The learned Pendleton, sound in his knowledge of basic American law and quick to grasp the plain meaning of the Fifth Article of the new Constitution, quickly answered Henry. “Where is the cause of alarm? We, the people, _possessing all power_, form a government, such as we think will secure happiness; and suppose, in adopting this plan, we should be mistaken in the end; where is the cause of alarm on that quarter? In the same plan we point out an easy and quiet method of reforming what may be found amiss. No, but say gentlemen, we have put the _introduction_ of that method in the hands of our servants, who will interrupt it for motives of self-interest. What then?... Who shall dare to resist the people? No, we will assemble in convention; wholly recall our delegated powers or reform them so as to prevent such abuse; and punish those servants who have perverted powers, designed for our happiness, to their own emolument.... But an objection is made to the form; the expression, We, the people, is thought improper. Permit me to ask the gentlemen who made this objection, WHO BUT THE PEOPLE CAN DELEGATE POWERS? Who but the people have the right to form government?... _What have the state governments to do with it?_” (3 _Ell. Deb._ 37.) We average Americans know and will remember that this learned American lawyer, only twelve years earlier a _subject_ of an omnipotent legislature, already knew the basic American principle to be that the delegation of _national_ power _was_ the constitution of government of a free people and that only the people, assembled in convention, could delegate such power and that the state governments, under basic American law, never can have the ability to delegate _that kind_ of power. We regret that _our_ “constitutional” lawyers, all born free citizens of a free republic, have not the same accurate knowledge of basic American law.