Henry Hill and Thomas Fitt represent that on 2 December 1785 they did "undertake and prosecute a voyage to the Coast of Africa for the purpose of importing Slaves into the States, at which time aforesaid they were not prohibited ... by any law in this State." In their absence, however, "a law took place laying a penalty of Five Pounds on each Slave imported into this State from the Coast of Africa." Arguing that "all penal Laws ought to afford a day before they should take effect, which day should be so remote that the parties liable to sustain damage thereby should have it in their power to provide against such penalty," the slave traders ask to be exonerated "from said penalty."
Result: Denied.
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Repository: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina
