violate the irrespective constitutional authorities. In the first instance, the success of the usurpation will depend on the executive and judiciary departments,
which are to expound and give effect to the legislative acts;
and in the last resort a remedy must be obtained from the people who can,
by the election of more faithful representatives,
annul the acts of the usurpers. The
truth is,
that this ultimate redress may be more confided in against unconstitutional acts of the federal than of the State legislatures,
for this plain reason,
that as every such act of the former will be an invasion of the rights of the latter, these will be ever ready to mark the innovation,
to sound the alarm to the people,
and to exert their local influence in effecting a change of federal representatives. There being no such intermediate body between the State legislatures and the people interested in watching the conduct of the former,
violations of the State constitutions are more likely to remain unnoticed and unredressed.
(And there we have it. This is the exact dilemma we find ourselves in today. The states are usurping against the RIGHTS of their Citizens through passage of UNCONSTITUTIONAL laws. And are disarming their populations or regulating them far beyond the limits imposed upon them. The Federal branches, Executive, Legislative and Judicial, whom were supposed to be Safe-Guards against such usurpations - are FAILING to ACT against them. Thus not fulfilling their CONSTITUTIONALLY SWORN Duty! Which, in the least could be called Dereliction of Duty and at most, TREASON!)
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