THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Slave Ship Amistad Captured

On August 26, 1839, an American naval vessel captured a slave ship that would become the focus of an international dispute and nationwide fervor for the plight of its victims.

A few months before, in late June, Portuguese slave hunters loaded kidnapped Africans, mostly Mende people from Sierra Leone, onto a ship bound for Cuba. Two Spanish plantation owners purchased 53 of them in Cuba, and transferred them to the Spanish ship Amistad (“Friendship”). On July 1st, the Africans revolted and seized the ship. They ordered the surviving crew to return them to Africa. The owners and crew feigned compliance but subtly navigated northward instead.

On August 26, 1839, the Amistad was intercepted by an American naval vessel off the coast of Long Island. All onboard the ship were taken to Connecticut, where the plantation owners were freed and the Africans imprisoned. The Spanish claimed the slaves as Spanish property and demanded they be returned. President Van Buren was willing to appease the Spanish government, but American abolitionists disagreed and raised money to defend the Africans in court.

In January 1840, the case was brought before a district court, where attorneys (supported by testimony from one of the captured, Joseph Cinque) argued the Africans had never been slaves. The court ruled in favor of the Africans, but the federal government appealed.

The US Supreme Court heard the appeal in February 1841. Attorneys persuaded John Quincy Adams to join the abolitionist legal team. At the age of 73, with bad eyesight and trembling hands, he argued his part of the case for 9 hours over 3 days. Justice Joseph Story described Adams’ argument as “extraordinary...for its power, for its bitter sarcasm.” The Court decided 7-1 in favor of the Africans and ordered their immediate release!

Abolitionists further raised enough money to return the Mende to their homeland. Before the group left in November, they gifted John Quincy Adams a Mende language Bible to thank him for his efforts. Adams replied, "It was from that book [the Bible] that I learnt to espouse your cause when you were in trouble, and to give thanks to God for your deliverance."

The Amistad is an inspiring story of many selfless people who came together in defense of strangers. This lesson, to show consideration and aid those who may not be able to repay a kindness, can be put into practice in our own lives.

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with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.