Some of the 10 amendments were, some were not. The first Amendment applied only to the Federal Government. The Second Amendment was widely believed to apply to the States. There are a number antebellum State cases that affirm this.
OK, I need you to illustrate how the 1st amendment only applies to the Federal government.
Am I to believe that the States can make laws requiring you to be a Muslim or a Buddhist? Am I to believe that the Stats can ban newspapers and radio stations? Am I to believe the city you live in can restrict your free speech?
Hogwash. I don’t buy it.
That states can enslave black people again if they wanted to? If you honestly believe that the US constitution has some provisions that do not apply to the states as such, then why didn’t the southern states tell the USA, “you have no power to free the slaves in our states since the 13th amendment of your constitution does not apply to us”
Sorry, but that is pure hogwash. All of the amendments apply to all state and local governments. The only provisions that don’t apply to the states are the ones that specifically cover only the federal government, such as the three branches of government and the ability to raise armies.
I am stumped how so many intelligent people believe that States are exempt from some general provisions of the Constitution, and especially the amendments, which clearly govern the states.