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Richmond Enquirer, November 26, 1839.
SLAVES OF THE AMISTAD.
Correspondence of the Courier and Enquirer.
Hartford, Monday Evening.
The District Court commences its session to-morrow. It is a special term, and the
case of the Amistad is the only one to be tried. Judge Judson and several of the
counsel on both sides have already come in. Seven of the Africans were brought up
from New Haven this evening. The Spanish Consul is expected from Boston tomorrow.
It is understood here that Mr. Secretary Forsyth has expressed the opinion in emphatic
and decided terms, that the case cannot properly be litigated in any of our courts.--that
it is a question to be settled by the Executive, and not by the Judiciary, and that
our treaty stipulations with Spain render the obligation on the President imperative
to deliver the vessel and cargo into the custody of the Spanish Minister, without
injury or diminution--He thinks that it is not competent for us to call in question
the legality of the licence and clearance papers furnished to the purchasers of the
slaves by the regularly constituted authorities at Havana.
The Spanish Minister recommends to the claimants to abstain from all action in the
premises, and to rely on the good faith of our government for justice. It is understood
that Senior Ruiz who is now in prison in New York, will be governed by the advice
of the Minister, and employ no counsel, leaving the District Attorney to maintain
his claim on the part of our Government, and permitting the Abolitionists to take
their own course unchecked, except by the protest of the Spanish Consul. The case
will come on immediately on the opening of the Court tomorrow.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Sun.
Hartford, November 19, 1839.
The District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut was opened
at the hour appointed, by the Hon. A. T. Judson, Judge--and there being no other
business on the docket, the Amistad case was immediately called on.
R. S. Baldwin, Esq., Counsel for the Africans, gave notice, that he had filed a plea
to the jurisdiction of the court, to which he had called the attention of the Counsel
on the other side.
I. Isham, Esq., Counsel for Lieut. Gedney, thought it strange that the gentleman
should appear, when the only parties were the libellants and the claimants, who were
perfectly satisfied of the jurisdiction of the court, and had no difficulty in allowing
the case to go on to an amicable termination.
The court finally allowed the plea to be entered so far as it referred to the place
were the vessel and persons were taken, but not as to the merits of the question,
which he said could not come in under this plea.
Evidence was then adduced to the place where the vessel was taken.
Henry Green, of Long Island, related in full the circumstances of his interview with
the blacks, of their surrender to him, of their bringing their trunks ashore, and
of the capture by the boat from the brig Washington. He said there were about two
and twenty of the blacks on shore at the time, and the schooner was not more than
twenty or thirty rods from the shore, or at least was within hail.
The Court adjourned to dinner.
Mr. Baldwin was much disappointed at not seeing Mr. Staples. He, however, went on
with the case in good style and with manly confidence. Gov. Ellsworth is retained
by Captain Green and others from Long Island, who claim salvage.
