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Constitutional Law Keyed to Rotunda
Whitney v. Robertson
Citation:
124 U.S. 190 (1888)Facts
The plaintiffs, merchants doing business in New York, imported a large quantity of “centrifugal and molasses sugars,” the produce and manufacture of the island of San Domingo. The goods were similar in kind to sugars produced in the Hawaiian Islands, which are admitted free of duty under the treaty with the king of those islands, and the act of Congress. They were duly entered at the custom house at the port of New York. The plaintiffs argue that the goods should be admitted free by the treaty with the Republic of San Domingo. The defendant, the collector of the port, refused to allow the plaintiffs’ claim and treated their goods as dutiable articles under the acts of Congress.
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Topic Resources
Topic Outline
Powers of CongressTopic Refresher Course
Introduction to Congressional Powers