The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-09-21
From the Boston Courier.
The African Captives.

We do not recollect any incident, for many years
the occurrence Of which has caused so general q
feeling of deep interest in the community, as the
case of the Africans captured in the Spanish
schooner Amistad Where and for uhat are they
to be tried are questions that have been discuss
ed in some of the newspapers; some contend thai
thew must be tried in the district of New York
others, in that of Connecticut. Some suppose
thew must be tried for murder-others for piracy
We are not sufficiently familiar with the princi-
pies of law involved in these questions, to arrive
Mt any conclusion satisfactory to ourselves, much
less, to present an argument that may satisfy o'h-
ers. IN
These unhappy wretches are now IN gaol' ne
crime, for which they are committed III ,'ie 'ee'i-
meal language of the law, is called m"roeT or p'-
racv-perhaps both and the punishment OF el'hef
is death. In the language OF humanity they nave
romm;tted no crime at ALL They have attempted
to regain the liberty, in which they were born,
and Which has been wrested from them by rob-
hers nirates and murderers. In making this at
temnt thew have done nothing more than every
man in America would have done in similar cir
cumstances fhe had courage enough to do ILL.,
nothing more than the laws of God, the laws Of
man, and the instincts of nature, justify and de-
mand. The unsophisticated common sense OF
mankind revol!s at the idea of their having COM
mitted any crime.
The next step to be taken in regard to these
captives, we presume, will be to present the case
to grand Jury, and, if twelve men can be found,
to saw thew are guilty of murder or piracy, they
must then be arraigned, and tried by another jury,
before whom all arguments that the ingenuity OF
LAWYERS can devise, will be urged with ALI the ell
ouuence of the most accomplished orators of the
land, to obtain a conviction. Can aJury OF twelve
men be found in the free states, that will convict
these capves Of crime that will subject them to
the punishment Of death We nope not. For
the honor of people, who call themselves enlIght-
ened and free for the honor OF human nature,
if human nature be not wholly depraved and past
all redemption we hope that there are not twelve
men in our country, who would disgrace the name
of an American by rendering verdict of guilty.
Pnt perhaps tho Court will decide that the case
is not within its jurisdiction, and that the prison.
ers must be delivered up to the Spanish govern
ment, TO be disposed of as that mercful tribunal
raw decide. We all know, in such a case, what
the end would be.
We are aware that, in the view of the conven-
tonal laws of nations, the case presents points OF
great diffiulty subjected to the laws OF humanl-
ty or morals or religion, the case is as simple an
one as can be imagined and requires no casulStl-
cal argument. Every man, whatever be his ma
ton, profession or complexion, feels that the prs-
oners performed deed of chivalry, that would, if
they were not black, command admiration and APP
plause.
Joseph Cinguez, the daring leader of this band
of captives, is a hero, worthy to stand by the
side Of the noblest Roman, whose name ever gra-
ced the pages of history And shall he be hang
for striving to regain his liberty and give it TO his
fellow-captives Shame, shame on the law or
tho country, which shalthring his life 10 snch
termination If they hing this noble fellow, the
scaffold on which he suffers, will be throne more
brilliant than ever Alexander Or Napoleon sat up
on He ought to enjoy the liberty for which he
so bravely commended, amid the plaudlts of fifteen
million free Americans.