The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-03
MIR. ADAMS.

The course so obstinately pursued by Mr.
Adams, notwithstanding his adroitness in defn-
ing his position, must result in throwing the
whole responsibility of delaying the public bu-
siness on him, and him alone. The simple
question for decision is-shall sentence of cen
sure be passed on him for an act Of contempt in
offering memorial to the House praying the
dissolution of the Union. The question is ma
ked and simple-shall a vote of censure be pass
ed /? But Mr.. Adams, with his usual astute-
ness, endeavors to elude the question at issue,
and 10 envelope it in cloud of irrelevant ques-
tons, that he may escape the responsibility Of
his acts in the murkiness he has created. Let
him meet at once the point in dispute, and the
whole discussion will be speedily terminated
This course he will not pursue. Adopttheresolu-
tons he has offered, and the whole field of the
right of petition, of the morality and expediency
Of slavery, will be thrown open for him to travel
over at the pace which he may select. Allow
him to commence speech on these topics alone,
and If we may take experience for our guide,
we are warranted in the conjecture that his share
IN the discussion will not be terminated in two
weeks But these apparently. from the sugges-
tons he has thrown out, are not the only ques-
tons on which he intends to expatiate. Give
him the freedom of discussion, which he asks
allow him. without restraint to debate the
question as he pleases-and not one, but a dozen
topics, will be dragged into his argument. OF
his ability in bringing together themes the most
ASSOCIATED, we have already had ample expert
Rnt in hov
rity for the assertion, that he intends to excel
all his former exhibitions of skill. Under the
pretence of indicating himself from a charge
which has not been made against him, every
topic, the most infammatory, will be drag
ged into an exciting discussion. He has endea-
vored to throw off the responsibility of engaging
the time of the House at the present important
crisis of the affairs of the country, and ofsquan-
dering the moments on matter of personal in
terest which should be dedicated to the bust
ness Of the nation. But he has not taken the best
method of proving his sincerity. If he isunwiling
to waste time why does he not fairly meet the
single point at issue? Why does he travel out
OF the road to canvass every question of policy
both international and domestic-our relations
with Great Britain and Texas, the arguments
Of Mr.. Stevenson, the conduct of Captain Boil
ton, the right of petition, the morality and con-
stutionality of slavery, the right Of habeas cor
pus, and many other topics which he has pro-
missed to comment on in the course of his pro-
missed vindicauon. Ifthe business ofthe nation
must remain in allegiance, till his speech, on all
these subjects, and others which he will find in
his route is delivered, he should be held RESPONSE
people, Hehas not been charged withany crime
but he persists in supposing himselfin the att-
tude of criminal because he is thus furnished
with pretext to declaim, without restraint, on
all the inflammatory topics which have for years
| cleaned in his speeches.