Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-01-27
Interesting Congressional History
of the Amistad Case.


of the Amistad Case.
Mr.. Giddings writes from Washington to
The Ashtabula Sentinel, giving an interest
ing Congressional history o: the famous
"Amistad" case. He SAYS:
On the third day Of the session, Senator
Mason obtained a vote making the bill to
pay for The Amistad slaves q special order
Tor the next Tuesday; but has suffered it to
lie over until near the close of the fourth
week. fear it win not come up at this
session. 1t has always passed the Senate
without discussion, but several Senators
have locked into it, and are now prepared
to speak upon it.
How INGEasULL BACKED DOWN.
II il an interesting case. II came up in
the House of Representatives in 1874 for
the first time, on a motion to print extra
copies of the report Of The Committee on
Foreign Affairs, in favor of the claim. II
was nv fortune TO lead the debate in oppo-
sition to the motion. Mr.. Adams designed
to speak on the same side, after the Chair
man. Mr.. 1ngersoil should have replied to
me. The morning hour only was allotted
to the subject occupied the first morning,
and when I concluded, Mr.. lngersoll OBJ
tanned the floor, and we'll recolect that
some excellent friends were alarmed at the
holiness with which had attae ked the re.
port, saying that Ingersoll was one Of the
abiest members of the House, and would
,ha, -,
But / had become somewhat accustomed to
snch obliterations, and said to them ] had
the most perfect confidence that Mr.. Adams
would furnish as much cause for Ingersoll
to tear, as IngersolI did for me TO entertain
apprehension. Mr. Adams felt q deep in
teresr in the subject, and prepared for Sc
we're examination OF it. .-.
But when the next morning come, Inger-
soil saw the intention of Mr.. Adams, and
| quailed before it He backed down, anu
nctuslly poted TO layAls orn motion on the
table / escaped The castigstion which nv
friends so much feared, because Ingersoll
dreaded the rod which NJ. Adams had pre-
pared for him. But the old patriot was dis
appointed. He desired to give an expose
of the case, and after his return at the close
| of the session, he published the snesch he
had intended TO make for the benefit Of his
constituents: and now after the labor OF
nearly fifteen years. members Of Congress
have looked up that speech, in order to pre-
pare for the discussion, which, fear, will
not take place.
THE LAST SPEECH OF THE OLD MAN ELooUESr
Four years after this transaction, the Sem
ate amended our civil aud diplomatic ap-
preparation bill. by inserting fifty thousand
dollars to pay for these slaves. Mr.. Adams
! had been prestrated by a paralv,ic shock
Fl was so conscious of its effects that he
would neither speak nor write for the pub
lie eye. His friends had greatly desired
letter from him addressed to the public, or
to some friend as farewell memeIto; but
he refused His son. Hon. C. F. Adams
came with him TO Washington. His en-
trance in the Fl all after the members had
so long regarded him as dead, was a most
interesting scene. Southern Shareholders
who had bitterly opposed him in former
times. now wept at again seeing him. All
business was suspended as he entered the
Hall. He was feeble and pale. Holmes
of South Carolina. taxing him by the arm
conducted him to his scat, ard then address,
ed Few words to the House, congratulat-
ing the members On once more seeing their
venerable associate in his seat. The veter-
an Statesman responded in a few words, but
his voice was too feeble to be heard, except
by thoss nearest to him. He continued to
meet with US, bit made no attempt to par
tcipate in anv discussion. until the amend
ment of the Senate providing for the pay
ment of those slaves came up for discussion.
On that subject his feelings would not
permit him to remain silent. When he was
announced as having the floor, the House
was instantly in the most perfect confusion.
Members in all parts OF the Hall left their
seats and gathered as near as possible to
catch the last words ofthe illusirious States
man. All seemed conscious that it would
be his last speech. The reporters unable
to hear him in their places, anG unmindtul
Of the rules, rushed within the bar, paper
ard pencil in hard, to sketch his last public
address That speech was devoted TO an
exposure Of the insulting claim approved
( and RECOMMENDED by Polk and Pierce, and
twice by Buchsnin, and now pressed upon
: ,hs Senate. II was, truly, the last speech
Of my venernted friend. A fow days after
wards We bore his unconscious body from
the hall. He fell ir the pace from which
he had spoken. He dird, as il were, oppos-
i NJ this claim.
LOOK To TIE HOUSE.
! The amendment 10 the Senate was then
defeated; aud as often az that body has pass
ed it. the House has defeated il. I have
spoken upon il three times, and Hon. ID. G.
/ Leach. Of Michigan. spoke upon It last
years. These four speeches are all that has
been msde against it since Mr.. Adams
death; sut the slave power appears deter
mined to pass it. To give it up would in
I truth be a surrender, or rather IN admission
that thew cannot sustain their fundsmsnis
doctrine, tor il involves the entrs issne now
pending between the parties