The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-02-27

some Of the scenes in this greatest drama in
American history. We can barely touch
IL January, is4z, & attempt II was made
oexpel o. Disgrace Mr. Adams for his pfac-
ticat dafence Of the sightof petiti0n. Ansag
the numerous memorials forwarded to hin
Was one from Hayerhill, Mass, asking Con-
gfess to take the initiatory steps for the
dissolotion 81 the Union. He presented the
petition snsths 24th Of lJasuasy, st the same
time remarking that hs Wa opposed 70
granting the prayer. As in the previous
Outbreak Of 1887, the Pro- Slavery side Of
the Chamber, which had been threatening
. dissolstion of the Union any day for the
last dozen years, now threw ,itself into .
foaming rage At the bare suggestion Of TAX
ing it at its word. Tom Marahall, the. elo-
quent bat eccentric member from Kentucky,
|gravely proposed 70 impeach Mr.. Adams for
treason; Henry A. Wise, even yet famous
for his absurd heroics, demanded his expul-
sion from the House; while milder members
only called for severe censure. Mr.. Adams
denanded tlial. OF the thrilling incidents
Of that controversy, which extended through
twelve bitter days, there il no time now to
speak. On tho fifth FOR sixth day I've are
writing wholly from memory Mr.. A. enter
ed upon his defence. We have distinct
recollection of the mighty themes shadowed
forth in his outline, and which he proposed
to discuss at length and Of the important
documents for which he called under an or
der Of the Houss--his thenes and his docu-
ments embracing the whole circle of Slavery.
Having laid out work enough, as he said in
response to 4 question from . Southern
member, to occupy two or three months, he
began BY IN examination Of the positions of
his assailants, seridtim. His reply to Mar
shall was magnificent. In the course of it,
while responding to Ms proposition to i'm
peach him for treason, hs suddenly turned
upon hin- Marshall piumed himself upon
his high birth and superior inteliect--and
said, "The trainers Of the Constitution have
not left it Tor the puny mind Of the member
from Kentucky to define what treason is.-
They have declared it. to consist solely in
leyying war against the United States, and
giving aid and comfort. to their enemies.-
Let him study the document - ''s'
In HIS reply TO Wise, Ne was. terribly Sc
we're. For once he made the haughty, brassy
Virginian blauch and quail. Wise took an
active part in this attempt to degrade the
old man. It viii be remembered. that on
the occasion of the ,Cilley duel, the House
appeared to be determined to expel all the
the members who participated in that muir
der. At critical stage Of the controversy,
Mr.. Adams made spesch against the con-
stitutional right Of the House to expel q
member without q formal trial, and subse-
Fquently made 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 eye upon him, and pointing his skinny
finger steadily at him, said, "At period not
far remote, when the member in TINT chair
entered this Hall, pale and haggard, his
hands all dripping with the red blood of .
fellow member, and this House in its indig-
nation was shout to expel him from its
presence, who interposed the shield OF the
Constitution in defence of his privileges,
and saved him, from disgrace? 2. And is this
the return he renders me for that service 20
When the old man was uttering these ter
rible words, Wise, who was sitting erect at
their commencement, taking notes, began to
settle down lower and lower, oil eyes fxcd
upon him, till, at their conclusion, his abash-
hind his desk. No convicted culprit, stand
in the dock, and writhing under sentence Of
. judge, ever exhibited more pitiable spec
tacle than did the cowed Virginian. >. e;
We must forbear further details. Suffice
i to say, that at the end Of the twelfth day,
the Shareholders, beaten 1t all points, and
only on the threshold of diascussion, were
glad to lay their own resolutions on the a.
BE, and give up the contest.
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