Page:Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1st ed, 1833, vol III).djvu/551

 CH. XXXVIII.] § 1673. The next clause extends the judicial power "to controversies between two or more states; between a state and the citizens of another state; between citizens of different states, claiming lands under grants of different states; and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects." Of these, we will speak in their order. And, first, "controversies between two or more states." This power seems to be essential to the preservation of the peace of the Union. "History" (says the Federalist, ) gives us a horrid picture of the dissensions and private wars, which distracted and desolated Germany, prior to the institution of the imperial chamber by Maximilian, towards the close of the fifteenth century; and informs us at the same time of the vast influence of that institution, in appeasing the disorders, and establishing the tranquility of the empire. This was a court invested with authority to decide finally all differences among the members of the Germanic body. But we need not go for illustrations to the history of other countries. Our own has presented, in past times, abundant proofs of the irritating effects