Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-03
CASE OF nu. ADAMS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Having said thus much to the young gentleman
from Virginia who he ped would take no offence
mt il, for he had terrible horror OF coming IN con
tact with that genteman.-IA laugh.
MIR WISE. The gentleman ean'i offend me.
MIR ARNOLD. am glad, indeed, TO hear that
I can't make the gentleman mad. Indeed, ! think
he is IN \ much better humor TO day than have
seen him Glr = Ionc time. He does not look near
no cross and fiery as he did yesterday. am IN
hopes that the advice have gwen HIM has done
him good; and were II not that "the democracy" have
40 much stronger temptations for HIM than can
pretend to have, should really begin to hope that
had made a convert Of him
Mr. A. said he had pursued a different course from
that OF many Of his colleagues on the subject of pc
titions. lie felt cnmty 10 none OF them. On the
contrary he WAS actuhed by a very friendly feel
ing, end he had wrcstled with himself and had tried
his best 10 Join them-he did not say TO satisfy his
conscience for, since n certain event, that word had
become e stink in the land
After some remarks in which Mr. A referred to
his course at the opening OF the present session his
endeavos to enforce order and his determination TO
DO his opponer'> ample justice, and the feelings OF
disappointment he had experienced he said that he
wished to address a word to his Southern neigh.
bor- and colleagues. 1t had been pa nful thirg
TO HIM TO separate from them in relation TO the
policy 10 bc pursued towards enforcing the , st RUE
and towards the right Of petition generally. The
gentleman from Kentucky mir UnderwoOd) had
anticipated much Of what ne had intended to say on
that suhjec', and had SAID II much better than MIR
A. could pretend TO do, and he would take this
cason OF rendering his thanks well to that gem
tiemnn MS to the gentleman from Virginia near him
(Mr Botsl for the exhibition they had this day
made OF that rare virtue among pc tci1ns, mora
courage Yes II was n rare virtue, ana the want Of
It was the greatest evil that had long afflicted the
political condition OF this country. Gentlemen were
continually consulting AMI inQuiring and whatever
might I've their convictions oil right would go for moth
ing unless all their friends went with them. If he
wcro asked what was the greatest calamity that
exhibited Itself IN public affairs, his answer
would be, word Of sufficient moral courage IN our
politicians to do what they saw and believed to be
right.
Gentlemen were afraid OF losing their seats bu,
OF what value a seat in Congress to pub &c
man, H. while occupying 1t he could not serve his
country! The seat OF such man a disgrace
Ia him, and he to It. When 4 mans judgment was
thoroughly convinced, he ought to go straight for
ward and DO his duty-6o II at the sacrifice of his
popularity, and that, II need he, forever. But 1t
would seldom happen in the long that man
would lose the esteem OF his constituents by boldly
pursuing right course. The American Peop.e
were an intelligent, a candid, and generous pco-
pie. They might, IN an artificial tempest OF feeling
got up for party ends, be cajoled and trodden dow
by demagosues, but the hour OF reflection came and
they were again redeemed from their tnraidom. This
want OF moral courage was crying sin, and wors,
than party spirit itself, to which, indeed moral cou-
rage would speedily put an end, for which 1t was
the only eft, ctull antidole. Men who put on the
party harness, and determined never TO leay,
the party traces, would hnd themselves more thln
hall the time dong wrong. Attempts had been made
20 put that harness on MIR A, but he had kicked re
oluley and refused To draw. In proof OF his, ht
referred TO the election Of officers of the House
lie would now address a few words IL his inenc
from Virginia. mir WiSs). We had now reached
crisis on this matter of petition when one side OF
the other must give way, the Union he dissolved
7nd ITS destruction be followed by all the horrors
wi war. What good result cuu I'D ar. from keen
ing open the question this 2lst tule7 When d
petition was sent TO member IN that House, no
matter now much he might disapprove the object
prayed for, wiki what reluctance was IL that he re
fused to present the petition, particularly II lie wa,
pretty hard run IN his district and had been elected
but 10y small majority. Ii he refused TO presen
the petition he might calcu losing the supper
OF those friends who had sent II, and thereby los,
ms election. A man must be honest beyond com
mon II IN the circumStanceshe refused, and more es
peeialy d ne had been making a loud cutlery for III,
right OF petition rs a great and fundamental doc rin
OF The Constitution. Did Southern gentlemen Goa
sider how the'rirlen from the North situated
and what great sacrifice was demanded at thei
handsl Mr. 4. would take the broad ground an,
aifm that TO maintain that the People have no ~ h
10 petition IN oil cases was tantamount 10 sayin
that they were not capable Of self government, tn
which no greater heTesy could be uttered against a.
