The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-09-23
aftistellaneuns Artieles.
The Attempt to Censure John Quincy Ad
ans by the House of Representatives.
BY SENATOR WILSON, OF MASSACHUSETTS

BY SENATOR WILSON, OF MASSACHUSETTS.
On the 18th of January, 1S42, Mr.. Ad-
ans having the floor for the presentation
of petitions, said, II hold in my hand the
petition of Benjamin Emerson and forty
FIVE other citizens of Haverhill, of Mas
sachusetts, praying Congress to adopt
immediate measures tor the peaceful dis
solution of the union of these States" "
Hardly had these words fallen from his
lips, when several slaveholding members,
many of them known, and since proved
to be dsunlonists, clamorously demanded
leave to speak. Mr.. Adams, however,
still having the floor. moved reference
of the petition to select committee of
nine members, with Instructions to report
an answer to the petitioners, showing
the reason why their prayer could not
be granted. From all parts Of the hall
came vehement and passionate demands
for the floor, which was given to Mr..
Hopkins, of Virginia, who inquired Of
the Speaker if it would be in order to
burn the petition in the presence of the
House. Mr.. Wise, of Virginia, inquired
If it would be in order to present reso-
luton of censure; and such resolution
was offered by Mr.. Glmer, of the same
State. Mr. Adams expressed the hope
that the petition would be received and
debated, and that he might have an op-
portunty of defending his own action in
the premises. On the adjournment Of
the House, notice was given that the
members from the slave States would
hold meeting that evening for consul
tation. At the meeting it agreed, as Gill
mer was Democrat, that Thomas F.
Marshall. Wing from Kentucky, bril-.
liant speaker, of whose future career high
expectations were entertained, should be
selected az the leader in this work Of GEN.
sure.
While this conclave were making prep
aration tor the trial, few members of
the House, aud others. assembled at the
room of Mr.. Giddings, in Mr.. Adams
behalf. Joshua Leavitt, Of Massachu-
setts, and Theodore Wild, among the
ablest and most effective advocates of
Emancipation, being present, were conf
|
der any assistance in the power of those
there asse bled to render. The venera.
bic statesman expressed his most pro-
found gratitude for this offer Of friendly
aid. All the assistance be requested,
however, was the examination of certain
points in authorities, list Of which he
gave them. This task was of course per-
formed with alacrity, and Mr.. Adams
found his desk next morning covered
with volumes ready for immediate use.
After the reading of the journal, on the
25th, Mr.. Marshall submitted three reso.
lutions as an amendment to those of Mr..
Gilmer; in which it was set forth that
the conduct OF Mr.. Adams might be held
to merit expulsion; that the House deem
ed it an act of mercy and grace when it
only inflicted upon him the severest CEN
sure for what was so unworthy of his
past relations to the State, and his pres
ent position; and that this they did for
the maintenance of their purity and dig
nifty; and Tor the rest, they turned HIM
over to his own conscience and the indig-
nation of all American citizens Mar
shall evidently entered upon his work
with enthusiasm and zeal, heart and hope.
He was an orator Of rare gifts, though
ambitious, egotistical and OF unbalanced
Judgment. Like too many, however,
thus generously endowed, the fulfllment
did not answer his early promise He
became the victim of Incorporate habits;
and though through the persuasive influ-
ence of The late Governor Briggs ct Mas
sachusetts, then member OF the House.
he reformed for a few months, lie soon
relapsed and became an utter wreck.
Whom he arose to speak on this occasion,
the galleries were thronged anil the
House filled with privileged persons.
He spoke with so much eloQucnce and
force, that Mr. Adams enemies were very
much elated, and his friends correspond
ingly depressed.
When Mr.. Marshall closed, the venera
bic statesman arose and asked the Clerk
to read the first paragraph of the Decla-
ration of Independence, which declares,
when any form of government becomes
destructive OF it's proper ends, it is tho
right, or duty, of the people to alter or
abolish it, and reorganile it's powers in
such forms as shall to them appear best
qualified to secure their interest and hap
piness. He then proceeded to maintain
that the people had a right to reform
abuses and bring government back to the
performance of duties for which it Was
instituted He declared that they had Il
right to ask Congress to do what they re-
garded it's duty, and it belonged to Con-
gress, if it could not grant the request,
to give tho reasons why their prayer
should not be granted. He charged that
the people were oppressed by the denial
of tie right to petition and the suppros-
sion of the freedom of debate. He
charged upon tho South the purpose to
deny the rights OF Habeas Corpus, and
trinl hv Jury. and also 10 fUrce slavery