Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-01-05
asTH CONGRESS-. FIRST SESSION,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, SPEECH,
On The question Of referring The resolutions OF The
ynassachusetis Legislature, proposing 10 amend
The Constitution Of The U. S. so as 10 do auou
toih The SLAVE representation.

WWf TIC StuUe representation.
tFrcm tho National Intelligenccrl
Mr. ADAMS said that i; had not been his jn,cn
ton, nor was now his DESIRE to trespass on the
lime Of the House, nor would This be fl return
for The courtesy just extended to him. propo.
sllon had been made 10 refer the resolutions of the
Legislature Of Massachusetts, presented by him
last evening, TO tie Committee on the Judiciary (.
10 such disposition of them he should very will
nely submit and there had been another TO re-
Ter them TO select committee, 10 consist Of one
member from each State; nor had he any obiec-
ton TO that. He was willing they should go to any
appropriate committee. And ifthe House should
send them 10 n select committee, he WINS willing
That the Speaker should omit his name rs being
under The circumstances, scarce likely TO act with
perfect impartiality upon the subject; and besides
nc had no desire whatever TO act in amy way On
these resolutions. .
But The debate which bad occupied so much Of
the time OF the House yesterday had turned on a
matter wholly different from those questions of
reference a gentlemen from Virginia over The
way, (hlr. Wise,) whom he did not now see in
his place, had risen and called the attention of
The House, ind had particularly invited that of
the Reporters especially to what lie was about 10
say winch was that he renowned from this time
forth, ahd forever, the }" WAR" which Tor seven or
eighI years past had been carried on in this House
on the subject of abolition petitions, adding that
he Tor one was heartily sick and tired of the man.
neT in which it had for some time been carried
on; wherenron another gentleman, from the very
hiehest pitch oil Southern chivalry, had Instantly
sprung TO his feet aud declared that, however
weary or disgusted the gentleman from Virginia
might be with the war and the way in which it
bau Deen managed, he was not lar from it
ihat on abe contrary. he ready at once 10 raj =
~ dll ms forces and TO make battle.
NOW the first observation Mr.. A. had to make
OIL ms State OF things was that he regretted ex
ceedlngly that this most martial this mos, beliger-
emf nsure OF speech, had been used by either of
!he gentlemen. The gentleman from Virginia
ihueeo, hid say that this was not the place fcrsrch
species OF warfare which was perfectly true.
, ms iiall was not fit place Tor battle of any
h'uu 'lls va. place for deliberation-for the
uunocrations Of friends, Of brothers all citizens
"''Ne VI one great nation, net to consult "A
common irierest-und where all, as he hoped, had
at heart a most passionate desire for tie GOOD OF
lhe country. All battle, all conflict and hostile
opposition between different portions of our coun-
Try represented in this hail. ought TO cease. This
''' ~ salu he always had hoped, aud he still did
nope, Notwithstanding the martial attitude assumed
ny the gentleman from South Carolina, t,lr.
uuo''nes'l ana IN part also by The gentleman from
virginia, lAlr Wise) although the latter gentle.
nun ma gwen nolce that he would 10. longer
hoid me military post he once occupied and com
manded, but would take another position. Ger.
fanny tie gentleman never did wiser thing in
'""S"I 'uI tIc TOSINOn was NOT tenaOie;
''e people OF Tins union would never support those
VINO should attempt to hold it. The gentleman
nau therefore done wisely in giving il an unegnv-
oca' surrender. The position was no longer ieDa-
Die; thank God Almighty The position of rep.
reseh'a'Ves attempting TO dictate 70 their corstu-
en- soVere'gns, and turning on: OF doors al petit
IONS anc petitioners whose prayer they did not
MINK proper to grant, was position not tenable,
ana they who attempted 10 hold il would ndt be
sustained by The people Of these United States
MI would take the liberty to remind his good
f'ehd irom South Carolina. Mr.. Holmes) of This,
ana 10 express tie hope that The gentleman would
STRIP OH me gliterng armor, in which he had
I;au h''iisei cap apes that he would throw aside
ms epaulelts and take off his sword-ay. thuuob
1t niight be rs great us that of DArapdaua in an.
cleht iaoie, or capable even of greater miracles
tliah me lar famed weapon of Orlando, whether
Mdmordto or FURIoso! Much aughierl The
geht'chlat surely, must agree on little reflection
WIN The opinion OF his friend from Virginia,
Mr. Wse,) that this was not the place to bran.
ush mat sword. Nlr. Adams said this because
'hese gentlemen, and others who had spoken on
The subject after this most terrific threat to pros
trh,e the Union, had all resolved themselves at
last INTO the position that they would stand upon
the Constitution, and by implication seemed to,
intimate lhatihe abolition petitions Hon neither OF
ne gentlemen referred al all 10 the resolutions of
Inc Legislature of Massachusetts, the reference of
winch was The question before the House. were
violations OF The Consiiulions-yes that petitions
were violations of the Constitution for that was
what 1t came 10. The gentlemen ia the very
midst OF their military fury, all declared that they
were most deeply, most devoutly, to the very hot
tom OF ther innost souls, attached TO the Union
OF the States, and seemed to intimate that the Lee
glsIalure OF Massachusetts, Vhougli they made no
direct reference 10 The resolutions of that bodyl
and more especially the aboliiionisls who sent
their peliliohs mere, were not attached 10 the I'm.
ion. Sir, (said Mr. A.. am nA here 10 answer
Tor me purposes or views Of any abolition society
or OF any individual aboliIonist-though am, in
one sense, au abolitionis myself; in that sense IN
which Thomas Jefferson, in the seventy seventh
year OF his life, deliberately committed TO paper
ms opinion, which he addressed TO all the slave
ho'ders OF The country, namely, that abolition
must come that the sooner il came the better
and II NOT, that worse would ensue Whoever
WIN read his life aud writings, they have been
published ny his grandson, Will find in one of the
volumes ri that publication this sentiment ayow-
Ell, word for word as | have stated it, "Eale,"
ne adds, "has decreed The freedom OF that people,"
"Fnle has decreed" will change the word The
God OF Nature has decreed The freedom of thar
people, aud he will make Them free in his own
as expect, in my day, bat in some
day hereafter. In that sense then that Thomas
Jefferson was an abolilionisl, and was 30 all his
NE, am one. hope with all my soul that The
day VIII come when slavery" shall be n ord
without meaning in the English language and
m all other languages-when there shall not be
lound slave upon all the earth. This, in my
Judgment, will be The contamination Of The Chris
'lan religion that will be the long hoped for day
when The lion shall lie down with the lamb, and
when all The glorious promises and prophecies OF
me oid testament promises and predictions re.
pea'ed and confirmed by Jesus Cfrsl-shall re-
relve their complete fulfmenl.
In that day believe that man will be nobler,
purer' a more elevated being by far, than we
see him now; when he will approach much near.
'r The angels. In that sense, am an abolilionist:
n the sense advocated aud ayowed by any aboli- |
ION society that am acquainted with, am not
md never have been. 1 believe however, that In
hose societies, aud in many of the anti slavery |
lssoclauohs 81 TINS day, land many OF them have |
published most severe animadyeTsiona and dennn- |
Nations directed against mel there are men OF as
nlch intelligence, as much virtue, as high recli- |
uue, anu RS ardent patriotism as is possessed by