intent as aforesaid, such citizen or person shall be adjudged a PIRATE, and on conviction thereof, before the circuit court of the United States, for the district wherein he may be brought or found, shall suffer DEATH.-Approved, May 15, 1820.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any citizen of the United States, being of the crew or ship's company of any foreign ship or vessel engaged in the slave trade, or any person whatever, being of the crew or ship's company, of any ship or vessel, owned wholly or in part, or navigated for, or in behalf of any citizen or citizens of the United States, shall forcibly confine, or detain, or aid and abet in forcibly confining, or detaining, on board such ship or vessel, any negro or mulatto, not held to service by the laws of either of the states or territories of the United States, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall, on board any such ship or vessel offer or attempt to sell, as a slave, any negro or mulatto, not held to service as aforesaid, or shall, on the high seas, or any where on tide water transfer or deliver over to any other ship or vessel, any negro or mulatto, not held to ser. vice as aforesaid, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall land, or deliver on shore, from on board any such ship or vessel, any such negro or mulatto, with intent to make sale of, or having previously sold, such negro or mulatto, as a slave, such citizen, or person shall be adjudged a PIRATE, and on conviction thereof, before the circuit court of the United States for the district wherein he shall be brought, or found, shall suffer DEATH.— Approved, May, 15, 1820.

American slave trade,

From the following extracts it will be seen, that the domestic slave trade, also now carried on in this nation, is most explicitly condemned by the law of these United States.

"Whereas, the traffic in slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and justice, and whereas, both His Majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its ENTIRE ABOLITION, it is hereby agreed that both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavors to accomplish so desirable an object."--Treaty of peace between His Britanic Majesty and the United "States of America signed at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, Art. x.

"This treaty shall be binding on both parties,”Ib. Art. xi.

Now compare the above with the following:"All treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding."-Constitution of the United States,

Art. vi.

Hence it appears, that the “ supreme law" of this land is opposed to the "traffic in slaves," and the good faith of the United States is PLEDGED to promote its "entire abolition.” 13

CHAPTER XXI.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS.

The following extracts from the United States' Constitution, and from the Bills of Rights, and Constitutions of the several states, will show how high an estimate was once put upon the freedom of speech and of the press, by the fathers of our country.

Congress.

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exer. cise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. -Constitution U. S. Art.

iii. Amendments.

Maine.

Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of this liberty. No laws shall be passed regulating or restraining the freedom of the press.

Massachusetts.

The liberty of the press is essential to security of freedom in a state; it ought not, therefore, to be restrained in this commonwealth.

New Hampshire.

The liberty of the press is essential to the security of freedom in a state; it ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved.

Vermont.

The people have a right to a freedom of speech, and of writing and publishing their sentiments concerning the transactions of government, and therefore the freedom of the press ought not to be restrained.

Connecticut.

Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentimens on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

No law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press.

New York.

Every citizen may freely speak, write, and pub. lish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech, or of the press. In all prosecutions, or indictments for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury and if it shall appear to the jury, that the matter charged as libellous is true, and was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted, and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact.

Pennsylvania.

The printing presses shall be free to every per son who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the Legislature, or any branch of government; and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man; and every citizen may freely speak, write, and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

Delaware.

The press shall be free to every citizen who un. dertakes to examine the official conduct of men acting in a public capacity; and any citizen may print on any such subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

Maryland.

The liberty of the press ought to be inviolably preserved.

Virginia.

The freedom of the press is one of the great bul. warks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

North Carolina.

The freedom of the press is one of the great bul. warks of liberty, and therefore ought never to be re strained.