The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America Part 41

-- 3. Such slaves cannot be sold within three years, except by will, etc.

In 1797, "A Supplementary Act," etc., slightly amended the preceding, allowing guardians, executors, etc., to import the slaves of the estate.

Dorsey, _Laws_, I. 334, 344.

~1796, Dec. 19. South Carolina: Importation Prohibited until 1799.~

"An Act to prohibit the importation of Negroes, until the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine."

"Whereas, it appears to be highly impolitic to import negroes from Africa, or other places beyond seas," etc. Extended by acts of Dec. 21, 1798, and Dec. 20, 1800, until Jan. 1, 1803. Cooper, _Statutes_, VII.

434, 436.

~1797, Jan. 18. Delaware: Codification of Acts.~

"An Act concerning Negro and Mulatto slaves."

-- 5. " ... any Negro or Mulatto slave, who hath been or shall be brought into this state contrary to the intent and meaning of [the act of 1787]; and any Negro or Mulatto slave who hath been or shall be exported, or sold with an intention for exportation, or carried out for sale from this state, contrary to the intent and meaning of [the act of 1793], shall be, and are hereby declared free; any thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding." _Laws of Delaware_ (ed. 1797), p. 1321, ch.

124 c.

~1798, Jan. 31. Georgia: Importation Prohibited.~

"An act to prohibit the further importation of slaves into this state."

-- 1. " ... six months after the pa.s.sing of this act, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to import into this state, from Africa or elsewhere, any negro or negroes of any age or s.e.x." Every person so offending shall forfeit for the first offence the sum of $1,000 for every negro so imported, and for every subsequent offence the sum of $1,000, one half for the use of the informer, and one half for the use of the State.

-- 2. Slaves not to be brought from other States for sale after three months.

-- 3. Persons convicted of bringing slaves into this State with a view to sell them, are subject to the same penalties as if they had sold them.

Marbury and Crawford, _Digest_, p. 440.

~1798, March 14. New Jersey: Slave-Trade Prohibited.~

"An Act respecting slaves."

-- 12. "_And be it enacted_, That from and after the pa.s.sing of this act, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever, to bring into this state, either for sale or for servitude, any negro or other slave whatsoever." Penalty, $140 for each slave; travellers and temporary residents excepted.

-- 17. Any persons fitting out vessels for the slave-trade shall forfeit them. Paterson, _Digest_, p. 307.

~1798, April 7. United States Statute: Importation into Mississippi Territory Prohibited.~

"An Act for an amicable settlement of limits with the state of Georgia, and authorizing the establishment of a government in the Mississippi territory." _Statutes at Large_, I. 549. For proceedings in Congress, see _Annals of Cong._, 5 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 532, 533, 1235, 1249, 1277-84, 1296, 1298-1312, 1313, 1318.

~1798, May 30. Georgia: Const.i.tutional Prohibition.~

Const.i.tution of Georgia:--

Art. IV -- 11. "There shall be no future importation of slaves into this state from Africa, or any foreign place, after the first day of October next. The legislature shall have no power to pa.s.s laws for the emanc.i.p.ation of slaves, without the consent of each of their respective owners previous to such emanc.i.p.ation. They shall have no power to prevent emigrants, from either of the United States to this state, from bringing with them such persons as may be deemed slaves, by the laws of any one of the United States." Marbury and Crawford, _Digest_, p. 30.

~1800, May 10. United States Statute: Americans Forbidden to Trade from one Foreign Country to Another.~

"An Act in addition to the act int.i.tuled 'An act to prohibit the carrying on the Slave Trade from the United States to any foreign place or country.'" _Statutes at Large_, II. 70. For proceedings in Congress, see _Senate Journal_ (repr. 1821), 6 Cong. 1 sess. III. 72, 77, 88, 92.

~1800, Dec. 20. South Carolina: Slaves and Free Negroes Prohibited.~

"An Act to prevent Negro Slaves and other persons of Colour, from being brought into or entering this State." Supplemented Dec. 19, 1801, and amended Dec. 18, 1802. Cooper, _Statutes_, VII. 436, 444, 447.

~1801, April 8. New York: Slave-Trade Prohibited.~

"An Act concerning slaves and servants."

" ... _And be it further enacted_, That no slave shall hereafter be imported or brought into this State, unless the person importing or bringing such slave shall be coming into this State with intent to reside permanently therein and shall have resided without this State, and also have owned such slave at least during one year next preceding the importing or bringing in of such slave," etc. A certificate, sworn to, must be obtained; any violation of this act or neglect to take out such certificate will result in freedom to the slave. Any sale or limited transfer of any person hereafter imported to be a public offence, under penalty of $250, and freedom to the slave transferred.

The export of slaves or of any person freed by this act is forbidden, under penalty of $250 and freedom to the slave. Transportation for crime is permitted. Re-enacted with amendments March 31, 1817. _Laws of New York, 1801_ (ed. 1887), pp. 547-52; _Laws of New York, 1817_ (ed. 1817), p. 136.

~1803, Feb. 28. United States Statute: Importation into States Prohibiting Forbidden.~

"An Act to prevent the importation of certain persons into certain states, where, by the laws thereof, their admission is prohibited."

_Statutes at Large_, II. 205. For copy of the proposed bill which this replaced, see _Annals of Cong._, 7 Cong. 2 sess. p. 467. For proceedings in Congress, see _House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 7 Cong. 2 sess. IV 304, 324, 347; _Senate Journal_ (repr. 1821), 7 Cong. 2 sess. III. 267, 268, 269-70, 273, 275, 276, 279.

~1803, Dec. 17. South Carolina: African Slaves Admitted.~

"An Act to alter and amend the several Acts respecting the importation or bringing into this State, from beyond seas, or elsewhere, Negroes and other persons of colour; and for other purposes therein mentioned."

-- 1. Acts of 1792, 1794, 1796, 1798, 1800, 1802, hereby repealed.

-- 2. Importation of Negroes from the West Indies prohibited.

-- 3. No Negro over fifteen years of age to be imported from the United States except under certificate of good character.

-- 5. Negroes illegally imported to be forfeited and sold, etc. Cooper, _Statutes_, VII. 449.

~1804.~ [~Denmark.~

Act of 1792 abolis.h.i.+ng the slave-trade goes into effect.]

~1804, Feb. 14. Congress (House): Proposed Censure of South Carolina.~

Representative Moore of South Carolina offered the following resolution, as a subst.i.tute to Mr. Bard's taxing proposition of Jan. 6:--