Constitutional Conversation A1 S10 C1
A1 S10 C1 Constitutional Restraints on the States
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; ~ A1 S10 C1
Under the Articles of Confederation, states had more authority than Congress. Each state in effect was like an independent country. Under the Constitution, the states were coming into agreement for their “General Welfare” and “Common Defense”. We have discussed in Article 1 Section 8 the authority enumerated to Congress. Section 10 enumerates the specific powers that the states were giving up to come under the authority of the Constitution.
In enumerating to Congress the authority to make treaties and alliances with other countries, states were forbidden from doing so as individual states. States would not come into conflict with another country as an individual state, but would effect retributions and conflicts through Congress.
As the Framers had a Biblical Worldview, they understood that gold and silver are “honest money” whereas paper money has always lead to dishonest financial dealings.
Charles Pinkney said, “I apprehend these general reasonings will be found true with respect to paper money: That experience has shown, that in every state where it has been practiced since the revolution, it always… impoverishes it…”(1)
Charles C. Pinkney said “It had corrupted the morals of the people; it had diverted them from the paths of honest industry to the ways of ruinous speculation; it had destroyed both public and private credit, and had brought total ruin on numberless widows and orphans.”(2)
MacLaine said, “Taxes must be paid in gold or silver coin, and not in imaginary money…”(3)
Cleon Skousen ends this section saying “Someday Americans must elect a Congress that will give them a sound and honest money system.”(4)
Father! May we return to You and Your Ways of honest money. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Elliot pp. 334.
- Elliot pp. 306.
- Elliot pp. 188.
- Cleon Skousen, The Making of America. p. 498.
Listen every Saturday to WCNO at 8:30 am EST at 89.9 FM.
I have learned many of these quotes from The Making of America by Cleon Skousen. You may purchase it here.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV
© 2025 Mrs. Brenda MacMenamin, All Rights Reserved. Permission given to share pages and posts in entirety.
Sign up for the FREE weekly blog. I will be sharing bits each week about Biblical Worldview Education and Action.