The Portland daily press., 1864-08-04
NewburypOrt Recollections.
ON MIR. ADAMS.

Newburyport Recollections.
ON MR.. ADAMS.
Raise ye monument
Yet pile not stones, nor build ye walls Of brass,
For /" the old man eloquent
But gather chains hy his stern thunders broken
Rear ye the erumbled idols that he crushed
Grave on those ruins the warning he hath spoken,
And crown the
With the lofty hopes that from his bosom gushed,
Then thal his parting words be given
In blessings from his glorious heaven
" AN CONTEXT"
As men sometimes earn the distinction OF
being the architects Of their worldly fortunes,
SO may it be said, with great truth and empha-
sis, that Mr.. Adams during his life built his
own monument. 1t was of neither stone,
marble, brass or iron, but place never to be
supplanted in the hearts and affections of the
lovers of human freedom throughout the
world. Should a statue TO his memory, how
ever, ever be erected, IL might with great pro-
priety be that of Liberty and Freedom, of
which he was the great American apostle,
forged from the chains which this war for sla-
very shall strike from the manacled limbs Of
the Southern chattel.
Mr.. Adams looked forward with the pres
cient eye of the venerated sage to this tre-
mendous crisis in our national experience
From his own lips have heard it predicted,
and the scenes now enacted most wildly por-
trayed. He foretold what was TO be the in
evitable fate of the institution of slavery
either that it or our national existence was to
go down in blood.
Wm. Shakespeare, that wonderful interpret
er of mans natural propensities and charac-
ter, was never more true In any of his mar
velous delneations than was Mr.. Adams in
his Interpretation Of the Southern slaveocrat
under the oligarchy. He read in their mani
fest displays before the country of their grow
ing arrogance, pride of Southern character
and selfconsequence, a determined "rule or
ruin" spirit, which was destined to unsettle
the very foundations upon which our political
edifice was reared. He saw, and so proclaim
ed, that these discordant elements in their ma
lures were too deeply implanted ever to be
eradicated, excepting through the scourge of
war, TO which arbtrament it must come at
last.
The inevitable preponderance OF free States
in the Union, through which the South would
forever lose its overshsdowing weight of in
fuence and power in the republic, would pre-
cipitate the crisis. And just so has il result
ed; while passing events in the field, on rivers
and ocean, in legislative and executive coun-
ellis, are now fast loosening the captive's
chains. in perfect accord with Mr.. Adams
predictions.
As is well known, John Quincy Adams was
resident Of our town during several of the
closing years Of the last century, and while
there was a student at law in the office of
Judge Parsons. His fellow students were
Rufus King, Robert Treat Paine and Thomas
Thomas or course these were valued acqui-
sltions TO Newburyport society, and were so
specially regarded. Among the young men
Of that day were Stephen Hooper-who at
subsequent period married Miss Susan Mar
quand-Samuel l.. Knapp, Dr.. John Sprague,
Edmund Bartlett, George Otis, Samued A.
Otis, Jr., &c. Among the young ladies who
led of in society were the daughters of VIM.
Coom5s, Moses Frazier, the Tracys, CazneAu,
Roberts, &c.
There were those among them to whom Mr..
Adams was more than ordinarily attentive;
but to one in particular he was specially
earnest and tender in his approaches. To
those of the circle composing his most init
mate acquaintance he gave the benefit OF his
muse, and thus, in private circles, they won
an ephemeral notoriety, as the poem in which
their virtues and peculiarities were sung new
er appeared in print until a comparatively re-
cent date. Ii WAS then only in manuscript.
and not many copies were ever made of the
poetic vision OF Mr.. Adams loves. A copy
fell into my hands, and in January, ls40, /
took the liberty Of giving it to the world
through the columns of the Brother Jona-
than," the weekly issue of the "Daily Taitler,"
then published in the city of New York. ]
have now in my possession the original copy
of Adams Vision" from which the publica-
ton was then made. Through the kindness
of some beneyolently disposed borrowing
friend, my printed copy has disappeared. My
next number will simply be the contribution
OF this poem, with statement of certain cir
cumstances and incidents attending its publi-
cation. feel no doubt of its aeceptability by
he sIa adiffop nf fo,r
ago must have long since been absorbed.
During many and frequent interviews with
the late venerable ex-President, he impaired
TO me not only much valuable historical and
political information, but contidentially re-
posed in me interesting items pertaining to
his early personal experience. One Of these
was located at Newburyport, and therefore is
appropriate to these contributions. 1t was
allied TO the out-pourings OF his "Vision,"
aud now, for the first time, publicly stated
This may now be done without improperly,
as he, and all parties directly interested. or in
any way to be affected by it, are no more.
II was the habit Of Mr.. Adams to remain
at his desk, ia the House Of Representatives
at Washington, oftentimes after the adjourn
ment of that body, particularly if it took
place, as il often did, at rather an early hour.
On one Of these occasions, now vividly dis
tinct to my mind, l approached him and we
entered lDlO a Tree duu plcdcdtit Noufwiedttoh'
Nearly, If not quite all the members had left
the floor, and the pages were occupied in col,
lecting the stationary and documents, anc
preparing the hall for the ensuing Gays ses
sion.
Oar conversation partook of persona
and very absorbingly interesting character
Mr.. Adams spoke earnestly Of his delightful
experience at Newburyport, while preparing
for the legal profession under the guidance o
Theophius Parsons. The subject fairly open
ed, he entered upon the theme with deep feel
ing. The eyes of the "od man eloquent
became more than usually moistened witt
tears, which he vainly strove 10 keep down
and his voice trembled in tender sympathy
with the crowding recollections. He spoke
with animating ieryor OF the Tracys, Daltons
Jaeksons, Parsons, Brsdburys and others, aDt
the charming halo by which one was eve
surrounded when in their society. II wa
with deep earnestness that he sought to know
of the existence and welfare of their de
scendants.
But when he spoke Of the young ladies OF
that day he seemed electrified by the subject
1t appeared to unlock his long pent, tende
sensibilities and he sat before me in his nos
rejuYenated and impassioned youth, all hear
affection and love, his face radiant wit
smiles, and the vigor of youth beaming fort
in every expression and feature. The nam
which thus electrified his being, was that
Miss Mary Frazier, the ''lovely Clara" OF b
"Vision."
1t may be difficult for one who has onl
seen or known Mr.. Adams through occasion
al calls OF respect or official intercourse,