The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 426 pages of information about The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America.

The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 426 pages of information about The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America.

1795.  North Carolina:  Act against West Indian Slaves.

“An act to prevent any person who may emigrate from any of the West India or Bahama islands, or the French, Dutch or Spanish settlements on the southern coast of America, from bringing slaves into this state, and also for imposing certain restrictions on free persons of colour who may hereafter come into this state.”  Penalty, L100 for each slave over 15 years of age. Laws of North Carolina (revision of 1819), I. 786.

1796.  Maryland:  Importation Prohibited.

“An Act relating to Negroes, and to repeal the acts of assembly therein mentioned.”

Be it enacted ..., That it shall not be lawful, from and after the passing of this act, to import or bring into this state, by land or water, any negro, mulatto or other slave, for sale, or to reside within this state; and any person brought into this state as a slave contrary to this act, if a slave before, shall thereupon immediately cease to be the property of the person or persons so importing or bringing such slave within this state, and shall be free.”

Sec. 2.  Any citizen of the United States, coming into the State to take up bona fide residence, may bring with him, or within one year import, any slave which was his property at the time of removal, “which slaves, or the mother of which slaves, shall have been a resident of the United States, or some one of them, three whole years next preceding such removal.”

Sec. 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.”

Sec. 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.

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The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.