Part 49 (1/2)

~1836, Dec. 21. Texas: Slave-Trade made Piracy.~

”An Act supplementary to an act, for the punishment of Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

-- 1. ”_Be it enacted_ ..., That if any person or persons shall introduce any African negro or negroes, contrary to the true intent and meaning of the ninth section of the general provisions of the const.i.tution, ...

except such as are from the United States of America, and had been held as slaves therein, be considered guilty of piracy; and upon conviction thereof, before any court having cognizance of the same, shall suffer death, without the benefit of clergy.”

-- 2. The introduction of Negroes from the United States of America, except of those legally held as slaves there, shall be piracy. _Ibid._, I. 197. Cf. _House Doc._, 27 Cong. 1 sess. No. 34, p. 42.

~1837, March 3. United States Statute: Appropriation.~

”An Act making appropriations for the naval service,” etc.

”For carrying into effect the acts for the suppression of the slave trade,” etc., $11,413.57. _Statutes at Large_, V. 155, 157.

~1838, March 19. Congress (Senate): Slave-Trade with Texas, etc.~

”Mr. Morris submitted the following motion for consideration:

”_Resolved_, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire whether the present laws of the United States, on the subject of the slave trade, will prohibit that trade being carried on between citizens of the United States and citizens of the Republic of Texas, either by land or by sea; and whether it would be lawful in vessels owned by citizens of that Republic, and not lawful in vessels owned by citizens of this, or lawful in both, and by citizens of both countries; and also whether a slave carried from the United States into a foreign country, and brought back, on returning into the United States, is considered a free person, or is liable to be sent back, if demanded, as a slave, into that country from which he or she last came; and also whether any additional legislation by Congress is necessary on any of these subjects.” March 20, the motion of Mr. Walker that this resolution ”lie on the table,” was determined in the affirmative, 32 to 9. _Senate Journal_, 25 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 297-8, 300.

~1839, Feb. 5. Congress (Senate): Bill to Amend Slave-Trade Acts.~

”Mr. Strange, on leave, and in pursuance of notice given, introduced a bill to amend an act ent.i.tled an act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port in the jurisdiction of the United States; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.” March 1, the Committee was discharged from further consideration of the bill.

_Congressional Globe_, 25 Cong. 3 sess. p. 172; _Senate Journal_, 25 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 200, 313.

~1839, Dec. 24. President Van Buren's Message.~

”It will be seen by the report of the Secretary of the navy respecting the disposition of our s.h.i.+ps of war, that it has been deemed necessary to station a competent force on the coast of Africa, to prevent a fraudulent use of our flag by foreigners.

”Recent experience has shown that the provisions in our existing laws which relate to the sale and transfer of American vessels while abroad, are extremely defective. Advantage has been taken of these defects to give to vessels wholly belonging to foreigners, and navigating the ocean, an apparent American owners.h.i.+p. This character has been so well simulated as to afford them comparative security in prosecuting the slave trade, a traffic emphatically denounced in our statutes, regarded with abhorrence by our citizens, and of which the effectual suppression is nowhere more sincerely desired than in the United States. These circ.u.mstances make it proper to recommend to your early attention a careful revision of these laws, so that ... the integrity and honor of our flag may be carefully preserved.” _House Journal_, 26 Cong. 1 sess.

pp. 117-8.

~1840, Jan. 3. Congress (Senate): Bill to Amend Act of 1807.~

”Agreeably to notice, Mr. Strange asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (Senate, No. 123) to amend an act ent.i.tled 'An act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States from and after the 1st day of January, in the year 1808,' approved the 2d day of March, 1807; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.” Jan. 8, it was reported without amendment; May 11, it was considered, and, on motion by Mr. King, ”_Ordered_, That it lie on the table.” _Senate Journal_, 26 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 73, 87, 363.

~1840, May 4. Congress (Senate): Bill on Slave-Trade.~

”Mr. Davis, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill (Senate, No.

335) making further provision to prevent the abuse of the flag of the United States, and the use of unauthorized papers in the foreign slavetrade, and for other purposes.” This pa.s.sed the Senate, but was dropped in the House. _Ibid._, pp. 356, 359, 440, 442; _House Journal_, 26 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 1138, 1228, 1257.

~1841, June 1. Congress (House): President Tyler's Message.~

”I shall also, at the proper season, invite your attention to the statutory enactments for the suppression of the slave trade, which may require to be rendered more efficient in their provisions. There is reason to believe that the traffic is on the increase. Whether such increase is to be ascribed to the abolition of slave labor in the British possessions in our vicinity, and an attendant diminution in the supply of those articles which enter into the general consumption of the world, thereby augmenting the demand from other quarters, ... it were needless to inquire. The highest considerations of public honor, as well as the strongest promptings of humanity, require a resort to the most vigorous efforts to suppress the trade.” _House Journal_, 27 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 31, 184.