The latter part of the clause virtually establishes free trade among the states.

Clause 7.—­Care of Public Funds.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall he published from time to time.

There are two great purposes to be subserved by this provision:  First, to impose upon those handling the money a feeling of responsibility, and thus to increase the probability of carefulness; second, to prevent the use of public funds for any purpose except those authorized by the representatives of the people.  This is in harmony with the provision which gives to congress the power to raise money.

Incidentally, too, this is a protector of our liberties.  Those who have charge of the public purse are appointees of the president.  But for this provision he might, as rulers in arbitrary governments do, use the public treasury to accomplish his own private purposes; and one of these purposes might be the overthrow of our liberties.  This thought undoubtedly was a prominent one in the minds of the framers of the constitution.

The account of receipts and expenditures is reported to congress annually by the secretary of the treasury.

Clause 8.—­Titles of Nobility.

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States;[1] and no person holding an office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state[2]_.

[1] This is in harmony with the principle “All men are created equal.”  And, while in society there are classes and grades based upon learning, wealth, etc., we intend that all shall be equal before the law, that there shall be no “privileged classes.”

[2] The purpose of this is evident—­to free public officers from blandishments, which are many times the precursors of temptations to treason.

An amendment to the constitution was proposed in 1811, prohibiting any citizen from receiving any kind of office or present from a foreign power, but it was not ratified.

SECTION X.—­PROHIBITIONS ON THE STATES.

Clause 1.—­Unconditional Prohibitions.

No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation;[1] grant letters of marque and reprisal;[2] coin money;[3] emit bills of credit;[4] make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts;[5] pass any bill of attainder,[6] ex post facto law,[6] or law impairing the obligation of contracts,[7] or grant any title of nobility.[6]

[1] Otherwise the intrigues of foreign nations would soon break up the Union.

[2] Had the states this power, it would be possible for any one of them to involve the whole country in war.