3.  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the
several  states,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes."  Upon  this  general
grant  a  limitation  is  placed  :  "  No  preference  shall  be  given,
by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or  revenue  to  the  ports  of  one
state  over  those  of  another ;  nor  shall  vessels  bound  to  or  from
one  state,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another."
Many  of  the  provisions  on  the  subject  of  taxation,  both  relating
tc  the  nation  and  to  the  states,  which  were  cited  and  com-
1  13  Howard's  K.  12.
206  NATUEB  or  THE  POWER.
mented  upon  in  Section  I.  of  this  chapter,  have  also  an  inti-
mate connection  with  the  subject  of  commerce.  The  laying
and  collection  of  duties  on  imports  and  exports,  with  all  the
necessary  retinue  of  incidents,  are  plainly  a  part  of  the  means
appropriate  to  the  regulation  of  commerce.
§  322.  One  great  cause  of  the  utter  prostration  of  business
in  the  Confederation  which  preceded  the  present  Union,  was
the  fact  that  the  Congress  had  no  power  whatever  over  the
subject  of  commerce.  Each  state  made  such  laws  as  it  saw
fit.  Under  the  injurious  and  destructive  influence  of  state
pride,  unseemly  ri\ralries  sprang  up;  one  commonwealth  com-
peted with  another ;  one  attempted  by  more  favorable  naviga-
tion laws  and  reduced  duties,  to  increase  its  own  trade  at  the
expense  of  its  sister  states.  There  was  no  unity,  no  bond  of
common  feeling  or  interest.
