South Carolina Negro Seamen Act: Free Black Sailors Imprisoned

Passed in the aftermath of the Vesey conspiracy, South Carolina's Negro Seamen Act required that free Black sailors aboard ships docking in South Carolina ports be imprisoned for the duration of the ship's stay, with costs charged to the ship's captain. If the captain refused to pay, the sailor could be sold into slavery. The law violated federal treaties but was upheld by South Carolina. Other Deep South states passed similar laws. The U.S. Supreme Court never directly struck it down; it remained in force until the Civil War, effectively imprisoning hundreds of free Black men.