At the Volokh Conspiracy, Jonathan Adler notes that "[o]n Jan. 1, 1808, it became illegal to import slaves into the United States."
The first clause of Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution provided that:
In addition, Article V provided that this section could not be amended:
Congress enacted "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" on March 2, 1807. Section 1 barred the importation of slaves into the United States on the earliest possible date permitted by the Constitution -- 200 years ago today:
When the Constitutional Convention voted to defer the date from 1800 to 1808, James Madison objected that "Twenty years will produce all the mischief that can be apprehended from the liberty to import slaves. So long a term will be more dishonorable to the National character than to say nothing about it in the Constitution."
The first clause of Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution provided that:
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
In addition, Article V provided that this section could not be amended:
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Congress enacted "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" on March 2, 1807. Section 1 barred the importation of slaves into the United States on the earliest possible date permitted by the Constitution -- 200 years ago today:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, it shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held to service or labour.
When the Constitutional Convention voted to defer the date from 1800 to 1808, James Madison objected that "Twenty years will produce all the mischief that can be apprehended from the liberty to import slaves. So long a term will be more dishonorable to the National character than to say nothing about it in the Constitution."
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