Send a Quote Enter a brief message. SendOk2 “But as the plan of the [Constitutional] convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, EXCLUSIVELY delegated to the United States.” ~ Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, Secretary of the TreasurySource: The Federalist Papers, No. 32. The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation From the Daily Advertiser. Thursday, January 3, 1788.