Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-18
.NT1ss55.zsyzA NlD.&lAa
r,,,,psnay MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1928

he fOurtN VI
An.us. leaves the chair Of state, and goes 'n'o
,.,cc tu, retirement To say that we sha'' Id
mon, hi, occurrence, will but poorly e1press
our feelings. In addition TO the mor.lhcaI'on OF
knowing, tia, he is 10 be succeeded ny Perso"
totally urf: and incompetent TO nil the ONCE
W. have he double one Of ioosing the services
If a man " hose private virtues, whose i"eSo-
-, hi. worth. and whose splendid talents render
him the prrdt aid admiration OF his co""'fy'-
Certainty Mr.. Adams himself, feels no regrei
=, oo;,,np the ,ur,rl ,is and disprnsions Of po-
,;,;cs for purs.its -. re- >ngenial TO his char.
ac,e, and disposition. hs evening OF his days
will be spen, in the robis occupation Vi prepar'
ing for posleri,y, The history oil his honorea Ia
,hrrs' life and times, and .peihaps ct rescning
his own acts from the calumnes Of his enemies.
His sun will set clear, and unclouded. No deeds
of viol .nce-no outrases upon humanity---nc in
Engagements of the law-no high handed, arpi-
,rary measures-no attacks upon personal lib
erty, mark his career. Examine his eondue'
from the very frs, moment, he entered INTO
public life, until this day, and it VIII be rouno
to ex ibi, most scrupulous regard 10 the Pr'n-
cipl.s which should Distinguish the virtuous
citizen Of a free republic.
| rare combination Of those virtues and talents,
which adorn aud dignity human nature is con-
cen,rs,ed in Mr.. Adams His character is not
uneven, irregular and dsjointed-here virtue
and there a vice-here a deformity which DIES
troys the efftc, Of an excellence ,here-lt is all
complete, consistent, and harmonious. In eve
~ station which he has occupied-in every sit
uation in which he has bern placed, he has drawn
forth admiration and esteem. AS private ei>
tier, he is benev ,-humane-a attentive and
industrious. As the Chief Magistrate of the
Republic, he adds to these, mIdnrss OF manners
and temper, unaffected plainness-assidiuous
attention TO his duties, and zeal IN the perf1r-
nance Of measures committed 10 his CARE
Those who have through prejodlce or misre-
presentation, received false impressions as to
his character, as man, are always willing 10
acknowledge their error, when they have had
an opportunity OF personal observation. He has
ESCAPED uncontaminated, after living for years
at the most luxurious, and dissipated courts OF
Europe-The pomp, aud glare and folly there
exhibited, have had no effect upon mind con-
s,i,u,ed like Mr.. Adams. lie docs in realty
-L,.- -r.L4 cd -. R"rI',o best days
than any other man in This country. When we
reco!lect the purify Of his Iite--ihe lessons Of
wisdom and morality he has given US in his
writings; and, above all, that eloquent letter 10
his son, in which he so ferlingly exhorts him
to read the oracles of God, we hardly know a
brighter example Of ,irtuous sentiments and
exalted talents. 1t is matter Of pride 10 his
friends, that amidst all the rancorous abuse
and hostility Of the late political conest-when
the poisoned shafts Of malice and envy were
hurled on every side, and no man was Safe from
the male olence Of enemies-ihe moral cha>
rac,er oil Mr.. Adams stood animprached. It
was a rock against which the waves Of parly
violence beat in vain. Whatever also his enemies
may say 10 the contrary, Mr.. Adams is, and al
ways has been, a republican, in its proper sense.
He is one by educ alion. The same father
whose memory is now daily insul,ed by the
veral and the vile, but a, whose death NATION
mourned, and whose ascending spirit was ac-
eompaned with The grateful prayers often mil
lions Of ople,-inslied into his mind an arr
dent love Of liberty, and an inAexibe attach
ment TO The constitution and government Of his
county. This love and attachment he has al
ways borne. and nothing could ever repres. il.
His recorded opinions, his votes, his acts, and
his recommendations, show him 10 be true,
firm, and fast friend 10 his country
1t is as a statesman, however, that Mr.. Adams
excels pre-eminently. Washington, long be-
fore the star OF his greatness had attained its
meridian, foretold that he would, Gin time, be
the most valuable Of our public srrv ants abroad
Events have shown that this opinion was well
founded. The skill and knowledge of the
| science of Oh oiomacy disDlayed nv him nm his