“An act to prohibit the further importation of slaves into this state.”

Sec. 1. " ... six months after the passing of this act, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to import into this state, from Africa or elsewhere, any negro or negroes of any age or sex.”  Every person so offending shall forfeit for the first offence the sum of $1,000 for every negro so imported, and for every subsequent offence the sum of $1,000, one half for the use of the informer, and one half for the use of the State.

Sec. 2.  Slaves not to be brought from other States for sale after three months.

Sec. 3.  Persons convicted of bringing slaves into this State with a view to sell them, are subject to the same penalties as if they had sold them.  Marbury and Crawford, Digest, p. 440.

1798, March 14.  New Jersey:  Slave-Trade Prohibited.

“An Act respecting slaves.”

Sec. 12. “And be it enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever, to bring into this state, either for sale or for servitude, any negro or other slave whatsoever.”  Penalty, $140 for each slave; travellers and temporary residents excepted.

Sec. 17.  Any persons fitting out vessels for the slave-trade shall forfeit them.  Paterson, Digest, p. 307.

1798, April 7.  United States Statute:  Importation into Mississippi Territory Prohibited.

“An Act for an amicable settlement of limits with the state of Georgia, and authorizing the establishment of a government in the Mississippi territory.” Statutes at Large, I. 549.  For proceedings in Congress, see Annals of Cong., 5 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 532, 533, 1235, 1249, 1277-84, 1296, 1298-1312, 1313, 1318.

1798, May 30.  Georgia:  Constitutional Prohibition.

Constitution of Georgia:—­

Art.  IV Sec. 11.  “There shall be no future importation of slaves into this state from Africa, or any foreign place, after the first day of October next.  The legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves, without the consent of each of their respective owners previous to such emancipation.  They shall have no power to prevent emigrants, from either of the United States to this state, from bringing with them such persons as may be deemed slaves, by the laws of any one of the United States.”  Marbury and Crawford, Digest, p. 30.

1800, May 10.  United States Statute:  Americans Forbidden to Trade from one Foreign Country to Another.

“An Act in addition to the act intituled ’An act to prohibit the carrying on the Slave Trade from the United States to any foreign place or country.’” Statutes at Large, II. 70.  For proceedings in Congress, see Senate Journal (repr. 1821), 6 Cong. 1 sess.  III. 72, 77, 88, 92.

1800, Dec. 20.  South Carolina:  Slaves and Free Negroes Prohibited.