Navigation Laws

of the United States. In the Convention of 1787 a compromise was effected between the New England members, who desired that the Federal Government might have the power to regulate commerce, and the Southern members, who desired the slave trade to be kept open for atime. Thus the Constitution gave Congre power to pa navigation laws. By Act of 1789 a tonnage tax of six cents per ton was levied on all American ve els, and one of fifty cents a ton on all ve els built and owned in foreign countries and entering American ports. In 1792 the act requiring American registration was pa ed, In 1793 the coasting trade was closed to foreign ve els. In 1816, 1817 and 1820 the American navigation laws were made still more closely like those of Great Britain. Tonnage taxes were renewed at the time of the outbreak of the Civit War, and were raised to thirty cents a ton.