§ 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." Force, American Archives, 5th Series, I. 1174–9.
1777, July 2. Vermont: Slavery Condemned.
The first Constitution declares slavery a violation of "natural, inherent and unalienable rights." Vermont State Papers, 1779–86, p. 244.
1777. Maryland: Negro Duty Maintained.
"An Act concerning duties."
" ... no duties imposed by act of assembly on any article or thing imported into or exported out of this state (except duties imposed on the importation of negroes), shall be taken or received within two years from the end of the present session of the general assembly." Laws of Maryland since 1763: 1777, sess. Feb.-Apr., ch. xviii.
1778, Sept. 7. Pennsylvania: Act to Collect Back Duties.
"An Act for the recovery of the duties on Negroes and Mulattoe slaves, which on the fourth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, were due to this state," etc. Dallas, Laws, I. 782.
1778, October. Virginia: Importation Prohibited.