Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-05


These are the bequeahed by eminent citi-
zen, (Mr Adams Who after filing the office of President Of
the United States was taken away IN the midst q his abor
1t has been long known that he kept diary passing events
and portion Of this record Of daily occurrences has been
Gently taken from the depository where had better been
shielded by time and and exposed to the light Of day by
of his family. How often has the memory Of dis
tnguhed been injured by the zeal Of ndiscree friends
Who instead Of going backward with tocover tem
their infrmtie to the SG:..s Of the w9rdI This
r6laon will add nothing TO the caims-and they many
which the deceased statesman had to the consideration of his
founded upon his services, his talents his
/ qurements, and his u:impeached probity."
| felt disposed to do injustice to Mr.. Adams.
Strong preudces, not say bitter Ones and tempera
often reguated and always excitabe too frequently
nterfered especially when and closely
connected with that calm investigation essential the
exercise of a correct Judgment"
Mr.. President, is there here who knew Mr..
4 Adams who does not know that fact
This conemporaneous record of his feelings and opinions
exhibits these traits Of character in bold relief and indeed
melancholy proof that vigorous intellect may be
Swallowed by strange alterations and rendered useless and
sometimes dangerous by hayward views, originating in
Impressions and maintained with characteristic tenacy
and with little respect for the opinions of Others.
I'm this diary the compromise by which the constitution
established and without which it could been
established is denounced the bargain between freedom
and slavery and 1t is pronounced morally and politically
vicious'-
He pronounced the Constitution of the United States
g morally and politically vicious
~ with various harsh ephes and illogical deductions,
little crcdabe to the Judgment Of the writer time and
least OF all at that me considering the position the Gov
he then occupied and the acknowledged claims he
had to still higher distinction
This condemnation of the constitution morally
left record by statesman who sought and enjoyed the
confidence of his country stations of high honor and
responsibtyn indeed, perhaps than any other
of the generations whose the
commencement the present Government and continued
almost without inernission, until his terminated
by death Athc time he thus nbodied this opniou
the Constitution he was the second officer Executive
department Government long the first
and in each Of these capacities in many preceding
he assumed under tb. most solemn sanction the
charge Of moral and political vice. take pleasure in the
of these views But the document has been given
to the country and regret may and must it has al
ready passed into history and like all the other materials Of
which history composed escape the scrutiny,
viii il escape the censure Of age like this. Nor should it.
tone Of moral sentiment is bad The doctrine and the
ample bad That the constitution vicious instrument
is opinion, it seems that rightmnded American
can hold That its honors and emouments be sought
and enjoyed and its obligations assumed by him who cons
drs liable to this certainly not reconcia
bic with any of morality the opinion
the example by which position held under such crcum
stances calculated to produce sautay impression the
American youth"
Those my sentiments then, and they
am to say there other portions of this resusci
ated paper equally obnoxious the of and
of good TASTE How different are its and temper from
that legacy of true wisdom and patriotism the Farewell Ad
dressa Of high moral and political feeling and
of aeconate interest well of practical wisdom such
no other citizen bequeathedt to his countrymen
The appeals to the better feelings of natureto
the Of American-and bids hold to
the unity Of Government which constitutes one people, by
all the motives that belong the past and the present
common eSertons crowned with success, and to
hopes bright in the providence Of God offered
TO any people, II waEns rs ais? ths mischief ?f sectional
padss. and Of the danger Of sectional questions which
tend render alien each other those who ought be
bound together by aterna Affection And voice. which
comes to us from the tomb shoad speak trumpet tones
TO American and strike responsive chord every
American heart when it calls upon frown Indignantly
upon the first dawnng every attempt por
ton Of country the rest or to weaken the sacred
ties which now bind together the various parts
'The other-bu will not speak Of it, might well do.
hkp tho
records till its language lost than have been thus exposed
to the light Of day viii place contact and that will place
in contrast few passages from the Farewell Address and
from the Diary of Mr. Adams and close this ungateu topic
with few remarks
did place in the column, opposite each other
the remarks Of General Washington in his Farewell Ad-
dress and those Of Mr. Adams / win not read the re-
marks Of General Washington there is need of
every American has them in his heart he knows what
they are. The remarks of Mr.. Adams will read and l
will then appeal every who hears me- be he Sena-
tor or be he auditor, language Of condemnation
be pronounced too strong upon the revelation of such
language, written secretly by the second officer in this
Government aiming first post which he afterwards
, attained. What did MIR. Adams say He said this:
"The progress Of this discussion"
The discussion upon the Missouri compromise question
what he referred to
The progress Of this discussion has totally merged in
passion all the reasoning faculties Of these shareholders that
these gentlemen in the simplicity Of their hearts had
conclusion in direct opposition their premises without
being Of inconsistency They insisted
upon that the clause in the constitution which gives Con-
regulations respecting the territory and other property Of the
United States had reference only land conferred
authority make rules binding upon its nhabtants &C.
That you win recoect is precisely the decision Of the
Supreme Court Of the United States, Mr.. Adams to the
contrary Notwithstanding That Court has decided that
il relates to land alone.
is, in truth aperverted sentiment mstakng labor
for slavery and dominion for freedom The discussion Of this
Missouri question has betrayed the Of their souls In
the abstract they admth slavery evil They diseam
all participation in the introduction OF IT, and all upon
the shoulders Of old grandam, Britain. But when probed
TO the quick upon IT, they show the bottom Of their souls
pride and vangloy in their very condition Of mastedom
The impression produced upon mind by the progress
Of this discussion Is that the brgain between freedom and
slavery contained in the Constitution Of the United States
morally and politically vicious inconsistent with the prinei-
pies which alone revolution be justified cruel
and oppressive by yeng the chains slavery by pedgng
the faith Of freedom TO maintain and pepeua the tyranny
Of the master and grossly unequal impoc by admitting
perry be secured restored their owners
not TO be represented Themselves
are privileged with nearly double share
The consequence has been that this slave
governed the Union Benjamin, pooned above his brethren
has wolff In the morning he has devoured the
prey and at ght he has divided the spoil.
at would be difficult matter prove by reviewing the
history Of the Union under this constitution every
thing which has contributed the honor and welfare
nation has been accomplished in spite Of them forced upon
them, and that every thing unpropous and dishonorabe
cludng the bander and foes Of their adyersa may
traced 10 them
What sentiment is that to be uttered by American
Secretary OF State, and who ultimately Presi
dent Of the United States What sentiment is that to
dug out Of the tomb by Of his at this day. and
ncv brought forward by the honorable gentleman