1860, March 20. Congress (Senate): Steam Vessels for Slave-Trade.
"Mr. Wilson asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to bring in a bill (Senate, No. 296) for the construction of five steam screw sloops-of-war, for service on the African coast." Read twice,
and referred to Committee on Naval Affairs; May 23, reported with an amendment. Ibid., pp. 274, 494–5.
1860 March 26. Congress (House): Proposed Resolutions.
"Mr. Morse submitted ... the following resolutions; which were read and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, viz:
"Resolved, That for the more effectual suppression of the African slave trade the treaty of 1842 ..., requiring each country to keep eighty guns on the coast of Africa for that purpose, should be so changed as to require a specified and sufficient number of small steamers and fast sailing brigs or schooners to be kept on said coast....
"Resolved, That as the African slave trade appears to be rapidly increasing, some effective mode of identifying the nationality of a vessel on the coast of Africa suspected of being in the slave trade or of wearing false colors should be immediately adopted and carried into effect by the leading maritime nations of the earth; and that the government of the United States has thus far, by refusing to aid in establishing such a system, shown a strange neglect of one of the best means of suppressing said trade.
"Resolved, That the African slave trade is against the moral sentiment of mankind and a crime against human nature; and that as the most highly civilized nations have made it a criminal offence or piracy under their own municipal laws, it ought at once and without hesitation to be declared a crime by the code of international law; and that ... the President be requested to open negotiations on this subject with the leading powers of Europe." ... House Journal, 36 Cong. 1 sess. I. 588–9.
1860, April 16. Congress (Senate): Bill on Slave-Trade.
"Mr. Wilson asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to bring in a bill (Senate, No.