Just Where Exactly Is This State, Anyway?
- The argument about Missouri had dragged on for nearly half a year before the Compromise was finally passed, so Congress had pretty well ironed out just about every possible detail worth mentioning. And we mean every. possible. detail.
- Perhaps the most important (a least for Missourians) was establishing the boundaries of this new state. Sure, as a territory they could get away with fudging things, but a state's borders had to be concrete.
- Missouri was lucky in this to have a series of waterways that acted as natural borders which acted as the primary definers of the new state's boundaries.
- One part of all this might not stick out much, but it was a fairly foresighted measure. These waterways were the boundaries of the state, and so were a part of it. But they weren't owned by Missouri. The Compromise stipulates that all such waterways for any current or future states which share them as a border would serve as common highways.
- This was a big deal, as it also stipulates that such waterways were free of "any tax, duty impost, or toll, therefor, imposed by said state" (2.2).
- This recognition of waterways as a natural highway would have later implications on interpretations of the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which gives the Federal government power over any sort of interstate trade.