Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-07-12


But it is when aroused by the slave
question in Congress that slave mas
ters have most trulyshown themselves
and here again | shall speak only of
what has already passed into history.
Even in that earliest debate. in the
first Congress after the Constitution.
on the memorial of DIR. Franklin. sim
ply callmk upon Congress ito step TO
the verge OF Its powers 10 discourage
every species OF traffic in our fellow
men,, the slave-masters became angry
indnlged In sneers at the men IN the
gallery, being Quakers and abolition
lists. and. according to the faithful his
torian, Hildreth, poured ont torrents
OF abuse, while one o! them began the
charge so often since directed against
all anti-slavery men. by declaring his
astonishment that DIR. HAnklin had
( given countenance to an application
which called upon Congress, In explic-
it terms. TO break solemn compact
To which he had himself been party,
when it was obvious that DR.. Frank
lin hal done no such thing. This
great man was soon summoned away
by death. but not until he had fastened
upon this debate an n'undying ccndem-
uation. 10y portraying with matchless
pen scene in the Divan at Algiers.
where a CorSair slave-dealer. insisting
upon the enslavemcnt of white Chris
tIans, is made to repeat the Congress
ional speech oil an American slave
master.
But these displays of violence haue
naturally increased with the intensity
of the discussion. lmpelled To be Sc
we're, but with little appreciation of the
finer forms OF debate. they could noi
be severe except by violating the rules
of debate; NOT knowing that there is a
serener power than any found IN per-
sonalilies and that all severity which
transcends the rules of debate becomes
disgusting aS the Tx OF Iahoos, and
harms him only who degrades him
self to he It's mouthpiece. OF course,
on such occasions, the cause OF slavery,
amid all seeming t.iumphs, has lost,
and truth has gained 1t was against
John Quiney Adams that this violence
was first directed in full force. To a
character spotless as snow, and to uni
versal attalnments as a scholar, this
illustrious citizen added experience IN
; all the en- inent posts OF the republic,
which he had filled with an ability
, and integrity, now admitted even by
his enemies, and which faithful his
| tory cannot forget. Having been
President of the United States. he en-
E tered the House Of Representatives al
the period when the slave question, IN
its revival, first began to occupy the
: public attention. In all the complete
ness of his natnre. he became the rep
e resentative of human freedom The
' first struggle occurred on the right o
( petition, which slavemasters, witt
;. characteristic tyranny, sought to sup
+ press. This was resisted by the ven
e cradle patriot, and what he did wac
> always done with his whole heart
n Then was poured upon him abuse "a
: from cart. Slave-masters, foamins
It out theirshame,' became conspicuous
i not less for an avowal of sentiments
c at which civilization blushed, than fo
q an effronterv OF manner where the ac
r: cidental legislator was lost in the nat
l. ural overseer. AMI the lash OF the plan
;, tation resounded in the voice.
?, In an address to his constituents
lie 18th September, 1912. Mr.. Adam
l. thus frankly describes the treatmen
is he eyperlenced
y Il never can take part ia any debat
n upon an important subject. be it onl
l. upon a mere abstraction, but pac
of opens upon me OF personal invective i
ie return. Language has no word of re
D proach and railing that Is not hurled q
l. NE.
= And in the same speech he gives
1t glimpse OF slave masters:
ld Nv here the South can not effect he
er object by brow beating. she wheedles
= On another occasion he said, wit
r. his accustomed power:
a Insult, bullying and threat charaC
tn terize the Shareholders in Congress
IA talk. tmidity and submission. til
a representatives from the Free States
es Nor were the slavemasters col
n tented with the violence of words
1 ho
IN threatened personal indignity Of ever
n. kind, and even assassination. III
as Charleston Mercury, which alway
lis speaks the true voice of slavery, sal
nd in 1881:
mt Public opinion in the South wonl
a now, We are sure, justify al immed
Ia ate resort to force by the Southel
delegation, even on the floor of Coz
or gress, were they forthwith to seize al
to drag from the hall any man who dai,
ec- To insult them as that eccentric o
en Snowman, John Quincy Adams Ia
he dared to do
TO- And at public dinner in Waite
ia borough, in South Carolina, on I
to 18th OF July. 1912. the following toa'
he afterward preserved by Mr.. Adams
OIL one of his speeches. was drunk WI
ties unboun'sed applause:
20. May we never want Democrat
iv- trip up the heels Of Federalist, or
ell hangman to prepare halter for 10
in Quincy Adams. Nine cheers
ere n slave-master from South Caro-
al ma. Mr.. Waddy Thompson. in deb'
her in the House of Representative
lty threatened the venerable patriot "
lso the 'peuiteniiary,' and another sla'
the master, Mr.. Marshall. of kenturl
ace insisted that he should be silence
de- Ominon, word. full Of suggestion