Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-03-02
FfOH INC NHtIOnhI InIuTHgeHuUTi FeU' ZO'
FUNERAL HONORS TO MIR.
ADAMS.


es of Congress, yesterday, full attendance of
members and crowded audiences attested the
deep interest of the occasion which called the
two Houses to offer public testimonials of their
profound respect for the memory of the Hon.
JOHN Quincy ADAMS, who breathed his last on
the preceding evening, and whose mortal remains
yet lay within the walls Of the Capitol.
In the House of Representatives, as soon as
the House was called to order, the Speaker (the
Hon. h. G. Winthrop rose, and in feeling and
affecting manner addressed the House as follows
Gentlemen Of The House Of Representatives
Of the United States !:
1t has been thought fit that the Chair should
announce officially to the House, an event already
known to the members individually, and which
has filled all our hearts with sadness.
seat on this floor has been vacated, towards
which our eyes have been accustomed to turn
with no common interest.
A voice has been hushed forever in this hall,
to which all ears have been wont to listen with
profound reverence.
A venerable form has faded from our sight,
around which we have daily clustered with an
afectionate regard.
A name has been stricken from the roll of the
living statesmen Of our land, which has been
sociated for more than half a century with the
highest civil service, and the Hottest civil re-
nown.
On Monday, the 2lst instant, JOHN QUINCY
ADAMS sunk in his seat, in presence of us all, by
sudden illness, from which he never recovered ;
and he died, in the Speakers room, at quarter
past seven O'clock last evening, with the officers
of the House and the delegation of his own Mas
sachusetts around him.
Whatever advanced age, long experience,
great ability, vast learning, accumulated public
honors, spotless private character, and firm
religious faith, could do to render any one an
object of interest, respect and admiration, they
had done for this distinguished person; and in
terest, respect and admiration are but feeble
terms to express the feelings, with which the
members Of this House and the people of the
country have long regarded him.
After life of eighty years, devoted from its
earliest maturity to the public service, he has at
length gone to his rest. He has been privileged
to die at his post; to fall while in the discharge
OF his duties to expire beneath the roof of the
Capitol; and to have his last scene associated
forever in history with the birthday of that illus
trious Patriot, whose just discernment brought
him first into the service of his country.
The close of such life, under such circum-
stances, is not an event for unrnnged emotions.
We cannot find it in our hearts to regret that lr
has died as he has died. He himself could ha,
desired no other end. " This is the end of EARTH
were his last Words uttered on the day on which
he fell. But we might almost hear him exclaim-
ing, as he left us--in language hardly less fa-
miliar to him than his native tongue" Hoe est
minimum, magis Jeticiter de vita migrare, guam
1nori"
1t is for others to suggest what honors shall be
paid to his memory. No acts of ours are neces-
sary to his fame. But it may be due to ourselves
and to the country that the national sense of his
character and services should be fifty commend.
rated.
When the Speaker concluded,
Mr.. HUDsoN, of Massachusetts, rose and ad-
dressed the House as follows -
Mr. Speaker, rise with no ordinary emotion
to perform painful duty which has been as
signed me by my colleagues, growing out of al
event which has recently occurred in the mids
OF US, the announcement Of which has Just beer
made by the Chair. My late venerable colleague
is no more A great and good man has fallen
He has been stricken down in the midst of us
while In the discharge of public duties. One
whose public services are coeval with the estab
lshmont OF our Government-one who has come
down to US from past generations, and of whom
1t might almost be said that he living in thu
midst OF p steTity, an example to us and TO those
who come after us, has ceased from his labors
and gone to his reward. The peculiar circum
stances OF his death are known to every membe
OF this House, and are calculated TO make a deeJ
and lasting impression. They weigh so heavily
upon my own mind and feelings, that am al
most inclined TO believe that sllence is the mos
appropriate token of our grief, and the most suit
able tribute to his memory.
JonN QUINCY ADAMS was born on the | It'll
day Of July, 1867, in that part of Braintree
Massachusetts, which was subsequently incor
porated into town by the name OF Quincy, and
hence was in the eighty first year of his age. In
1873, when he was but eleven years of age, he
accompanied his father, John Adams, to France
who was sent with Benjamin Franklin and Ar
thur Lee, as Commissioners TO the Court of Yer
sallles. Alter remaining in France about eight
cen months, during which time he applied him
self closely to the study of the French and LatiI
languages, he returned To his own country il
August, l779 In November of the same year
his father was again despatched to Europe TO
the discharge OF diplomatic services, and tool
his son John Quincy with him. AT Paris he wal
put TO school; and when, in 1850, John Adams
removed to Holland, his son enjoyed the advan
tages OF the public school at Amsterdam and af
forwards at the University at Leyden Francis
Dana, who accompanied John Adams, as Score
tary to the Embassy, received in 1881 the ap
pointment of Minister Penipotentiary 10 Russia
and took John Quincy Adams, then fourteen
years of age, with him, as his private Secretary
Here he remained till October, 1852, when Ii,
left Mr.. Dana at St Petersburgh, and returned
through Sweden, Denmark Hamburg and Bre
men, to Holland, where he remained some months
till his father took him to Paris at the time of tn
signing OF the treaty OF peace, in 1893. From
81