to the provisions of the acts aforesaid: And if, upon the return of the process executed, it shall be ascertained, by the verdict of the jury that such negro, negroes, mulatto, mulattoes, person or persons of color, have been brought in, contrary to the true intent and meanings of the acts in such cases made and provided, then the court shall direct the marshal of the said districts 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 portions of the penalties accruing to him or them by the provisions of the acts in such case made and provided, a bounty of $50.00, 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 of the ports of the states or territory to which such vessels, 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all such acts, or parts of acts as may be repugnant to the provisions of this act, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed.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.

Approved, March 3, 1819.

Message of President Monroe Concerning Settlement of Captured Slaves in Africa - December 17, 1819.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

Some doubt being entertained respecting the true intent and meaning of the act of the last session entitled "An act in addition to the acts pro

hibiting the slave trade," as to the duties of the agents to be appointed on the coast of Africa, I think it proper to state the interpretation which has been given of the act and the measures adopted to carry it into effect, that Congress may, should it be deemed advisable amend the same before. further proceeding is had under it.

The obligation to instruct the commanders of all our armed vessels to seize and bring into port all ships or vessels of the United States wheresoever found, having on board any negro, mulatto, or person of color, in violation of former acts for the suppression of the slave trade, being imperative, was executed without delay. No seizures have yet been made, but as they were contemplated by the law, and might be presumed, it seemed proper to make the necessary regulations applicable to such seizures for carrying the several provisions of the act into effect.

It is enjoined on the Executive to cause all negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, who may be taken under the act to be removed to Africa. It is the obvious import of the law that none of the persons thus taken should remain within the United States, and no place other than the coast of Africa being designated, their removal or delivery, whether carried from the United States or landed immediately from the vessels in which they were taken, was supposed to be confined to that coast. No settlement or station being specified, the whole coast was thought to be left open for the selection of a proper place at which the persons thus taken should be delivered. The Executive is authorized to appoint one or more agents residing there to receive such persons, and $100,000 are appropriated for the general purposes of the law.

On due consideration of the several sections of the act, and of its humane policy, it was supposed to be the intention of Congress that all the persons above described who might be taken under it and landed in Africa should be aided in their return to their former homes, or in their establishment at or near the place where landed. Some shelter and food would be necessary for them there as soon as landed, let their subsequent disposition be what it might. Should they be landed without such provision having been previously made, they might perish.

It was supposed, by the authority given to the Executive to appoint agents residing on that coast, that they should provide such shelter and food, and perform the other beneficent and charitable offices contemplated by the act. The coast of Africa having been little explored, and no persons residing there who possessed the requisite qualifications to entitle them to the trust being known to the Executive, to none such

could it be committed. It was believed that citizens only who would go hence well instructed in the views of their Government and zealous to give them effect would be competent to these duties, and that it was not the intention of the law to preclude their appointment. It was obvious that the longer these persons should be detained in the United States in the hands of the marshals the greater would be the expense, and that for the same term would the main purpose of the law be suspended. It seemed, therefore to be incumbent on me to make the necessary arrangements for carrying this act into effect in Africa in time to meet the delivery of any persons who might be taken by the public vessels and landed there under it.

On this view of the policy and sanctions of the law it has been decided to send a public ship to the coast of Africa with two such agents, who will take with them tools and other implements necessary for the purposes. above mentioned. To each of these agents a small salary has been allowed $1,500 to the principal and $1,200 to the other. All our public agents on the coast of Africa receive salaries for their services, and it was understood that none of our citizens possessing the requisite qualifications would accept these trusts, by which they would be confined. to parts the least frequented and civilized, without a reasonable compensation. Such allowance therefore seemed to be indispensable to the execution of the act. It is intended also to subject a portion of the sum appropriated to the order of the principal agent for the special objects above stated, amounting in the whole, including the salaries of the agents for one year, to rather less than one-third of the appropriation. Special instructions will be given to these agents, defining in precise terms their duties in regard to the persons thus delivered to them, the disbursement of the money by the principal agent, and his accountability for the same. They will, also have power to select the most suitable place on the coast of Africa at which all persons who may be taken under this act shall be delivered to them, with an express injunction to exercise no power founded on the principal of colonization or other power than that of performing the benevolent offices above recited by the permission and sanction of the existing government under which they may establish themselves. Orders will be given to the commander of the public ship in which they will sail to cruise along the coast to give the more complete effect to the principal object of the act.

