Abolishment of Slavery (Mass.) - Essay Example

[Teacher’s Sociology Abolishment of Slavery  Quock Walker was an American slave from Massachusetts. He is famous for his series of juridical cases that were influential in abolishing slave trade in the state. The cases contested the legality of slavery, using the constitution established in 1780. Regardless of the fact that state slavery prevailed in Massachusetts, Walker’s victory signified that it would no longer be supported by the court of law. Walker escaped from Nathaniel Jennison in 1781 and too refuge at a nearby farm which was owned by John and Seth Caldwell.

He had originally been purchased by the Caldwell’s. The elder brother died, which left him under the ownership of his windowed sister. She later married Jennison, who beat him severely and forced him to return to the Jennison farm. The initial lawsuit by Walker against Jennision was for battery and assault. However, Jennison counter sued the Cadwell brothers for trying to entice Walker. The court established that Walker was a freeman and awarded him 50 pounds in damages for the injuries he sustained in the battering.

Initially he had had sued for 300pounds but the judge only gave him 50. Furthermore Jennison’s appeal was unsuccessful when he failed to appear before the court. In this time period, the Massachusetts court made their judges in favor of the slaves who sued their masters using the 1780 constitution act. In the case of Jennison vs. Caldwell, further explanation will be given. Jennision won the first trial against Caldwell and was awarded 25 pounds. However, upon appeal, the Supreme Court overruled this decision.

Caldwall’s lawyers based their appeal on the fact that slavery was an offence and a breach of God’s natural laws. The ruling of the Supreme Court and the first ruling are consistent as they are both against slavery. Even though they use different angles to oppose slavery they are both against it. The final case Commonwealth vs. Jennison, the defendant was found guilty on the battery charges as the court established that he had attacked an innocent free man. Furthermore, Walker had been promised freedom at the age of 25 by his initial masters.

The court established that Jennison was aware of this matter and had no right to keep Walker against his will let alone attack him. Jennison’s lawyers unsuccessfully argued that the constitution of 1780 did not directly prohibit slavery. However, the Chief Justice William Cushing denied these allegations and stated that the constitution possessed rights to the people that did not allow anyone to be enslaved. This case has been an important historical reference in terms of slavery abolishment.

Many individuals perceive this case to be the stepping stone to the annihilation of slavery in Massachusetts. However, the majority of people still hold the viewpoint that slavery in the state was abolished due to public opinion. People still maintain the position that the 1780 constitution of state did in fact not possess any laws that banned or prevented slavery. Work Cited