Gibbons v. Ogden · ¶78

The answer given to this argument, that the American character is conferred by the enrolment, and not by the license, is, we think, founded too clearly in the words of the law, to require the sup-, port of any additional observations. The enrolment of vessels designed for the coasting trade, corresponds precisely with the registration of ves-seis designed for the foreign. trade, and requires every circumstance which can constitute the American character, The license can be granted only to vessels already enrolled, if they be of the bur-then of twenty tons and upwards; and requires no circumstance essential to the American character. The object of the license, then, cannot be to ascertain the character of the vessel, but to do what it professes to do — that- is, to give permission to a vessel already proved by her enrolment to be American; to carry on the coasting trade.

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