The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-10-28

idency, Air. Adams retired from public life, and
resumed the practice Of the law. He afterwards
accepted the appointment Of Professor Of Ora
atory at Harvard University, and while engaged
IN the duties OF that station, delivered course OF
Lectures on Oratory, which were afterwards pub
lished Having relinquished bis proiessorship,
he was chosen Senator in Congress from his ma
tive State Ills cOndnct as Senator, was scanned
with considerable severity, by both the political
parties Of that day. On this, as on other occa-
sions, Mr.. Adams has been charged with indul-
ging an asperity Of personal feeling inconsistent
with dignihed and manly temper About this
time, commenced the alienation Of Mr. Adams
from those Of his fellow citizens, whom he had
hitherto considered bis political friends and
after voting torthe embargo, when the great body
Of his constituents were decidedly opposed to
such measure, he concluded to resign his seat
in the Senate, and give an opportunity to Massa-
chusetts to have their opinions represented by his
successor.
In August, 1909, Mr. Adams was appointed
minister TO Russia, by President Madison. He
was afterwards designated for other Courts IN the
same capacity; was enc Of the American Lega-
ton at the treaty Of Client, and subsequently
minister resident at St. James While abroad,
when n vacancy occurred in the bench of the
supreme Court Of the United States, by the death
Of Judge Cushing, the offer Of seat, in his
place, was understood to have been made 10 Mr.
Adams, but he preferring diplomatic to judi
cial appointment, it was eventually given to
Judge Story, who now so ably and so usefully
fills place in the highest tribunal of our coun-
try On the accession of Mr. Monroe to the
Presidency in 1917, Mr.. Adams was recalled
from Europe, and placed at the head Of the de
partment Of State, where he has continued until
the present time
On review of this general sketch, and more
minuteness is not within the plan, we had pro-
posed to ourselves,-it must be obvious that a
man, who has been entrusted with such highly
responsible Offices, must have possessed talents
and requirements Of avery high order, and have
occupied, in public opinion, distinguished place
amongour greatest men. He has been concern
led, negotiator, in nearly all our treaties, now
existing, with European powers. In his man.
agement Of all these negotiations, he has evinced
the most thorough and exact information upon
the subjects considered, and deep and varied
learning on every point Of importance connected
with the discussion. In the knowledge of prac-
teal facts, involving the various interests Of our
extensive community, few men, it is believed,
can be advantageously placed in competition
with Mr.. Adams. His style Of writing and rea-
soning upon these subjects is strong and energet-
&c leaving nothing for construction, il is at once
plain and perspcuous, direct and definite.
These statements, it is believed, will not be
doubted by those, who viii take the trouble to
Examine the documents, for evidence Of his e.
deity of investigation, extent Of research and
variety of knowledge, whenever, in the course
Ioi PuOhc duty, hiS fe,l.~- have Leer put to the
task His very able report on the subject Of
weights and measures, which has occupied the
attention OF the profoundest mathematicians ~
Europe, is among the most decisive evidences Of
his unwearied industry and patient, as well as
discriminating research. If all this be true, and
an " unvarnished tale" of the elevated course 81
a great man, il would seem to require no extraor.
binary force Of logic to draw the inference that
such man, combining eminent talents, public
services and long experience, is abundantly quail
fled for the Office of President Nor indeed. in
such view cap fLera 10, Jo,,Le 4. - Al =
other hand, it is said, Mr. Adams is man Of
aristocratic, reserved and distant manners; cold
inaccessible and forbidding He is also char
ged with possessing constitutional infrmity of
temper, and capable of indulging in personal an
tipathies, with force and bitterness of passion
unbecoming high minded and honorable man.
What evidence exists of such alloying commix-
lures in the character Of Dir Adams, we leave
our readers to determine from the facts before
them, and the differences they may furnish the
means Of drawing. The attacks on Mr. Adams
by Gen. Smyth and Mr.. Russell, are so recent as
to require no detail Of the circumstances con-
nected with those discussions. The spirit, net
to say sarcastic severity, with which these at
tacks were repealed, and the complete discomfi-
ture to his antagonists, which was the conse-
quence, are too well known to require a detail
On the whole, il is for our readers to make up
their own unbiased opinions,--and on our part
we shall eudeavour to aim at an impartial, though
necessarily very brief account Of the other can
didates and their public services, as we have Of
the one here considered, from the best sources
within our reach.
STATE OF MAINE.
BY ALBION X. PARIS, Governor Of the