The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-02-08
CENSURE OF THE lion. JOHN
QUINCY ADAMS.

SentatlYeS, on MONDAY ana lueSuay last, III
reference TO certain petitions presented by Hon.
John Quincy Adams. We had thought that
the anarchists and disorganizcrs had found the
end Of their rope, and were in the very act of
hanging themselves, when they sci a t defiance
all the standing rules of the House-all order,
all honorable conducr, in their high handed
and iniquitous proceedings on the repeal Of the
Bankrupt Act. 1t seems, however, that We
were never more mistaken in our lives. The
course of that body is still downward, and how
much lower it has yet TO decend, before l.
reaches the ultimate bathos of degradation, we
candidly confess is beyond our power to
fathom.
We are not the apologisis of the eccen,rici-
ties of Mr.. Adams. None have deprecated
more strongly or more sincerely than we have,
the pertinancity with which he so often seeks
to embroil the House in disputes arising out OF
the most trivial. unimportant and unworthy
causes. II, in the present case, we have for
borne 10 condemn, it was not because we ap-
prove, nor because we the less regretted and
disapproved, of the manifestation of an undue
if not censurable spirit OF combaiiveness which
recently induced him to found upon an evident
ly fictitious aid fraudulent memorial, q pretext
for a vindication of himself against charges
which had never been made in u responsible
form. I'VE look upon his course in so doing,
al. impolitic, without good grounds, unworthy
Of his high standing, undigniied and wrong.
But TO Mr.. Adams, even on this question, all
the blame-or even the greater share, does not
belone.-The shamefully harrassing. ungener'
Gus and uncourteous course towards one so
high in the public estimation as Mr.. Adams
so much older than themselves. pursued by
NJ --- Gil. H..kon o.1 0SIAr
has transferred the greater portion Of the wrong
from the venerable offender, TO his Prosecutors,
who drove him, by their vindlctiye goadings.
from his intended course.
1t was less our intention to refer to the
course of these gentry, whose notions Of pro-
priety seem So exclusively on one side, in n
matter where great blame clearly attaches TO
both sides, than it was TO that which. succeeded.
Here VIC will say that. if the North can stand
calmly BY. and witness, without feelings of in
tense indignation, the outrageously oppressive
course of The Southern members of the House,
with their dough-faced allies from Northern
States, they deserve all the indignites that a
minority portion of Ms Union can heap upon
them. Our readers are aware that we allude
to the proceedings upon the presentation of a
petition from certain citizens Of Massachusetts
I DldN lbS VI tHS vi AC III w
have not one word to say in defence or excul-
patton of that petition. From our heart of
hearts do we abbor the spirit that could prompt
such a memorial. We feel humble and
ashamed that any citizen of our own Stale
could so far degrade themselves so thorough
y divest themselves of every particle of pat
riorism- become so forgetful of the principles
inculcated by the Father of his Country-fall
into such an utter disregard of the honor and
the revolutionary glory Of Massachusetts-as
10 afix their signatures 10 so Infamous a docu-
ment. We have no feeling of charity towards
| those who could stoop TO such humiiating deg
radation-and we arden'ly hope, for the honor
of our Commonwealth and our Nation, that
Mr.. Adams has been again imposed upon. by
fictitious signatures to q false document.
AL. this, however, has nothing 10 do with
the abstract right of presenting such q petition,
ifany could be found fool hardy enough 10 de-
! sire such a h~agitioUs exercise of The right.
1t was a petition on a subject on which all
citizens Of this Union, who are so disposed.
have a a right 10 petition, 1hey are so lids
posed as do so. as such, it was entitled TO q
consideration. 1t was sent to Mr.. Adams for
presentation. He felt bound By his oath Of
office to present it. In his mind, a choice be-
tween presenting and Withholding it, YVES a
choice between doing his duty, and a clear
violation of it, coupled with perjury. How
! could any man. feeling at all with any candor
must admit Mr.. Adams did feel, refuse TO
perform this duty He pr sentcd the petition
He could not hare done otherwise? Did the
mere presentation Of the paper involve the
slightest participation in its tciSheS and prayer?
MOI Besides which, he expressly stated his
opposition 10 lis o~blect-and even proposed in
structions 10 the Committee to which he asked
lis reference, TO REPORT AGAINST 1T. Where
was the harm in all this, so far as Mr.. Adams
was concerned
We tell them, that it comes with the worst
possible grace from the very men who are
hardly able to rise to.speak on the floor of Con-
gress, without intruding their vain-glorious and
empty threats Of dissolution Of the Union. Do
then claim the exclusive right to speak upon
this subject? Can Southern men-AND SoUTH-
ERN MEN oNLY-speak of the dissolution Of
The Union, WITHOUT A VOTE OF CENsURE? Tell
us how many weeks it is since the great cham
pion of Southern views and Southern feelings,
RHETT, 10 his speech on the Tariff, threatened
the dissolution of the Union, in the event of a
discrimination in favor Of domestic industry !
Who, then, rose to move a vote of cepsure !
Where. then. were Gilmer, and Wise, and
Profit, and Marshall Where, then, were
lbese pallant pa,riots-these techy defenders
Of the Union? How different is the case,
- . Southern man introduces the subject,
sron IN ;s worst form Retl's open threat is
S'o-:nod in silence, if not with appreciation.
Me- ApAMs's presentation of a petition, the
ob;ect of which he disapproves, is assailed with
a ferocily only equalIed by It's UNANIMOUSLY insa.
table ~malignity.
Let then 60 on, in their career Of outrage,
Injustice, and infamy, as far as they dare TO