Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-12-14

ana L1dLi t RAIN OiohSSA "oo AOI 'AiN
they took him to be- "
JOHN QUINCY AnAMs.-Among the
productions of this talented and accom-
piished individual, it would be difficult
to come across an extract possessing
more interest than the following. Alto
gether it has heretofore been inserted
in our paper, yet having recently come
across it in an exchange paper, we
again copy it for the purpose of accom-
panying i: with comment or two. 1t
is part eff speech he delivered before
the Supreme court of the U. States,
In the case Of the Amistad Negroes in
the month OF March last. AS beauti-
full and pathetic as in the conclu-
ding portion of this extract, it falls fan
short ofprodncing half the effect upon
the reader, that it did upon those who
heard it delivered. We were oursel-
YES among the number of those,
who were present in the court room
when he made his argument, and can
testify to the deep sensations produced
upon the minds CT his hearers, by his
closing remarks.
He had occupied the attention Of the
Cout upwards of four hours, and had
become so exhausted as to make his
tremulous and subdued voice, scarcely
audible across the chamber.
The audience was large and crow
ded the court room. Each one hung
upon the accents of the speaker. and
so anxious were all to catch every
word he uttered, that respiration itself
seemed for time suspended. There
stood an old man, with his grey locks
and venerable form, going over the
lists of those who had occupied the
seats above and around him, in times
long gone by, and calling up to recol-
lection many ofthose traits in their char
acters, which had SO distinguished them
and so endeared them to their associ-
ates and friends. After doing this and
enquiring where they now were, when
he replied Gone! Gone! all Gone! a
more solemn and impressive scene we
never witnessed. There sat the seven
venerable Judges THAT being the num-
Der then presen9their heads bowed by
the force and affecting nature of the ap-
peal-around were breathless audi
ance, whose countenances betrayed the
feelings that were at work in their bos-
oms and many of them shedding tears
and there stood the speaker, pausing
to recover himself and to acquire ener-
gy enough to close his remarks alto
gether it was an occasion, the impress
sion of which no lapse of time will be
able to eface from our minds Bal
timore Patriot.
May it please your honors: On the
9TH day of February 1904, now mere
than thirty-seven years past, my name
was entered, and yet stands recorded,
on both the rolls as one Of the attorneys
and councillors ofthis court, in defence
of the cause of justice, and of impor-
tant rights, in which many of my fell
low~cilizens had property to a large
amount at stake. Very shortly after
wards, | was called to the discharge Of
other duties-6rst in distant lands, and
in later years, within our own country,
but in different departments other Gov
eminent. Little did | imagine that
should ever again be required to claim
the right of appearing in the capacity
ofan officer ofthe court; yet such has
been the dictate ofmy destiny-and
appear again to plead the cause of JUS
tice, and now of liberty and life, in
behalf ofmany of my fellow men, be-
fore that same Court, which in a for
mer age | had addressed in support OF
rights of property. | stand again,
trust for the last time, before the same
court-"hic Cestus, artemque repo-
no." | stand before the same Court.
but not the same judges-nor aided by
the same associates-nor resisted by
the same opponents. As cast my eyes
along those seats of honor and of pub
lie trust, now occupied by you, they
seek in vain for one Of those shonered
and honorable persons whose indul-
gence then listened to my voice.
Marshall-Cushing Chase-W Wash
--Johnson--Livingston--Tod Todd
Where are they? Where is that elo-
quent statesman and learned lawyer,
who was my associate counsel in the
of that cause, Robert
Goodloe Harper? Where is that bril-.
liant luminary, so long the pride of Ma