The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

Pensacola Bay, U.S. Frigate Macedonian, March 24, 1839. Bifolium sheet, 12 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (316 x 191 mm). Letter signed by William B. Shubrick, Commander of the U.S. Frigate Macedonian, to Commander Hiram Paulding of the Levant. In part: You will proceed without loss of time with the sloop of war Levant under your command to Tampico...I have reason to believe, from information received, that an attack is to be made on that place by Mexican forces, and the object of your visit is to afford protection to the persons and property of American citizens... I have received information that some American vessels are employed in the transportation of Slaves from Cuba to Texas... you will strictly examine any that you may fall in with...if you have the least reason to supposed from appearances that they may be engaged in such trafick..." Creasing from old folds, scattered in stains, pages lightly toned; accompanied by typed transcription.

Interesting letter signed by William Bradford Shubrick (1790-1874) of the Macedonian, to Hiram Paulding (1797-1878) of the Levant, both serving in the West Indies Squadron of the United States Navy.

The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1789, barred the government from instituting federal bans on the importation of enslaved persons for 20 years. In 1794, Congress passed the Slave Trade Act, which outlawed the construction of ships in U.S. ports for use in the international slave trade. In 1807, with the 20-year ban almost up, another law took the matter further, the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves outlawed the admission of any enslaved persons to American ports, even on foreign vessels. Advocates of these laws hoped by restricting the addition of new enslaved persons into the country, the institution of slavery as a whole would eventually diminish. In practice however the laws were sporadically enforced, and often met with pressure from officials in Southern slave holding states.

Shubrick's ambiguous order to Paulding in this letter highlights the hesitancy of some Naval commanders on policing the laws. Tens of thousands of enslaved individuals were still imported into the United States after 1808, mostly entering via trade from Cuba to Texas, and significant enforcement of laws did not start until the Union blockage of the South during the Civil War.

Hiram Paulding (1797-1878) was a career U.S. Naval Officer who served with distinction from the War of 1812 through the American Civil War, eventually attaining the rank of Rear Admiral.