Such being the character of the General Government, it seems to be a self-evident proposition _that it is invested with all those inherent and implied powers, which, at the time of adopting the constitution, were generally considered to belong to every government, as such_, and as being essential to the exercise of its functions.--_p. 556._ Also he said: Another proposition equally clear is, _that at the time the constitution was adopted, it was, and for a long time had been, the practice of most, if not all, civilized governments_, to employ the public credit as a means of anticipating the national revenues for the purpose of enabling them to exercise their governmental functions.--_p. 556._ Also he said: It is our duty to construe the instrument [the constitution] by its words, _in the light of history, of the general nature of government, and the incidents of sovereignty_.--_p. 55._ Also he said: The government simply demands that its credit shall be accepted and received by public and private creditors during the pending exigency. _Every government has a right to demand this, when its existence is at stake._--_p. 560._ Also he said: These views are exhibited ... for the purpose of showing that it [the power to make its notes a legal tender in payment of private debts] _is one of those vital and essential powers inhering in every national sovereignty_, and necessary to its self-preservation.--_p. 564._ In still another legal tender case, the court said: The people of the United States, by the constitution, established a national government, _with sovereign powers, legislative, executive_, and judicial.--_Juilliard vs. Greenman, 110 U. S. Reports, p. 438._ Also it calls the constitution: A constitution, establishing a form of government, declaring fundamental principles, _and creating a national sovereignty_, intended to endure for ages.--_p. 439._ Also the court speaks of the government of the United States: _As a sovereign government._--_p. 446._ Also it said: