Stoddert, Benjamin (1751-1813) to Captain Lever
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03964 Author/Creator: Stoddert, Benjamin (1751-1813) Place Written: s.l. Type: Printed document signed Date: 5 September 1799 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25.2 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, signs a circular outlining an Act of Congress passed 22 March 1794, "to prohibit the carrying on the Slave Trade from the United States to any foreign place or country..." The Act orders that no United States citizen or resident shall fit or prepare a ship for the purpose of engaging in the slave trade. In the same vein, no citizen is allowed to use a ship to procure inhabitants of a foreign country for sale in the slave trade abroad. Instructs Lever to inform the Department of the Navy of all vessels engaged in the slave trade.
The Department of the Navy was established on 30 April 1798 and was located in Washington D.C. Prior to this all navy matters were recognized under the War Department.
Circular. Navy Department
September 5, 1799
Sir,
By an Act of Congress, passed on the 22d day of March, 1794, entitled, "An Act to prohibit the carrying on the Slave Trade from the United States to any foreign place or country," it is directed, That no citizen or citizens of the United States, or foreigner or other person coming into or residing with the fame, shall for himself or any other person whatsoever, either as master, factor or owner, build, fit, equip, load, or otherwise prepare any ship, or vessel, within any port or place of the United States, nor shall cause any ship or vessel to sail from any port or place within the same, for the purpose of carrying on any trade or traffic in slaves to any foreign country, or for the purpose of procuring from any foreign kingdom, place or country, the inhabitants of such kingdom, place, or country, to be ransported to any foreign country, port or place whatever, to be sold or disposed of as slaves; and if any ship or vessel shall be so fitted out as aforesaid for the said purposes, or shall be caused to sail to as aforesaid, every such ship or vessel, her tackle, furniture, apparel, and other appurtenances, shall be forfeited to the United States, and shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted and condemned in any of the circuit courts or district court for the district where the said ship may be found and seized."
It being represented to me, that infractions of the act above recited, have of late been frequently committed; and it being the duty of all public officers, to lend their aid in supporting the just authority of the laws, you are hereby particularly instructed and required to report to this department the names and description of all vessels, whether American or foreign, which shall have been fitted out in ports of the United States, or shall at any time be discovered by you to have contravened the above recited act. In your said report, you will be pleased to specify in respect to American vessels, their tonnage, the names and residence to their owners, the ports of departure from the United States, the number of slaves on board, and to what port destined for sale.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Captain Lever Ben Stoddert
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