The power to dispose of territory is also an attribute of sovereignty, and would have belonged to the general government without this provision.  But this provision places the power in the hands of congress; otherwise land could be sold by the treaty-making power.  Under this provision congress receded to Virginia that portion of the District of Columbia south of the Potomac.

The power to govern any territory which it possesses is also an attribute of sovereignty.  This clause gives the power to congress; but any law for the regulation of territories needs the president’s signature, the same as any other law.

[2] It will be remembered that North Carolina and Georgia had not at the time of the adoption of the constitution relinquished their claims to certain territory lying outside of their state limits.  This provision was made as a concession to them.  But they afterwards, North Carolina in 1790 and Georgia in 1802, ceded the disputed territory to the United States.

SECTION IV.—­GUARANTIES TO THE STATES.

The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government,[1] and shall protect each of them against invasion,[2] and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence.[3]

[1] That is, the United States will protect each state against one man or a few men who may try to usurp the functions of the state government.  By inference, the United States could insist upon a republican form of government even if the people of the state desired some other.  Happily, no necessity for the exercise of this power has yet arisen.

[2] This would have been the duty of the general government, even if this provision had not been made.  To defend the country against invasion is one of the principal duties of government.  The government was organized “to provide for the common defense.”

[3] To “insure domestic tranquillity” was another reason given for the establishment of the constitution.  But lest the general government should make every little disturbance a pretext for interfering with the local affairs of a state, it was provided that no interference should occur until asked for by state authority.

Pertinent Questions.

If a judgment is secured against a resident of New York and he moves to Minnesota without paying it, could he be held responsible in Minnesota without another suit?  Is a marriage ceremony performed in Illinois binding in Kansas?

Define citizen.  Can a person be a citizen of the United States without being a citizen of any state?  Could he be a citizen of a state and not be a citizen of the United States?  A certain southern state imposed a tax upon commercial travelers not residents of that state; was the act constitutional?  What is the Civil Rights bill, and why was it passed?  Can a citizen of any state claim in another state any privileges peculiar to the state from which he removed?