Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-08-25
The Amistad Claim.

The brief Congressional reports, now in vogue,
have already informed our readers that the pen
ate Of the United States has again passed an ap-
preparation for the payment OF sum o. money
10 those who claimed the "Amistad Negroes
freed by decision OF the supreme Oour.-As
Inc nr;ce of those negroes. We have no reason
70 snnnose that the House Of Representatives
will sunnort this vote so as to make 1t law, but
Il il A curiosity on this day when Martin Tan
Buren. who--as President-attempted to do by
Executive authority what the Senate attempts
to do by this act, is probably receiving the nom
ination of conscientious convention as rres-
idental candidate, on the ground Of his love OF
freedom. The Providence journal gives inc
following account of the history OF TINS mntter,
so interesting to-day Boston AdceH'ser' va
nTbo evidence showed and the law decided
that these men were Justly free. They were
seized in violation OF the Spanish law, the
'Atnistad Slaves so called !; the men who sciz-
ed them were liable to be tried and punished rs
pirates, and would have been had they been Ia
ken by an American cruizer, or IL the Spanish
government had properly kept its own treaties
and enforced its own laws. The capiycs had as
good a right, by every law, human or diyne,-
by the laws OF the United States and by the
laws of Spain, to rise against their captors as so
many citizens Of Rhode Island would have had,
If they had been seized by Barbary corsair.--
So the Supreme Court unanimously decided
When these poor fellows arrived here, the vessel
having been deceptively steered in the wrong
direction, the whole power Of the general gov
eminent was brought against them. Ignorant
friendless, and destitute, their situation claimed
the attention Of a few generous men who pro.
yided them with COUNSEL and in the service Of
freedom and Of humanity, carried their case
properly before the courts. Fighting the gov
eminent at every step, they succeeded in estab-
fishing the freedom of the captivcs. Martin
Van Buren-the Free Sol candida'e-was then
President of the United States. lie did every.
thing in his power to send the negroes buck to
the slavery from which they had rescued them
selves Ia the anticipation that the decision oil
the Circuit Court would be against them, he
kept vessel of the navy of New Haven to take
them Immediately back, without giving them a
chance for an appeal to the Supreme Court
Noble employment this for the United States
Navy transporting negroes TO Cuba in aid OF
the slave trade Noble employment this for the
President of the United States Fit man this
for the siandard-bearcr of freedom
But thanks to the judiciary, the influence OF
the Executive was foiled. The men were de-
clared free, and were restored TO the country
from which they had been stolen The Span.
iards who claimed them, next had the unparal.
leled impudcnce 10 ask of Congress the value Of
the negroes If man had been caught in the
act of stealing and compelled by the courts t.
restore the property, should claim its value oil
the Legislature, it would not be more impudent
These are the circumstances under which MI
Polk has twice recommended to Congress the
payment Of this claim; these arc the circum.
stances under which tho Senate Of the United
States have voted TO take $4,000 out Of the
public treasury, and to give It to the Spanish
claimants Of these liberated captives OF coursC
it will be Indignantly rejected in the House."
The loeofoco Senate has just voted to pay Tho
Spaniards for these slaves out Of the Treasury
but the Wing House gave an indgnnt-No