The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-03-04

A star hssgone from the 6rnsment. A byh,
Of the world 10 extingushed. From one emo
of our vast country TO the other, there is on,
sound which browns all othes--aJoHs Quisc,
ADAMS, rs DEAD" In short time Europe will
repeat the sound; aud wherever silence is bro.
ken by the voice of civilized man, will the ham.
ored name be pronounced A champion of hu.
manity has passed from among us:
"Like summer dried fountain,
When our need was the sorest,
The name Of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. has beeu
intimately Connected with the history of on,
country for more than Lalf century. The
most important matters were entrusted 10 hin,
on various occasions, and never was confidence
reposed in him in vain Friend and foe have
united in appiauding his answering integrity
No matter whether alone, or with thousands
he always bsttled for the right. The beautiful
form Of Truth was all he saw, and he never
stopped to count the number 81 his fellow wor-
shippers. In other days he might have been
led 10 the stake; but the hottest fires Of perse-
eution would not have made him shrink. Above
all human laws, he saw higher law, which
man could not compel him to violate. One
frown Of Omnipotence was more TO him than
all the mimic thunders of mankind. Among
the apOstate angels he would have been an Alb
diel
"Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false unmoved,
mistaken, unsubdued, unterrfed,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;
Nor number, nor example with him wrough,
To swerve from truth, or change his constant
mind
Though single"
He has stood alone in the midst of s'hostile
scorn," when all around him were scowlins
faces, and threatening gestures; but he kept his
eye upon his object, and swerved neither to the
right nor to the left. He was an Ajax, scaling
the wall, while beams and stones were showered
upon him like hail. In the most violent storm
of Indignation, he was as unmoved as Mount
Atlas, when the thunder-clouds are bursting
upon its head.
And yet his conduct was net the result Of sto.
zeal apathy. His heart was full Of the kindli.
est emotions In the festive hall his presence
added JOY TO the joyful; and to the sons of af-
aiction, he offered the hand of brother. Even
with the weight Of four-score years upon him,
he took an active interest in all that concerns
humanity. He was the advocate of the oppres-
sed, to whatever CLINE they might belong.
Whether they were within the same geograph-
ical lines with him or not, they belonged to his
country, for the same heaven was over them.
His country was
"Where e'er single slave is found,
Where e'er one man may help another"
Such having been the life Of this great and
good man, it Is not wonderful that at the close
Of It, he should calmly say, 81 am composed"
Upon his path there shone light from another
world, which became brighter as he approached
II, and Illuminated evea the dark valley Of
death. "This is the end Of EARTH" said he al
am eompesed." No wonder that he should be
composed, for the end OF earth was to him the
beginning of heaven. II all possible modes Of
departure had been placed before him, We have
no doubt that he would have selected one simi
lar to that BY which he left us. He continued
almost to the last moment, occupied in the dis
charge of his DUTY to his country. At the very
instant in which Death presented him the sum.
mons, he was rising TO perform his duty. No
arrayed In terrors did the great messenger com,
before him, but as the benevolent angel Of the
Heavenly Father, with Il smile-beaming eoun
tenanee. Not in tones of thunder did he give
an awful warning, but with cheerful voice b,
invited the servant Of God TO "come up higher
Then with no fiery throbbing pain.
No cold graiations Of decay,
Death broke at once the vital chain,
And freed his soul the nearest way"
The bosom Of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, was an.
imaied by all that is noble in the spirit of chiv.
airy. The soul Of chivalry showed itself in tbs
defence Of the oppressed, and in the love Of JUS
tice. The flame burned as bright in the bress
of john QUINcf ADAMS, nv il ever did in tina
of the most valiant knight Of the oIden time
The circumstances Of his departure remind ui
of those attending the death Of the Chevalier BAY
ARD, "the knight without fear, and without re
proach." Both died in the active discharge o
what they considered their duty And after thei
death those who had been their greatest enemies
were forced to pay tribute to their worth. Al
Joined in lamenting their fall. OF our "knigh
without fear, and without reproach," We ma.
use the words spoken by the men-at-arms, wher
the Chevalier BArARD fell: "the stroke which
hath taken him from this life hath but rendere'
his memory safe through all succeeding ages
He shall survive 10 the satisfaction and deligh
of the valiant and true men, that shall com
| hereafter"