In truth, excepting in the election of United States Senators, members of the House of Representatives, and Presidential Electors, the citizen does not participate in federal government; and save through the post office, the customs, the income tax (which directly affects fewer than half a million persons in the United States), and in banking (including the use of the money of the country) the citizen rarely has anything to do with the United States. On the other hand, in the protection of his property, the education of his family, the right of use of highways, the validation of contracts, the rights, privileges and use of multitudinous relations safeguarded by the common law and the statute, it is the State, not the United States, which has first place, and, consequently, constitutional priority. The exact line of division between State and federal powers is not known. The principle which rules in every attempt to fix this line is that the enumeration of rights and powers in a constitution,—State or federal,—“shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people”[406] of the State or of the United States. 145. The essential doctrine, here, is set forth by the Supreme Court in a decision which gives almost unlimited power to Congress in certain cases (its power over a Territory, or possession of the United States): There are certain principles of natural justice inherent in the Anglo-Saxon character which need no expression in constitutions or statutes to give them effect, or to secure dependencies against legislation manifestly hostile to their real interests.... The wisdom and discretion of Congress, their identity with the people, and the influence which their constituents possess at elections, are in this, as in many other instances,—as that for example, of declaring war,—the sole restraints on which they have relied to secure them from its abuse. They are the _restraints on which the people must often solely rely in all representative government_.[407] The limitation of powers delegated by the people of the United States, in the federal Constitution, or of a State, in its constitution, implies a delegation of powers adequate to performance of legitimate civil functions. The large question involved in every case of a constitutional nature, or constitutional construction, is whether in the discharge of a function, or an office, the government, or any department of it is transcending its delegated powers. This question is of the essence of constitutional law and judicial interpretation.