New-York daily tribune., 1842-09-03
From The Democratic Review.
Joisu Quincy Adams.

Our attention is now attracted to a ray of Light
that glitters on the apex of bald head, located
on tho left of the House, in the neighborhood of
the Speakers chair. 1t proceeds from that Won
derfui man who in his person combines the agita-
tor poet, philosopher statesman, critic and ora
tor-John @. Adams. Who that has seen him
sitting beneath the cupola of the bill, with the
rays of light gathering and gancing about his sin
gularly polished head, but has likened him 10 one
of the luminaries of the age shining and glitter
ing in the armament of the Unios2 There he sits
heur after hour, day after day, with untiring pa
tience never absent from his seat never voting
for an adjournment, vigilant as the most Jealous
member Of the House, his ear on the alert,
himself always prepared to go at once into the
profoundest questions of State, or the miHutest
points of order What must be his thoughts as
ne ponders upon The past, in which he has played
a part so conspicuous! We look at him and mark
his cold and fearful eye, his stern aud abstracted
gaze, and coujure up phanton1s OF other scenes
We see him amid his festive and splendid halls
years back, standing stiff and awkward. and shak-
ing u tall military looking man By the hand, in
whose honor the gala given to commemorate
the most splendid of Americas victories. we see
him afterward the bitter foe of the same military
chieftain, and the competitor with him for the
highest gift of free people. We look upon
more than king, who has filled every department
of honor in his native land, still ut his posi-; ne
who was President of millions, now the Repre-
sentative of forty odd thousand, quarreiling about
trines or advocating high principles. To-day
growing and sneering ut the House with an aboli-
lion petition in his trembling hand, and anon lord
ing it over the passions and lashing the members
into the widest state of enthusiasm by his indig-
nant and emphatic eloquence. Alone, unspoken
to. unconsulted, never consulting with others, no
sits apart, wrapped in his reyeries; and with his
finger resting on his nose, lie permits his mind to
move like a gigantic pendulum, stirring up the
hours of the past and disturbing those of tho hid
den future; or probably he is wrting-his almost
perpetual employment-but what who can gnessl
Perhaps some poetry in young girls album lie
looks enfeeblcd, but yet he is never tired; 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 woto the unfortunate member tha, haz-
ards an arrow a. him; the eagle is not swifier in
light than Mr. Adams; with his agitaied hnger
o,,yering in sarcastic gesticulations. ne sezes on
his foe, and, amid the amusement of the House,
he rarely fails to take signal vengeance.
His stores Of special knowledge On every sub
ect, garnered up through the course OF his extra
ordinary lifc in the well arranged storehouso OF
me mory which is said to have never yet permitted
single fact to escape it, gives him great sdvan-
tage ever all comers in encounters of this Kind
He is wonderfully eccentric genius. he belongs
to no party, nor does any oarty belong TO hum
He is Of too cold nature 10 be long party
leader. He is original-of very peculiar ideas,
and perfectly fearless and independent IN express
ing and mentioning them. He is remarkable Tor
his atfabilty TO young persons; and surrounded by
them al his own table, he can be as hilarious and
happy as the gayest of them. For one service at
Least. his country owes him debt of gratitude:
refer TO the ine illustration which he offered OF
the true character Of our institutions, when he
nassed from the Presidential palace to bis present
Dos, on the floor of the Honse Of Representatives.
Though the position which he has there made nus
own. may not be that which his friends might
wish to see him occupy in that body, yet in every
point of view the example was a fine one.
His manner Of speaking is peculiar; ne r1ses
abruptly, his face reddens, and, in moment,
throwing himself into the attitude Of veteran
gladiator, he prepares for the attack then be be-
comes full of gesticulations, his body sways TO and
fro-selEcommand seems lost--his head isl bent
forward in his till it sometimes almost
touches the desk; his voice frequently shakes, eut
he pursaes his subject through all It's bearings
nothing daunts him-the House msy ring HiLa
cries of order-order !-unmoved- y,
--ne stands amid the tempest, and iIAs y osA
that knows its gnarled and kDctteo stssns'n'
stretches his arms forth and det1es the Dust