The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-10-31
THE AMISTAp NEGRO CASE.

Never was more evident failure than the
recent attempt Of Mr.. Gilpin, the Attorney
General under Van Buren, at the time, TO
smooth over the abominable order to give up
these slaves to the lender mercies of their mas
tcrs and the government of Cuba, without an
appeal to the Supreme Court, in case the Cir
cut Court Of Connecticut had so decrccd Mr..
Gilpin acknowledges the whole, and even that
United States vessel was provided by gov
eminent to convey them at once 10 Cuba !.
But Mr.. G.. says, the Spanish Minister remon-
strated and quoted some old treaty stipulations
and so Mr.. Van Buren, is not to be blamed.
Fortunately, the Circuit Court saw no treaty
stipulations' to authorize doubts, and their
freedom was decreed. The pretended Orners
of human flesh did appeal-John Q. Adams
advocated their cause, and the slaves were
sent home to Africa. NO,c. Mr.. Gilpin takes
credit that by decision of the Circuit Court,
the infamous acknowledged order, was not
carried into effect The order was decreed
ON the 9Th OF January, 1910, and the warrant
issued to conuey the Negroes to Cuba, in gor-
eminent ressel, should the Court decree to give
them up; and this Mir. Gilpin calls fulfilling
executive duty and doing Justice to ALL Mr..
Van Buren, being now the candidate of the
LIBERTY PARTY MIR. Gilpin's apology
is paraded in full in the free soil papers, and
referred to as satisfactory!
Since sketchng the above, we have read Mr..
JOSHUA LEAvITT's History of the Amistad
Case, written several years ago. and soon after
the decision Of the Supreme Court in favor of
the freedom of these pretended slaves. 1t now
appears that the appeal to the Supreme Court
was the act of the Attorney General, by or
i 80 L.
satisfied with his order to deliver these slaves
to their Spanish masters the xpect-
cd decision against them obtained, govern
ment vessel, the Gramgus, was ordered to re-
ccive them on board, before an appeal TO the
Supreme Court could be made, and convey
them to Cuba, with the plea that the Negroes
may have an opportunity of proving the truth
Of their allegation (that they are not slaves)
before the proper tribunal of the island. "A
most benevolent (says LeavitD motive for
sending persons out of the countryr The de-
cision i'll the lower Court was in favor of the
freedom of the Negroes; and then an appeal
Is taken by M. PGn Buren's order, to hold
them sill. Mr.. Lc1vitt goes on to say
This is plain intima;ion that it was in
tended to hurry the negroes out of the iuris-
diction Of the court on the instant the expect
ed decision Of the court should be given. The
following is the Executive Order which Mr..
Van Buren, should cave always before his eyes
and poSteriy should cause IL TO be graren On his
tomb, 10 rot only ,rM his memory
The Marshal of the United States for the
district of Connecticut, will deliver over to
our Lieutenant, John j. Paine, of the United
States Navy, and aid in conveying on board
the schooner Grampus, under his command,
all the negroes, late ofthe Spanish schooner
Anistad, in his custody. under warrant now
pending before the Circuit Court of the Uni
ted States for the district of Connecticut Fer
so doing this order will be his warrant
Given under my hand, at the city of Wash
ington, this 9TH day OF January, A. d. 1870.
N. VAN buren,.
by the President:
lJoHN FoRsYTn, Secretary of State
The unexpected decision of Judge Judson
in favor of the negroes declaring them to be
fresh from Africa, and so entitled
to their liberty even under the laws of Spain,
defeated all these PLAN, and drove the Gov
crnment to the necessity Of appealing TO the
Supreme Court Of The United States for f.
nal decision, and of supporting this large COM
pany IN custody at a vast expense, not vet pub
lIclv ascertained, all which was cheerfnlly IN
dertaken, rather than yield TO the demands of
justice and mercy 10 the strangers
Now this same 1Ir. Van Buren, has never
rre.Pented of this sin, though his new liberty
TRENDS say he has rePented of some others
and Mr. Joshua Leavitt, a great man at Buf1a-
TO- has come to the conclusion that Mr.. Van /
Buren, ought 10 be sorry, and SO it would be
quite too bad TO have the above Executive Or
Ter 'gracen on his tomb, to rot only ,ruh his .
memory Make him President of the United
States, and be assured he is a man who will
,emem6er his friends. Free Soil forever
y. Fl. Sentinel.