Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-09-12

from the newspapers that eminent coun-
sci has been engaged for the defence
Of the negroes captured in the Amistad
Mr.. S. p. Staples of New York city,
Mr.. Baldwin Of New Haven, and Mr..
Choate Of Boston, all distinguished in
the profession Of the law, are said TO
be retained. The trial will take place
at Hartford on the 18th inst. In let
ter from Rev. Joshua Leavitt of New
York, who visited the Africans in con-
finement at New Haven last week, il is
stated that they have five apartments
allotted to them; are well clad, and
well attended to in all respects, and,
the want of exercise excepted, are as
comfortable as is consistent with their
situation. The public curiosity to see
them is so great, that the Jail is throng-
ed with visiters, from each of whom the
Jail keeper cxacts fee of l2 l-2 cents
IA part of which money is appropria-
ted for their benefit, and the remainder
is to be given to some charitable insti-
tuition. Joseph, the leader, is in cell
with other prisoners, but is said to be
less cheerful than many of the others.
They are said to be Of quiet and cheer
ful temper, and uniformly kind and
friendly to each other.
The case Of these unfortunate Alri-
cans has produced a strong sensation
throughout the country, and n strong
interest is excited in their behalf. 1t
seems to be the prevailing impression
that they are not amenablc to our laws,
that they stood in the light of belliger-
ents towards those whom they assailed,
and that they are justified upon the
principle of self protection and natural
right. The following view of the case
we copy from the N. Y. American -
Under the representation or impress
siOns, that the revoltcd crew were ie-
gaiiy held as slares, and that, being
such, they had risen and murdered the
master and crew Of the vessel, it seem
cd to be pretty general opinion, that
a demand of them would be made by
the Spanish authorities, to which this
Government could not do otherwise
than acccdc. For, inasmuch as our
laws recognize property in slaves, and
consequently punish crimes committed
by them even for the recovery of
their liberty, it does not appear how we
could avoid recognizing the right of
another nation to consider and treat
slaves, and their crimes, after the same
fashion.
But il would now seem, from the nd
missions of the white survivors of the
.am;stad, that the blacks on board ,uere
mol sldres, even by the Spanish laws
but on tho contrary, had bccn icloni-
ously taken away from their own coun-
try, Africa, and, in violation Of the
Spanish laws, as well as the laws of
Heaven, had been surreptitiously Ian
ded in Cuba, and there held in durcss,
till they could be sold as slaves.
II ut any time before their being Ian
ded in Cuba the vessel having them on
board had been fallen in with by Brit
ish or Spanish cruiser, they who are
now held by the authorities of this Re-
public as pirates, would have been con-
sidcred injured freemen, and the whites
who had stolen them would have been
hanged as piroies.
In like manner after their landing in
Cuba, if the laws Of Spain had been
enforced, these blacks could not have
been treated or sold as slaves-and
their captors, who smuggled them on
shore, must have been treated as tclons.
Ifthis be as VIC suppose it is, true
statement of the case the next and preg-
nant inquiry is, whether the act of pur-
chase by Signor Jose Ruiz, of men
thus illegally transported to Cuba, could
alter their condition, and, from much
wronged and outraged frecmcn, convert
them into hopeless and helpless slaves
The answer to this inquiry does not
seem difficult /; and then, if, as is in
cvitable, it must be resolved in the
negative, the light in which VIC arc to
regard the black men Of the Amistad.
who, to recover their freedom, destroy
cd their oppressors, may be safely as
certaincd, VIC think, by supposng, as
writer in the Boston Courier has done,
this case. If instead of africans, the
revolters ofthe .4misiad were English
men, and if, instead Of Spoxiard, the
master of the vessel had been .7Igerine
and then the Amisiad had been brought
into a port of the United States, the
Englishmen having risen upon the Al
ycrinc, put him to death, and recovered
their libcrty-what would have been
their reception in Il country born OF
Revolution, and where life, liberty, and
the pursuit Of happiness, are declared
to be the equal and inalicnablo rights
of all Mem
Would the ring-leadcr have been
thrown into irons, and held as pirate,
or have been welcomed as hero, and
carcssed as worthy, even in n land OF
freemcn, of particular honor, for thai
he preferred the chance of death to the
r. .,l,ya,u