"Jones, so far as I am concerned, and so far as the government is concerned, your question is hardly pertinent. You are already a Confederate soldier by your own free act. Your only chance to keep from serving is to get yourself killed, or at least disabled; I will not suggest desertion. For your sake, however, I am ready to answer any question you may ask about the causes of the war. You ought to have your mind satisfied, if it be possible." "What are they fighting about?" "Do you recall the manner in which the United States came into existence?" "Yes, I think so," said I. "Tell me." "The colonies rebelled against Great Britain and won their independence in war," said I. "Well; what then?" "The colonies sent delegates to a convention, and the delegates framed a constitution." "Well; what then?" "The colonies agreed to abide by the constitution." "That is to say, the Colonies, or States, ratified the action of the constitutional convention?" he asked. "Yes; that is what I mean," said I. "Then do you think the States created the general government? Think a little before you answer." "Why should I think? It seems plain enough." "Yet I will present an alternative. Did the States create the Federal government, or did the people of the whole United States, acting as a body-politic, create it?" "Your alternative seems contradictory," said I. "In what respect?" "It makes the United States exist before the United States came into existence," said I. "Then what would your answer be?" "The people of each colony, or each State rather, sent delegates. The delegates, representing the respective States, framed the constitution. The people, if I mistake not, ratified the constitution, each State voting separately. Therefore I think that the United States government is a creature of the States and not of the people as a body-politic; for there could have been no such body-politic." "Jones, my dear fellow, you are a constitutional lawyer; you ought never to have entered military service." "Besides," said I, "Rhode Island and North Carolina refused for a time to enter into the agreement." "And suppose they had refused finally. Would, the other States have compelled them to come in?" he asked. "I cannot say as to that," said I. "Do you think they would have had the moral right to coerce them?" "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?"