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"Coverage of the Amistad Case," The Colored American, November 2, 1839, p.2
KEEP COOL--We suspect our neighbor of the Star has not looked at the matter at issue
between the forty Africans of the Amistad and the two Spaniards, who claim to be
their owners, as thoroughly and dispassionately as it is susceptible of being considered.
Perhaps if he will run his eye over the proceedings in the case yesterday, which
he will find in another column, he will discover the possibility of rights being
possessed by Africans, though they be negroes; and that Spaniards, though they be
a shade or two lighter, are amenable for all lawless outrages and oppression upon
free born natives of all countries, be they ten times blacker than the miserable
prosecutors in this case. As for our "inclining in favor of the blacks,"
as is alleged by the Star, it is all moonshine. We incline to neither side. We go
for the law, and for "equal and exact justice" between these parties, and
between all parties, be their nation, complexion or language what they may. What
justice is, in this case, we shall probably soon be informed through our judicial
tribunals; and till that decision is made, give the blacks, we say, as well as the
Spaniards, fair play, and all the advantages which the laws of our country may afford
them.--N. Y. Sun.
We have been highly pleased, for some weeks past, with the independent and fearless
tone of the N. Y. Sun, while discussing the rights and wrongs of the Amistad affair.
It views this matter as it ought, and reasons it with sound judgment and good sense.
We are also happy to find a like spirit alive in several others of our most respectable
penny papers, of which are the SIGNAL and the TATTLER. This is right--nothing so
much to the credit of a newspaper as its firm and undeviating support of "equal
and exact justice." These paper [sic] do not permit their column to be disgraced,
in this matter, with the low born and vulgar prejudice--the mean and contemptible
spirit--the absurd and weak dogmas, and the fiend-like nature, which are the characteristics
of a junto of infamous prints in this city ycleped as follows: the N. Y. Star,
N. Y. Gazette, Courier & Enquirer, the brothel Morning Herald, and
a few others equally detestable in character.
Ever since the capture of the Amistad, and the confinement of the Africans, the editors
of these latter papers have been growling and firing volley upon volley of abuse
from their smut-machines upon these men, because forsooth, they had dared,
after having been stolen from their native land, and torn from the arms of their
wives and children, and forced on board a slave-ship, being bound in irons and otherwise
cruelly treated, to break their shackels and assert their "inalienable rights
to life, LIBERTY," &c. Yes, because they had dared to this, they have been
denounced as pirates, as murderers, and have had every epithet heaped upon them which
these editors could cull from their natural vocabulary. Chiveralous, high-minded
editors, they! How valiantly--how corageously they fight those forty poor African
prisoners!!--The South will owe them much--perhaps, grant them a pension!
But that now the tables are turned, and the oppressors of these colored men are about
to be arraigned before a lawful tribunal of our country for the outrages and cruelties
they committed on these poor benighted Africans, the editorial artillery is turned
and levelled against those who have been instrumental in bringing this change about.
They have denounced the talented counsellors [sic] for the Africans--slandered our
judges--abused our citizens--derided our country, and all for what? Why, because
justice is about to take the right course,and that the wrongs of the Amistad captives
are about to be redressed, And why should they not be redressed? "O because,"
answer these modern Nero's, "they are black--are slaves, and are ignorant,"
and then wind off with a doleful tale about the two poor persecuted Spaniards,"--whom
we consider as but two fiends in human shape.
At the conduct of the Herald we are not surprised. It is perfectly in character with
its proprietor. But when editors who claim the name of men thus act, it is astonishing!
We envy not their feelings in this detestable cause--their consciencies [sic] are
"seared as with a hot iron." To them justice, truth and mercy, are strangers.
But we forbear--for it makes us sad to think to what vile purposes--how debased and
low, the mind of man can be bought. We would that it were otherwise with these editors,
but it is even so. And from our heart we pity them.
