The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America Part 50

-- 5. "_Resolved_, That when a s.h.i.+p belonging to the citizens of any State of this Union leaves the waters and territory of such State, and enters upon the high seas, the persons on board cease to be subject to the slave laws of such State, and therefore are governed in their relations to each other by, and are amenable to, the laws of the United States."

-- 6. _Resolved_, That the slaves in the brig Creole are amenable only to the laws of the United States.

-- 7. _Resolved_, That those slaves by resuming their natural liberty violated no laws of the United States.

-- 8. _Resolved_, That all attempts to re-enslave them are unconst.i.tutional, etc.

Moved that these resolutions lie on the table; defeated, 53 to 125. Mr.

Giddings withdrew the resolutions. Moved to censure Mr. Giddings, and he was finally censured. _House Journal_, 27 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 567-80.

~1842, May 10. Congress (House): Remonstrance of Mississippi against Right of Search.~

"Mr. Gwin presented resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, against granting the right of search to Great Britain for the purpose of suppressing the African slave trade; urging the Government to demand of the British Government redress and rest.i.tution in relation to the case of the brig Creole and the slaves on board."

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. _House Journal_, 27 Cong.

2 sess. p. 800.

~1842, Aug. 4. United States Statute: Appropriation.~

"An Act making appropriations for the naval service," etc.

"For carrying into effect the acts for the suppression of the slave trade," etc. $10,543.42. _Statutes at Large_, V. 500, 501.

~1842, Nov. 10. Joint-Cruising Treaty with Great Britain.~

"Treaty to settle and define boundaries; for the final suppression of the African slave-trade; and for the giving up of criminals fugitive from justice. Concluded August 9, 1842; ratifications exchanged at London October 13, 1842; proclaimed November 10, 1842." Articles VIII., and IX. Ratified by the Senate by a vote of 39 to 9, after several unsuccessful attempts to amend it. _U.S. Treaties and Conventions_ (1889), pp. 436-7; _Senate Exec. Journal_, VI. 118-32.

~1842, Dec. 7. President Tyler's Message.~

The treaty of Ghent binds the United States and Great Britain to the suppression of the slave-trade. The Right of Search was refused by the United States, and our Minister in France for that reason protested against the Quintuple Treaty; his conduct had the approval of the administration. On this account the eighth article was inserted, causing each government to keep a flotilla in African waters to enforce the laws. If this should be done by all the powers, the trade would be swept from the ocean. _House Journal_, 27 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 16-7.

~1843, Feb. 22. Congress (Senate): Appropriation Opposed.~

Motion by Mr. Benton, during debate on naval appropriations, to strike out appropriation "for the support of Africans recaptured on the coast of Africa or elsewhere, and returned to Africa by the armed vessels of the United States, $5,000." Lost; similar proposition by Bagby, lost.

Proposition to strike out appropriation for squadron, lost. March 3, bill becomes a law, with appropriation for Africans, but without that for squadron. _Congressional Globe_, 27 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 328, 331-6; _Statutes at Large_, V. 615.

~1845, Feb. 20. President Tyler's Special Message to Congress.~

Message on violations of Brazilian slave-trade laws by Americans. _House Journal_, 28 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 425, 463; _House Doc._, 28 Cong. 2 sess.

IV. No. 148. Cf. _Ibid._, 29 Cong. 1 sess. III. No. 43.

~1846, Aug. 10. United States Statute: Appropriation.~

"For carrying into effect the acts for the suppression of the slave trade, including the support of recaptured Africans, and their removal to their country, twenty-five thousand dollars." _Statutes at Large_, IX. 96.

~1849, Dec. 4. President Taylor's Message.~

"Your attention is earnestly invited to an amendment of our existing laws relating to the African slave-trade, with a view to the effectual suppression of that barbarous traffic. It is not to be denied that this trade is still, in part, carried on by means of vessels built in the United States, and owned or navigated by some of our citizens." _House Exec. Doc._, 31 Cong. 1 sess. III. No. 5, pp. 7-8.

~1850, Aug. 1. Congress (House): Bill for War Steamers.~

"A bill (House, No. 367) to establish a line of war steamers to the coast of Africa for the suppression of the slave trade and the promotion of commerce and colonization." Read twice, and referred to Committee of the Whole. _House Journal_, 31 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 1022, 1158, 1217.

~1850, Dec. 16. Congress (House): Treaty of Was.h.i.+ngton.~

"Mr. Burt, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (No. 28) 'to terminate the eighth article of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain concluded at Was.h.i.+ngton the ninth day of August, 1842.'" Read twice, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. _Ibid._, 31 Cong. 2 sess. p. 64.

~1851, Jan. 22. Congress (Senate): Resolution on Sea Letters.~

"The following resolution, submitted by Mr. Clay the 20th instant, came up for consideration:--

"_Resolved_, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making more effectual provision by law to prevent the employment of American vessels and American seamen in the African slave trade, and especially as to the expediency of granting sea letters or other evidence of national character to American vessels clearing out of the ports of the empire of Brazil for the western coast of Africa."

Agreed to. _Congressional Globe_, 31 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 304-9; _Senate Journal_, 31 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 95, 102-3.

~1851, Feb. 19. Congress (Senate): Bill on Slave-Trade.~

"A bill (Senate, No. 472) concerning the intercourse and trade of vessels of the United States with certain places on the eastern and western coasts of Africa, and for other purposes." Read once. _Senate Journal_, 31 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 42, 45, 84, 94, 159, 193-4; _Congressional Globe_, 31 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 246-7.

~1851, Dec. 3. Congress (House): Bill to Amend Act of 1807.~

Mr. Giddings gave notice of a bill to repeal ---- 9 and 10 of the act to prohibit the importation of slaves, etc. from and after Jan. 1, 1808.

_House Journal_, 32 Cong. 1 sess. p. 42. Cf. _Ibid._, 33 Cong. 1 sess.

p. 147.

~1852, Feb. 5. Alabama: Illegal Importations.~

By code approved on this date:--

---- 2058-2062. If slaves have been imported contrary to law, they are to be sold, and one fourth paid to the agent or informer and the residue to the treasury. An agent is to be appointed to take charge of such slaves, who is to give bond. Pending controversy, he may hire the slaves out. Ormond, _Code of Alabama_, pp. 392-3.

~1853, March 3. Congress (Senate): Appropriation Proposed.~

A bill making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1854. Mr. Underwood offered the following amendment:--