Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 to Roger S. Baldwin
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00582 Author/Creator: Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: November 11, 1840 Pagination: 1 p. ; 24.2 x 17.9 cm. Order a Copy
Former United States President Adams writes to Baldwin, a lawyer and abolitionist. Acknowledges receipt of Baldwin's narrative of the Amistad case, to be tried before the Supreme Court. Writes "I consented with extreme reluctance at the urgent request of Mr. Lewis Tappan and Mr. Ellis Gray Loring, to appear before the Court as one of the Counsel for these unfortunate men. My reluctance was founded entirely and exclusively upon the consciousness of my own incompetence to do justice to their cause. In every other point of view there is in my estimation no higher object upon earth of ambition than to occupy that position." Confirms plans to meet with Baldwin and discuss the case.
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