”After 1808 the importation of negroes from foreign countries was prohibited by United States laws, but smuggling was common until the naval blockade of 1861. The importation of slaves was mainly done by British and New England slave traders. Newport, R. I., was one of the most famous ports whence skippers sailed, with more or less secrecy, to engage in the slave trade. The message of Acting-Governor Ware to legislature of 1815 recited: ‘The collector of the port of Mobile informs the executive that some negroes have been seized that were brought into that port contrary to the laws of the United States. You will observe, gentlemen, that the laws subject such negroes to the disposal of the State or Territorial legislature, within whose bounds they were seized. I therefore submit to your consideration, the necessity of making some general law disposing of such property for the benefit of the Territory.’ In 1815, especially to prevent smuggling from Pensacola, there was a Mississippi statute which provided that such importations might be libelled before any superior court, and the slaves sold at auction.”

Reference Data:

Encyclopedia of Mississippi History, Vol. 2, by Dunbar Rowland, 1907, pages 677-8