The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-01-15
From the y, Y. Eve, Post.

The AFRICANS OF THE EAMIsrAD.-The Uni
ted States District Court of Connecticut, now
sitting at New Haven, is occupied with the case
OF the Africans found on board the Spanish
schooner Amstad. Judge Judson presiding
Messrs. Staples Baldwin and Sedgwick are
counsel for the blacks General lshan and NJ.
Brapard Of New London, counsel for Lieu
tenant Gedney, and Goveiner Ellsworth coun-
sci for Captain Green, one Of libelsnts of Sag
lIalbor. Mr.. Cleveland. Of New London, was
counsel for two of the Spanish owners of prop
erty on board the schooner Amistad; and the
United States District Attorney, under direc-
ton Of the government of the Unusd States.
counsel for the Spanish Minister.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Cleveland claimed in
behalf Of his clients that the goods should be
given mp on their giving bonds--,he goods TO
be sold by order Of the court. Lieut.. Ged-
ney's Counsel moved the court to order The
entire cargo TO be sold for whom il mig BIT con-
notwithstanding. however. any desire to
have the Africans sold. The coupsel TOR the
Africans put ia general answer to the effect
that they are not property and that the cour
has no jurisdiction over them as such.
The value Of the schooner An,stad was
proved by the testimony Of the Marshall and
Deputy Marshall TO he Que thousand dollars,
and the cargo, exclusive of the Africans, four
to the effect that the negroes were bozat, or
native Africans, recently imported. MIR. s.
Haley, and Mr.. Dwight p James, of New Lon,
don, testified that they heard Ruiz who speaks
good English, say that the negroes were just
from Africa. James Covey, Young black, who
has been some time ia this country. a native
OF Africa was examined at length. He testified
that the prisoners speak the Mendi language.
have Mendi names, and from Meudi, The
country of which he is himself native.
Professor Gibbs was called upon to prove
that James Covey and the prisoners speak the
same language, the Mend dialect. His com
potency being objected to, the cour, adjourned
for consideration.
On "Wednesday, the eth instant, Judge Jud
son ruled. on the opening of the Court, that
hr. Gibbs testimony was admissible. The
witness went on to point out the circumstances
which convinced him that these persons wers
natives of Africa when Judge Judson interrupt
ed the examination by saying that he was al
ready fully satisfied that the prisoners were ns-
tive Africans.
Mr. Gibbs proceeded to declare his belief
that the body of the prisoners are of one tribs
and speak the same language.
JiRqua, the leader of the Africans, MAS thea
examined, with Coyev for an interpreter. He
related the circumstances of his capture b.
Gedney. On his cross-examination BY General
lsham, hs said he came from Mendi where b.
was taken, not in battle, but on the road whero
be was at work that be did not sell him,e
nor ever sold any one as slave; tia, ne had
three children and one wife in Africa-tbat al
ter being captured he WAS taken 10 Lombokc.
sold and put on board the vessel in which Ec
was taken to Havana. chained hand and foot
They were bought by Ruiz, put on board the
Amistad in chains, kept short Of provisions aud
beaten.
Grsbbaung, another African, confirmed Jia.
eua's testimony. FuEva. another Airican,
said that Captain Ferrer. of the Amisisd. killed
one of the Africaus Duevi by name. before tue
Africans killed him. The cook was killed frs
was killed by Jinsua with stick, while lying
in the boat
MARSHALL Wilcox testified that Jinqua ha5
told him, through James Convey, that he haG
sold a man for slave in Africa, but Mr.. Gibbs
and Mr.. Day, who were present >, the conver-
sation. testified that they thought that Mr.. vi
cox misappreheuded Whist Jinqus said.