“Situated as we are, with a flood of emigration (Wasp 178) altogether— I have examined the constitution upon this subject & find my doubts removed. The Constitution is not a Law, but it empowers the people to make Laws for instance the constitution governs the Land of but is not a Law for the People. The constitution tells us what shall not be lawful tender the 10 Section declares that <​that people shall not make​> nothing but Gold & Silver shall <​that nothing else except Gold & Silver shall be​> lawful tender but it does not say that even that <​this is not saying that Gold & Silver​> shall be lawful tender; it only provides that the States may make a law to make Gold & Silver lawful tender I know of no State in the Union that has passed such a law & I am sure that has not. The Legislature has ceded up to us the privilege of enacting such laws as are not inconsistent to <​with​> the Constitution of the & the State of ; & we stand in the same relation to the State, as the State does to the Union. The clause referred to in the Constitution is for the Legislature, it is not a Law for the People. The different States <​& Even Congress itself​> have passed many laws diametrically contrary to the Constitution of the . The State of has passed a stay law making property a lawful tender for the payment of debts, & if we have no law on the subject we must be governed by them. Shall we be such fools as to be governed by their laws which are unconstitutional? No! we will make a law for Gold & Silver & then we shall be free from their law <​their law ceases & we can collect our​> debts. Powers not delegated to the States or reserved from the States are Constitutional Congress The Constitution <​Congress The Constitution​> acknowledges that the People have all power which the Constitution has not reserved to itself. I am a Lawyer, I am a big lawyer & comprehend Heaven Earth & Hell & can bring <​to​> <​bring​> forth knowledge that shall cover up all Lawyers Doctors & every thing else other big bodies This is the doctrine of the Constitution So help me God. The Constitution is not law to us but it makes provision for us whereby we can make laws. Where it provides that no one shall not be hindered from worshipping God according to his own conscience is a law. No Legislator can enact a Law to prohibit it The Constitution provides to regulate bodies of men & not individuals