An Act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within
the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That from and after the first day of January, one
thousand eight hundred and eight, it shall not be lawful to import or bring into
the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or
country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or
dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held
to service or labour.
(Importation of slaves into the U.S. forbidden after Jan. 1, 1808. Forfeiture of
vessels fitted out for the slave trade after Jan. 1, 1808.)
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That no citizen or citizens of the United
States, or any other person, shall, from and after the first day of January, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, for himself, or
themselves, or any other person whatsoever, either as master, factor, or owner,
build, fit, equip, load or otherwise prepare any ship or vessel, in any port or
place within the jurisdiction of the United States, nor shall cause any ship or
vessel to sail from any port or place within the same, for the purpose of
procuring any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, from any foreign kingdom,
place, or country, to be transported to any port or place whatsoever, within the
jurisdiction of the United States, to be held, sold, or disposed of as slaves,
or to be held to service or labor; and if any ship or vessel shall be so fitted
out for the purpose aforesaid, or shall be caused to sail so as aforesaid, every
such ship or vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, shall be forfeited to
the United States, and shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted, and condemned
in any of the circuit courts or district courts, for the district where the said
ship or vessel may be found or seized.
(Penalties for being engaged in such expeditions.)
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all and every person so building,
fitting out, equipping, loading, or otherwise preparing or sending away, any
ship or vessel, knowing or intending that the same shall be employed in such
trade or business, from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight
hundred and eight, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, or any
ways aiding or abetting therein, shall severally forfeit and pay twenty thousand
dollars, one moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the other
moiety to the use of any person or persons who shall sue for and prosecute the
same to effect.
(Forfeitures and penalties for importing slaves from Africa, &c. after Jan.
1, 1808. Distribution of the forfeitures. Slaves imported to remain subject to
regulations of the states.)
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted,
If any citizen or citizens of the United
States, or any person resident within the jurisdiction of the same, shall, from
and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, take
on board, receive or transport from any of the coasts or kingdoms of Africa, or
from any other foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person
of colour, in any ship or vessel, for the purpose of selling them in any port or
place within the jurisdiction of the United States as slaves, or to be held to
service or labour, or shall be in any ways aiding or abetting therein, such
citizen or citizens, or person, shall severally forfeit and pay five thousand
dollars, one moiety thereof to the use of any person or persons who shall sue
for
and prosecute the same to effect; and every such ship or vessel in which, such
negro, mulatto, or person of colour, shall have been taken on board, received,
or transported as aforesaid, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the goods
and effects which shall be found on board the same, shall
be forfeited to the United States, and shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted,
and condemned in any of the circuit courts or district courts in the district
where the said ship or vessel may be found or seized. And neither the importer,
nor any person or persons claiming from or under him, shall hold any right or
title whatsoever to any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, nor to the service
or labour thereof, who may be imported or brought within the United States, or
territories thereof, in violation of this law, but the same shall remain subject
to any regulations not contravening the provisions of this act, which the
legislatures of the several states or territories at any time hereafter may
make, for
disposing of any such negro, mulatto, or person of colour. (See notes to act of
March 22, 1794, chap.11, vol. i. 347, 348.)
(Further penalties on citizens and residents, &c. for bringing slaves to the U.
S. from any foreign place. Imprisonment and penalty not to exceed $10,000.)
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if any citizen or citizens of the United
States, or any other person resident within the jurisdiction of the same, shall,
from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight,
contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, take on board any ship or
vessel from any of the coasts or kingdoms of Africa, or from any other foreign
kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent
to sell him. her, or
them, for a slave, or slaves, or to be held to service or labour, and shall
transport the same to any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United
States, and there sell such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, so transported
as aforesaid, for a slave, or to be held to service or labour,
every such offender shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and being
thereof convicted before any court having competent jurisdiction, shall suffer
imprisonment for not more than ten years nor less than five years, and be fined
not exceeding ten thousand dollars, nor less than one thousand dollars.
(Penalties for buying slaves from the neighbouring territories, &c. Forfeiture
not to extend to the seller or purchaser of any slave sold under the regulations
of the legislature of any state.)
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted,
That if any person or persons whatsoever,
shall, from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and
eight, purchase or sell any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, for a slave, or
to be held to service or labour, who shall have been imported, or brought from
any foreign kingdom, place, or country, or from the dominions of any foreign
state, immediately adjoining to the United States, into any port or place within
the jurisdiction of the United States, after the last day of December, one
tbousand eight hundred and seven, knowing at the time of such purchase or sale,
such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, was sought within the jurisdiction of
the United States, as aforesaid, such purchaser and seller shall severally for
fee and pay for every negro, mulatto, or person of colour, so purchased or sold
as aforesaid, eight hundred dollars; one moiety thereof to the United States,
and the other moiety to the use of any person or persons who shall sue for and
prosecute the same to effect: Provided, that the aforesaid forfeiture shall not
extend to the seller or purchaser of any negro, mulatto, or person of colour,
who may be sold or disposed of in virtue of any regulation which may hereafter
be made by any of the legislatures of the several states in that respect, in
pursuance of act, and the constitution of the United States.
