The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-04
Senator Clayton's ban for the suppressaen OF
the Slave Trade.


Senator Ciayton's ban for thu supprsssisa OF
the Slave Trade.
4 ELL rOR THE MORN EYFEcrUAL SUPPRESSION or
TIE sLAvB TRADE In AMERICAN BUILT v1sssLs.
Be Il enacted by the Senate and House OF Repre-
eentatves OF the United States Of America. In Con-
gress assembled Tint whenever any American re-
gisteed ship vessel shall In whole or In part be
cold or transferred TO citizen or citizens Of the
United States, at any foreign port or place 10 North
or South America, or In any OF the West India
Islands, OF in the Cape de Verde Islands. or any
island near the coast Of Africa tue instrument
of writing In the nature Of bill Of sale, rectiug at
length her certificate Of registry In pursuance Of
the fourteenth section of the act Of Congress Of
thirty first Of December, seventeen hundred and
ninety.two, concerning the registering and record
ing Of ships or vessels, shall be utterly void,
unless II shall he executed In the presence OF
q minister or consul of the United States there
residing, aud shall contain an express
dition that such instrument. IN the nature Of
bill of sale, an the title Of the purchaser claim
ing under it, shall not be valid II the raid ship
vessel shall make, attempt to make, voyage to
tie coast OF Africa before returning to the United
States for new register. And II any citizen Of
the United States, In any such port or place being
the ner agent for the sale OF an American ship
vessel, shall sell such ship or vessel. knowing
that she IL 10 be employed in the African slave
trade, that ehe Is about TO make voyage 20 the
coast Of Africa before returning to the United
States, or shall charter o vessel OF which he may
be tie owner tho agent for voyage TO the coast
Of Africa, With the intent to sell such ship or vessel
X,
ton thereof before the Circuit Court VI the United
States Tor any district wherein he may be Bfought
or afterwards found, shall forfeit and pay the sum
Of b Thousand dollars and shall be imprisoned for
team not exceeding three years, at the discretion
Of said court Every charter Of an American ship
vessel af any such foreign port or place, with the
bieht that such sip or vessel shall be employed In
the African slave trade, and every sale OF 40 Ameri-
can chip or vessel on the coast OF Africa, except
such slip or vessel alall be duly condemned rs IN
staworthy, shall be illegal and void
Sec. .. And be il fur Their enacted, That when any
citizen Lerso shall lodge information with the
attorney of the district Of any State or Territory, ~
the Inay be, against any person for the viola.
ton Of this act ny any sale. or charter or attempt
to sell or charter any such American ship or vessel,
contrary TO the provisions of this act 1t shall be the
duty Of the sao attorney forthwith to commence
prosecution against the offender. and upon convic-
ton OF euch offence, the iDt0rmer or informant VIII,
shall have lodged the information aforesaid shall
be entitled to receive one half the net sum recovered
and paid into the hands Of the marshal Of the dis
tict, exclusive Of costs; and every such ship
Sci illegally sold or chartered contrary to auy Of the
provisions Of this act, SHALL with all her tackle and
furniture be forfeited to the United States and after
condemnation by any court Of the United States in
the district into which shc may be brought found
such ship or vessel with her tackle and furniture,
shall be sod and one half the proceeds Of sale shall
be Paid over to any citizen, or other person, who
shall have lodged tho necessary information before
the attorney of the district for the condemnation of
such ship or vessel.
owner or agent for the sale Of an American ship or
vessel who shall sell such ship vessel in any Of
the ports aforesaid, aud every purchaser Of such
ship or vessel SHALL at the time Of the execution of
the instrument OF writing in the nature Of bill Of
sale for the transfer Of such ship or vessel, make
oatb, or (f conscientiously soropu0us of taking
oath) an affirmation before minister or consul of
the United States residing at such port or place,
that the said ship vessel Is not intended to DC
gagged in the African slave trade, which oath or
affirmation shall be reduced to writing by the said
| minister consul, and by him duly certified and
transmitted to the Department Of State Of
the Uniied States, and ouch certificate or
copy thereof under the hand and seal OF the
Secretary Of State, shall be evidence in any court
Of the United Statos and f any such owner. agent
or purchaser, shall swear or affirm falsely In the
premises, he shall be deemed guilty Of perjury, and
shall on conviction thereof suffer oil the pains aud
penalties imposed by the acts of Congress for will
full and corrupt perjury. Each party 70 every char
| ter executed in any such foreign port shall make
/ the same oath or affirmation to be taken, certified
and transmitted in the same manner, and copy
thereof to he authenticated and proved in the same
manner, and he shall be punishable IN the same
way for swearing or affirming falsely. No such in
strument in the nature Of bill Of sale, aud no
such charter party, shall be held legal and valid I'M
less the provisions Of this act shall have been
at I..~,ef