New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-08

,,., claiming SWAY among Civilized and Christian
Mem
The recital of heroic actions loses its chiei vaue
II we cannot discover the principles IN when 'neS
wsrs horn. The text of JoHs Qursor ADAMS,
from which he deduced the duties OF citizens ana
of the Republic, was the address OF the Cont
rsn,.I Congress, to the People Of the United States
on the occasion OF the successful close OF the amer
can Revolution. He dwelt often and emPhahcaiy
on the words;
Let II be remembered, that 1t has ever oeen 'ns p1'
ana boas, OF America that the Rights for which sne con
tended were the chs Of Haman Nature Ny the oess
ng OF the Author Of those Rights, they have prerTas
over ali opposition. and form the basis OF inrlee
r.,Sent staet No instance has heretofore occurred ho
,nv be expected hereafter to occur IN "hen
the unsdulteraied forms OF Republican 1overnreh1 @
uretend to 50 fair opportunity OF lustyns 1850
By their fruits In this view, the ciu.eas o wy ,sd
states are responsible for the greatest trust ever
% a pollticai society II JUSTICE COOP FAITH tOSVA'
GnArrrupE and all the other qualities when ehnooe e
character Of radon. and funl the rnd' OF 49,,
bs the fruits Of our establishments The Cause OF L'oe1y
will ACQUIRE dignity and iusue which u nas never 20.
epjosed and example will be set wncn esIho. ~. ~
have the favorable influence on MANKIND. I % ~
other side our Governments should be unfortuhA'ey
bo,,eA with the reverse Of these cirdna virtues inc
great cause which hsve engaged to vinaieate N ~
dl,nonored and betray ed the last and isrest
against them and their patrons and friends exposes 70
The ipsus and slenced by the votaries OF tyranny anu
usurpaiion.
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF the People
If the State of New.York: / had turned my steps
away from these Halls long since, as tnousn'
forever. come back to them by your command
to fulfil higher duty and more honorable service
than ever before devolved upon me. repay your
generous confidence. by offering to you this expo
si,ion of the duties OF the magistrate and oil the
citizen. It is the same which JoHS QUINCY
ADAMS gave to the Congress Of the United states
10 bis Grafton on the Death OF JAMES MAplsoS' IL
is the key tn his own exalted character ard IL en-
abes us TO measure the benefits he conferred upon
his country. If then you ask. what motive en'-
bled him to rise above parties sects comoinatlon''
nreiudices passions and seductions, answer that
he served his country not alone or cniehy oecau'e
that country was bis own, bat because ne hne"
her duties and her destiny, and knew het cause
.he cause of Human Nature. Ii you inquire
whva was 90 rigorous in virtue a. to be often
,bousbt au,tsre, I answer. it was because Human
Nature required the exercise Of Justice, Honor
and Gratitude by all who were clothed win au
thority to act in the name of the American People
II you ask why he seemed, sometimes, with ap'
parent inconsistency, to lend his charities to the
Distant and the Future rather than to his own Kin
dred and Times, reply, it was because ne neiu
that the tenure of human power is on condition OF
| ito being benefcently exercised tor the common
welfare of the Human Race. Such Men are OF no
Country. They belong to Mankind. If we can
not rise to this hight of virtue, we cannot hope to
i. r. I,tIN
or understand the homage paid By the American
People to bis memory.
Need it be said thatJoHs QUIscY ADAMS studied
Jastice, Honor and Gratitude, not by the faise
standards of the age but by their own true nature
He generalized truth, and traced it always to Its
source. the bosom of God. Thus in his defence OF
the Amistad captives he began with defining JUS
tice in the language Of Justinian, "Constans e'
perpetua vouDtas jus SUM cuique trbuendi' -
| He ouoted on the same occasion from the Declare
ton of Independence, not by way of rhetorical EN-
| belishment and not even as avalid human ordi'
nance bat az truth of nature, OF universal aPPu'
cation, the memorable words 1--WE hold tnese
Truths to be selfevident, that all men are created
eoual. and that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights. and that among
these rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit oil
Hsnpiness." In his vudication of the Right Of
Debate he declared that the principle that religious
opinions were altogether beyond the sphere oil LIE
gislative control was but one notifications more
extensive axiom. which included the unbounded
Freedom of the Press, and of Speech, in the com
munication of Thought in all its forms He
rested the inviosbiisy Of the right OF Petition, not
on Constitutions, or Charters which might be
CLOSED, sbrogated or expunged, but in the inhe
rent right of every animate creature to pray to it'
. superior.
The model by which he formed his character wal
CICERO. Not the living CICERO, sometimes incon
sistent often irresolute too often seeming to act
studied part; and always covetous Of applause
, But CICERO, az he aimed to be, and as he appear
revealed in those immortal emanations Of his genu
which have been the delight and guide Of intellec
and virtue in every succeeding age. Like the 10
man, ADAMS was an orator, but he did not fall int
, the error of the Roman in practically valuing eo
auence more than the bene6cence to which
should be devoted. Like him, he was Statesman
, and Magistrate worthy to be called The secon'
A Founder OF the Republic, like him a teacher O
Didactc Philosophy of morals, and even OF his owl
peculiar art and like him he made all liberal learn
ing tributary to that noble art while Poetry wa
the inseparabe companion Of bis genius in it
hours of relaxation from the labon Of the Forum
and of the Capitol. Like him he loved only the SC
= ciety Of good men, and by his generous praise Q
e such, illustrated the Romans beautiful aphorsn
:, that no one can be envious Of good deeds who ha
I confidence in his own virtue. Like CICERO he KEEP
d himself unstained by social or domestic vices pre-
J. served serenity and cheerfulness; cherished habit
Q ua reverence for the Deity, and dwelt continually
not on the mystic theology Of the schools but on tn
hopes of better life. He lived in what will be re
j garded as the vrtuous age Of his country, Will
= CICERO WAS surrounded by an overwhelming d.
generacy. He had the light OF Christianity for bi
. guide and its sublime motives as indictments I
e virtue; while CICERO had only the confused il
structons of the Grecian Schools, and saw nothiD
II certainly attanable but present applause and f
If ture fame In moral courage, therefore he excee
= his model and rival CATO. Bot CATO was a vision
y ary, who insisted upon his night always withor
reference to the condition Of mankind, he shoul