The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-02-04

any form Of Government becomes des,ruc.
tive to these ends, it is the right and the
duty OF the people 10 modify or abolish
it," Mr.. Adams stopped him, and in a
loud, distinct and solemn voice, repeated
the last member Of the sentence then
turning 10 the Speaker, he declared, /" If
there be any principle dear 10 the Ameri.
can heart, il is tie right Of the people TO
modify or abolish their Government when.
ever it becomes destructive to the liberties
or happiness Of any portion OF its inhabit-
ants" And having avowed these doc
trines as the basis Of his vindlca,ion, he
boldly challenged them 10 the issue
Every person present ielt the strength Of
his position. His stalwart ioes were sud
denly prostrated. His prosecutors were
confounded. Not one Of their snumbpr
could be persuaded 10 admit or deny those
great truths.
Ii is also due to the truth Of history TO
say that other members sympalhized with
Mr.. Adams, and assisted him in these
efforts, in greater or less degree, accord.
ing to the interest which they iet IN the
subject. Among those most active were
Hon. William Slade of Vermont, Hon.
Seth N. Gates Of New York, and at n
later period, Hons. John p. Hale and,
Amos Tuck of New Hampshire, ard John
| @. Palircy Of Massachusetts. Indeed, !
shall not soon forget the expression Of the
aged patriot, when his learned colleague
Mr. PalIrcy) closed his FIRST able speech
IN lavor OF human rights. The counte
nance Of the "old man eloquent seemed
radiant with hope as he exclaimed,
"thauk God the seal is broken the seal
is broken Massachusetts is no longer ST..
lent" The lovers of Liberty in this body
saw at that period, most clearly, tha, men
holding The doctrine Of The Republican
fathers would never seek TO WELD the
power Of Congress, or of the Federal Gov.
ernmenl, TO enslave mankind or 10 deprive
them OF those rights with which the God
OF nature had endowed them. They well
understood that the real issue was based
upon primal truths, although Southern
men would not-nay, dared not-ac-
knowledge it. Mr.Adams labored through
life 10 bring out the real facts to the pub.
hc view. II was his ruling principle,
which exhibited itself strong in death. l
visited him while Iroslrale upon what was
then supposed his death. bed. In the ST.
lent chamber, Sat beside the diving pat
riot. His lamp OF lie seemed Pickering
in its socket. His voice was feeble, but
his words were earnest. told him that
his physician feared TO have him converse
upon any subject likel ly to excite emotion.
Looking me iull in The face, said he, -
am on The verge of eternity. l shall never
meet you again in this world | must
talk ;" and be proceeded TO say that he
had no hope for the perpeluity Of our
Government except in return to the
principles on Which it had been
originally founded +: and he exhored me
TO exert whatever Influence ! could for
the attainment of tha, object. He .ubse-
quenlly fingered awhile between this and
the spirit world, until the kind angel
whispered his release 10 higher sphere.
Mr.. Chairman, am at times led, in my
own mind. 10 compare the anxiety of the
dying Adams 10 form the present issue,
with thai OF some living politicians to
abandon it. He, however, had the bene-
tit OF great experience. He saw and knew
that the slave power welded the Govern
ment; that the interests OF the institution
guided the legislation oil Congress and
controlled the Executive action il made
and unmado our United States Bank it
! IoStered our domestic manufactures, and
then made war upon our manufacturing
interests it dictated protective tariff,
and then repudiated The policy il encour-
aged, then abandoned, the iron interest,
just as the prosperity of slave labor seem
ed 10 require. And when from this forum
members endeavored 10 give information
TO the people, their lips were sealed by
gag rules the freedom Of debate was
stricken down, and the right of petition
denied, that Slavery might be encoul ulaged.
Every measure and policy oi Government
was made 10 bend 10 the interest Of that
institution. These things were clearly
seen by MIR. Adams and his cotempora'
ries, and their efforts TO bring Out those
important facts 10 the understanding OF
the people were constant and unyelding.
To me it was then incomprehensible how
any man could expect that Government
would do justice to The laborers of oul
free States, while its whole patronage and
influence were exerted in favor of the mos
: arrant despotism towards the kborers o
! the South. Some Southern members
were more consistent. They boldly as.
serted that labor must every wherebe com
pulsory that both North and South the
capitalists owned the laborers that the
, influence and powers OF The Government
should therefore bc exerted for the prolec,
ton OF capitalists, and leave them to take
care OF the laborers ; ard they welded
its powers for that object. was then, as
now. incapable of comprehending how an
issue, in regard 10 tariti, or upon any other
collateral question, could effect radical
reform in our government. The necessi,
~ Tor baSing our political efforts upon the
essential truths avowed by our Republi.
can fathers, was TO me most obvious.
/ had assisted in trying The experiment
of uniting men Of conflicting principles for
the purpose of carrying the election in
1910. and driving the Democratic party
from power. Iaborcd earnestly Tor the
election OF Harrison and Tyler, believing
that il we succeeded, We should. among
other reforms, regain the freedom Of de.
bate in this body. Alter the result was
known, and while the President elect was