Restrictions in New York in the United States

Restrictions in New York (the Farming Colonies)

In the book “The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America 1638-1870” (1), W. E. B. Du Bois explained the following: The early ordinances of 26the Dutch, laying duties, generally of ten per cent, on slaves, probably proved burdensome to the trade, although this was not intentional.7 The Biblical prohibition of slavery and the slave-trade, copied from New England codes into the Duke of York’s Laws, had no practical application,8 and the trade continued to be encouraged in the governors’ instructions. In 1709 a duty of £3 was laid on Negroes from elsewhere than Africa.9 This was aimed at West India slaves, and was prohibitive. By 1716 the duty on all slaves was £1 12_s., which was probably a mere revenue figure.10 In 1728 a duty of 40s. was laid, to be continued until 1737.11 It proved restrictive, however, and on the “humble petition of the Merchants and27 Traders of the City of Bristol” was disallowed in 1735, as “greatly prejudicial to the Trade and Navigation of this Kingdom.”12 Governor Cosby was also reminded that no duties on slaves payable by the importer were to be laid. Later, in 1753, the 40s. duty was restored, but under the increased trade of those days was not felt.13 No further restrictions seem to have been attempted until 1785, when the sale of slaves in the State was forbidden.14

The chief element of restriction in this colony appears to have been the shrewd business sense of the traders, who never flooded the slave market, but kept a supply sufficient for the slowly growing demand. Between 1701 and 1726 only about 2,375 slaves were imported, and in 1774 the total slave population amounted to 21,149.15 No restriction was ever put by New York on participation in the trade outside the colony, and in spite of national laws New York merchants continued to be engaged in this traffic even down to the Civil War.16

Vermont, who withdrew from New York in 1777, in her 28first Constitution17 declared slavery illegal, and in 1786 stopped by law the sale and transportation of slaves within her boundaries.18

Resources

Notes and References

1. W. E. B. Du Bois, “The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America 1638-1870” (1893), Longmans, Green and Co., London, New York, Bombay and Calcuta.

See Also

Further Reading

• J.A. Andrew and A.G. Browne, proctors. Circuit Court of the United States, Massachusetts District, ss. In Admiralty. The United States, by Information, vs. the Schooner Wanderer and Cargo, G. Lamar, Claimant. Boston, 1860.
• John Codman Hurd. The Law of Freedom and Bondage in the United States. 2 vols. Boston and New York, 1858, 1862.
• John Drayton. Memoirs of the American Revolution. 2 vols. Charleston, 1821.
• James Ramsay. An Inquiry into the Effects of putting a Stop to the African Slave Trade, and of granting Liberty to the Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies. London, 1784.
• Thomas Clarkson. An Essay on the Comparative Efficiency of Regulation or Abolition, as applied to the Slave Trade. Shewing that the latter only can remove the evils to be found in that commerce. London, 1789.
• Marana (pseudonym). The Future of America. Considered … in View of … Re-opening the Slave Trade. Boston, 1858.
• Friends. Proceedings in relation to the Presentation of the Address of the [Great Britain and Ireland] Yearly Meeting on the Slave-Trade and Slavery, to Sovereigns and those in Authority in the nations of Europe, and in other parts of the world, where the Christian religion is professed. Cincinnati, 1855.
• F.T. Texugo. A Letter on the Slave Trade still carried on along the Eastern Coast of Africa, etc. London, 1839.