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Show 88 on inland waters were a logical and largely unavoidable conse- quence of our geography and system of government. The eco- nomic confusion in business relations during the period im- mediately prior to establishment of the Constitution brought the colonies within the shadow of commercial destruction.81 One sequel, as already indicated, was the constitutional dele- gation to Congress of the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce.82 Another was the constitutional insurance against imposition by the states of oppressive tariffs and embargoes.83 These developments, coupled with our westward growth, ac- centuated demands for federal navigation improvements.84 Even before the Supreme Court's historic opinion in Gibbons v. Ogden,85 Congress in 1820 appropriated funds for a survey of certain tributaries to the Mississippi and of portions of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.86 And in 1824 came congressional authorization for a survey of such roads and canals as the Presi- dent might deem of national importance, together with an ap- propriation for removal of obstructions from the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.87 In the same year, President Monroe recom- mended a plan for connecting various parts of the country by a network of roads, canals, and improved rivers.88 813 Channing, History of the United States, ch. 15 (1912) ; Fiske, The Critical Pebiod of Amebican History, ch. 4 (1888); Nevins, The American States During and After the Revolution, pp. 555-568 (1924) ; Warren, The Making of the Constitution, pp. 85-88 (1928). 82 See supra, pp. 8-29. 88 "No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress." U. S. Const., Art I, § 10, cl. 2. u See supra n. 19, p. 9. * 9 Wheat. 1 (U. S. 1824). See supra, pp. 9-10. 84 Act of April 14, 1820, 3 Stat. 562, 563. The report on this work by the Board of Engineers was communicated to Congress in 1823 by President Monroe. 2 Richardson, Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 199 (1896); 2 American State Papers: Commerce & Navigation, pp. 740-746 (1834). w Act of May 24,1824, 4 Stat. 32. M2 American State Papers: Military Affairs, pp. 698-701 (1824); 2 Richardson, op. cit., supra, n. 86, at pp. 255, 257. |