title: The Amistad Rebellion: An Atlantic Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom
author:  Marcus Rediker 
description: &#8220;Gripping...Superb...As Marcus Rediker&#8217;s new book reminds us, the place of the [Amistad] rebellion in popular memory hasn&#8217;t always been secure.&#8221;--<i>The Nation</i>
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  # Amistad Argument
  
  
  ### John Quincy Adams
  
  
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  Argument of John Quincy Adams Before the Supreme Court of the United
  
  
  States in the case of the United States, Appellants, vs. Cinque, and
  
  
  others, Africans, captured in the schooner Amistad, by Lieut. Gedney,
  
  
  Delivered on the 24th of February and 1st of March 1841.
  
  
  
  
  
  Originally published in 1841 by S.W. Benedict
  
  
  MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONORS—
  
  
  In rising to address this Court as one of its attorneys and
  
  
  counselors, regularly admitted at a great distance of time, I feel that
  
  
  an apology might well be expected where I shall perhaps be more likely
  
  
  to exhibit at once the infinities of age and the inexperience of youth,
  
  
  than to render those services to the individuals whose lives and
  
  
  liberties aren't the disposal of this Court which I would most
  
  
  earnestly desire to render. But as I am unwilling to employ one moment
  
  
  