Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-03-22
SPEECH OF Mr.. HOLMES
OF sorrH cARoLISA, ON FHE DEATH OF ,. Q, ADAMS

row, like the voice ut many waters. has
come unto us from sister State-Massachu-
ectts weeping for her honored son. The State
have the honor in part to represent, once en-
dured, with yours, common suffering, battled
for common cause, and rejoiced ina comsaon
triumph. Surely then, it is meet that in this
the day Of your affection We should mingle our
griefs.
When great man falls, the nation mourns:
when patriarch is removed. the people weep.
Ours, my associates, is no cotamon bcreave-
ment. The chain which linked our heaIts with
the gifted spirits of former times has bas been
rudcly snapped. The lips from which flowed
the glorious and living truths that our fathers
uttered are closed in death, Y,sy my friends,
Death has been among us! He has not enter
ed the humble cottage of some unpnown, igno-
BILE peasant; he has knocked aulibly at the pal
ace of a nation. His foots,e2 has been heard
in the Hall of State! He has cloven down
his victim in the midst of the councils of a
people. He has borne in triumph IRON amtn NC
Won the gravest, wisest, and most reyered head.
Nh! he has taken him as a trophy who once
was chief over many States, and adorned with
virtue. and learning aud truth, he as borne at
his chariot wheels renowned one of the earth.
There was no incident in the birth, the life,
the death. Of Mr.. ADAMS, not intimately VIC
ven with the history of the land. Born in the
night of his country's trbulation, he heard the
first murmurs of discomfort. he saw the first
Efforts for deliyeIance. Whilst yet little
cnild he listened with eagerness to the whis-
perS of freedom as they breathed from the lips OF
her almost inspired apostles caught the fire thar
was then kindled: his eye beamed with the frs.
ray. he watched the day spring from on high,
and long before he departed from earth it was
gracc'rsly vouchsased unto him who behold the
effiIlSenee OF her moontide glory.
Hiss father saw the promise of IA son, and ear
ly led hina by the hand to drink Ut the fuun-
tains OF light and liberty itself. His youthful
thoughts were kindled with the ideallsm of a
republic, whose living form and features he
was destined to hessold risbly. Removed at az
early age To distant country, he there, under
the eve of his father. was instructed IN the NJ
gid lore of Franklin. as have heard him say.
Ills intellect was expanded by the conversa-
tions,and invgoratedby the acute dispositions,
IF the Academicians, whose fiery zeal, even at
that early pariod, was waking up the mind OF
France to deeper thought holder inquiries, and
more matured rcficction-to result ultimately,
IA we all know, in terrific acton. Retur ming
u this country, he entered into the cool clois-
tiers of the college; passed throwgh the various
stages to acquire that diciptre OF SAND which
intense study can atose impart; and thence as
he was about to emerge, appeared those buds
Of promise which soon bossomed into those
hlushing honors he afterwards wore so thick
around him. His was not the dreamy lite oil
the schools, but he leapt into the arena of ac-
tivity. to ruR career of glorious emulation
with the gifted spirits oil the earth. lie saw
the efforts TO place his country on deep ant
stable foundation, where il now rests lie had
arl tt6
States cemented into Union, and realized, in the
f,,r,naIion of this confederated Republic,al tina
his ardent hopes had pictured out in the recess
SIS of schools Young as he then was, he CON
tribured BY the energy of his nlindand the Wig
o. OF his pea, TO support the administration o
WaSAiagtou, who, we have just been told ,trans
fcirei him al an early age 10 a foreign court
scarcely initiated into its diplomacy before biz
services were required for another and more ex
tended sphere. Passing from that, he returned
TO his own country. and was placed b. the suf
frayes of his Stare in the chamber of the othe
end of this Capitol; and there, the activity o.
his mind, the freedom of his thought, the indie
remlcnce of his action. rendered him to his con
rtitucnts for the time being unacceptable. b,
uniting him to the policy of MIR. Jefferson.-
lie retired from the Halls of Congress; but ht
went to no ignoble ease. Wearted with the
tolls. heated with the contest, covered with the
dust cf politics, he withdrew to the classic
groves of Cambridge, and there he bathed hi:
wear, n,ind in the pure stream of intellectual
rest Purified, refreshed, invigorated, he came
frah, after severe study and devout prayer, tt
do his country service. He was sent imlned
afelv 10 Russia, as has been stated, not to re-
Js,~c amidst the Injuries of courts, or in rici
sasoals amidst the glitter OF lights and the
swris ,af voinptnous music, but to watch the
swell and play of the shadowy pillows witt
which all Europe heavcd beneath the throes u
the great heart Of France.
Mr.. Apsas saw and felt the pulse of free
dom ,ly by day beat fecber and fcebler through
out TIC continent. lie counselled the Minister.
OF Russia. He was one those that stimulated
them to wake from their torpor, and he had the
satisfaction to behold, from the frozen regions
OF the north, those mighty hordes pour out up
IN the sunny nations of the south to give delv
erancr To People, States and Powers. His Owr
corn,rv demanded his services, and he became
with tiallatin and Clay.a mediator of that peace
between two nations which we hust shall ex
1T forever, while the only contests shall bt
those. of good will on earth and mutual brother
hood.
He wcnt-as his father had gone after the
first ": ofthe Revolution-upon the termina
ron Of the second war, to the Court of St
Jane. He remained not long before another
sphegr vas opened Il him. AS Secretary o
State f,r eight years he fulfilled the arduou
d if~< Incident to that high post in countr,
"~i emerging from conflict. To the highcs
i-c us rhe people he was quickly raised; ant
* il That sphere he moved, with what ease
ahili'-. and grace, We all know, and histor,
vi1 rrn; he crushed no heart beneath th'
r',lc '-aSp of prescription; he left no heritage
OF vi anws' cries or orphans tears.
IL .lisrobed himself with dignity of the yes
tnrcs of ,,ffice. tn retire to the shades o. Qun
cv. b.. in the maturity of his intellect, in thu
vipnr Of bis thought, to leap into this arena
ami ,o ~-,ltiuue, as he had begun, disciple. al
ardent l..v,tee at the temple of his country.
frecd.n. How. in this department.. he minis
tered to his countrv's wants. we all know am
have Witnessed How often we have crowded
into ~ aisle and clustered around that now
.scan, e-k. 10 listen to the counsels OF wis
Pom al frey fell from the lips of the venerable
St~e. we can all remember. for il was but oil
y.st.rIlr. But what change. How won
~ ms, I,,.v sudden. 'Tis like vision Of the
,;~b, That form which we beheld but Few