, 1859-01-15
Interesting Congressional History of
the Amis1ad Case.

the Amis1ad Case.
Mr. Gddings writes from Washington 10 the
Ashtabnla S<nt,atl, giving nn Interesting Con-
gressiopal history Of the famous "Amistad"
case. He says:
On the third day Of tbs session, Senator Mason
obtained vote making the bill to pay. for the
Tuesday; but has suffered it TO lie over until
near The close Of the fourth week. fear it will
not come up at this session. It has RlWaye
passed the Senate without discussion, but sew
erai Senators have looked into it, and are now
prepared TO speak upon it.
HOW 1xGKRsoLL BACKED DOVE.
It is an Interesting case. 1t cane up in the
House Of Representatives, in 1874 for the first
time, On motion to print extra copies of the
report Of the Committee On Foreign Aaairs, ln
fayQr of the claim. It was my forture to fead
the debate in opposition to the motion. Mr..
Adams designed TO speak on the same side, after
the Chairman. Iii. Ingersoll should hive 70.
piled to me. The morning hour was allotted
10 the subject. l occupied the first morning,
and when I concluded hr. 1ngersolI obtained
the floor, and l we'll recollect that Some excel
lent friends were alarmed at tbs boldneBs with
which had attacked the report, saying that In
gersoll was one Of the abtest members Of the
HOUSE, and would obIiterate me whenever he
should speak. But had become somewhat &C
customed to such deliberations, and said to them
had the most perfect confidence that Mr. Adams
would furnish IS much cause for 1ugeTsoll to fear
as 1ugersoI1 did for me to entertain Bpprehen-
sious. Mr. Adams felt a deep interest in the
subject, md prepared for severe examination
of IT,
But when the mex. morning came, 1ugersoll
saw the intention Of Ar. Adams, and quai)ed
before it. He backed down, and actuaiiy Doted
to tuy h1s otrn nation on ths td6l<. escaped
o~ti whirh nv frierHh fnnch
feared, becsu.e 1ngersoN dreaded the rod which
Ar. Adamk had prepared for him. Bat the old
patript was disappointed. He desired to give
en expose Of the case, and after his return Ut
the close Of the session, be published the speech
he had intended to make for the benefit Of bis
constituents: and NOW, after the labor of near
ly fifteen years, members OF Congress- have
looked up To that speech, ip order to prepare
for the discussion, which, fear, will not take
place.
TEE LAST SPEECH CT THE old NAN ELoouKsr.
Four yeara after this transaction, the Senaie
amended cur civil and diplomatic appropriation
bill, By inserting fttY thousand dollars to pay
for these slaves. Mr. Adams had been prostrs-
| ted by paralytie shock. lie was 10 conscious
| Of ila Effects that he would neither speak nor
write for the public eye. his friends had
| grestly desired letter from him addressed to
| the public, or 10 some friend as farewell me-
| mento; but he refused Hi4 sou, Hor. C. F.
| Adams, came with him 10 Washington. His
entrance in tho Hall, after the members had 80
long regarded him as dead. wss most inter-
| esting scene, Southern shareholders who had
/ at agsin seeing him. All business was suspend
| ed as he entered the hall. lie Was feeble and
pale Holmes Of South Carolina. taxing him
/ By the arm, conducted him to his seat, and then
| addressed few words to the House, eopgr&u-
| lating the members at once more seeing their
I = y
statesman responded in few wordi, but bis
| voice was too feeble 10 be heard, except by
those nearest 10 him. He continued 70 meet
with u.s. but made no attempt to participate in
any discussion, uutll the amendment Of the Sen.
ate proridlnR for tha payment Of these slaves,
came up for discussion.
On that subject his feelings would not allow
him to remain silent. When be wss announced
as having the floor, the Aouse was instantly in
the most perfect confusion. Members in nj
paris Of the Hall left their seats and gathered
na ne8r ~ possible, to catch tae last words oi
the illussrioue statesman- AL seemed conscioua
| that it would be bis last speech. The reporterr
unable to hear him in their places, and uumlnd
fol Of the rules rushed within the bur. papsl
aud pencil in hand to sketch his last public nd
dreas.
That speech was devoted to an exposure O
the 4nsuling claim approved and recommended
By Polk and Pierce, aud twice by Buchanan
and now pressed upon the Senate. 1t WAS, traly
the last speech Of my veuerated friend. A fa,
days Rtterwsrd ~ bore his unconscious bod,
from The hall. he fell in the place from whici
he had spoken. He died, a. it we're, opposinI
| this claim.
LOOK 10 TEE Houss.
The amendment to the Senase VAS then do
feated; and II often ~ that body had passed it
| the Housu htd defes.ed it have spoken upo,
it three simes, and Hon. D. C. Leach, Of Aichi
gan, spoke upon it last year. These fou
speeches are ali thst hare been made agsinst i
since Ar. Adams death: bat the elare powe
appears determined to pass it. To give it q
would, in trush, be surrender, or rather IN I'D
mission, that they cauno. sustain their funda