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On 24 February 1841, John Quincy Adams appeared before the United
States Supreme Court to argue the defense of the Amistad captives,
a group of kidnapped Africans sold as slaves in Cuba who had revolted
against their captors and seized the ship Amistad before being
taken into custody by the US coastal survey ship Washington.
Two issues were at stake: whether the African captives could be considered
"property," and if so, whose claim to "ownership" was valid, that
of the Washington's captain or that of the Spanish traders.
Leading abolitionists appealed to former President and current United
States Representative John Quincy Adams to assist the defense counsel
before the Supreme Court. Adams argued the case for eight and one
half hours over the course of two days. The Court announced its decision
one week later declaring the captives to be free men and ordering their release from custody. The following month, Adams wrote this diary entry about
the slave trade. |
