Notwithstanding this, however, the slave trade, though now illegal and outlawed, continued for fully half a century.

Slaves were still stolen on the coast of Africa by New England sea captains, subjected to the pains and horrors of the middle passage, and smuggled into Georgia or South Carolina, to be eagerly bought by the Southern planters.

A Congressman estimated that 20,000 blacks were thus smuggled into the United States annually.

Lafitte's nest of pirates at Barataria was a regular slave depot; so, too, was Amelia Island, Florida.

The profit on a slave smuggled into the United States amounted to $350 or $500, and the temptation was too great for men to be restrained by fear of a law, which prescribed but light penalties.