Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-28
MR.. SUMMERS SPEECH.

FELLOW CITIZENS OF NEW YORK OF all
men in our history. there are two whose infiu
ence at this moment is most peculiar. Though
dead, they vet live, speak and act in the conflict
of principles, which divide the country-stand-
ing face to face like two well-matched cham
pions. When | add that was from South
Carolina and the other was from Massachusetts,
You will see at once that | mean John C.. Cal
houn and John Quincy Adams.
Statesmen both of long career of marked
ability, and of unbemished integrity acting
together at frSt-stting in the same cabinet
which they quitted-one to become yicc-pres-
dent, and the other president then for the re-
mander of their days battling in Congress and
diving thcrc-each was a leader in life but each
has become in death grander leader still.
Mr. Calhoun possessed an intellect Of much
originality and boldneSs, and, though wanting
in the culture Of a Scholar made himself felt in
council and in debate. TO native powers un-
like, but not inferior, Mr. Adams added the
wel-ripcned fruits of long experience in foreign
lands and of studies more varied and complete
than those of any public man in our history,
beside an indomitabc will, and that spirit OF
freedom which inspired his father when in the
Continental Congress he so eloquently main
tained the Declaration OF Independence, making
himself its COLOSSUS" on that floor
Sitting~ogether in the cabinet of Mr. Monroe
they concurrcd in sanctioning the prohibition
of slavery in the Missouri territory as constitu-
tona and so advised the President, but here
the divergence probably besan-though for /
| long time it was not made manifest The diary
of Mr. Adams shows that at that early day
when slavery had been little discussed, he saw
its enormi,y with instructive quickness and de
scribed i, with corresponding force. The recort
is less full with regard to Mr. Calhoun; bu
when in later life they appeared, one in the
Senate and the other in the House of Repre-
sentativcs, each openly assumed the position
by which he will be known in hiStory--one a
the leader in all the pretensions Of slavery ant
of slave masters and the other as the champion
of freedom.
Mr. Calhoun regarded slavery as permanen
institution Mr. Adams regarded it as transtory
Mr. Calhoun vauntcd it as a form of civilization
Mr. Adams scorned it as an unqucstionable bar
barism; Mr. Calhoun did not hesitate to call i
the most stable basis for free governments NJ
Adams vehcmently denounced it as a curse, ful
of weakness and mockery, and douby ofensiv
in boasted republic. Mr. Calhoun, not conten
with thus exalting slavery, proceeded to de
nounce the early opinions of Washington AM
Jefferson as "folly and delusion," to assai tn
sclf-evident truths of the Declaration of lnde
pendence as "absurd," and then to proclaim
that human beings are properly under the con
stiution, and as such, may be transported int
the territories and there held in slavery Will
Mr. Adams added to the glory of his long an
diversified career, by persistent efforts, whic
are better for his fame than having been Pres
dent-upholding the great rights of petitio
and speech; vindicating the self-evident truth
of the Declaration of independence exposin
the hateful character OF slavery; insisting upo
its prohibition in the territories; denying tn
asserted property in man; and especially an
often exhibiting the unjust power in the nation
al government, usurped by what he called 18Th
little cluster" of slavemasters, whose yoke wa
to him intolerable.
Such, most briefly told, were the antagoni'
opinions of these two chiefs. Never was grei
conflict destined to involve great country NOR
distinctly foreshadowed. All that the republ
can party now opposes may be found in job
c. Calhoun. All that the republican party no
maintains may be found in John Quincy Adam
Choose ye fellow citizens, between the two
' The rule of "Princples, and not men," is hardl
applicable to n man whose life now bears I'll
sacred seal of death, and whose name is ii
synonym of principle; yet do not hesitate
say that our cause is best appreciated in its pr'
else objects and aims Proud as we may be
tread where John Quincy Adams leads the wa
: there is guide of more commanding authorll
found in the eternal laws of right, and the col
/ curing mandates of the constitution itsel
;; when properly interpreted, which teaches II
! duties of good citizen. Such is the guide
u the republican party, which, | say fearlessl
where most known, will be most trusted, an
: which when understood in its origin, will
7 seen to be no accidental OF fugitive organic
tion merely for an election, but an irresistib