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Tuckerman, Bayard, ed.The Diary of Philip Hone, 1828-1851. Vol.1, 385. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1889.
OCTOBER 22.-—There is great excitement in relation to the arrest of the two Spaniards,
Jose Ruiz and Pedro Montez, the owners of the revolted slaves who were taken on board
the "Amistead," and are now in prison in Connecticut. This outrageous proceeding
is the work of the abolitionists, who, in their officious zeal, have obtained affidavits
from the wretched Africans, who, ignorant of our language, probably knew not what
they were swearing about. These affidavits, charging their owners with assault and
battery, were made the grounds of this arrest, and the Spaniards are in prison. Writs
of habeas corpus have been issued, and the subject is now submitted to the judges,
who, it is hoped, will see reason to discharge the men who escaped so narrowly from
the conspiracy in which the lives of other white men were sacrificed. The fanatics
are working day and night to make this bad matter worse; under the specious cloak
of an abstract opposition to slavery, they are blowing up a flame which may destroy
the Union, and light up a civil war between men who have no interest so strong as
to belong to a brotherhood of patriots.
