Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-03-30
Biographical,
bt09tdpDltll.
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman
REVIEW
OF THE DISTINGUISHING ACTS g. TRAITS
IN THE CHARACTER OF J. @. ADAMS.

BY A. II. BAKER, ESQ.

long life spent in the faithful service ofhs country, are
left us as legacy which should do well to search
In order to appreciate fully the character of Mr. Ad
J ans, should look at the positions he has occupied
and the nature of the circumstances, well as men
n which surrounded him. 1t is only when viewing him
this light and comparing him with his compeers that
realize how infinitely he outstripped them, or
how greatly superior were his atainments and exalted
integrity
Mr.. Adams has been President of the United States
But when we see so many inferior men occupying the
same exalted station this fact ofitselfs great hon
Or Had he retired to- and remained in private life as
most of our Presidents have done at the close of their
terms of Office he would have been comparatively lit
tie known Probably his most exalted traits of char
acter would not have been developed But he contin-
ued to serve his country when she had nothing more
to give She had bestowed on him her highest offices.
He gave the residue of his life in a humble capacity,
to watch over her interests and guard her integrity
Few have done that and few fear will do it. HEIDI
ed at his post with his armor on; not on the battle
field where men degrade themselves below the level
of beasts of prey, and shed blood, yes, brothers
blood in pure wantonness, and worse than beastly
wickedness for the beast, aoithOM reason Stays not
his kindred, but those animals over which God has
destined for his food.
Mr. Adams was claimed by the Wings. But tho
he was among them, he not ofthem They could
not appreciate his character Men measure others by
their own standard. His position was in region far
above them out of their reach beyond the boundaries
of their highest ambition They were hardly mAuon-
ced by HIM He sought not their favor. He was not
their leader. He comd not be follower, lie wor-
shipped no man, and feared no man. Sometimes he is
praised, and sometimes abused. But he swerved not
from his integrity. Whether appauded censured,
whether exalted the breeze of popular favor de-
serted by the same tickle breeze he is still the same
and still conscientiousy discharges what he believes
to be his duty to Man, his country and his God. How
few men of this kind can be found in political life.
lie would not party collar. His neck wss
not of the right shape. He needed it not for ornament
certainly not for use It could do him no good, nor
his country, nor the world Why should he wear it !?
H. had sense enough to know this, and wisdom enough
to act accordingly In this he superior to most
of his compeers of modern times.
The Wings seemed to owe him spite on this &C
count Slavery demanded sacrifice The save-hol-
ders with their natural allies" assisted by the pro
and con slavery wings, built galows for Mordecai,
and got hung on it themselves. They would have
PEELED him from the House of Representatives, if
they had dared to. They did not want to have Man
; in Congress- because man would sometimes speak
and show them what they were not The contrast was
too great They could not endure it. They hated
D., / 4 Il
those virtues shone with too vivid brightness for eyes
enveoped in moral darkness. They watched with ca
gle eyes for opportunity for revenge. He inquired
if petition purporting to come from slaves could be
received by that body. Now the storm burst. The
long gathering tempests of wrath, envy and spleen
were concentrated and seemed about to crush him in
infancy as his enemies thought His base false shall
low-hearted friends deserted him and he stood almost
alone
Did he cover in this hour of trial Did he humby
ask forgiveness for the magnificent crime Of giving
color to an idea" Mo- He hurls defiance at his
foes and scorn at his tratorous friends He plants his
foot firmly on human rights, and singlehanded and a
: lone he puts them all to shame and ignominous de-
feat
Shame and infamy will rest forever on that Con-
gress for this dsgraceful proceeding. But his a
triumph worth whole lfe's highest ambition Com
pared with it the GLORY" of the bloody victories Of
Napoleon and Alexander sinks into nsignifcance. 1t
was the victory of giant mind graspng the weapons
of truth and moral power, and with thoughts that
breathed and words that burned" into the caous hear
ted and souless sycophants of the slave power max
ing them cringe, and cast their own poisoned venom
as they shrunk up into utter nothngness before him.
He even made them feel ashamed of the whole pro-
ceeding and glad to back out crawl out or get out
any way they could.
No wonder the slave interest wanted to get rid Of
him, to assasinate him. to hang him, expel or silence
him somehow. He undermining their Bastile-
There was danger that he would tumble it down upon
them and crush them in its ruins. He showing
> the world the nelble meanneSS, as well as injustice
and tyranny of slavery lie advocating those in
: aenable rights which they rod underfoot daily His
neck would not bow to their gods and they wished tt
break it. He would not vote hes nor supplies, as ma
ny have done SINCE to carry on an internal war agans
o weak, unolfendng, neighboring republic to CRAFTY
eholding cupdity and avarice. Nor would he en-
courage that maevolent spirit which hates sister ma
ton simply because we have wronged her. He was
t. lion in their path before which they trembled Their
6 was none like him in the land and they knew it. The.
thought and said that if he could be removed sien
ced none could be found to take his place. We fea
e they Judged right in this particular,that take hin
y all in all we meier shall look upon his like again."
e God grant that we may be misakenthat he may ye
have better men and better times in store for this ma
ton than we dare hope for
IN Let us look at him in another position. See him
the advocate of the unfortunate Amistad captives.
They had been seised in their own country by ban
at of mscreants, and after variety of incidents commo
in such cases. had risen in defence other own right