SLAVE TRADE

criminal law. The infamous traffic in human flesh, which is now forbidden by the laws and treaties of most civilized states. 2. By the constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 9, it is provided, that the migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing (in 1789,) shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the congress, prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight. Previously to that date several laws were enacted, which forbid citizens of the United States, under certain circumstances, to equip or build vessels for the purpose of carrying on the slave trade, and the last mentioned act makes it highly penal to import slaves into the United States after the first day of January, 1808.