KEY WEST LOU AMAZING GRACE n


L E G A L I T I E S with Louis Petrone


Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound Tat saved a wretch like me.


I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.


T


here is a story that goes with these beautiful words and the song from whence


they came. It starts with slavery. Most are unaware that the Found- ing Fathers dealt with the issue of the importation of slaves to the United States in the Constitution. Article I, Section 9, stated in effect that the government could not ban the importation of slaves for at least 20 years. Why such was placed in the


original Constitution is not cer- tain. I suspect that the Founding Fathers, most of whom were slave owners, were of the opinion that 20 years would give them enough time to propagate additional slaves. Since slaves had a signifi- cant monetary value, and one’s worth was often measured by slaves owned, it made sense that there had to be a time when no more would be permitted entry to the United States. An over abun- dance of slaves could conceivably diminish the value of each slave. Twenty years passed. Te Con-


gress could not wait to pass a law banning further importation of slaves to the United States. Tey did it one year early in 1807. Tomas Jefferson was president at the time. He also is considered the Father of the Constitution. He supported the proposed law and


LOU PETRONE TALK SHOW HOST


did not hesitate in signing it. Te law went into effect January 1, 1808. From that day forward, the U.S.


Navy was on the look out for any ships that were attempting to bring new slaves to American shores. Te Navy was kept busy. Slavery was a big business. It took until 1862 for the Navy to finally eradicate the problem. Although the final three slave


ships were captured in 1862, when the Civil War was already two years old, their capture had noth- ing to do with the Civil War. It was the result of the continued enforce- ment of the 1808 law. Te last three ships captured


were the William, Bogota and Wildfire. Te demand for new slaves was


overwhelming in the 1700s and the first half of the 1800s. Slaves were needed for work in North and South America. It is estimated some 12 million slaves were im- ported during those years. Cuba was in need of a great


numbers of slaves. Te sugar fields needed workers. It is estimated at least 100,000 slaves were delivered to Cuba from West Africa. Continued on page 10


8 KONK Life


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