Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-05-04
sTRoUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY, Pa THURSDAY, ls4s

| in admitting that his Congressional career was
one of unparalleled brlIlancy. Free. fearless
| and independent, he cas-. his vote with no par
ty, further Than the convictions of his own judg-
ment told him thai they were right. =. Startling
his friends sometimes by The boldness of his
views, the results generally proved that what
appeared al first. sight to be rash. and par
aduxicaI, was but In fact the result of pene
lrallng sagaci,y.
Familiar with every treaty that had been en-
tered into since the foundaian of our govern
ment and having a personal knowledge of'eve-
ry even, Of Importance for The las, sixty years,
he served as complete diplomatic and .his'or-
lca char, in The abors of Congress, and gave
information TO his colleagues upon those sub
jecs that was always relied upon and never
proved erroneous. He was in fact the Venera-
BILE embodiment of American history: within
whose capaclous memory was stored the treasures
of our former wears, whose hand was busily re-
cordng the glories of the present, days: the link
that bound the present to the past the stern ora
Gle who warned nation not to rob the future OF
its bright and glorious prospects by departure
from the paths of rectitude and virtue. Although
the advanced age of Mr.. Adams might have .enti-
tied him 10 exemption from the ordinary and lobOr
Gus duties of his situation, although the house
would have been willing to treat him as precious
relic only be brought forth great occasions, his
honest zeal and masculine intellect spurned at such
ndulgences. There was no labor from which he
asked to be excused, and the drudgery of the COM
mttee room was discharged with as much cheer
fulness and zeal as though he were laboring for a
triumph before the eyes of all admiring nation
No point too minute to receive attention, no claim
too humble to be weighed in the scale of even
handed Justice. Ever at his post, the observer of
all, he seemed like an ancient hermit, amidst the
busy scenes around him: and yet that eye and
ear ever on the alert for duty suffered nothing to
escape them. -. .,@ :.
A faithful representative of his immediate con-
stituents, he became also the representative of
every man and set of men throughout the country
who felt themselves aggrieved by wrongs which
the National Legislature could redress. Never
upon that floor appeared more uncompronislng
advobate of principle With him it was an axiom
that by sacrificing principle we do great wrong
to ourselves and TO poster!ty. Hence when the
right of petition assailed, he, at once became
its undaunted and wilig advodate Standing some
times almost alone, the friends who loved him
praying him TO deslst, his own voice drowned by
clamOrs which breaking through all rules of order,
assailed his ears in reproaches and menaces ::
from day to day. and from session to session, there
stood that brave old man battling for an invalua-
BILE principle He well knew, though others
seemed to have forgotten it, that the right of the
people to be heard by petion in the councils Of the
nation was one of the sacred attributes of a free
form of government, and that these who denied
that right in whatever form it was asserted, as
sailed the sacred citadel of civil liberty. Though
friends shrunk from his support he felt that the
cause was just and that he must prevail; yea,
though the solid earth could crumbe around him,
he felt that his foot planted on a rock. where
the champion OF the free expression OF the pOpu-
lar will could stand secure. Though threatened
with dissolution of the Union he still contended,
with undated vigor, for the right of representing
grievances without which our government either
united or separated would cease to discharge its
proper functions. Yes, destroy the right of petit
ton, and you virtually say that an election to Of
fee is an absolute transfer OF power, and not mere
lily las it actually s) trust contided for the benefit
of the people and to be exercised under their d.
rection. At length however, the auspIclous morn
ing dawned and the right Of the people was vindi-
Gated the doors Of Congress were opened to the
complaints of those who had sent its members
thither and fatal encroachment upon free gov
ernment was arrested Thus will it ever be with
the man of sound judgment and firm hxedness of
purpose error may for time cast faint and
soon vanishing halo around the head of the enthu-
siast or the demagogue. but truth and justice, in
the end encircle with wreaths of never dying flow
ers and brows. of their fearless and unwearying
advocate.
AS parliamentary debater Mr. Adams had no
superior, perhaps no equal upon the floor of Con-
gress. With style clear, logical and terse, mod
elled after the best schools of the ancient orators
Master of all the graces of rhetoric-with mind
stored with the literature and learning of all ages,
with a memory capacious, ready, retentive, an
eye of Eagle glance and voice of fwondrous pow
er, and capable of modulation to the most exquisite
harmony, art and nature seem to have combined
for the production of perfect orator. Who that
for the first time saw that calm old man wrapt in
his own pursuits al his solitary desk could have
dreamed of the thrilling power and passion with
which he could electrify the house upon great oc-
Casion: it was though the fiery blood OF Achilles
was for time coursing IN mad career thro the veins
Of the venerable Nestor. And fearful was the tate
of those who assaed that old man with taunt and
ridicule and Remuneration in his latter days. they
thought that they were sporting with snow
wreath that would melt at their breath, but found
that they stirred volcano before whose fires their
own grew pale Let those who fed from the
ply of that indignant and aggrieved patriots how
deep he could drive the icy sword of sarcasm.
But it was not alone upon great occasions, when
admiring crowds thronged the hall to-hear him,
that he was distinguished upon that fioors there
was the opposite historical tact, the knowledge OF
men and dates bearing upon private Claims, the
ready application of Constitutional principles the
wisdom in the forms and substance of Legislation
the nersonal weight and influence in reconciling