...United States Constitution, the principle was stated in the Northwest Ordinance, on July 13, 1787 : "The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...the same, shall be common highways and forever free. . . .'' One of the first acts of the new Congress was to re-enact the Northwest Ordinance statement...

...or territory now or hereafter to be formed, and bounded by the same; and the river Mississippi and the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the state as to the citizens of the United States, without any tax, impost or duty therefor. Territorial...

...or territory now or hereafter to be formed, and bounded by the same; and the river Mississippi and the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the state as to the citizens of the United States, without any tax, impost or duty therefor. Territorial...

...securing the title in such soil to the bond fide purchasers. No taxes shall be imposed on the lands and property of the United States ; and in no case shall...navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and Saint Lawrence, and the conveying-places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free,...

...or territory now or hereafter to be formed, and bounded by the same; and the river Mississippi and the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the state as to the citizens of the United States, without any tax, impost or duty therefor. Territorial...

...or territory now or hereafter to be formed, and bounded by the same; and the river Mississippi and the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the state as to the citizens of the United States, without any tax, impost or duty therefor. Territorial...

...Mississippi and the St. Lawrence. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 states : The navigable waterways leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and...same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well as to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States and those...

...Mississippi and the St. Lawrence. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 states : The navigable waterways leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence^ and...same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well as to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States and those...

...States.42 It was from the same concept that some of the language of the Northwest Ordinance was taken: [T]he navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...territory as to the citizens of the United States . . . without any tax, impost, or duty therefor.43 An allied principle holds that certain interests...

...instrument is: 'That all of the navigable waters leading into the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi, and the carrying places between the same, shall be...and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the territory as the citizens of the United States, or those of any other stnte that may be admitted into...