The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America Part 34

~1718, Feb. 22. Pennsylvania: Duty Act.~

"An Act for continuing a duty on Negroes brought into this province."

Carey and Bioren, _Laws_, I. 118.

~1719, March 20. South Carolina: 10 Duty Act.~

"An Act for laying an Imposition on Negroes, Liquors, and other Goods and Merchandizes, imported, and exported out of this Province, for the raising of a Fund of Money towards the defraying the Publick Charges and Expences of this Government; as also to Repeal several Duty Acts, and Clauses and Paragraphs of Acts, as is herein mentioned." This repeals former duty acts (e.g. that of 1714), and lays a duty of 10 on African slaves, and 30 on American slaves. Cooper, _Statutes_, III. 56.

~1721, Sept. 21. South Carolina: 10 Duty Act.~

"An Act for granting to His Majesty a Duty and Imposition on Negroes, Liquors, and other Goods and Merchandize, imported into and exported out of this Province." This was a continuation of the Act of 1719. _Ibid._, III. 159.

~1722, Feb. 23. South Carolina: 10 Duty Act.~

"An Act for Granting to His Majesty a Duty and Imposition on Negroes, Liquors, and other Goods and Merchandizes, for the use of the Publick of this Province."

-- 1. " ... on all negro slaves imported from Africa directly, or any other place whatsoever, Spanish negroes excepted, if above ten years of age, ten pounds; on all negroes under ten years of age, (sucking children excepted) five pounds," etc.

-- 3. "And whereas, it has proved to the detriment of some of the inhabitants of this Province, who have purchased negroes imported here from the Colonies of America, that they were either transported thence by the Courts of justice, or sent off by private persons for their ill behaviour and misdemeanours, to prevent which for the future,

"_Be it enacted_ by the authority aforesaid, That all negroes imported in this Province from any part of America, after the ratification of this Act, above ten years of age, shall pay unto the Publick Receiver as a duty, the sum of fifty pounds, and all such negroes under the age of ten years, (sucking children excepted) the sum of five pounds of like current money, unless the owner or agent shall produce a testimonial under the hand and seal of any Notary Publick of the Colonies or plantations from whence such negroes came last, before whom it was proved upon oath, that the same are new negroes, and have not been six months on sh.o.a.r in any part of America," etc.

-- 4. "And whereas, the importation of Spanish Indians, mustees, negroes, and mulattoes, may be of dangerous consequence by inticing the slaves belonging to the inhabitants of this Province to desert with them to the Spanish settlements near us,

"_Be it therefore enacted_ That all such Spanish negroes, Indians, mustees, or mulattoes, so imported into this Province, shall pay unto the Publick Receiver, for the use of this Province, a duty of one hundred and fifty pounds, current money of this Province."

-- 19. Rebate of three-fourths of the duty allowed in case of re-exportation in six months.

-- 31. Act of 1721 repealed.

-- 36. This act to continue in force for three years, and thence to the end of the next session of the General a.s.sembly, and no longer. Cooper, _Statutes_, III. 193.

~1722, May 12. Pennsylvania: Duty Act.~

"An Act for laying a duty on Negroes imported into this province." Carey and Bioren, _Laws_, I. 165.

~1723, May. Virginia: Duty Act.~

"An Act for laying a Duty on Liquors and Slaves." t.i.tle only; repealed by proclamation Oct. 27, 1724. Hening, _Statutes_, IV. 118.

~1723, June 18. Rhode Island: Back Duties Collected.~

Resolve appointing the attorney-general to collect back duties on Negroes. _Colonial Records_, IV. 330.

~1726, March 5. Pennsylvania: 10 Duty Act.~

"An Act for the better regulating of Negroes in this province." Carey and Bioren, _Laws_, I. 214; Bettle, _Notices of Negro Slavery_, in _Penn. Hist. Soc. Mem._ (1864), I. 388.

~1726, March 5. Pennsylvania: Duty Act.~

"An Act for laying a duty on Negroes imported into this province." Carey and Bioren, _Laws_, I. 213.

~1727, February. Virginia: Prohibitive Duty Act (?).~

"An Act for laying a Duty on Slaves imported; and for appointing a Treasurer." t.i.tle only found; the duty was probably prohibitive; it was enacted with a suspending clause, and was not a.s.sented to by the king.

Hening, _Statutes_, IV. 182.

~1728, Aug. 31. New York: 2 and 4 Duty Act.~

"An Act to repeal some Parts and to continue and enforce other Parts of the Act therein mentioned, and for granting several Duties to His Majesty, for supporting His Government in the Colony of New York" from Sept. 1, 1728, to Sept. 1, 1733. Same duty continued by Act of 1732.

_Laws of New York, 1691-1773_, pp. 148, 171; _Doc. rel. Col. Hist. New York_, VI. 32, 33, 34, 37, 38.

~1728, Sept. 14. Ma.s.sachusetts: Act of 1705 Strengthened.~

"An Act more effectually to secure the Duty on the Importation of Negroes." For seven years; substantially the same law re-enacted Jan.

26, 1738, for ten years. _Ma.s.s. Province Laws, 1728-9_, ch. 16; _1738-9_, ch. 27.

~1729, May 10. Pennsylvania: 40s. Duty Act.~

"An Act for laying a Duty on Negroes imported into this Province." _Laws of Pennsylvania_ (ed. 1742), p. 354, ch. 287.

~1732, May. Rhode Island: Repeal of Act of 1712.~

"Whereas, there was an act made and pa.s.sed by the General a.s.sembly, at their session, held at Newport, the 27th day of February, 1711 [O.S., N.S. = 1712], ent.i.tled 'An Act for laying a duty on negro slaves that shall be imported into this colony,' and this a.s.sembly being directed by His Majesty's instructions to repeal the same;--

"Therefore, be it enacted by the General a.s.sembly ... that the said act ... be, and it is hereby repealed, made null and void, and of none effect for the future." If this is the act mentioned under Act of 1708, the t.i.tle is wrongly cited; if not, the act is lost. _Colonial Records_, IV. 471.

~1732, May. Virginia: Five per cent Duty Act.~

"An Act for laying a Duty upon Slaves, to be paid by the Buyers." For four years; continued and slightly amended by Acts of 1734, 1736, 1738, 1742, and 1745; revived February, 1752, and continued by Acts of November, 1753, February, 1759, November, 1766, and 1769; revived (or continued?) by Act of February, 1772, until 1778. Hening, _Statutes_, IV. 317, 394, 469; V. 28, 160, 318; VI. 217, 353; VII. 281; VIII. 190, 336, 530.

~1734, November. New York: Duty Act.~