Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1848-03-09
RENTON's EULOGY
ON JOAN QUINCY ADAMS.

Mr.. President. The voice of his naive
State has been heard, through ono Of the
Senator's Of Massachusetts, announcing the
death Of her aged and most distinguished
| son. The voice of the other Senator rom
Massachusetts is not heard, nor his presence
seen. A domestic calamity, known 10 as
all, and felt By US ALI con6aes him V the
chamber Of private grief, while the. Senate
is occupied with The public manifestations
of respect and sorrow which national loss
inspires. In. the absence OF thai Senator,
and as the member Of this body longest
here, IT is NOT uniting or unbecoming in me;
10 second the motion which has been made
for exceeding the last honors ofthe Senate
to him who, forty>fiye years ago, was
member of this body, who4 al the time Of
his death, was among the oldest members of
the House of Representa- yes, and who.
putting the years of his service 't.gether,
was the Oldest Of I'll the members Of the
American Government.
The eulogium of Mr.. Adams is made in
the facts Vt his life, which the Senator from
Massachusetts (Mr. Davis) has So striking
ly stated, that, from early manhood to octo-
genarian age, he has been constantly and
most honorably employed in the public SER
vice. For period of more than fifty years
from the time of his first appointment as
minister abroad under Washington 10 his
last election to the House Of Representatives
by the people of his native district. he has
been constantly retained in the public ser~
vice-and that, not Ivy the favor of a sove-
reign, or by hereditary title but by the cleo
lions and appointments of republican gov>
eminent. This fact makes the eulogy Of
the illustrious deceased. For what, except
a union of all the qualities which comm and
the esteem and confidence of man, could
have ensured a public service so long, Ivy
appointment free and popular, and from
sources so various and exalted?' Minister
many times abload-membe Of this cody
member of the House Of Representa- lives
Cabinet ninisler-President OF the United
States-such has been the galaxy OF his
splendid appointments. And what hut moral
excellence the most perfect-in. ellectual abil-
iIy the most eminent--fdelity the most un>
wavering-service most useful, would have
commanded such succession of appoint
ments so exalted, and from sources so vari>
Gus and SO eminent? Nothing less could
have commanded such series of appoint
ments--and accordingly we see the union
of all these srea, qualities in him who has
received them. -.... .....e..,r
In this long career Of public service, Mr..
Adams was distinguished not only by faith
full attention to all The great dulles OF his
stations, but to all their less and minur du>
ties. He was Aot OF the SalamInian gall
ley, 10 be launched only ON extraordinary
uccasions-bul he was the ready vessel, al
ways launched when the duties of his station
required il, be the occa sion great or small
AS President, as cabinet minister, as min :
lister abroad, he examined all questions tina,
came before him, and examined all, in al.
their parts, in all The minulie of their oe>
tail, us well as in al! the vastness Ut their
comprehension. As Sehai0r, sandas Mems
Der OF the House of Representatives, the
obscu committee room was as much the
wisness of his laborious application to the
drudgery Of legislation as the halls of the
Two Houses were 10 the ever ready speech
replete with knowledge, which Instructed all
hearers, enlightened all subjects, and gave
dignity and ornament 10 debate. 4,e ..,.
In the observance Of all the pr.prieties OF
life, Mr.. Adams was most noble and i'm.
pressive example. He cultivated the minor
as well as the greater virtues. Wherever
his presence could give aid and countenance
to what was useful and honorable TO man,
there he was. In the exercises ofthe School
and of the college-in the meritorious
meetings of The agricultural, mechanical,
and commercial societles--in attendance
upon Divine worship--he gave the punctu-
al attendance rarely seen bu. in those who
are Tree from the weight Of public cares.
Punctual to every duty. death found him
al the post OF duty, and where else could it
have found him, al any stage OF his career,
for the FIFTY years of his illnstrious public
life? From the time Of his FIRST appoint>
ment by Washington to his last election by
the people of his native town, where could
death have found him but at the post oil duty?
Al that post in the fulness Of age, in the
ripeness VI renown, crowned, with honors,
surrounded by his family, his friends and
admirers. and in the very presence OF the
national representation, lie has been gath
cred to his fathers, leaving behind him the
memory Of public services which are the
history Of his country for half century,
and the example OF lite.public and private,
which should be the study and the model of
the generations Of his countrymen.
"A UerN Old R0ok "A eenfienan In New