into bond in such amount and with such security as may be approved and agreed upon by the parties; conditioned that they have the said negroes forthcoming to abide the order and decree of the court. Whereas one hundred and seven African negroes have been brought within the jurisdiction, and have been placed in the custody of this court, as being liable to forfeiture under the laws of the United States: And whereas certain persons have claimed the said negroes, and deny their liability to forfeiture as aforesaid: And whereas the said causes, in reference to the liability of said negroes, could not be decided at July term, 1818, of the Alabama General Court, sitting in admiralty, it was agreed, by and with the advice and consent of the said court, and of all the persons interested, either in the seizure of said negroes aforesaid, or those claiming restitution of the same, that the said negroes be delivered to some responsible persons, to be admitted by the said court aforesaid, for safe keeping, until the court aforesaid, or their officers, shall demand the same; when the said negroes are to be returned into the custody of the court aforesaid, to abide their decision in the premises; all casualties in reference to the said negroes to be excepted from the liability of the said responsible persons. Whereupon, James Caller, David Files, and Benjamin S. Smoot, came into court, being the persons agreed upon by the parties interested aforesaid, by consent of the court aforesaid, and stipulated, as well to all the parties interested, as to the court aforesaid, to keep them well, and return them unto this court, when demanded by the said court,. free from all expense to any party concerned, under the penalty of one hundred thousand dollars, to be levied of their goods and chattels, lands and tenements, if they should make default in the stipulation herein mentioned. I, Francis H. Gaines, Deputy Clerk of the General Court of the Alabama. Territory, do certify that the foregoing pages, numbered 1, 2, 3, contain true extracts from the minutes of said court, at July term, 1818. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my private [SEAL.] seal, having no seal of office, the 23d day of July, A. D. 1818, and 43d year of American Independence. F. H. GAINES, D. C. General Court. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, REGISTER'S OFFICE, Jan. 8, 1819, I certify the foregoing to be true copies of the originals on file in this Department. JOSEPH NOURSE. COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, PORT OF MOBILE, November 15th, 1818. SIR: As Congress are now in session, I beg leave to suggest, for your consideration, the subject of a revenue cutter for the coast of this district. It is evident, from a view of our local situation, that no part of the American coast affords more inviting opportunities to violate the revenue laws, and those prohibiting the importation of slaves, than this. In other parts of the country, revenue cutters and boats have been provided; here, from the Chan delier Islands to the Perdido river, including the coast, and numerous other islands, we have only a small boat, with four men and an inspector, to oppose to the whole confederacy of smugglers and pirates. Add to this, a view of the situation of the whole coast of West Florida, from the Perdido to Florida Point, open to the secure landing of slaves, and the means of their introduction into the United States. Should West Florida be given up to the Spanish authorities, both American and Spanish vessels, it is to be apprehended, will be employed in the importation of slaves, with an ultimate destination to this country; and, even in its present situation, (the Seminole war having terminated) the greatest facilities are offered for obtaining slaves from Havana and elsewhere, through West Florida. Three vessels, it is true, were taken in the attempt last Summer, but this was owing rather to accident, than any well timed arrangement to prevent the trade. To prevent violations of the revenue laws, and the laws prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States, and to defend our commerce from the depredations of pirates on our coast, a revenue cutter is necessary; and it appears to me evident that such a vessel on this coast would render more important services to the country than any cutter employed on the Atlantic coast. The capture of Pensacola, and the consequent change of circumstances, prevented me from transmitting an estimate of the cost of a boat of the description mentioned in my letter of the 23d of February last, as I was requested to do: being fully satisfied that sound policy, both in regard to expense and utility, required a much larger vessel-one fitte I to cruise on the coast from the Chandeliers, on the Mississippi, to the bay of Tampa. Such a vessel would be able to clear our coast of pirates, and put an end to the importation of slaves. If the revenue of the district is to be the criterion to decide the propriety of the measure, I know the Government will not make an appropriation for this object; but, if the measure be tested by its general utility in support of our laws, and protection of our commerce, I should suppose they would not withhold the necessary appropriation. Seven persons are now in custody for piracy, who were taken in the mouth of the Perdido by the military; and repeated instances have occurred of vessels being plundered on the coast. The revenue boat now in use has been repaired since my letter of the February last, without much expense, and may perhaps be serviceable for six or eight months longer. But it appears to be necessary that I should be authorized to purchase another, when the present one should be found unfit for service, otherwise we might be two or three months without even a boat. The sails and rigging are stated to be now very good, and might be applied to another; and with those materials, I should estimate the cost of a boat of the like size at from two to three hundred dollars. I have the honor to be, Sir, very respectfully, Hon. W. H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury U. S. ADDIN LEWIS, Collector. FIFTEENTH CONGRESS-SECOND SESSION. JANUARY 13, 1819. Mr. Middleton, from the committee consisting of Mr. Middleton, Mr. Upham, Mr. Saw. yer, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Mumford, Mr. Lincoln, and Mr. Lynn, reported the following bill, with the exception of the 5th section, which was inserted as an amendment by the House of Representatives. A bill in addition to the acts prohibiting the slave trade. