Argument of John Quincy Adams, before the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of the United States, Appellants, vs.

About the Project

This first edition manuscript is a written account of the “Argument of John Quincy Adams, before the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of the United States, Appellants, vs. Cinque, and others, Africans, captured in the Schooner Amistad.” In 1840, Lewis Tappan and Ellis Gray Loring of the Amistad Committee approached John Quincy Adams, the 72-year old former president, to defend the Amistad captives. Adams was viewed as the perfect candidate to represent the Mende Africans before the Supreme Court. He had extensive experience within the government, had argued before the Supreme Court many times, negotiated international treaties, and abhorred slavery. Initially hesitant, he eventually took the case believing it would be his last great service to the country. In February 1841, he argued the Mende were free men illegally captured and sold into slavery, and as such should be returned to Africa. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the captives. Help us transcribe this invaluable piece of history showing the highest court in America ruling against the institution of slavery.

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