Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-01-16
BRATTLEBORO, W.: JAN. Is, 1853.

cd, VIZ whether paper purpUrtlng to be
petition from Slaves, would, ~ lie uere 10 pre-
sent il, go on the table under the order of the
18th of January Looking around him with a
mingled expression of sarcastic cunning and lcf-
ty scorn which Lord Chatham would have enyi-
ed, he cried in a voice not of thunder. but in
shirp, kissing tone, such as Lightning might be
supposed to employ if it at all, And am / 10 be
erpeHed from this IOqudcious, bdbbiing House for
simply asking question:" For the first time
the thought flashed on friend and foe, that MIR.
Adams ha neither presented the paper nor pro-
posed to present it Everybody felt queei while
some grave men looked ike lank sheep suddenly
denuded of their heeces. 1t had now got wind
that the paper was forgery the work Of some
stupid Stakeholder in Washington, and purport-
ed 10 be signed by Scipio, Sambo and other bo-
gus negroes, asking the House to expel Mr..
Adams from their body
And now =" the old man eloquent took his
turn in the debate. How he demolished one op-
ponent after another, scourging, nayng, scalp
ing, impaling to his hearts content-how rank
upon rank o' the Chivalry went down in heaps
before his trenchant blade-how he spitted poor
Dromgooe, and roasted him before slow FIRE Of
sarcasm, when he told him that giving color to
an idea" was not Northern but a Southern
practice one Of the peculiar domestic institutions
Of Virginia with which he had no desire to in
terfere-how the House screamed with laughter
as Dromgoole essayed grim smile in acknowl-
edgment of this delicate alusion TO the bleaching
chemistry employed by the South TO eradicate
the dark tints in their varigated population
how be wound up his triumphant philippe by
warning his young adversaries never again to
run on an errand till they know whittier they are
going'-aGd how the House firmly refused to
lay the resolutions on the table, but brought their
authors to a direct vote. and finally trampled
them down by decided majority: Are not all
these things written in the Chronicles Of the Old
Hall in the House of Representatives
In January, lS42, another attempt was made
to expel or disgrace Mr.. Adams for his practical
defence OF the right of psiifion. Among the nu-
merous memorials forwarded to him was one from
Haverhill, Mass. asking Congress to take The
initiatory steps for the dissolution of the Union.
He presented the petition on the cath of January,
at the same time remarking that he was opposed
TO granting its PRAYER. As in the previous out
break of 1887, the Pro-Slavery side of the Cham
Der, which had been threatening dissolution of
the Union any day for the las dozen years. now
threw itself into foaming rage at the bare sug-
gestion OF taking it at its word. Tom Marshall,
the eloquent but eccentric member from Ken
lucky. grayely proposed 10 impeach Mr.. Adams
for treason Henry A. Wise, even yet famous
fnr his absurd heroics, demanded his expulsion
from the House while mdcr members only
called for severe censure. Mr.. Adams demand
ed trial. OF the thrilling incidents Of that con.
troversy, which extended through twelve bitter
days, there is no time now to speak. On the
fifth or sixth day 1--WE are writing wholly from
menory) Mr.. A. entered upon his defence. We
have distinct recollection Of the mighty theme
Swallowed forth in his outline and which he pro-
posed to discuss at length and of the important
documents for which he called under order
of the IIousc-his themes and his documents em-
bracing the whole circle of Slavery. Having
laid out work enough, as he said in response 10
a question from a Southern member, TO occupy
tw., .h-eo n,ontns, hc began by examina-
ton Of the positions Of his assailants, Seriati,n.
His reply TO Marshall was magnificent. In the
course OF it, while responding 10 Ms proposition
10 mpeach him for treason, he turned suddenly
upon him-Marshall plumed himself upon his
high birth and superior inellect-and said &" The
trainers of the Constitution have not left it for
the puny mind OF the member from Kentucky
10 define what treason is They have declared
It solely to consist in levying war against the
United States, and giving aid and comfort TO
their enemies Let him study the document ~
In his reply to Wise, he was terribly severe
For once he made the naughty, brassy Vireinian
bIanch and quail. Wise took an active part in
this attempt to degrade the old man. 1t will be
remembered, that on the occasion Of the Cilley
duel, the House appeared to be determined to
expel all the members who had participated in
that murder. Wise was one of the number. At
a critical Stage of the controversy Mr. Adams
made speech against the constitutional right Of
the House to expel a member without a formal
trial, and subsequently made a successful motion
to lay the subject on the table. Thus Wise was
saved. On the present occasion, in the course
OF his reply TO Wise's bitter attack. he fixed his
eyes upon him, and pointing his skinny finger
steadily at him, said, J." At period not far re-
mote, when the member now sitting in that chair
entered this Hall, pale and haggard, his hands
all dripping with the red blood of fellow-me n
Der, and this House in its indignation was about
to expel him from its presence. who interpnspd
the shield OF the Constitution in defence of his
privileges, and saved him from disgrace? And
is this the return he renders me for tha, seryice?"
When the old man was utterng these terrible
words, Wise who was sitting erect at their COM
mencement taking notes, began to settle down
lower and lower and lower, all eyes fixed upon
him. till, at their conclusion, bis abashed coun-
tenance was completely hidden behind the desk.
No convicted culprit, standing on the dock, and
wrilhing under the sentence of judge, ever ex-
hibted more pitable spectacle than did The
cowed Virginian.
We must forbear further details. Suffice il
to say, that at the emu OF the twelfth day, the
Shareholders. beaten at all points and driven
from The field, while Mr. Adams was only on the
threshold of the discussion were glad to lay their
own motions on the table and give up the con-
test.
Of Mr. Adams rare parliamentary tact, the
celebrated strife over "the broad seal" of New
Jersey, affords an inst ince. AT the opening of
the session, the Clerk for many days refused to
put any motion TO the House, though scores of
resolutions were offered, and he persisted in call
inI roll of members which he had prepared
the House being unable in the meantime to
proceed to the election of Speaker, and
standing in "dead lock " of disorganlsation
Finally, after long debates, Mr.. Adams made
a motion that MIR. Rhett 1--WE forget at thus
moment whether il was Rhett or Lewis Viii
liams,) 10 take the Chair temporarily and
preside till a Speaker he chosen. "Ah
ha I" responded half hundred voices, shut
who will put the question TO vote ?" 81
intend to put it myself" instantly respond
ed Mr. Adams. In the twinklng of an eye
the obstinate Clerk sank to the position of a
mere scribe, order rose ont of chaos, and Mr..
Adams himself was placed temporarily in the
Chair.