“This was a libel against the schooner La Jeune Eugenie for being engaged in the slave trade. By an act passed by the Congress of the United States on the 2d of March, 1807, the importation of slaves into any port of the United States was prohibited after the 1st of June 1808; the time limited by the constitution of the United States, beyond which slaves could not be imported. By this act the President was also authorized to employ armed vessels to cruise on any part of the coast, where he might judge attempts would be made to violate the act, and to instruct the commanders of armed vessels to seize, and to bring in, vessels found on the high seas contravening the provisions of the law. Previous acts had been passed to prevent the citizens of the United States, or any resident within the United States, from being engaged in the transportation of slaves from Africa, or elsewhere, to any foreign port. By an act passed on the 20th of April, 1818, in addition to the above, it is provided among other things, that in all prosecutions under this act the defendant shall be holden to prove that the negro, &c. which he shall be charged with having brought into the United States, or with purchasing, holding, selling, &c. was brought into the United States at least five years previous to the prosecution, or was not brought in, holden, purchased, or otherwise disposed of, contrary to the provisions of this act.”