No seizures have yet been made, but, as they were
contemplated by the law, and might be presumed, it seemed proper
to make the necessary regulations applicable to such seizures for
carrying the several provisions of the act into effect.

"It is enjoined on the executive to cause all negroes, mulattoes,
or persons of color, who may be taken under the act, to be
removed to Africa. It is the obvious import of the law, that none
of the persons thus taken should remain within the United States;
and no place other than the coast of Africa being designated,
their removal or delivery, whether carried from the United States
or landed immediately from the vessels in which they were taken,
was supposed to be confined to that coast. No settlement or
station being specified, the whole coast was thought to be left
open for the selection of a proper place, at which the persons
thus taken should be delivered. The executive is authorized to
appoint one or more agents, residing there, to receive such
persons; and one hundred thousand dollars are appropriated for
the general purposes of the law.

"On due consideration of the several sections of the act, and of
its humane policy, it was supposed to be the intention of
Congress, that all the persons above described, who might be
taken under it, and landed in Africa, should be aided in their
return to their former homes, or in their establishment at or
near the place where landed. Some shelter and food would be
necessary for them there, as soon as landed, let their subsequent
disposition be what it might. Should they be landed without such
provision having been previously made, they might perish. It was
supposed, by the authority given to the executive to appoint
agents residing on that coast, that they should provide such
shelter and food, and perform the other beneficent and charitable
offices contemplated by the act. The coast of Africa having been
little explored, and no persons residing there who possessed the
requisite qualifications to entitle them to the trust being known
to the executive, to none such could it be committed. It was
believed that citizens only, who would go hence, well instructed
in the views of their government, and zealous to give them
effect, would be competent to these duties, and that