(Vessels may be seized, having slaves on board. Naval force of the U. States
may be employed for the purpose of enforcing this act. Penalties, fine and
imprisonment. Proceeds of prizes divided between the U. States and the officers
and men making the seizures. Every negro and mulatto found on board any vessel
captured to be delivered to persons appointed by the respective states to
receive them. An account to be transmitted to the governors of the respective
states.)
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That if any ship or vessel shall be found,
from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight,
in any river, port, bay, or harbor, or on the high seas within the
jurisdictional limits of the United States, or hovering on the coast thereof,
having on board any negro, mulatto, or person of colour for the purpose of
selling them as slaves, or with intent to land the same, in any port or place
within the jurisdiction of the United States, contrary to the prohibition of
this act, every such ship or vessel, together with her tackle, apparel, and
furniture. and the goods or effects which shall be found on board the same,
shall be forfeited to the use of the United States, and may be seized,
prosecuted, and condemned, in any court of the United States, having
jurisdiction thereof. And it shall be lawful for the President of the United
States, and he is hereby authorized, should he deem it expedient, to cause any
of the armed vessels of the United States to be manned and employed to cruise on
any part the coast of the United States, or territories thereof, where he may
judge attempts will be made to violate the provisions of this act, and to
instruct and direct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States, to
seize take, and bring into any port of the United States all such ships or
vessels, and moreover to seize, take, and bring into any port of the United
States all ships or vessels of the United States, wheresoever found on the high
seas, contravening the provisions of this act, to be proceeded against,
according to law, and the captain, master, or commander of every such ship or
vessel, so found and seized as aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of a high
misdemeanor, and shall be liable to be prosecuted before any court of the United
States, having jurisdiction thereof; and being thereof convicted, shall be fined
not exceeding ten thousand dollars, and be imprisoned not less than two years,
and not exceeding four years. And the proceeds of all ships and vessels, their
tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the goods and effects on board of them,
which shall be so seized, prosecuted and condemned, shall be divided equally
between the United States and the officers and men who shall make such seizure,
take, or bring the same into port for condemnation, whether such seizure be made
by an armed vessel of the United States,or revenue cutters thereof, and the same
shall be distributed in like manner, as is provided by law for the distribution
of prizes taken from an enemy: Provided, that the officers and men, to be
entitled to one half of the proceeds aforesaid, shall safe keep every negro,
mulatto, or person of colour, found on board of any ship or vessel so by them
seized, taken, or brought into port for condemnation, and shall deliver every
such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, to such person or persons as shall be
appointed by the respective states, to receive the same; and if no such person
or persons shall be appointed by the respective states, they shall deliver every
such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, to the overseers of the poor of the
port or place where such ship or vessel may be brought or found, and shall
immediately transmit to the governor or chief magistrate of the state an account
of their proceedings, together with the number of such negroes, mulattoes, or
persons of colour, and a descriptive list of the same, that he may give
directions respecting such negroes mulattoes, or persons of colour. (The
district courts have jurisdiction under the slave trade acts, to determine who
are the actual captors under a state law, made in pursuance of the 4th section
of the slave trade act of 1807, and directing the proceeds of the sale of the
negroes to be paid, "one moiety for the use of the commanding officer of the
capturing vessel." The Josefa Segunda, 10 Wheat.312; 6 Cond. Rep. 111.
The offence against the laws of the United States under the 7th section of the
act of 1897, is not that of importing or bringing into the United States,
persons of colour, with intent to hold such persons as slaves, but that of
hovering on the coast of the United States with such intent. And although it
forfeits the vessel and any goods or effects found on board, it is silent as to
disposing of the coloured persons found onboard, any further than to impose a
duty upon the officers of the armed vessels who make the capture to keep them
safely to be delivered to the overseers of the poor, or the governor of the
state, or persons appointed by the respective states to receive them. United
States v. Preston, 3 Peters, 57.
The persons sold as slaves under an order of the district court of Louisiana, in
a case where the decree was afterwards reversed, were illegally sold, and they
are freed. Ibid.)
(Slaves not to be transported in vessels under forty tons burthen, to be
disposed of, &c. Penalties. This section not to prohibit taking on board or
transporting on any river or bay within the jurisdiction of the U. States.)
