Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-10-05
The Reception of John Quincy
Adams.
HIS SPEECH.
From the Boston Courier.

The Convention of citizens Of the twelfth
Congressional District, for the purpose OF re-
ceiving and welcoming their distinguished rep
resenia,ive in Congress, assembled al The Uni
versalisi Churchin Weymouth, (ancienIly Brain
,ree,) on Saturday, the l7lh inst. After com.
pleting their organization, procession was
formed and marched TO the Rev. Mr. Perkins
church, the galleries of which were crowded
with ladies, and the body with citizens, all ea
ger 10 see and hear the wonderful and eloquent
old man in whose honor they had assembled
When he entered the church the whole congre-
CATION rose and continued standing until he had
taken his seat, with the officers of the meeting.
upon the platform in front of the pulpit. A
prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr.. Perkins,
after which the President rose, and in a very
handsome and forcible manner; opened 10 the
Convention the purposes for which they met.
ave have come" said he, "from the banks
of the Nepor set, and from the rock of Plymouth,
moved by one motive, animated by one spirit, TO
greet the return of our honored representative,
after The arduous labors and duties of the long
est and one of the most trying sessions of Con-
gress since The foundation of the government,
and not only so, but after a service which has
been most meriiorious and distinguished during
ten years, the whole time that has elapsed since
! The formation of the District. Conspicuous as
has been his action upon every subject of pub
! lie importance, upon the questions OF Dlstrlbu-
tion, the Tariff, the Veto Power, yet he is, if
possible, more endeared to us and 10 our poster
itv for his fearless and unwavering maintenance
of The right of petition, cloven down and tramp
led under foo, by the fierce spirit Of slavery.
For this he has been branded as traitor and
threatened with expulsion from the House
| for his testimony to this truth he has borne uni
versal reproach, far worse 10 bear than violence.
/ Every insult and outrage has been heaped upon
him-every effort made 10 silence him-but
their utmost power he foiled and defed. To
put down and silence him, is triumph south
ern chivalry has not yet achieved"
Though aged, he is of so iron limb,
Few of our youth can cope with him;
And the foes whom singly he kept at bay,
Outnumber his hairs Of silver grey"
Then turning 10 Mr. Adams, he said
"Permit me, sir, TO congratulate you on your
safe return 10 your home, after the tOilsome du-
ties Of proiracted and stormy session, and 10
assure you that The multitude gathered here TO-
day have come 10 bid you welcome. Assem-
bled at Brantree, The birth place Of your father,
our thoughts naturally recur 10 his and 10 your
eminent public services. II has fallen to you
TO sustain and to cherish those institutions which
he in so eminent, degree contributed 10 estab
lish When we review your active services Of
more than half century, abroad and at home,
in courts and in council as chief magistrate and
as representative, we are dazzled with their
splendor and overwhelmed by their magnitude.
Who, no,v, sir, doubts the ability the wisdom,
and the purity of your administration? No ex
perimenis were then tried upon the public pros
perity. No disordered currency then embar-
rassed trade. No paralyzing vetoes, the Off
spring OF self-will and delusion, obslrucied leg
isarion. The constitution was not then set at
defiance under the shallow pretext Of obeying
blind and selfish personal conscience, nor was
the patronage of the government, as it has since
been, perverted and squandered 10 encourage
and reward parlizan services. But great as
were your services as chief magistrate, hard
ly know if they were greater, certainly they
were not more arduous or more meritoriOus,
than your recent services as representative in
Congress. Your brightest glories have been
your last. Your course has been like that Of
The sun--bright in its rising, splendid in its
meridian, glorious in IFS decline"
The sentiments of Mr.. Davis's address met
with hearty and loud response from the audi
ence, and it was followed with spontaneous
outbreak OF applause. When the applause had
subsided, Mr. Adams rose and was received with
grea, enthusiasm and spoke as follows:
"Overwhelmed as ] am, sir, by the many
kind and lattering things which you have been
pleased TO say, in allusion 10 my public ser'i-
ce<, the emollons o( my heart bereave me of the
power of words You will pardon me then, II
considering The brief period we are TO be TO-
gelher, and the many topics that press upon my
attention, and the want of language which op-
presses me, pass by and forbear 10 reply TO
the kind sentiments you have uttered, and pro-
ceed a, once 10 address myself to my conslitu-
enis here assembled"
Then turning to the audience he continued:
"The first and all absorbing sentiment OF my
heart 10 you my constituents Of twelve years, is
graii,ude--to God, that he has preserved my
life and given me the power 10 serve you so
long--lo you, that through good report and
through evil report you have ever stood by me
/ and sustained me by your voices and YOUR votes