New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-12
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS on MARTIAL LAW

Prom lac Oo1f1R fFdEacfJL
noticed in your paper of yesterday Hn article copied
from Tar NL,g-YoRK TRIBUNE Of the let nst entitled
" John Quincy Adams on Slavery Emancipation as
Affected BY War" The speech from which the extract
there given was made was delivered in the House Of
Representatives April II, Is42i but il was by no
means on that occasion alone that Mr. Adams expound
ed what be called the Wara and Treaty making power
of the Constitution" p that connection. The recent
proclamation Of Gen. Fremont has given such new
importance TO this Doctrine that review Of its history,
a. put forth by Mr.. Adams, hardly fail 70 he OF
value.
On the 25.h Of May, lS36-within q few days Of Six
years previous to the delivery Of the speech extracted
from by TIE TEIBUsE-in speech on the subject Of
distributing rations the fIgtives from Indian hosli
tes in Alabama and Georgia while arraigning the for
eign policy Of the country tending to dive into
marderous wars Mr.. Adams FIRST, believe, announced
this doctrihe in the following words: s.
/" Mr.. Chairman, are you re0dy for all these wars
Mexic war A war with GTest Britain If not
with France general Indian war seryile
war And on an inevitable consequence Of tbem all,
a civil war; For il must ultimately terminate in
war OF eOlora well Of Taces And do you imagine
that, While with your eyes open yOu are wiliiully
kndling and tten closing your eyes and bindly rus
inc into themi do yon imagne that while IN the very
nature Of things, your Southern and Southwest
eIn States must bs the Flanders Of these complicated
warz the battlefield on which the last prea. battle
must be fought between Slavery aud Emancipation
do you imagine Chat youf Congress will have no con-
stitutiOnl authority TO Dterere with the institution Of
Slavery ia any u0y in the Sstes Of this Confederacy
Sir, they must aud will interfere with iperbaps 10
sustain 1t by perhaps TO Abohsb il by treaties OF
peace; and they viii not only possess the eoDstitu
tional power 10 interfere, but they will DO bound ia
duty 20 do Il BY the express provisions Of the Cons
tuition itself From the instant thst your savehoding
States become tho theater OF war; civil scTve, or for
egn, from that instant the powers OF Congress
tend 70 Interference with tbs institution Of Slavery in
every way in which j. cn be lnteriered with, from
claim Of indemnity for slaves taken destroyed 10 the
cesson Of State burdsnsd with Slavery 10 foreign
power" E..li
am not aware that this doCtrinc was again pro-
pounded BY Mr.. Adams until bis speech the resend
ing Of the Dist rule the 7th Of june 1884, OF this
speech report unfortunately ever was made but In
il be apparently covered this ground again. On the
next day he was followed ia debate by Mr e. j.
Ingersoll Of Penn, who declared that what be had
heard the day before had made his blood curde with
horror and at once proceeded TO misrepresent M.
Adams, whereupon
Z" Mr.. Adams here rose in explanation, and said he
did not say that In the event OF serve war or insr
rection Of slaves the Constitution Of the United States
would be ai an end. What be did say was this, that
in the event Of q serve iDsurecton Of slaves,
If the people Of the Free States were called upon 70
fuppreas the nsurection End 10 spend their blood and
me distguithed Vrguian The author Of the De lara
non OF Independence had aid that God bas attTi
Dute IN iavor OF the naster"then he would not say
that Congress might interfere with the institution
o slavery In the States, and that through the eaty-
sss0k"g F90er, universal emancipation might not be
All Of which Mr.. Iugersoll declared TO be most
easily refutable," but, in the somewhat lengthy
speech which followed, he did not see lit to refu,e it,
The doctrine had now, however, been enuncsied, and
Mr.. Adams forced to stand by il OF abandon it.,
for il hurled at him ell oocasions particularly
by the Hon. now Brig GEM Henry A. wise, Of vr-
gina in certain brutal onslaugb;s upon him in Jan.
nary 1912, and by Thomas Il. Marshall of Kentucky,
in bis somewhat celebrated sad unfortunate attempt to
censure him. IL February OF the came year. Their
ments, however, were all indignation, passion, and
fury" and Mr. Adsmss propositions stood uashaken.
In the following April, however, the occasion offered
and Nj. Adams then vindeated previous assertions
and laid down the law of nations and Of war in the
extracts quoted by TgE TRssSE, and % singularly
applicable to our present position.