“Nor has this question less importance as to its influence on the slave trade.  Should slavery be further permitted, an immense new market for slaves would be opened.  It is well known that notwithstanding the strictness of our laws, and the vigilance of the government, thousands are now annually imported from Africa,” etc. Massachusetts Resolves, May, 1819, to February, 1824, pp. 147-51.

1820, May 12.  Congress (House):  Resolution for Negotiation.

“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be requested to negociate with all the governments where ministers of the United States are or shall be accredited, on the means of effecting an entire and immediate abolition of the slave trade.”  Passed House, May 12, 1820; lost in Senate, May 15, 1820. House Journal, 16 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 497, 518, 520-21, 526; Annals of Cong., 16 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 697-700.

1820, May 15.  United States Statute:  Slave-Trade made Piracy.

“An act to continue in force ’An act to protect the commerce of the United States, and punish the crime of piracy,’ and also to make further provisions for punishing the crime of piracy.”  Continued by several statutes until passage of the Act of 1823, q.v.  Statutes at Large, III. 600.  For proceedings in Congress, see Senate Journal, 16 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 238, 241, 268, 286-7, 314, 331, 346, 350, 409, 412, 417, 422, 424, 425; House Journal, 16 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 453, 454, 494, 518, 520, 522, 537, 539, 540, 542.  There was also a House bill, which was dropped:  cf. House Journal, 16 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 21, 113, 280, 453, 494.

1820, Nov. 14.  President Monroe’s Message.

“In execution of the law of the last session, for the suppression of the slave trade, some of our public ships have also been employed on the coast of Africa, where several captures have already been made of vessels engaged in that disgraceful traffic.” Senate Journal, 16 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 16-7.

1821, Feb. 15.  Congress (House):  Meigs’s Resolution.

Mr. Meigs offered in modified form the resolutions submitted at the last session:—­

“Whereas slavery, in the United States, is an evil, acknowledged to be of great and increasing magnitude, ... therefore,

“Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of devoting five hundred million acres of the public lands, next west of the Mississippi, as a fund for the purpose of, in the

“First place; Employing a naval force, competent to the annihilation of the slave trade,” etc.  Question to consider decided in the affirmative, 63 to 50; laid on the table, 66 to 55. House Journal, 16 Cong. 2 sess. p. 238; Annals of Cong., 16 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 1168-70.

1821, Dec. 3.  President Monroe’s Message.