The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-11-19


that MIR. ADAMs's speech in defence Of thai
declaration was The most important political
speech ever addressed 10 deliberate as.
sembly.
The powerful effect Of The eloquence Of
JouS ADAMs, on great occasions, is well
described BY Mr.. WIRr who says that " be
Possessed talent for that powerful clio
quence BY which he could not only caeel,
the maddened torrent Of popular ireuzy, but
could even head that lotIeu. ehen It had
taken wrong direction, aud roll il back 10
its source"
The writer Of this, in his boyhood, wit.
messed scene Of horror, in which Mf.
ADAMS gave evidence Of his possessing this
power 10 high degree: this was al the
lime % the Boston massacre, in 1870, on
+ the 9TH Of March, when seyerai Of the IN.
h.bnants were slaughtered by detachment
Of soldiers belonging to one d the two Brit.
lsh regiments then Quanered m that place.
A fearful luuult immediately arose, which
not ouiy threatened the destruction Of The
actors in the bloody deed, bu, the lives OF
all the British troops Unfortunately.
Amoug the leading patriots Of that day,
none we're believed to have had more luiil.
ence IN calming that tumul, and saving the
lives the British troops than JouN ADAMS.
This gave time for removing them 10 islands
10 the hafbor this beng done, aud Tie &c.
tors IN the slaughter brl ( imprisoned,
What might have been called gloomy tran
guilty took place bat the signs and sg.
nails Of death, "ith the ,ol,ag Of bells con.
l,nued some dals Tie l}rtiish troops,
when they wete removed, were 10 great
fear of being attacked BY the pepuace, al.
though they were protected hy some lead
ng patriots. 30, Mr ApAus little thought
that be would soon have the rage Of the
same popGIace that had frightened lwo Brit.
sh regiments directed seaIns, himself; but,
however unexpected, ii actually took place.
Mr.. ADAMS, beng a leader Of the bar,
and emtneui for legal knowledge and clio
quence, was called upon TO act as counsel.
Tor 10 defending the soldiers who had been
actors IN The receti massacre aud, as soon
as II was known that he had consented to
discharge that uuplessan, duty, general
clamor vas raised against him, which did
uot entirely subsdc until aGer The trial was
over but. a, the commencement Of the trlai,
the populace were more clamGrous than be
fore, and their sociterstions we're heard by
the Court 20 the midst of which, sir. Al
avs called upon The jury to disre gard them,
4 -. II, ! IN,
surrounding crowd. The Jury took cour
age, aud the cries Of the popuIace diminished
as those near the court heard the arguments
Of Mr.. ADiMs. aud at length calmness ex
tended 10 the borders Of the crowd, and
mos, Of them we're so convinced that he had
acted mertoriously TIM, they bestowed upon
bun the highest rewards IN their power
lie was chosen as their representative in
the Legislature Of the then colony o! Mas
sachuseits, aud was also chosen a member
of the frs; Congress 10 l77l. These evi.
dences Of respae. from the inhabitants Of
Boston must have been very gratifying to
Mr. ADAMS, as most Of the people of that
place had consciously dislpprored Of bis
engaging in the defence Of the accused Brit
ish soldiers aud It must have been proud
triumph To hm 10 have rescued the accused
strangers from a sentence al death, and at
the same time 10 have convinced their &c.
cusers and the people that such a sentence,
carried into execution, would have been
barbarous murder, and would have involved
the accessaries to 1t IN guilt, aud brought
disgrace upon themselves and their country,
as II was clearly proved that the slaughter
hsI taken place IN the midst Of tumult,
in which the soldiers had been violently as.
sailed.
The complete success Of Mr.. ADAMS in
this las, trial alone would fully prove the
correctness Of Mr.. WIRr's description Of
his powerful eoquence bot in this instance
he no, only checked the maddened torrent
Of popular frenzy, and rolled it back to Its
source, but no even caused II 10 contribute
to the credit of tho tribunals o.! his country
for impartial justice aud 10 bis. own fame.
The important services of Mr.. ADAMS,
both at home and abroad, IN eticctlng the
Of our nation, enitle him to
The gratitude Of the present ind future gen
eraiions. lie was not only acknowledged
leader in bringing about the Declaration of
Independence, but BIO also was the leading
commissioner in obtaining the acknowleds
mcu, of that independence by George Ill.
The names Of the commissioners that sign.
ed the preliminary articles and definite trea.
ty OF peace were signed in The order 10
which they arc here placed:
British Commissioner, RIcHARD OSWALD,
American do JoHN ADAMS.
DO do BeNI, FRANuIN
DO do john JAY.
Do do Henry LAURENs.
To the defntiive treaty the names stand
thus:
American Plonipoten;iary, loHN ADAMS.
British do DAVID HARTLEY
American do BENZ. FRANKLIN.
Do do JoHN JAY.
In negotiating these two treaties, Mr..
ADAMS was the head although he had
great support from his eminent associates,
yo, the burden of counteractlng the designs
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