Description:

JOHN QUINCY ADAM'S DEFENSE IN 'U.S. VS. THE AMISTAD' -
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767-1848) Sixth President of the United States, Secretary of State under Monroe who principally formulated the Monroe Doctrine. An excessively rare string bound printed pamphlet, (New York: S.W. Benedict), 1841, 135pp. 8vo., a transcript of Adam's legal defense argued before the Supreme Court in the famous case of 'United States vs. The Amistad' on February 24, 1841, which he would go on to win. At the top, a handwritten notation reads: 'Received from Washington by mail, August 23, 1841, William Jenks. From the venerable Author.' Affixed to the inside of the front page is a hand addressed section of the envelope used to mail the transcript to its recipient, franked 'J. Q. Adams.' Moderately toned with foxing and stains, some pages slightly creased, else very good. William Jenks (1778-1866) was a Massachusetts judge and educator who took an active role in the establishment of humanitarian associations, and he was also a frequent correspondent of Quincey Adams'. On August 26th, 1839, the USS Washington came upon the Spanish slave schooner 'Amistad' lying at anchor near Montauk Point. The ship had a cargo of fifty slaves who had overwhelmed the white crew and murdered the captain and one crew member. The Africans were arrested, taken to New Haven, Connecticut, and charged with piracy and murder. A group of New England abolitionists led by Lewis Tappan aimed to defend the Africans, and after a series of court decisions and appeals, the case was taken to the Supreme Court. Tappan asked Adams to argue for the defense, and Adams, then a U.S. Representative, regarded his appearance in the case as his 'final duty' before the Supreme Court. He noted in his diary that he was 'deeply distressed and agitated' till the moment he rose to address the court, and 'then my spirit did not sink within me. With grateful heart for aid from above, though in humiliation for the weakness incident to the limits of my powers, I spoke for four hours and a half...til half-past three o'clock, when the Chief Justice said the court would hear me further tomorrow.' In the end, Adam's argument won, and the Court freed the Africans and returned them home. A very important pamphlet from one of America's earliest abolitionist president and related to the most prominent slavery court case until Dred Scott.

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December 9, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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