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to cause any of the armed vessels of the United States to be employed to cruise on any of the coasts of the United States or territories thereof, or of the coasts of Africa, or elsewhere, where he may judge attempts may be made to carry on the slave trade by citizens or residents of the United States, in contravention of the acts of Congress prohibiting the same, and to instruct and direct the commanders of all armed vessels of the United States to seize, take, and bring into any port of the United States, all ships or vessels of the United States, wheresoever found, which may have taken on board, or which may be intended for the purpose of taking on board, or of transporting, or may have transported, any negro, mulatto, or person of color, in violation of any of the provisions of the act, entitled "An act in addition to an act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, and to repeal certain parts of the same," or of any other act or acts prohibiting the traffic in slaves, to be proceeded against according to law. And the proceeds of all ships and vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the goods and effects on board of them, which shall be so seized, prosecuted, and condemned, shall be divided equally between the United States and the officers and men who shall seize, take, or bring the same into port for condemnation, whether such seizure be made by an armed vessel of the United States or revenue cutter thereof; and the same shall be distributed in like manner as is provided by law for the distribution of prizes taken from an enemy: Provided, That the officers and men, to be entitled to one half of the proceeds aforesaid, shall safekeep every negro, mulatto, or person of color, found on board of any ship or vessel so seized, taken, or brought into port for condemnation, and shall deliver every such negro, mulatto, or person of color, to the marshal of the district into which they are brought, if into a port of the United States, or, if elsewhere, to such person or persons as shall be lawfully appointed by the President of the United States, in the manner hereinafter directed; transmitting to the President of the United States, as soon as may be after such delivery, a descriptive list of such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, that he may give directions for the disposal of them. And provided, further, That the commanders of such commissioned vessels do cause to be apprehended and taken into custody, every person found on board of such vessel so seized and taken, being of the officers or crew thereof, and him or them convey, as soon as conveniently may be, to the civil authority of the United States, to be proceeded against in due course of law in some of the districts thereof. Set. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to make such regulations and arrangements as he may deem expedient for the safe-keeping, support, and removal beyond the limits of the United States, of all such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, as may be so delivered and brought within their jurisdiction; and to appoint a proper person or persons, residing upon the coast of Africa, as agent or agents for receiving the negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave trade by commanders of the United States' armed vessels. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That a bounty of twenty-five dollars be paid to the officers and crews of the commissioned vessels of the United States or revenue cutters, for each and every negro, mulatto, or person of color, who shall have been, as hereinbefore provided, delivered to the marshal or agent duly appointed to receive them. And the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and required to pay or cause to be paid to such officers and crews or their agent, the aforesaid bounty for each person delivered as aforesaid. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That, when any citizen or other person shall lodge information with the attorney for the district of any State or Territory, as the case may be, that any negro, mulatto, or person of color, has been imported therein, contrary to the provisions of the acts in such case made and provided, it shall be the duty of the said attorney, forthwith, to commence a prosecution by information; and process shall issue against the person charged with holding such negro, negroes, mulatto, mulattoes, person or persons of color, so alleged to be imported contrary to the provisions of the acts aforesaid; and if, upon the return of the process executed, it shall be ascertained by the verdict of a jury, that such negro, negroes, mulatto, mulattoes, person or persons of color, have been brought in contrary to the true intent and meaning of the acts in such cases made and provided, then the court shall direct the marshal of the said district to take the said negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, into his custody for safe-keeping, subject to the orders of the President of the United States; and the informer or informers who shall have lodged the information shall be entitled to receive, over and above the portion of the penalties accruing to him or them by the provisions of the acts in such case made and provided, a bounty of fifty dollars for each and every negro, mulatto, or person of color, who shall have been delivered into the custody of the marshal; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and required to pay or cause to be paid the aforesaid bounty, upon the certificate of the clerk of the court for the district where the prosecution may have been had, with the seal of office thereto annexed, stating the number of negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, so delivered. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commander of any armed vessel of the United States, whenever he shall make any capture under the provisions of this act, to bring the vessel and her cargo, for adjudication, into some port of the State or Territory to which such vessel so captured shall belong, if he can ascertain the same; if not, then to be sent into any convenient port of the United States. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all such acts or parts of acts as may be repugnant to the provisions of this act, shall be, and the same are hereby, repealed. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That a sum, not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, to carry this law into effect. [This bill finally became a law on the 3d March, 1819.] MARCH 1, 1819. NOTE-In the course of the proceeding in the House of Representatives on the foregoing act, Mr. Strother, a member for the State of Virginia, moved to strike out the 3d and 4th sections; which motion was disagreed to by the House. JANUARY 19, 1819. Mr. Middleton, from the committee on the subject of the slave trade, laid before the House sundry documents transmitted to him as chairman of the said committee; which are as follows: Extracts from documents in the Departments of State, of the Treasury, and of the Navy, in relation to the illicit introduction of slaves into the United States. WASHINGTON, November 28th, 1818. SIR: I am directed by a committee on so much of the President's Message as relates to the illicit introduction of slaves into the United States, to inquire whether you have in your possession any particular information which will enable you to state the extent to which that violation of our laws has been carried of late, or which may suggest any additional prohibitory enactments tending more effectually to repress it. I have the honor to be, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, HENRY MIDDLETON, Chairman of a Committee of the H. of Representatives. To the Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Secretary of State. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor of enclosing, herewith, copies of letters received at the several Departments of State, the Treasury, and the Navy, containing the information, possessed by the Executive, in relation to the subject of your letter of the 28th November last, and requested by the committee. In answer to the inquiry, whether any additional prohibitory enactment might more effectually repress the illicit introduction of slaves into the United States it is to be observed, that, by the act of Congress, of the last session, the first six sections of the act of 24 March, 1807, "to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight," were repealed: and that the |