Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-09-30
LINCOLN TELEGRAPH.
Botl), nle.
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 30 A., 1871.
SPEECH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,

SPEECH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
On The Resolution calling for Information in re-
| lntion 10 The Mcleod Case
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, SEPT, 4, 1871.
Mr.. BoARDMAN, of Connecticut, after call of
the House to which 165 members had responded,
called for the yeas and nays on motion yester-
day made by him to lay on the table the follow
ing resolution:
Resolued, That the President of the United
States be requested to inform this House, if not
incompatible with the public interest, whether
any officer of the Army or the Attorney General
of the United States has, since the 4th of March
last, been directed to visit the State of New York
for any purpose connected with the Imprisonment
or trial of Alexander Mcleod and, ifso, to COM
municate to this House copies of the instructions
| to-, and report of, such officer and whether, by
any Executive measures or correspondence, the
British Government has been given to understand
that Mr.. Mcleod will be released or surrendered
Mr.. ADAMS then requested Mr.. BoARDMAN to
withdraw his motion. He (Mr. A y had not ex-
pected to address the House on the resolution but
as it appeared that the House had nothing else to
do just now, if he could have an opportunity, he
would submit his views upon some of the topics
which had been introduced into the discussion
He therefore asked his friend from Connecticut
to withdraw his motion.
MIR. BoARDMAN said he had yesterday made the
motion to lay the resolution on the table, because
it had occupied the morning hour from the begin
C. Al, 1 I.
the discussion had been continued as long as was
profitable for the House or the country But
since he found that the honorable gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. ADAMS desired to address
the House, he had changed that opinion, and he
would with great pleasure withdraw the motion,
under the expectation, however, that the honora-
BILE gentleman would, upon concluding his re-
marks, renew the motion to lay the resolution on
the table
Mr.. ADAMS was understood to make cond-
tional promise so to do, if no gentleman desired
to reply to remarks which he (Mr. A. might
make.
The motion to lay the resolution on the table
was at length withdrawn.
Mr. ADAMS said Mr.. SPEAKER: have
been of opinion that this resolution has occupied
far more of the time of the People in this House
than it ought, and had fully determined not to
add to this superfinity ofdiscussion word ofmy
| own. But after coming into the House this
| ing, finding a motion pending to lay the resoln-
ton on the table, and the yeas and nays called
upon that motion-perceiving also that the House
| L,r al To Il
me, all unprepared, to ask the indulgence of the
House to present some of my views upon the
subject and if they should prove desultory and
disconnected, to overlook that iniirmIty without
holding me to a gorous adherence to the resolu-
ton ITSELF but allowing me TO touch occasional
ly at least, upon topics collaterally connected
with it.
And first, | observe, that we have one great
and most formidable issue of peace and war
pending between us and Great Britain; and the
| first question which occurs to me is, what is the
object ofthls resolution for what purpose was
it offered and for what purpose has the House
been agitated with it from the very commence
ment of the session to this day. The gentleman
who offered the resolution disclamed all party
purposes-he breathed in lofty atmosphere, ell
evated high above that of party; but what sort of
comprehension had both the friends and the OPP
ponents of the resolution put upon it ? No party
complexion? Oh no! [Laughter,] No; it
was patriotism patriotism pure and undefled !
[Renewed laughter] Well he was disposed to
give gentlemen, on all sides of the House, credit
for whatever patriotism they protested; but sure
it was that patriotism was a coat of many colors,
and suited to very different complexions- (laugh-
ter)-and if it had not been for that unqualified
profession of patriotism and no party, which had
rung through this House from every gentleman
who had supported this resolution, he should have
felt bound to believe it the rankest party meas
ure that ever was introduced into the House
"a Taught For what is this resolution The
United States are at this moment in critical sit
uaton, in their relations of peace and war, with
the most powerful nation on the face of the globe
"a nation as, by the gentleman aimed at by this
resolution was most strikingly said, the tap of
whose reveile drum, beginning with the rising
sun, travels with him round the terraqueous
globe. With this nation we have already one
great and formidable question fostering to an is
sue, and in which we are clearly right, and she