Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-02-05


forthwith arragned at the bar Of the House. The
enemies Of freedom were loud in their exultaton
they fully expected to PROSTATE his influence. ,
distinguished and eloquent son of Kentucky |
was appointed to manage the prosecution Some
OF Mr.. Adams friends fatered others became o.,
armed, and made indecent haste to deny all sym,
pathy with him, and publicly to repudiate his doc
trines hut these things did not move him. A
deep and absorbing interest pervaded this body and
the community generally. Every member was in
bis seat. The spacious galleries were crowded to
their utmost capacity. Against him arrayed
Gilmer and Wise and Cooper and Johnson and
host of distinguished men from the slave States.
Marshall led the assault in an able and effective
speech showing to the apparent satisfaction Of all
Southern members, that Mr.. Adams had been
guilty Of treason to the people and to the Govern
ment of these States, by presenting the petition.
AS Marshall closed. the distinguished statesman
rose from his seat His movements were deliber-
ate and his whole bearing was dignfed. His
form was erect under the weight of nearly four
score years. There he stood, venerable for his
age, for his great learning, for his important
vices, for the high honors bestowed on him. lie
entered upon no argument. lie put forth none OF
that terrible invectve which had SO often caused
his enemies to trembe and turn pale. He merely
called for the reading Of the "6rst paragraph IN
the Declaration of Independence" and the Clerk
read that portion which sets forth the natural
rights Of 'a men to life, liberty, and happiness"
And with unusual emphasis he read that part
which declares Governments to be constituted
among men to secure the enjoyments of these
rtu - nd Io Id H.
which declares that; whenever any form Of Gov.
ernment becomes destructive of these ends it is
the right and the duty Of the people to modify
or abolish it," Mr.. Adams stopped him, and in
loud, distinct, and solemn voice, repeated the last
member of the sentence then turning to the
Speaker, he declared, ''if there be any principle
dear to the American heart. it is the right Of the
people to modify or abolish their government
whenever it becomes destructive of the liberties or
|, happiness Of any portion of its inhabitants" )"
And having avowed these doctrines as the basis of
his vndicatiou, he boldly challenged them to the
issue. Every person present felt the strength OF
his position. His st,lwart foes were suddenly
prostrated. His. prosecutors were confounded
+ No.sae of their number could be persuaded tc
d admit or deny those great truths.
IL 10 aioo uuo W tuo VI VI HiolUTy u say INA
. other members symp mpathized with Mr.. Adams, ant
assisted him in these Efforts in greater or les,
degree, according to the interest they felt in thu
@ subject Among those most active were Hon
Seth NJ. Gates Of New York, and at later periot
A Hons. John p. Hale and Amoa Tuck of New
Hampshire, and John G. Palfry of Massachusetts,
4 Indeed, shall not soon forget the expression o
the aged patriot when his learned colleague (Mr
Pairy) closed his first able speech 10 favor of hu
man rights. The countenance Of the "old mai
S eloquent" seemed radiant with hope he excainl
r ed, thank God the seal is broken the seal i
n broken Massachusetts, is no longer silent" tn
. lovers of Liberty in this body saw at that period
most clearly, that men holding the doctrine of th
= Republican fathers would never seek to WELD tn
y power of Congress, or of the Federal Government
Y to enslave mankind, or to deprive them OF thos
i rights with which the God Of nature had endowe
D them. They we'll understood that the real issu
2 was based upon primal truths although Souther
men would not-nay, dared not-acknowledg
s it.
/ Mr.. Adams labored through life to bring out tn
real facts to the public view 1t was his rulin
S principle, which exhibited itself strong in DEATH
> | visited him while PROSTATE upon what was the
4 supposed his death.bed Ia the silent chamber
+ sat beside the dying patriot. His lamp of lif
y seemed Pickering in its socket. His voice wa
!; feeble, but his words were earnest / told hin
. that his physician feared to have him converse up
, on any subject likely to excite emotion Lookn
Q me full in the face, said he, ~ on the rerge o
e eternity; l shall never meet you again in thi
e world; l must talk !" and he proceeded to sa
:. that he had no hope for the perpetuity OF ou
t. Government or for the liberty Of our people, ez
e cept that which was based upon its return to tn
e doctrines on which il had been founded and h
Is exhor,ed me to exert ahatever influence coul
IS for the attainment of that object. He subsequent
s ly fingered awhile between this and the spiri
y world until the kind angel whispered his relase
Il a higher sphere.
c Mr.. Chairman, l am at times led, in my ow
e. mind. to compare the anxiety of the dying Adam
70 to form the present issue, with that of some lvn
u politicians to abandon it. He, however, had th
Il benefit of great experience. He saw and kne'
n that The slave power welded the Government tina
ct the interest of the institution guided the legsla
'e tion of Congress and controlled the Executive &C
e ton it made and unmade our United State
O. Bank it fostered our domestic manufactures, an
s. then made war upon our manufacturing interests
it dictated protective tariff, aud then repudiate
d the policy; it encouraged, then abandoned, tn
iron interest, just the prosperity of slave labo
s seemed to require. And when from this forur
10 members endeavored to give information to tn
At people. their lips were sealed by gag rules; tn
n freedom of debate was stricken down, and tn
to right Of petition denied that slavery might be Ell
y couraged. Every measure and policy Of Govern
ment was made to bend to the interest of that il
is stitution. These things we're clearly seen by NJ
N Adams and his contemporaries, and their efforts
bring out these important facts to the understand
of ing Of the people were constant and unyielding
ID 70 me it was then incomprebensibs how any ma
to could expect that Government would DO justice