Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-05
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

The October number ofthe Democratic
Review" published at Washington, contains
some very interesting Glance at Con-
gress," in which several Of the prominent
members are described in a graphic and
somewhat impartial manner. The follow
ing sketch oil that extraordinary man, John
q. Adams will be read with much interest {:
" Our attention is now attracted to a ray
OF light that gliiters on the apex OF bald and
and noble head located on the LEFT of the
House, in the neigbborhood Of the Speakers
Chair. 1t proceeds from that wonderful
man who in his person combines the agita-
tor, poet, philosopher, statesman, critic, and
orator--JoHN QUINCY ADAMS. There he
sits hour after hour. day alter day, with I'M
firing patience. never absent from his seat
never voting for an adjournment, vigilant as
the most jealous member of the House, his
ear ever on the alert, always prepared to 60
at once into the most profound questions Of
state, or the minutest points OF order We
look at him and mark his cold and fearful
eye, his stern and distracted gaze and con-
jure up phantoms Of other scenes. We look
upon him more than King, who has filled
every department Of honor in his native land,
still at his post he who was the President
OF millions now the representative of forty
odd thousands, quarreling about trifes OF
advocating high principles today growl-
ing and sneering at the House with an abo-
lilion petition in his trembling hand, and
anon lording it over the passions. and lash
ing the members into the widest state OF
enthusiasm, by his indignant emphatic elo-
quence Alone, unspoken to, unconsulted,
...l.
wrapped in his reveries, or probably be is
wiring, his almost perpetual employment.
He looks enfeebled, but yet he is never tir-
ed worn out but ever ready for combat !;
melancholy, but let witty thing fall from
any member, and that old mans face is
wreathed in smiles He appears passive,
but woe TO the unfortunate member that haz-
ards an arrow at him-the eagle is not swift
err in its fight, than MIR. Adams with his
fingers quivering in sarcastic gesticula,ion,
he seiZes upon his foe, and, amid the nmuse-
ment ofihe House, rarely fails TO take sig
nal vengeance. His stores of knowledge
on every subject, garnered up in the course
of his extraordinary life, in the well arrang-
ed store house OF memory which is said
never to have permitted a single fact TO es-
cape it, give him great advantage over all
others IN encounters Of this kind He is a
wonderful, eccentric genius. He belongs TO
no party, nor does any party belong to him.
He is Of too cold nature 10 be long party
leader tle is original, of very peculiar
ideas. and perfectly fearless and Independent,
in expressing and maintaining them His
manner OF speaking is peculiar. he rises alb.
ruptly, his face reddens, and in a moment
throwing himself into the attitude of a vet
eran gladiator, he prepares for the attack
then he becomes full of gesticulation, bis bo-
dy sways 10 and fro, seIfcommand seems
lost. his head is bent forward in his earnest
ness till it sometimes touches the desk; his
voice frequently breaks, but he pursues his
subject through all its bearings-nothing
daunts him-the House may ring with cries
of order-order l--unmovcd- conlemptuous
he stands amid the tempest, and like an oak
that knows It's guarded and knoited strength
stretches his arm forth and defles the blast u