Article VI. No State, without the consent of the united States in Congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any King, Prince or State; nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust under the united States, or any of them, accept any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any King, Prince or foreign State; nor shall the United States in congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.
No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the united States in congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue.
No State shall lay any imposts or duties, which may interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered into by the united States in congress assembled, with any King, Prince or State, in pursuance of any treaties already proposed by congress, to the courts of France and Spain.
No vessel of war shall be kept up in time of peace by any State, except such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by the united States in congress assembled, for the defense of such State, or its trade; nor shall any body of forces be kept up by any State in time of peace, except such number only, as in the judgement of the united States, in congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts necessary for the defense of such State; but every State shall always keep up a well-regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutered, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage.
No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the united States in congress assembled, unless such State be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of Indians to invade such State, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay till the united States in congress assembled can be consulted; nor shall any State grant commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be after a declaration of war by the united States in congress assembled, and then only against the kingdom or State and the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under such regulations as shall be established by the united States in congress assembled, unless such State be infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, or until the united States in congress assembled shall determine otherwise.
The 6th Article establishes what areas the Federal government should have control over. Specifically: Diplomacy; Treaties; Military Forces; and War.
While the founding fathers wanted the people in the individual states to have a great deal of power to self govern, they understood that there are somethings that should be handled by a central governing body. Hypothetically, if the state of New York entered in to a treaty with Portugal, whom had declared Massachusetts and enemy, this could cause great conflict.
And likewise, having individual states maintain their own Navies could cause great confusion in command structure during military actions against another country. Or worse yet, states could make war on one another.
I am a fervent supporter of State's rights, but I do understand the need for some measure of control over certain areas of governance. In some matters, the States must be protected from themselves and one another. And in many other areas the States must assert their authority over their own governance.
The Founding Fathers, while far from perfect, did have a great deal of foresight and wisdom. They thoroughly thought the governance of these United States through to great detail.
May The Force Be With You.
God Bless America.
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