JAMES MONROE.

Constitution of the Commonwealth of Liberia.

Whereas it has pleased a Gracious Providence to favour with success, the benevolent efforts of the citizens of the United States of America, to plant Christian Colonies of free colored people, on the western coast of Africa, in order to lay a durable foundation for their future Union, Freedom and Independence, the following Constitution of Government is ordained and established.

ARTICLE I.

Sec. 1. The several colonial settlements planted in Liberia, on the principles of the American Colonization Society, are hereby declared to be united under one Government, to be styled the Government of Liberia.

Sec. 2. The Colony of Monrovia and the several Settlements appurtenant thereto, shall make one Colony, under the common title of "Monrovia;" the Colonies at Cape Palmas and Bassa Cove shall maintain their present denomination, or receive such other as the associated Colonization Societies of New York and Pennsylvania, and the Maryland State Society, may hereafter respectively bestow on them.

ARTICLE II. Of the Legislative Power.

Sec. 1. There shall be a Legislature, entitled the Congress of Liberia, which shall hold one session, at least, in every two years, at the town of Monrovia; or at such other place as the Congress shall from time to time. appoint. The first meeting shall be held on the first Monday in December next following the ratification of this Constitution; and all succeeding meetings shall commence at such periods as the Congress may prescribe.

Sec. 2. The Congress shall consist of the Chief Executive Magistrate of each of the Colonies of Monrovia, Cape Palmas, and Bassa Cove, and of five Delegates, to be elected by the Legislative councils of the said Colonies, in such manner as they may respectively provide, in the proportion of three for the Colony of Monrovia, and one for each of the other Colonies; and the said delegates shall receive for their services, such compensation as their respective councils may determine and pay.

Sec. 3. The Governor of Monrovia shall preside over the deliberations of the Congress; and in case of his absence, death, resignation, or inability, such one of the other Colonial Governors as a majority of the delegates present may elect. In the absence of those Governors, a President, for the time being, shall be, in like manner, chosen from the delegates present.

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the President to call the members to order, and to preserve decorum in the debates and proceedings of Congress, according to such rules as they may adopt for their government. In his absence from the chair, for a period not exceeding one day, he may call on any other member to preside in his place. He shall be entitled to vote in all cases in which he is not personally interested, and shall, moreover, give the casting vote whenever the Congress is equally divided on any question.

Sec. 5. The presence of a majority of all the members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn from day to day till a quorum be formed, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of the absent delegates, in such manner, and in such penalties as the Congress may provide.

Sec. 6. The Congress shall be the sole judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of the several delegates thereto, may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly conduct; and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a delegate. Shall keep a fair journal of its proceedings, and from time to time, publish the same; except such parts thereof as may, in their judgment, require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members, on any question, shall by the desire of any two or more members be entered on the journal. They shall, by the first opportunity, transmit a copy of their entire journal to the American Colonization Society; they shall appoint a recording Secretary and such other officers as may be necessary to the transaction. of business and fix their respective compensation, which shall be paid by the several Colonies on a ratable assessment, according to their respective representation.

In all cases except treason, felony, and breach of peace, the delegates shall be privileged from arrest, during their attendance in Congress, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate. therein, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

Sec. 7. No person shall be chosen as a delegate from any Colony who shall be under twenty-five years of age at the period of his election; nor unless he be, at such period, a citizen of Liberia, and have been an inhabitant of the Colony for which he is elected, for at least six months prior to his election.

Sec. 8. Congress shall have power to prescribe uniform rules of naturalization for all persons of colour, provided that all persons now citizens of any Colony of Liberia, shall continue to be so. and that all