New Orleans daily crescent., 1857-11-16
The Declaration 4 ~ " In,dependen0e.

am not able to recollect whether it was on this
or some preceding day, that the greatest and most
ence, The subject had been ID contemplation fol
more than year, and frequent discussions had been
had concerning it. At one time and another an the
arguments for It and against II had been exhausted
and were become familiar. Iexpected no more would
be sad II public but that the question would % put
and decided. Nj. Dickinson, however, was deter
mined to bear bis testimony against II with more for
malty. He had prepared himself apparently with
great labor and ardent zeal and, In speech Of great
together all that had before been written ID pam
phlets and newspapers, and all that had from time to
time been said In Congress BY himself and others.
~ conducted the debate not only with great inge-
nulty and eloquence, but with equal polteness and
candor. and was answered in the same spirit.
NO member rose 70 answer him, and after waiting
some time In hopes that some one less obnoxious than
himself who had been a along for year befors, and
all the mischief, would move, determined to speak.
It has been said by some Of our historians that I
began by an invocation to the god Of eloquence.
This IS Misrepresentation. Nothing so puerile as
this fell from me. began BY saying that this was
the talents and eoquence Of the ancient orators of
Greece and Rome, for was sure that none of them
ever had before him question Of more Importance
to his countrymen and to the world. They would
BY solemn invocations to their diynites for assist.
ance; but the question before me appeared 40 srnple
that had confidence enough il the plain understand
ing and scommon-sense that had been given me, to
believe that could answer ID the satisfaction oi the
House all the arguments which had been produced,
Notwithstanding the abilities which had been dis.
played and the eloquence with which they had been
enforced Mr.. Dickinson, some years afterward, pub
shed his speech. had made no preparation before
hand, and never committed any minutes OF mine to
writing But il had . copy Of Mr.. Dickinson's be-
fore me, 1'would now, after nine and twenty years
have elapsed, endeavor to recollect mine. s'al ,s
Before the final question was put, the new dele
gates from New Jersey came IN, and MI. Stockton,
Dr. Witherspoon and Mr. Hopkinson very respectable
characters, expressed a great desire to hear the
arguments. All was silence; no one would speak /;
all eyes were turned upon me. Mr. Edward Rut-
ledge came to me and said, laughingly "Nobody
will speak, but you, upon this subject You have al
the topics 50 ready that you must satisfy the gentle
men from New Jersey" answered him. laughing,
that it had so much the air of exhibiting like an
actor or gladiator for the entertainment OF the audi
ence, that was ashamed to repeat what ]. had said
twenty times before, and II thought nothing new
couldsbe advanced by me. The New Jersey gentle
men however still insisting hearing at least re-
captnlation Of the arguments, and no other gentle
man being willing to speak, summed up the rea.
sons, objections and answers in as coRcise manner
as could till at length the Jersey gentlemen said
they were fully satisfied and ready for the question,
which was then put and determined in the affrma-
tive. IDiary Of John Adams. lgE