Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-02-24
C O N G R L s s
ur. Adams and Nr. Wise.

lIr. Adams and Mr. Wise.
House. Thursday, Feb. Awhile
the Treasury note bill was under discuss
ion, MY. John Quincy Adams obtained the
floor. He was listened to with much in
terest, and it would seem that his remarks
will bring upon him much censure from
some quarters. | lid not hear the first
part Of his speech, bit am told that his
obiecs, from the beginning, was to give his
reasons why he should hot support Mr.:
Henry 4. Wise as leader Of the House
of Representatives under General Harri-
sons administration. 1t was queer sub
| iect, and it was treated in manner equally
remarkable,
In the frs: place, as am told, he pro.
tested against the discussion of this and
that question here, Tariff, Bank, &c, in
advance OF the recommendations of the
| President. He read from the Constitution
that clause which provides that 1.-THE Pres
ident shall, from time to time, recommend
such measures as he shall Judge necessary
and expedient.' Until this was done, it
was Idle, in his opinion, forsthe House 10
debate questions not brought before them
for their action, He referred TO Mr..
Wise's remarks as dictatorial to the new
| President and to the House, and strongly
expressed his dissent from his views.
That member assumed to be a supporter
OF General Harrison, and to state what
his policy ought to be. He disagreed
entirely from him as to the course OF pol
lev General Harrison would pursue and
oughtto pursue. La the course Of Mr.
AS remarks he. adverted to some promi-
men: principles advanced, in the House,
by Mr.. Wise, and expressed his dissent
from them. One was daelling; another
was slaoe-overseersag and the third. null.
| iiication. g..
/ Mr.. Adams sent to the Chair news
paper with the, remarks of Mr.. Wise on
the controversy between Cost Johnson and
Duncan, wherein Mr.. Wise says, "there
will be no fight" Mr.. Adams common
ted on this, and represented Mr. Wise as
lamenting that the duel law had been pass
ed, and that there would be no fighting.
MIR. Wise and Mr.. Johnson both inter.
rupted Mr.. Adams, and called him to or
der Mr.. Adams was sustained by the
Chair, and went on. With the leave, he
said, in the most scornfal manner, Of the
House and the profassed duelHs,s he would
proceed in his remarks. He did proceed,
and in a manner that defies description,
The outpourings of sarcasm on the lndl-
q viduals whom he wished to reach, was as
copious as il was bitter. The manner o.
the speaker, as well as his venomous and
: singing words told, through every sen
q tence, as he went along. He was fesov
b ed, he said. to bring TO the notice of the
0 committee and OF the country the subjee
;. of duelling at all hazards, and he would
:, not be put down nor dictated to, by tht
duellists. He insisted that some Southefr
:, men were in the habit of browbeating the
3 Northern men, because they, the Southern
I, men, were supported by their constituent
f in the practice of dueIling, while the nor
thern men were not. He said this was {
!. matter for the House aud for the coustf,
!. TO look att concerned the independents,
j. of the northern members, and the freedom
j | of speech on that floor. Ii the Southern
ii men were permitted to menace US with to
r. pistol. whenever we dissented from them
oi there was an end to free deliberatlon !
q this Hall. II must be decreed by publ
e sentiment, as we'll as by law, that dneliln!
III here should moi be tolerated. tle said, b
h hoped to see no more duel murders i
r this nation. cannot, said he, shoot
Ie man through the heart and then shed tear
n over his late. The constituents OF IN
) gentlemen applauded his dueliing, an
rel required it of him, as the gentleman Ia
n stated in a public letter. But his tMl
In Adams'1 Constituents would not justify hls
ct in fighting a duet.
rel Mr.. Wise several times explained,
n the course Of This attack, and with gre;
r force, AS to the last idea, he explalne
j. that his Constituents were opposed todue
sci ling, and that they had often Begged hi
{, 10 avoid ii. When he fought. i wa
ID against their wish, and be migh bit add, D
own.
Mr.. Adams also attacked Mr.. Wise
Y to his course on Abolition petitions, an
70 dwelt with great emphasis on il. bis =
We marks were stronger on this polnt-tl
on suppression Of petilons-that | ever hear
IS from him.