Below is an extract from the Acts of Alabama, 1818 to 1828, found online. This is one of many Acts pertaining to people of color that will be posted on this blog. The original documents are at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery, AL.
An act to provide for the disposition of slaves imported into the Territory contrary to the laws of the United States. (1818)
Session: Second Territorial Session, Nov 1818
Page: 44-45
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and house of Representatives of the Alabama Territory, in General Assembly convened, That all the slaves brought or imported into the Territory, contrary to the laws of the United States, in such cases made and provided and condemned by any court in this Territory, having jurisdiction thereof, upon libel filed in the said court, shall be sold, by the proper officer of the court, to the highest bidder, at public Auction, for ready money, after advertising the time and place of such sale, in some newspaper in this Territory, at least thirty days previous thereto.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the residue of the money arising from the sale, after deducting the costs of suit, shall be paid one
(45)
half to the informer, and the other half into the Territorial Treasury; but in case there shall have been no informer, the whole shall be paid into the Territorial Treasury, after deducting costs as aforesaid.
(signed)
J. W. WALKER Speaker of the house of Representatives.
JAMES TITUS President of the Legislative Council.Approved 21st November 1818.
WM. W. BIBB Governor of the Alabama Territory.
Alabama Genealogy in Color 