Legislation of the Border States in the United States

Legislation of the Border States (Toussaint l’Ouverture and Anti-Slavery Effort, 1787–1808)

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 Border States, Virginia and Maryland, strengthened their non-importation laws, Virginia freeing illegally imported Negroes,10 and Maryland prohibiting even the interstate trade.11 The Middle States took action chiefly in the final abolition of slavery within their borders, and the prevention of the fitting out of slaving vessels in their ports. Delaware declared, in her Act of 1789, that “it is inconsistent with that spirit of general liberty which pervades the constitution of this state, that vessels should be fitted out, or equipped, in any of the ports thereof, for the purpose of receiving and transporting the natives of Africa to places where they are held in slavery,”12 and forbade such a practice under penalty of £500 for each person so engaged. The Pennsylvania Act of 178813 had similar provisions, with a penalty of £1000; and New Jersey followed with an act in 1798.14

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

• James Bandinel. Some Account of the Trade in Slaves from Africa as connected with Europe and America; From the Introduction of the Trade into Modern Europe, down to the present Time; especially with reference to the efforts made by the British Government for its extinction. London, 1842.
• T. and J.W. Johnson. Inquiry into the Law of Negro Slavery in the United States.
• Emerson Etheridge. Speech … on the Revival of the African Slave Trade, etc. Washington, 1857.
• William Noel Sainsbury, editor. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, America and the West Indies, 1574–1676. 4 vols. London, 1860–93.
• T.R.R. Cobb. An Historical Sketch of Slavery, from the Earliest Periods. Philadelphia and Savannah. 1858.
• Memorials presented to the Congress of the United States of America, by the Different Societies instituted for promoting the Abolition of Slavery, etc., etc., in the States of Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Philadelphia, 1792.
• Agénor Étienne de Gasparin. Esclavage et Traite. Paris, 1838.
• United States Congress. Annals of Congress, 1789–1824; Congressional Debates, 1824–37; Congressional Globe, 1833–73; Congressional Record, 1873-; Documents (House and Senate); Executive Documents (House and Senate); 345Journals (House and Senate); Miscellaneous Documents (House and Senate); Reports (House and Senate); Statutes at Large.