– 3 – A u g u s t 2 0 2 2 First Edition Of John Quincy Adams’ Powerful Argument Before The Supreme Court In The Amistad Case, 1841 1. ADAMS, John Quincy. Argument of John Quincy Adams, Before the Supreme Court of the United States, In the Case of United States, Appellants, vs. Cinque, and Others, Africans, Captured in the Schooner Amistad. New York, 1841. Octavo, original cream paper wrappers, custom chemise and slipcase. $11,500. First editions of John Quincy Adams’ eloquent Argument in the landmark Amistad Case presented before the Supreme Court in 1841. In 1839 Africans on the Spanish slave ship Amistad rose up and directed the ship be sailed back to Africa. Steered north without their knowledge, the Amistad was boarded in Long Island Sound and the 39 Africans aboard were jailed for murder, mutiny and piracy. The ensuing two-year legal case—“the most celebrated slave mutiny of the 19th century”—became an international cause célèbre (Blockson, 24). Leading the defense was New Haven lawyer Roger S. Baldwin, with 74-year-old John Quincy Adams, the nation’s sixth president, enlisted for its closing. Adam’s powerful Argument remains “one of his most eloquent public statements” (Nagel, 380). Five days after Adams completed his Argument, the Court declared the Africans free. “In the official report of this case, the reporter planned ‘to insert the able and interesting argument of Mr. Adams, for the African appellees; and the publication of the “reports” was “postponed in the hope of obtaining it”’… But Adams did not send Richard Peters his arguments, and they were not printed with the report of the case… While Adams was unable to put the finishing touches on his argument before the volume of United States Reports went to press, he did make the arguments available in the form of this 135-page pamphlet.’” Contemporary owner signature on front wrapper of Salem, Massachusetts financier W.E. Greeley. Text generally fresh with just light scattered foxing, first signature with light expert cleaning, last signature with faint dampstaining.
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