Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-02-27

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.


TO our columns, without wishing to be un-
derstood as endorsing all the conclusions
Of the writer. In fact, we deem It prema-
ture for any, abolitioniss, Shareholders. or
politicians, to think of understanding Mr..
Adamsy views of the whole ground, while
ne himself designedly holds them In re-
serve, 70 be fully exhibited whenever the
South will take the paddock off his lips,
and hear him through. We regret that
Mr.. Adams does no: see with US, on the
subject Of abolishing slavery in the Dis
tTict Of Columbia. but we still more re-
gret to see. ia Anti-slavery papers, insin-
uations thrown out that he has been in
duced 70 make his recent declaration by
the fear Of the Bowie knife or the hope of
being again elected President of the Unit
ed States. We are quite sure he is wrong
on that point. but we are equally sure he
is conscientious in his wrong; while on
every other question. so far as we are in
formed, his sentiments come up to the
highest grade of Anli-Slavery orthodoxy.
And when we consider who he IS and
what he has done and suffered for our
cause, and what he now stands ready TO
do, and exposed to suffer in the cause of
universal liberty-we again ask our friends
TO be at least respectful in their condemna-
ton of the views our " old man" has so
long cherished in this one point We al
so ask attention to the editorial inroduc-
ton which prefaces the piece we COPY
EmGReipasOT.
From the New York American, Feb. ].
FREEDOM AND SLAvERY.-The COM
municaiion OF A. this evening, after doing
justice, and no more than justice, 70 j. O.
Adams, and his known sentiments rela-
tive to slavery, presents for consideration,
as q politic-economical question, either
that the South shall abolish, or the North
establish, slavery.
This position is not ironically stated,
but seriously and under the conviction
that peace and harmony cannot exist in
system where principles so essentially an
tagonistical as free and servlle labor, are
the subjects of common legislation
We ask attention to this communica-
iion, because of the serious topics which
il agitates, without expressing at this time
any opinion of our own in relation thereto.
HGr. Adams--the Abolition Question.
l always thought Mr.. Adams an honest
poliiician-lnongh there was time when
/ did not think so highly of his judgment
as | did of his integrity. But his course
in Congress for the last three or four years
has satisfied me of my error. He is a
wonderful man, and cannot be measured
by the standard that we apply to men of
small OF middling stature.
When / read, few days ago, the ac-
count furnished, by the Washington cor
respondent of the Journal OF Commerce
Of what Mr.. Adams said on the 21st inst
ant, in relation to the abolition OF slavery
in the District of Columbia, had nv
fears-strong az was my confidence in
him--that he had done something to dim
the glorious sunset of his life, and to en-
damage the cause of constitutional liberty,
Of which he is, now, the most illustrious
champion. But my fears have all passed
away, since / read the full report of the
proceedings of the 2lst as given in the
National lntelligencer. If any of the
former friends OF Mr.. A., are fearing, or
any Of his enemies rejoicing, that he has
faltered in his grand enterprise of leaving
his country free, because he would not
vote for the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia, ask their attention
to the following extracts from reply of
Mr.. A. 10 the note of a Committee APP
pointed to inform him of his nomination,
last Autumn, as a candidate for Congress,
prefacing it with but single remark,
thai no politician in our country boasts
less Of what he intends to do, or to at
tempt than Mr.. Adams.
After expressing the pleasure he felt at
the unanimity which prevailed among his
constituents, as to maintaining freedom of
thought--of the press-of speech for
themselves, and of debate for their repre-
sentatives-and in resisting "the iniquit-
Gus and mos, perncious project of annex
ing the neY slave-ridden Republic of Tex
as to this Union," he thus proceeds:
81 regret that am not enabled to in
dulge with equal confidence the hope that
the right Of Petition, and the freedom of
debate, smothered as they have been for
nearly three years in the Legislative halls
OF the nation, will be restored in all their
plenilude and all their purity. Slavery
shrinks and will shrink from the eve of
day. Northern subserviency to southern
dictation is the price paid by northern
administration for southern support. The
people Of the North still support by their
SURFACES the men, who have truckled to
southern domination their represen-
tatives have mol yet been shamed out OF
the distinction between refusing to receive
and refusing to read petition, believe
il impossible that this total subversion oil
every principle of liberty should be much
longer submitted to by the people of the
free states of this Union. But their fate
is in their own hands. If they choose to