Article 1, Section 10, Paragraph 2
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.
Congressional Oversight
Congress regulates imports and exports.
Congress is to oversee imports legislation. Any rules the states wish to have must be evaluated by Congress to make sure they are fair and equitable to all and even-handedly applied. This also gives other states an opportunity to halt rules they cannot follow. Citizens can also be represented, so they are not ignored.
There could be a real problem if one state provided "incentives" for importers and exporters. The room for competitiveness over port fees and rules could lead to serious problems. Some states might turn a "blind eye" to the rules and allow the country to be flooded by illegal and improper imports.
Congress recognized that much of the policing of imports would have to be done at the state level, but failed to realize it needed better control than a state government could provide. Coastguards and border patrols have proven historically to be porous organizations, allowing a constant flood of illegal goods and people to come into a country or state. This results in illegal immigrants finding their way into our cities and homes as burglars, rapists, murderers, etc.
America was founded on the ideal of individual vigilance. Each family must stand up for what is right and be willing to protect his property and land against improper occupants. This included keeping the government in check. Laziness and public education has shifted this responsibility in our minds from the personal level to the federal level.
Joshua made a rallying cry that should be constantly given to citizens of a country. The whole issue of imports would evaporate if we rejected foreign gods and supporting such heathen cultures with our money. It would dry up the immoral and illegal importation of persons and harmful substances if covetousness was purged from Americans' lives.
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