US Presidency
1860

From this I make the following extract: Under the second section of this act the President is authorized to make such regulations and arrangements as he may deem expedient for the safe keeping, support, and removal beyond the limits of the United States of all such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color captured by vessels of the United States as may be delivered to the marshal of the district into which they are brought, and to appoint a proper person or persons residing upon the coast of Africa as agent or agents for receiving the negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave trade by commanders of United States armed vessels. A doubt immediately arose as to the true construction of this act.