Morgan Freeman credited as playing...
Theodore Joadson
- Theodore Joadson: I know you, Mr. President. I know you and your Presidency as well as any man - and your father's. You were a child at his side when he helped invent America. And you, in turn, have devoted your life to refining that noble invention. There remains one task undone. One vital task the Founding Father's left to their sons...
- John Quincy Adams: Yeah?
- Theodore Joadson: ...before their thirteen colonies could precisely be called United States. And that task, Sir, as you well know, is crushing slavery.
- John Quincy Adams: What is their story, by the way?
- Theodore Joadson: Sir?
- John Quincy Adams: What is their story?
- Theodore Joadson: Why, they're um... they're from west Africa.
- John Quincy Adams: No. What is their story?
- Theodore Joadson: [exhales and looks confused]
- John Quincy Adams: Mr. Joadson, you're from where originally?
- Theodore Joadson: Why, Georgia, sir.
- John Quincy Adams: Georgia.
- Theodore Joadson: Yes, sir.
- John Quincy Adams: Does that pretty much sum up what you are? A Georgian? Is that your story? No you're an ex-slave whose devoted his life to the abolition of slavery, and overcoming the obstacles and hardships along the way, I should imagine. That's your story, isn't it?
- Theodore Joadson: [smiles and nods]
- John Quincy Adams: [laughs] You and this young so-called lawyer have proven you know what they are. They're Africans. Congratulations. What you don't know, and as far as I can tell haven't bothered in the least to discover, is who they are. Right?
- Tappan: This news - well of course it's bad news - but the truth is they may be more valuable to our struggle in death than in life. Martyrdom, Mr. Joadson. From the dawn of Christianity we have seen no stronger power for change. You know it's true.
- Theodore Joadson: What is true, Mr. Tappan - and believe me when I tell you that I have seen this - is that there are some men whose hatred of slavery is stronger than any, except for the slave himself.
- Tappan: If you wish to inspire such hatred in a man, Mr. Joadson, speak to him in that fashion and it may come true.
- Theodore Joadson: They were first detained by officers of a brig off Long Island. They were conveyed to New Haven - under what authority, I don't know - and given over to the local constabulary. About forty of them, including four or five children. The arraignment is day after tomorrow. I can only assume that the charge is murder.
- Tappan: I'll see what I can do about that.
- Theodore Joadson: I am embarrassed to admit that I was under the misconception that our Executive and Judicial Branches were separate.
- John Quincy Adams: [holding up a nursery plant with tender branches] No more so than these, Mr. Joadson. No more so than these. Now you know.
- Theodore Joadson: The ship is Amistad. It's too small to be a trans-Atlantic slaver.
- Tappan: So, they're plantation slaves then. West Indians?
- Theodore Joadson: Not necessarily. At least, they certainly don't look it. From the glimpse I caught of them on their way to jail. They have these - scars.
- Tappan: Scars?
- Theodore Joadson: [to John Quincy Adams] Your record confirms you're an abolitionist, sir. Even if you won't.