We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void...This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional...
This decision of the Supreme Court upheld the principle that
the federal government and the state governments are equal
the federal government alone may levy taxes
Congress has the power to make laws to carry out its constitutional duties
taxation without representation is unconstitutional