The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America Part 42

"_Resolved_, That this House receive with painful sensibility information that one of the Southern States, by a repeal of certain prohibitory laws, have permitted a traffic unjust in its nature, and highly impolitic in free Governments." Ruled out of order by the chairman of the Committee of the Whole. _Annals of Cong._, 8 Cong. 1 sess. p. 1004.

~1804, Feb. 15. Congress (House): Proposed Duty.~

"_Resolved_, That a tax of ten dollars be imposed on every slave imported into any part of the United States."

"_Ordered_, That a bill, or bills, be brought in, pursuant to the said resolution," etc. Feb. 16 "a bill laying a duty on slaves imported into the United States" was read, but was never considered. _House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 8 Cong. 1 sess. IV 523, 578, 580, 581-2, 585; _Annals of Cong._, 8 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 820, 876, 991, 1012, 1020, 1024-36.

~1804, March 26. United States Statute: Slave-Trade Limited.~

"An Act erecting Louisiana into two territories," etc. Acts of 1794 and 1803 extended to Louisiana. _Statutes at Large_, II. 283. For proceedings in Congress, see _Annals of Cong._, 8 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 106, 211, 223, 231, 233-4, 238, 255, 1038, 1054-68, 1069-79, 1128-30, 1185-9.

~1805, Feb. 15. Ma.s.sachusetts: Proposed Amendment.~

"_Resolve requesting the Governor to transmit to the Senators and Representatives in Congress, and the Executives of the several States this Resolution, as an amendment to the Const.i.tution of the United States, respecting Slaves._" June 8, Governor's message; Connecticut answers that it is inexpedient; Maryland opposes the proposition.

_Ma.s.sachusetts Resolves_, February, 1805, p. 55; June, 1805, p. 18. See below, March 3, 1805.

~1805, March 2. United States Statute: Slave-Trade to Orleans Territory Permitted.~

"An Act further providing for the government of the territory of Orleans."

-- 1. A territorial government erected similar to Mississippi, with same rights and privileges.

-- 5. 6th Article of Ordinance of 1787, on slaves, not to extend to this territory.

_Statutes at Large_, II. 322. For proceedings in Congress, see _Annals of Cong._, 8 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 28, 30, 45-6, 47, 48, 54, 59-61, 69, 727-8, 871-2, 957, 1016-9, 1020-1, 1201, 1209-10, 1211. Cf. _Statutes at Large_, II. 331; _Annals of Cong._, 8 Cong. 2 sess., pp. 50, 51, 52, 57, 68, 69, 1213, 1215. In _Journals_, see Index, Senate Bills Nos. 8, 11.

~1805, March 3. Congress (House): Ma.s.sachusetts Proposition to Amend Const.i.tution.~

Mr. Varnum of Ma.s.sachusetts presented the resolution of the Legislature of Ma.s.sachusetts, "instructing the Senators, and requesting the Representatives in Congress, from the said State, to take all legal and necessary steps, to use their utmost exertions, as soon as the same is practicable, to obtain an amendment to the Federal Const.i.tution, so as to authorize and empower the Congress of the United States to pa.s.s a law, whenever they may deem it expedient, to prevent the further importation of slaves from any of the West India Islands, from the coast of Africa, or elsewhere, into the United States, or any part thereof." A motion was made that Congress have power to prevent further importation; it was read and ordered to lie on the table. _House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 8 Cong. 2 sess. V 171; _Annals of Cong._, 8 Cong.

2 sess. pp. 1221-2. For the original resolution, see _Ma.s.sachusetts Resolves_, May, 1802, to March, 1806, Vol. II. A. (State House ed., p.

239.)

~1805, Dec. 17. Congress (Senate): Proposition to Prohibit Importation.~

A "bill to prohibit the importation of certain persons therein described into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after" Jan. 1, 1808, was read twice and postponed. _Senate Journal_ (repr. 1821), 9 Cong. 1 sess. IV. 10-11; _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 20-1.

