Gibbons v. Ogden · ¶122

But, it ié almost labouring to prove a self-evident proposition, since the sense of mankind, the practice of the world, the contemporaneous assumption, and continued exercise of the power, and universal aequiesce'nce, have so clearly established the right of Congress over navigation, arid the transportation of both, men and their goods, as not only incidental to, but actually of the essence of, the power to regulate commerce. As to the transportation of passengers,. and passengers in a steam boat, I consider it as having been solemnly recognised by the State of New-York, as a.subject both of commercial regulation and of revenue. She has imposed a transit duty upon steam boat passengers arriving at Albany, and unless this be done in the exercise of her control over personal intercourse, as incident to internal commerce, I know not on what principle the individual has been subjected to…

U. S. Reports, bound volume
U. S. Reports, volume 22, at 1 (Library of Congress) · transcription: Caselaw Access Project
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