Kendall, thanks for the bit on John Adams and the Boston Massacre. I had recalled something similar about John Adams defending a slave named Cinque, when he took over a slave ship. I cannot recall the name of the ship, but I believe a movie was made about the incident.

The interesting fact I do seem to remember was that the Supreme Court decision on freeing Cinque, was written by a justice named Tanney, who later wrote the Dred Scott decision, to a much different result.

Somebody help an old man out here...