CHAPTER 6 - THE AFRICANS WIN THEIR CASE
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The decision (the hand-written original, from the National Archives, is pictured here), was in favor of the Africans. The court held that Sengbe and his fellow countrymen had been kidnapped from their homeland and their rights had been violated. Justice Story adopted the arguments Adams had made regarding "eternal principles of justice."The only thing that kept the decision from being a complete victory for the Africans was the additional holding: No American statute required the United States to return the captives to their homeland. That event would not take place until private money could be raised to pay for transport back to Africa. In the meantime Sengbe and the others lived in Farmington, Connecticut. Sengbe played a role in raising the funds to get him back home. A letter he wrote on October 5, 1841 appeals for assistance. Here are a few lines from that letter: ...They say we are like dogs without any home. But if you will send us home you will see whether we be dogs or not. We want to see no more snow. We no say this place no good, but we afraid of cold. Cold catch us all the time...We want to go very soon, and go to no place but Sierra Leone."  | GO TO STORY INDEX |  |