US Presidency
1859

Several of them exercised this right before that period, and among them some containing the greatest number of slaves. This gave to Congress the immediate power to act in regard to all such States, because they themselves had removed the constitutional barrier. Congress accordingly passed an act on 28th February, 1803, to prevent the importation of certain persons into certain States where by the laws thereof their admission is prohibited. In this manner the importation of African slaves into the United States was to a great extent prohibited some years in advance of 1808. As the year 1808 approached Congress determined not to suffer this trade to exist even for a single day after they had the power to abolish it. On the 2d of March, 1807, they passed an act, to take effect from and after the 1st day of January, 1808, prohibiting the importation of African slaves into the United States. This was followed by subsequent acts of a similar character, to which I need not specially refer.