It is useful because it is honest; because it leaves not even the most obscure and friendless
citizen without means
of obtaining justice from a neighbouring State; because it obviates occasions
of quarrels between States on account
of the claims
of their respective
citizens; because it recognizes and strongly rests on this
great moral truth that justice is the same whether due from one man or a million, or from a million to one man; because it teaches and greatly appreciates the value
of our free republican national government, which places all our
citizens on an
equal footing, and enables each and every
of them to obtain justice without any danger
of being overborne by the weight and number
of their opponents; and because it brings into action and enforces this
great and glorious principle — that the people are the sovereign
of this
country, and consequently that fellow
citizens and joint sovereigns can not be degraded by appearing with each other in their own courts to have their controversies determined.