Timeline supplement:
April 29th -- United States Circuit Court Proceedings
The second round of Circuit Court proceedings would prove to be mere formalities. Justice Thompson again presided, and it was publicly agreed that in all probability the District Court decision would be upheld. If Thompson was unwilling to interfere with the path of the Amistad case to the District Court, it was even less likely he would stand in the way as it approached the Supreme Court.
Following the District Court proceedings, the United States had immediately appealed the decision, as it related to the Africans and Lt. Gedney's salvage reward on the vessel and cargo. Jose Antonio Tellincas and the house of Aspa & Laca also appealed, hoping to have the salvage award on their goods overruled. Early on in the April term of the Circuit Court, the defense file a motion for the dismissal of the United State's appeal. They argued that the United States government had never officially, or legally, expressed any interest in this case before. Moreover, the United States had no constitutional right to pursue property claims in America on behalf of the Spanish government.
On April 29th, Thompson quickly denied the defense's motion. With just as much speed Thompson settled the United States' appeal by upholding the District Court's decision with a pro forma decree. With this type of decree, the court upholds the lower court decision merely to facilitate further adjudication by a higher court, not because it agrees with the lower court's decision. So once again, Justice Thompson saved himself from having to render a meaningful verdict on the largest issues of the case. Jose Antonio Tellincas and the house of Aspa & Laca's appeal was not considered, but reserved for the Supreme Court to decide.
A few months later, during the September term of the Circuit Court, W.S. Holabird, the United States District Attorney, petitioned for the sale of the Amistad and her cargo due to the poor repair of the vessel and the perishability of the goods. The Court agreed with the District Attorney's concerns, and ordered both the vessel and cargo to be sold at a public auction in New London, CT on October 15th.
At the auction, the Amistad sold for $245 and her cargo yielded $6,196.14. This money went directly to Charles Ingersoll, the clerk of the Circuit Court, to be held while awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court regarding Lt. Gedney's salvage claim. Only after the Court decided whether Gedney deserved the normal salvage rate of 1/3 of all goods and merchandise for "meritorious service" could the funds from the auction be properly dispersed to all of the parties.
Adam Kessler
