1824, April 16.  Congress (House):  Bill to Suppress Slave-Trade.

“Mr. Govan, from the committee to which was referred so much of the President’s Message as relates to the suppression of the Slave Trade, reported a bill respecting the slave trade; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole.”

Sec. 1.  Provided a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment not exceeding 7 years, and forfeiture of ship, for equipping a slaver even for the foreign trade; and a fine not exceeding $3,000, and imprisonment not exceeding 5 years, for serving on board any slaver. Annals of Cong., 18 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 2397-8; House Journal, 18 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 26, 180, 181, 323, 329, 356, 423.

1824, May 21.  President Monroe’s Message on Treaty of 1824.

Amer.  State Papers, Foreign, V. 344-6.

1824, Nov. 6. [Great Britain and Sweden:  Treaty.

Right of Search granted for the suppression of the slave-trade. British and Foreign State Papers, 1824-5, pp. 3-28.]

1824, Nov. 6.  Great Britain:  Counter Project of 1825.

Great Britain proposes to conclude the treaty as amended by the Senate, if the word “America” is reinstated in Art.  I. (Cf. above, March 13, 1824.) February 16, 1825, the House Committee favors this project; March 2, Addington reminds Adams of this counter proposal; April 6, Clay refuses to reopen negotiations on account of the failure of the Colombian treaty. Amer.  State Papers, Foreign, V. 367; House Reports, 18 Cong. 2 sess.  I. No. 70; House Doc., 19 Cong. 1 sess.  I. No. 16.

1824, Dec. 7.  President Monroe’s Message.

“It is a cause of serious regret, that no arrangement has yet been finally concluded between the two Governments, to secure, by joint co-operation, the suppression of the slave trade.  It was the object of the British Government, in the early stages of the negotiation, to adopt a plan for the suppression, which should include the concession of the mutual right of search by the ships of war of each party, of the vessels of the other, for suspected offenders.  This was objected to by this Government, on the principle that, as the right of search was a right of war of a belligerant towards a neutral power, it might have an ill effect to extend it, by treaty, to an offence which had been made comparatively mild, to a time of peace.  Anxious, however, for the suppression of this trade, it was thought adviseable, in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives, founded on an act of Congress, to propose to the British Government an expedient, which should be free from that objection, and more effectual for the object, by making it piratical....  A convention to this effect was concluded and signed, in London,” on the 13th of March, 1824, “by plenipotentiaries duly authorized by both Governments, to the ratification of which certain obstacles have arisen, which are not yet entirely removed.” [For the removal of which, the documents relating to the negotiation are submitted for the action of Congress]....