According to James Madison, particularly in the context of the Federalist Papers, the correct answer would be: the powers of the national government are few while the powers of the states are many.
Madison argued for a system of federalism in which the national government would have limited, enumerated powers while reserving a broader array of powers to the states. This distinction is foundational to the Constitution and reflects the principle of limited government. The powers of the national government are specifically outlined in the Constitution, while states retain many powers not explicitly granted to the federal government.