fundamental principles Of free Democratic Govern
ment. The People we're the rishtful sovereisns q
the land; in their hands the issues Of po'i.ica
lite and death. To refuse them the right of EXPRESS
ing their wishes to their own representatives wa
rank arsocEacy; It was the doctrine OF the few GO
vernlng the many; itinvoved the sentiment that III
People did not know what petitions TO send en-,
Enough petitions somtimes frivolous and a
other times vexatous, nasmuch that Mr. A. haC
sometimes been much perpleXed IN the application
oi ms own principles, yet he thought on the whole
tina: whatever petition Representative received h,
ought 10 present.
The gentlemen from Kentucky (Mr Underwood
hnd LAID % down as principle that in a case wner,
Congress had right to grant a petition the peti
ton ought not 10 be received. Now, the gentleman
from Kentucky was cool, deliberate, and Judi
cious man, and his authority had weight on tie on
hand, but on the other, the gentleman from Massa
cnuseus, whom even his opponent rom Virginil
mad admitted 10 be one OF the first men Of the land
the greatest dlplOmatst, and the best Judge Of IN
ternaonul law at present living, and whose orsina
intellect though he approached four score,
st! sparkled in all its brancy and threw lis lish,
on every thing he touched, this gentleman main
famed mat tho right OF petition stood on equai
ground with the freedom OF speech and Of the press
Who should decide when doctors disagreed Mr.
A. confessed that he afraid 10 vote against the
right Of petition. because he did not know how SOON
the South might come here as petitioner herself
IL was constitutional right and he thought that
petitions had better, m all cases, he received He
thanked the gentleman from Virginia mir Bot'sl
for the Judicious views he had expresse on that
subject.
On this principle the gentleman from Massachu.
sets had acied, and for this II was proposed 10
e'nsure him. Was 1t possible that that gentleman
could desire the dissolution Of the Union7 what
conceivable motive could he have 10 ntternpt such
tmngl Standing, as he did on the verge of The
grave, having no expectation Of higher station
than mat he now occupied, being past the era Of
aspiring and srasplog ambition, his name was DO
he now possessed, ard that he wished 10 leave to
his defendants bright and shining as the MONDAY
sun. Should he succeed 10 dissolvng or even o..
tempt 10 dissolve the Union Of these States he well
knew that u must damn his name 70 all pos.eritv.
and, instead Of going down IN blaze Of glory. n
would SINK IN darkness shame, and lasting con
tempt Was u likely that the son Of old John
Adams that man whose independent mind prefer
red Washington, though a Virginlan, as the com
nnndof in-chei Of the armies Of the Revolution
and whose voice had first raised the sound Of inde-
pcnioncc and delivered ne ffom foreign yoke, w1s
u his son who wou plot treason7 No he nev4r
could believe IT, lie had presented this fefi,iop
because he wanted, as the Iast and most gIor,ous
net OF long life, TO send forth, IN these tunes of
general confusion and political degeneracy. , tore,
with healing m IT'S wings, report directly adverse
to The proyer ~ the petition, and which shoud state
900 luminous and convincing manner all the q ON,
arguments NJ favor Of Union. M A. " nted
see such paper from bis hand. n D. should Eve,
squirt toward disso.Vns 'h' Union or intermsd
ding With The question n slavery smons Tie States
or In The Distucl o. Co.umul, be- should te gre,t
" ds1ppo nni asOnshed. Blu. be- should Ike
90 see IN letters Of living light, tom the able pen Of
that venerable paiuoi, no argument FOR the gerpe
tuty Of this Union Such paper he should boo
ready 10 esteem next to uat Fsrewei AIIte..
which bad been read on tho present occasion. end
sure he was that, when that paper should boz SUBJ
muod 60 ihe public eye, all doubts ns 10 the pur,tv
and be- would stand before this nation and before
m. rfa.F nr as rrrfH fsfs ala.