...attention of the government of the United States. By the ordinance of 1787, Congress declared that " the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...places between the same, shall be common highways and for ever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States,...

...declared that "All navigable waters leading into the St. Lawrence and Mississippi, and the carrying-places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the territory as the citizens of the United States, or those of any other state that may be admitted into...

...nor with any regulation which Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States ; nor shall lands belonging to persons residing out of the limits of this State ever be taxed at a...

...guaranteed free access to and use of our Nation's waterways. The Congress stated in that famous document : The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...the same shall be common highways and forever free, as well to the citizens of the United States and those of any other states that may be admitted into...

...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...

...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...

...United States Constitution, the principle was stated in the Northwest Ordinance, on July 13, 1787 : "The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi...Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall I*- common highways and forever free, as well as to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the...

...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,...