Clause 6.—Commercial Restrictions.
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.
This provision has the same object in view as that which requires duties to be uniform—the impartial treatment of the several states. It shows, too, the fear felt by many that the general government might show partiality.
The latter part of the clause virtually establishes free trade among the states.
Clause 7.—Care of Public Funds.
No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall he published from time to time.
There are two great purposes to be subserved by this provision: First, to impose upon those handling the money a feeling of responsibility, and thus to increase the probability of carefulness; second, to prevent the use of public funds for any purpose except those authorized by the representatives of the people. This is in harmony with the provision which gives to congress the power to raise money.
Incidentally, too, this is a protector of our liberties. Those who have charge of the public purse are appointees of the president. But for this provision he might, as rulers in arbitrary governments do, use the public treasury to accomplish his own private purposes; and one of these purposes might be the overthrow of our liberties. This thought undoubtedly was a prominent one in the minds of the framers of the constitution.
The account of receipts and expenditures is reported to congress annually by the secretary of the treasury.
Clause 8.—Titles of Nobility.