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

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A first edition manuscript of John Quincy Adam’s arguments before United States Supreme Court in the trial United States v. Schooner Amistad, 1841. The Octavo pamphlet-manuscript is constructed of handstitched rag paper, with 35 pages of John Quincy Adams’] full defense of the illegally captured Mende Africans by the Spanish schooner, La Amistad. A signature, possibly from a former owner of the manuscript, is written in blotted ink across the top front. Below it, in staggered size font, is: [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, BY LIEUT. GEDNEY, / DELIVERED ON THE 24th OF FEBRUARY AND 1st of MARCH, 1841. / WITH A REVIEW OF THE CASE OF THE ANTELOPE, / REPORTED IN THE 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH VOLUMES OF WHEATON’S REPORTS.].

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