1787, March 28.  South Carolina:  Importation Prohibited.

“An Ordinance to impose a Penalty on any person who shall import into this State any Negroes, contrary to the Instalment Act.”

1. “Be it ordained, by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, met in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That any person importing or bringing into this State a negro slave, contrary to the Act to regulate the recovery of debts and prohibiting the importation of negroes, shall, besides the forfeiture of such negro or slave, be liable to a penalty of one hundred pounds, to the use of the State, for every such negro or slave so imported and brought in, in addition to the forfeiture in and by the said Act prescribed.”  Cooper, Statutes, VII. 430.

1787, October.  Rhode Island:  Importation Prohibited.

“An act to prevent the slave trade and to encourage the abolition of slavery.”  This act prohibited and censured trade under penalty of L100 for each person and L1,000 for each vessel.  Bartlett, Index to the Printed Acts and Resolves, p. 333; Narragansett Historical Register, II. 298-9.

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APPENDIX B.

A CHRONOLOGICAL CONSPECTUS OF STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION.

1788-1871.

As the State statutes and Congressional reports and bills are difficult to find, the significant parts of such documents are printed in full.  In the case of national statutes and treaties, the texts may easily be found through the references.

1788, Feb. 22.  New York:  Slave-Trade Prohibited.

“An Act concerning slaves.”

“Whereas in consequence of the act directing a revision of the laws of this State, it is expedient that the several existing laws relative to slaves, should be revised, and comprized in one.  Therefore, Be it enacted,” etc.

“And to prevent the further importation of slaves into this State, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person shall sell as a slave within this State any negro, or other person, who has been imported or brought into this State, after” June 1, 1785, “such seller, or his or her factor or agent, making such sale, shall be deemed guilty of a public offence, and shall for every such offence, forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds.... And further, That every person so imported ... shall be free.”  The purchase of slaves for removal to another State is prohibited under penalty of L100. Laws of New York, 1785-88 (ed. 1886), pp. 675-6.

1788, March 25.  Massachusetts:  Slave-Trade Prohibited.

“An Act to prevent the Slave-Trade, and for granting Relief to the Families of such unhappy Persons as may be kidnapped or decoyed away from this Commonwealth.”