~1806, Jan. 20. Congress (House): Vermont Proposed Amendment.~

"Mr. Olin, one of the Representatives from the State of Vermont, presented to the House certain resolutions of the General a.s.sembly of the said State, proposing an article of amendment to the Const.i.tution of the United States, to prevent the further importation of slaves, or people of color, from any of the West India Islands, from the coast of Africa, or elsewhere, into the United States, or any part thereof; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table." No further mention found.

_House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 9 Cong. 1 sess. V 238; _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 343-4.

~1806, Jan. 25. Virginia: Imported Slaves to be Sold.~

"An Act to amend the several laws concerning slaves."

-- 5. If the jury before whom the importer is brought "shall find that the said slave or slaves were brought into this commonwealth, and have remained therein, contrary to the provisions of this act, the court shall make an order, directing him, her or them to be delivered to the overseers of the poor, to be by them sold for cash and applied as herein directed."

-- 8. Penalty for bringing slaves, $400 per slave; the same for buying or hiring, knowingly, such a slave.

-- 16. This act to take effect May 1, 1806. _Statutes at Large of Virginia_, New Series, III. 251.

~1806, Jan. 27. Congress (House): Bill to Tax Slaves Imported.~

"A Bill laying a duty on slaves imported into any of the United States."

Finally dropped. _House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 8 Cong. 2 sess. V. 129; _Ibid._, 9 Cong. 1 sess. V. 195, 223, 240, 242, 243-4, 248, 260, 262, 264, 276-7, 287, 294, 305, 309, 338; _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong. 1 sess.

pp. 273, 274, 346, 358, 372, 434, 442-4, 533.

~1806, Feb. 4. Congress (House): Proposition to Prohibit Slave-Trade after 1807.~

Mr. Bidwell moved that the following section be added to the bill for taxing slaves imported,--that any s.h.i.+p so engaged be forfeited. The proposition was rejected, yeas, 17, nays, 86 (?). _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong. 1 sess. p. 438.

~1806, Feb. 10. Congress (House): New Hamps.h.i.+re Proposed Amendment.~

"Mr. Tenney ... presented to the House certain resolutions of the Legislature of the State of New Hamps.h.i.+re, 'proposing an amendment to the Const.i.tution of the United States, so as to authorize and empower Congress to pa.s.s a law, whenever they may deem it expedient, to prevent the further importation of slaves,' or people of color, into the United States, or any part thereof." Read and laid on the table. _House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 9 Cong. 1 sess. V. 266; _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong. 1 sess. p. 448.

~1806, Feb. 17. Congress (House): Proposition on Slave-Trade.~

The committee on the slave-trade reported a resolution:--

"_Resolved_, That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons, to import or bring into any of the Territories of the United States, any slave or slaves that may hereafter be imported into the United States."

_House Journal_, 9 Cong. 1 sess. V 264, 278, 308, 345-6; _House Reports_, 9 Cong. 1 sess. II. Feb. 17, 1806; _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong.

1 sess. pp. 472-3.

~1806, April 7. Congress (Senate): Maryland Proposed Amendment.~

"Mr. Wright communicated a resolution of the legislature of the state of Maryland instructing their Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their utmost exertions to obtain an amendment to the const.i.tution of the United States to prevent the further importation of slaves; whereupon, Mr. Wright submitted the following resolutions for the consideration of the Senate....

"_Resolved_, That the migration or importation of slaves into the United States, or any territory thereof, be prohibited after the first day of January, 1808." Considered April 10, and further consideration postponed until the first Monday in December next. _Senate Journal_ (repr. 1821), 9 Cong. 1 sess. IV. 76-7, 79; _Annals of Cong._, 9 Cong. 1 sess. pp.

229, 232.

~1806, Dec. 2. President Jefferson's Message.~

See above, pages 97-98. _House Journal_ (repr. 1826), 9 Cong. 2 sess. V.

468.