Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-14
(By Authority
dNACT


prohibit the importation of slaves
Into any port or place within the
Jurisdiction of the United States,
rom and after the first day of Ia
huary, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eight.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
buse of Representative of the Uni
| States of America, in Congress
ssemblcd, That from and after the
Est day Of January, one thousand
ght hundred and eight, it shall not
/ lawful to import or bring into the
United States, or the territories there
pf from any foreign kingdom, place or
country, any negro, mu!atto, or per-
son of color, with intent to hold, sell,
|or dispose OF such negro, mulatto, or
person Of color, as slave, or TO be
held to service or labor.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted,
That no citizen or citizens of the u
nited States, or anv 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 o.
Their 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 yes.
sci to sail from any port or place with
in the same, for the purpose of pro-
curing any negro, mulatto, or person
OF color, from any foreign kingdom,
place or country, 70 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 anv ship orvessel shall
be so fitted out for the purpose afore-
! said, or shall be caused to sail 50
as aforesaid, every such ship or YES
| sci, her tat',le, apparel, and furniture,
shall be forfeited to the United States,
and shall be liable to be seized, prose
suted, 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.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted.
4 That all and every person so building
fitting out, equiping, loading or other.
wise preparing or sending away any
ship or vessel, knowing or intending
that the same shall be employed il
4 such trade or business, from and af
ter the first dav of January, one thou
sand eight hundred and eight, con
trarv to the true intent and meaning
Of this act, or any ways aiding or a
betting therein, shall severally for
j felt and pay twenty thousand dollars
one moiety thereof to the use OF tn,
J United States, and the other moiet,
TO the use of any person or person
who shall sue for and prosecute tn
same to effect.
Sec. /. And be it further enacted
That if any citizen or citizens OF tn
United States, or any other perso
resident within the jurisdiction of tn
same, shall, from and after the frs
day of January, one thousand eigh
hundred and eight, take on board, re
ceivc ortransport from any ofthe coast
or Kingdoms Of Africa, or from an
other foreign kingdom, place, or cour
try, any negro, mulatto, or person {
color, in any ship or vessel, for tn
purpose of selling them in any port {
place within the jurisdiction of tn
United States as slaves, or to be hel
to service or labor, or shall in an
ways aiding or abettinS therein, sue
4 citizen or citizens or person shall s.
verally forfeit & pay Eve thousand do
lars one moiety thereofto the use ofar
person orpersons who shall sue for ar
prosecute the same to effect, and ev
3 ~ such ship or vessel in which su'
negro, mulatto, or person oil col
shall have been taken on board, r
ceived or transported as atoresal
her tackle, apparel and furniture, az
4 the goods and effects which shall
4 found on board the same, shall be 70
feited to the United States, and sh;
be liable to be seized, prosecuted, al
condemned in any Of the circr
courts or district courts in the di
trict where the said ship or vesG
may be found or seized. And M