... question, then, to-day, turns on the power of the United States over the political rights ofcitizens the whole question then, to-day, turns on the supreme authority of the National Constitution. The ... are granted by the people,and are to be exercised strictly on them, and for their benefit.Story asks, "Who are the parties to this great contract?" and answers the question by saying, ... demandedtheir freedom, and their masters granted it. The slavery of men and women, both, was thus destroyed inMassachusetts without intention on the part of the framers of the Constitution, and...