222.
~1775, March 27. Delaware: Bill to Prohibit Importation.~
Passed the Assembly and was vetoed by the governor. Force, _American
Archives_, 4th Series, II. 128-9.
~1775, Nov. 23. Virginia: On Lord Dunmore's Proclamation.~
Williamsburg Convention to the public: "Our Assemblies have repeatedly
passed acts, laying heavy duties upon imported Negroes, by which they
meant altogether to prevent the horrid traffick; but their humane
intentions have been as often frustrated by the cruelty and covetousness
of a set of _English_ merchants." ... The Americans would, if possible,
"not only prevent any more Negroes from losing their freedom, but
restore it to such as have already unhappily lost it." This is evidently
addressed in part to Negroes, to keep them from joining the British.
_Ibid._, III. 1387.
~1776, June 29. Virginia: Preamble to Frame of Government.~
Blame for the slave-trade thrown on the king. See above, page 21.
Hening, _Statutes_, IX. 112-3.
~1776, Aug.-Sept. Delaware: Constitution.~
"The Constitution or system of Government agreed to and resolved upon by
the Representatives in full Convention of the Delaware State," etc.
Sec. 26. "No person hereafter imported into this State from _Africa_ ought
to be held in slavery on any pretence whatever; and no Negro, Indian, or
Mulatto slave ought to be brought into this State, for sale, from any
part of the world.
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