View Document Frames
New York Morning Herald, 20 Sept. 1839.
[Correspondent to the New York Herald]
The Armistad Slavers.
Hartford, Tuesday 12 o'clock, M.
MR. BENNETT--The Circuit court was opened at 11 o'clock, his honor, Judge Judson,
on the bench. After a solemn and appropriate invocation to the Throne of Grace by
the Rev. Dr. Hewes, the Grand Jury were impanelled and addressed by Judge Judson.
He remarked in the course of his observations, that he had last evening received
a note from Judge Thompson, stating that he was unavoidably detained, but expected
to be here by two o'clock this afternoon. That in the absence of the Judge (Judge
Thompson is one of the associate judges of the Supreme Court of the United States,
and Mr. Judson is the District Judge) he should merely charge the grand jury in reference
to a case of theft, alleged to have been committed on board of an American vessel
in a foreign port, and supposed to be a violation of the laws of the United States,
and of course within the jurisdiction of the court. After stating the law in the
case, with much clearness and precision, Judge Judson added that the grand jury were
not to consider his remarks as applicable to any particular case, except
the one already mentioned.
The Judge concluded his charge as follows:
If any persons have anticipated your consideration of any other case, or cases, involving
more important principles, and deeper interests, either to the nation or individuals,
I have only to say to you now, that the honorable judge with whom I am associated
in this Court, found it impossible to be here this morning; and yet it is his wish,
expressed in his note, received late last evening, that the business of the court
should proceed, until his arrival, which may be expected in the course of the day.
Under these circumstances, a case of such magnitude cannot be disposed of in any
manner satisfactory to myself, and the duty which is due the place I hold, without
the most calm, patient and thorough examination.
The Judges of this Court have had no opportunity to confer together, or to make that
investigation which is so important to the final disposition of the subject. This
will be done in due time. And if on such investigation it shall be found that the
public interest demands from the Court a further charge, your attendance will
be requested for that purpose.
If, on the contrary, the district Attorney should not have otherbills to lay
before you, then you will be discharged.
These remarks, referred, of course, to the case of the Africans. The court-room was
crowded to excess, and an extraordinary degree of interest was manifested on the
occasion. In fact, the city is crowded with strangers, and alive with excitement.
Abolitionists are here, and anti-Abolitionists are here also, and all are endeavoring
to make interest in behalf of the objects that they have in view. A thousand various
and contradictory stories are constantly set afloat regarding the negroes, and the
most extraordinary reports are in circulation respecting the disposition that is
to be made of the blacks. Meanwhile, Cuffee is caressed and fed in the prison, and
is growing sleek and fat daily.
3 O'CLOCK, P. M.--Judge Thompson arrived a few moments since, and took his seat on
the bench. He very soon adjourned the court, however, for the purpose of conferring
with Judge Judson on the negro case, and tomorrow morning we shall have the matter
up, and the Judge will either give it to the Grand Jury, or decide that the Court
has no Jurisdiction.
