James Madison discusses the country's relationship with foreign nations, both in commerce and diplomacy. The Constitution improved on the Articles of Confederation by not allowing individual states to regulate treaties, and it gives the Federal Government the power to not only appoint and receive ambassadors, but lower ranking officials as well.
Another improvement the Constitution made gives the Federal Government the power to punish piracy and other felonies on the high seas, and enforce international law, keeping individual states from getting the whole country in trouble with foreign nations. States are not given the power to regulate trade from state to state, and only the Federal Government has the authority to coin and regulate money.
In this paper James Madison is quite clear on his desire to abolish slavery. He is disappointed they were unable to stop the slave trade before 1808, but hoped during that 20 year period the Federal Government would possibly be able to abolish slavery altogether. Of course, we know that didn't happen, but we do know a good many of the founders were against slavery. With the heavily economic dependence on slavery for some of the states and the general acceptance of it at the time it is understandable why they didn't press for abolition to be included in the Constitution. If they would have made it a requirement, ratification probably would NEVER have happened, leaving our country vulnerable to be overtaken and lost.
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