Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-24

duced an excitement WHICH ha' "S'S' 800
passed in our legislative history. IL extehGeu Tar
beyond the walls Of Congress, and pervaded the
cuyntry at large. In Congress, with lew eXrep' |
lions. the representatives Of the non,saveholdins
states advocated the restriction. while all the
members from the slave holding states most Vehe'
mently opposed it. Mr.. Sergeant was o. course
found on the side OF his state and his constituents
Not only was he instructed to support the restrlc
ton by public meetings in his district and through
out the Common wealth, but the Legislature OIL
Penmsyvania, by an overwhelming MAJORITY
passed resolution declaratory OF their opposition
to the further extension Of slavery Sustained
in this way. and advocating principles 10 whlch
he was sincerely attached. Mr.. Sergeant TOOK the
lead IN the debates which ensued. On YIN FED.
1920, he made his great speech On the M issour'
question in reply to Mr.. Clay, asp-ech which re-
ceived panegvric from men Of all parties at Tue
time, and will always BIZ considered one OF inc
finest specimens Of arsumentative eloGuence our
country has produced. Long subsequently,
when on memorable occasion party feeling was
violently excited against him, his conduct IN the
Missouri debate was made theme OF reproach IN
the senate Of the United States. 1t needs nootl'.
er apology than that it accorded with the views o
his constituents Believing slavery to be most
pernciuus in its influence and effects Nr. SER
geant was anxious only to prevent It's further eX'
tension, but never uttered or entertained wish
to assrayate its evils for incOnsiderae esIslatio'
or to affect l,1uriousiy rights which arc recosniz
ed by the laws and the constitution.
The following session, on the resignation OF
Mr.. Clay. Mr.. Sergeant was supported oy
large vote for the Speakers Char. In the year
1922, he declined reelection to Congress.
In the fall of 1926, Mr.. Sergeant was noml'
mated for Congress, but no election took place,
there being tie between him and the opposing
candidate. The same winter he went to- Next
CO. as Minister Plenpotentiary 10 the Congress
of the American nations, which was to assemble
near that city. Owing. however, TO the mites
tine difficulties which had then begun to aglta'e
the Spanish American Republics, and which have
not vet subsidized. the Congress never met, ana
Mr.. Sergeant returned to the United States IN
the Summer Of 1927, and was the same year
elected. by large majority, to Congress from
Philadelphia.
The sessions of the twentieth Congress, were
occupied exclusively with the Tariff discussions,
and by the constant explosions of the violent
party feeling which then agitated the county
The Tariff It 1928, was, as we have mentioned.
supported by Mr.. sergeant, as were also
the various bills for public Improvement, and
particularly thu appropriations tor the Cumber.
land Road Two oils of comparatively local
character, were during this Congress successful
" advocated by Mr.. Sergeant, the bill making
an appfopria ion for the Brrakwater, at the mouth
of the De, aware. and the bill for the permanent
establishment Of the Mint at Philadelphia. The
credit of the latter belongs exclusively to Mr..
Sergeant. During the sesslon OF 1927, the cele'
bratcd Retrenckment COMMITTEES was organized.
and Mr.. Sergeant having taken an active part IN
the debate, was made member OF 1t lie anu
Mr. Everett constituted the minority who pre-
pared the protest defending the con duct and po-
licy of the then ADMINISTRATION, OF which he
was a-zeaious and consistent supporter.
| 0f the incidents OF Mr. Sergeants profession.
al life. il in not our intention tn say any thing.
Having ALWAYS been ranked among the leaders
at the Penrsy vania bar. his reputation for loren
sic eoquence and profound legal attachments. is
not surpassed by that of any advocate IN the
Union Ontwo occasions recently, both oil great
public interest have hi, talents been sisnally de-
.elopcd. On one he was employed to defend the
| rights of his native state. and of her citizens
against an attempt in the form of land specula-
ton, to deprive them of their property. and on
the other as the advocate Of violated humanity,
he lent his valuable aid to protect the remnant OF
the Indian race from the official persecution of
which they were the objects. On Doth occasions
he was successful. His argument in the case of
the Missionaries imprisoned by the authorities in
Georgia, was regarded as one OF the most bril-
liant efforts Of his genius.
We cannot close this sketch OF MIR. Sergeants
life more appropriately. than by quoting from
recent publication. an animated and eloquent ac-
count of his exertions in the great Livingston
case. with the details of which our readers are
acquainted. Mr.. Sergeant, it will be recol ect-
ed, was employed by the Commonwealth to de
fend the suits instituted by Edward Livingston.
then Senator from Louisiana, and now General
Jackson's Secretary Of State, to recover large
body Of the most valuable land in Pennsylvania
MIR. Livington argued his own cause with great
skill and ability
"Mr. Sergeant concluded, occupying nearly
three days in delivering one of the most power
| full arguments that has ever been heard IN our
Courts of Justice. risk nothing in saying, 1t
was one of the mos noble efforts of the human
mInd-attention vas rveted--the minds OF
judge, jury and spectators fixed from beginning to
ending. You couidlnot regard him as the mere ad-