Afterquotingthewordsoftheamendment，whichare，\"thejudicialpoweroftheUnitedStatesshallnotbeconstruedtoextendtoanysuitinlaworequity，commencedorprosecutedagainstoneofthestatesbycitizensofanotherstate，orbycitizensorsubjectsofanyforeignstate，\"theopinionproceeds：\"Itisapartofourhistory，that，attheadoptionoftheconstitution，allthestatesweregreatlyindebted；andtheapprehension，thatthesedebtsmightbeprosecutedinthefederalcourts，formedaveryseriousobjectiontothatinstrument。Suitswereinstituted；andthecourtmaintaineditsjurisdiction。Thealarmwasgeneral；and，toquietthe[*3：592]
apprehensions，thatweresoextensivelyentertained，thisamendmentwasproposedinCongress，andadoptedbythestatelegislatures。Thatitsmotivewasnottomaintainthesovereigntyofastatefromthedegradation，supposedtoattendacompulsoryappearancebeforethetribunalofthenation，maybeinferredfromthetermsoftheamendment。Itdoesnotcomprehendcontroversiesbetweentwoormorestates，orbetweenastateandaforeignstate。Thejurisdictionofthecourtstillextendstothesecases；andintheseastatemaystillbesued。Wemustascribetheamendment，then，tosomeothercause，thanthedignityofastate。Thereisnodifficultyinfindingthiscause。Those，whowereinhibitedfromcommencingasuitagainstastate，orfromprosecutingone，whichmightbecommencedbeforetheadoptionoftheamendment，werepersons，whomightprobablybeitscreditors。Therewasnotmuchreasontofear，thatforeignorsisterstateswouldbecreditorstoanyconsiderableamount；andtherewasreasontoretainthejurisdictionofthecourtinthosecases，becauseitmightbeessentialtothepreservationofpeace。Theamendment，therefore，extendedtosuitscommenced，orprosecutedbyindividuals，butnottothosebroughtbystates。
Sec。1717。\"Thefirstimpressionmadeonthemindbythisamendmentis，thatitwasintendedforthosecases，andforthoseonly，inwhichsomedemandagainstastateismadebyanindividualinthecourtsoftheUnion。Ifweconsiderthecauses，towhichitistobetraced，weareconductedtothesameconclusion。Ageneralinterestmightwellbefeltinleavingtoastatethefullpowerofconsultingitsconvenienceintheadjustmentofitsdebts，orof[*3：593]otherclaimsuponit；butnointerestcouldbefeltinsochangingtherelationsbetweenthewholeanditsparts，astostripthegovernmentofthemeansofprotecting，bytheinstrumentalityofitscourts，theconstitutionandlawsfromactiveviolation。
Sec。1718。\"Thewordsoftheamendmentappeartothecourttojustifyandrequirethisconstruction。Thejudicialpowerisnot’toextendtoanysuitinlaworequity，commenced，orprosecutedagainstoneoftheUnitedStatesbycitizensofanotherstate，etc。’
Sec。1719。\"Whatisasuit？Weunderstandittobetheprosecution，orpursuit，ofsomeclaim，demand，orrequest。Inlawlanguage，itistheprosecutionofsomedemandinacourtofjustice。Theremedyforeveryspeciesofwrongis，saysJudgeBlackstone，’thebeingputinpossessionofthatrightwhereofthepartyinjuredisdeprived。’’Theinstruments，wherebythisremedyisobtained，areadiversityofsuitsandactions，whicharedefinedbytheMirrortobe\"thelawfuldemandofone’sright；\"