Page:Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1st ed, 1833, vol I).djvu/404

 364 them; and the highest state tribunals have, with scarcely a single exception, acquiesced in, and, in most instances, assisted in executing them. During the same period, eleven states have been admitted into the Union, under a full persuasion, that the same power would be exerted over them. Many of the states have, at different times within the same period, been called upon to consider, and examine the grounds, on which the doctrine has been maintained, at the solicitation of other states, which felt, that it operated injuriously, or might operate injuriously upon their interests. A great majority of the states, which have been thus called upon in their legislative capacities to express opinions, have maintained the correctness of the doctrine, and the beneficial effects of the power, as a bond of union, in terms of the most unequivocal nature. Whenever any