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That no captain, master or commander of any
ship or vessel, of less burthen than forty tons, shall, from and after the first
day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, take on board and
transport any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, to any port or place
whatsoever, for the purpose of selling or disposing of the same as a slave, or
with intent that the same may be sold or disposed of to be held to service or
labour, on penalty of forfeiting for every such negro, mulatto, or person of
colour, so taken on board and transported, as aforesaid, the sum of eight
hundred dollars; one moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the
other moiety to any person or persons who shall sue for, and prosecute the same
to effect: Provided however, That nothing in this section shall extend to
prohibit the taking on board or transporting on any river, or inland bay of the
sea, within the jurisdiction of the United States, any negro, mulatto, or person
of colour, (not imported contrary to the provisions of this act) in any vessel
or species of craft whatever.
(Vessels of larger burthen, sailing coastwise, to have the names of slaves
for sale inserted in their papers, &c. The shipper to swear the negroes were not
imported into the U. States after January 1, 1808. Penalties on departing
without such list. Penalty for negro or mulatto taken on board.)
SEC. 9.
And be it further enacted, That the captain, master, or commander of any
ship or vessel of the burthen of forty tons or more, from and after the first
day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, sailing coastwise, from
any port in the United States, to any port or place within the jurisdiction of
the same, having on board any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, for the
purpose of transporting them to be used or disposed of as slaves, or to be held
to service or labour, shall, previous to the departure of such ship or vessel,
make out and subscribe duplicate manifests of every such negro, mulatto, or
person of colour, on board such ship or vessel, therein specifying the name and
sex of each person, their age and stature, as near as may be, and the class to
which they respectively belong, whether negro, mulatto, or person of colour,
with the name and place of residence of every owner or shipper of the same, and
shall deliver such manifests to the collector of the port, if there be one,
otherwise to the surveyor, before whom the captain master, or commander,
together with the owner or shipper, shall severally swear or affirm to the best
of their knowledge and belief, that the persons therein specified were not
imported or brought into the United States, from and after the first day of
January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, and that under the laws of the
state, they are held to service or labour; whereupon the said collector or
surveyor shall certify the same on the said manifests, one of which he shall
return to the said captain, master, or commander, with a permit, specifying
thereon the number, names, and general description of such persons, and
authorizing him to proceed to the port of his destination. And if any ship or
vessel, being laden and destined as aforesaid, shall depart from the port where
she may then be, without the captain, master, or commander being first made out
and subscribed duplicate manifests, of every negro, mulatto, and person of
colour, on board such ship or vessel, as aforesaid, and without having
previously delivered the same to the said collector or surveyor, and obtained a
permit, in manner as herein required, or shall, previous to her arrival at the
port of her destination, take on board any negro, mulatto, or person of colour,
other than those specified in the manifests, as aforesaid, every such ship or
vessel, together with her tackle, apparel and furniture, shall be forfeited to
the use of the United States, and may be seized, prosecuted and condemned in any
court of the United States, having jurisdiction thereof; and the captain,
master, or commander of every such ship or vessel, shall moreover forfeit, for
every such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, so transported or taken on
board, contrary to the provisions of this act, the sum of one thousand dollars,
one moiety thereof to the United States, and the other moiety to the use of any
person or persons who shall sue for and prosecute the same to effect.
(Manifests to be delivered to officers of customs where such slaves carried
coastwise are landed. Penalty for landing a negro or mulatto without a permit.)
SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the captain, master, or commander of
every ship or vessel, of the burthen of forty tons or more, from and after the
first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, sailing coastwise,
and having on board any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, to sell or dispose
of as slaves, or to be held to service or labour, and arriving in any port
within the jurisdiction of the United States, from any other port within the
same, shall, previous to the unloading or putting on shore any of the persons
aforesaid, or suffering them to go on shore, deliver to the collector, if there
be one, or if not, to the surveyor residing at the port of her arrival, the
manifest certified by the collector or surveyor of the port from whence she
sailed, as is herein before directed, to the truth of which, before such
officer, he shall swear or affirm, and if the collector or surveyor shall be
satisfied therewith, he shall thereupon grant a permit for unlading or suffering
such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, to be put on shore, and if the
captain, master, or commander of any such ship or vessel being laden as
aforesaid, shall neglect or refuse to deliver the manifest at the time and in
the manner herein directed, or shall land or put on shore any negro, mulatto, or
person of colour, for the purpose aforesaid, before he shall have delivered his
manifest as aforesaid, and obtained a permit for that purpose, every such
captain, master, or commander, shall forfeit and pay ten thousand dollars, one
moiety thereof to the United States, the other moiety to the use of any person
or persons who shall sue for and prosecute the same to effect.
APPROVED, March 2, 1807
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