French officials barred native courts from recognizing slavery in civil disputes

Evidence

“Native courts,” Roume wrote, “cannot be permitted to rule in litigations relative to the state of captivity … Furthermore, in cases submitted to them, they can no longer take account of the supposed status of captive.” Administrators would have to make sure that chiefs respected this innovation when they judged civil suits. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 316