"The question is too hard for me to answer, Doctor; I cannot very well see what ought to have been done."
"The two States would have had some rights?"
"Certainly."
"What rights would the United States have had over the two States?"
"I do not think the Federal government would have had any; but the people would have had some claim--what, I cannot say. I do not think that Rhode Island had the moral right to endanger the new republic by refusing to enter it. But there may have been something peculiar in Rhode Island's situation; I do not remember. I should say that the question should have been settled by compromise. Rhode Island's objections should have been considered and removed. A forced agreement would be no agreement."
"When the States formed the government, did they surrender all their rights?"
"I think not."
"What rights did they retain?"
"They retained everything they did not surrender."
"Well, then, what did they surrender? Did they become provinces? Did they surrender the right of resistance to usurpation?"