The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-09-23
s}tistellaneons Artitles.
The ATTEMPT to Censure John Quincy Ad-
ans by the House Of Representatives.
BY SENATOR WILSON, OF MASSACHUSETTS.

On the 14th of January, 1912, 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 tie 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 disunlonists. clamorously demanded
leave to speak. Mr.. Adams, however.
still having the floor: moved a reference
of the petition 10 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 IL reso-
luton of censurc; and such resolution
was offered by Mr. GiImer, of the same
State. Mr.. Adams expressed the hope
that the petition would be received and
debated, and that he might have an op-
portunily 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 u meeting that e:ening for consul
tatou. At the meeting it agreed. as Gill
mer was q Democrat, that Thomas F.
Marshall. Whig from Kentucky, bril-
liant speaker, Of whose future career high
expectations were entertained, should be
selected as the leader in this work OF cen-
sure.
While this concavc were making prep
aration tor the trial, q few members of
the House, and others, assembled at the
room of Mr.. Giddings iii Mr.. Adams
behalf. Joshua Leavitt, Of Massuchu-
setts, and Theodore Wild, among the
ablcst and most effective advocates of
Emancipation, being present, were COM
mssioncd To call on Mr.. Adams and ten
der any assistance in the power Of those
thore assembled to render. The vener:l
bic statesman expressed his most pro-
found gratitude for this offer Of friendly
aid. All the assistance he requested, ,
however, WAS the examination OF certain
points in authorities, q list Of which he
gave them This task vas OF course per-
formed with alacrily 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 us 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
onv inflicted upon him the severest GEN.
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
nity and Tor the rest, they turned HIM
over 10 his own conscience and the lndig-
nation OF all American citizens. Mar
shall evidently entered upon his work
with enthusiasm and zeal, heart and hope
lIo was an orator Of rare gifts though
ambitions, cgotistical and OF unbalanced
Judgment Like too many, however,
thus generously endowed, the fulillment
did not answer his early promise. He
became the victim of incorporate habits;
and though through the persuasive infu-
ence OF the late Governor Briggs Mas
suchusetts, then member OF the House
he reformed for few months, he soon
relapscd and became all utter wreck
When he arose to speak on this occasion,
the galleries were throngcd aal the
House filled with privileged persons
He spoke with SO much eloqucnce and
force, that Mr.. Adams enemies were very
much eatcd, and his friends correspond
ingly depressed.
When Mr.. Marshall closed, the vcncra
bic statesman arose and asked the Clerk
to read tho first paragraph of the DecIa-
ration of independence, which declares,
when any form Of government becomes
destructive OF its proper ends, it is the
right, or duty, of the people to alter or
abolish il, and rcorganiHe its 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 Il right to reform
abuses and bring government back to the
performance of duties for which it WIS
instituted He declared that they had Il
right to ask Congress to do what they re-
garded its duty, and it belonged to Con
gress, if it could not grant the request,
to give the reasons why their prayer
should not be granted. He charged that
the people were oppressed by the denial
of tho right TO petition and the suppress
sion of the freedom of debate. He
charged upon the South the purpose to
deny the rights OF Hdbeds Corpus, and
trial by jury, and also to force slavery
upon the ireo States. lie emphatcalIy
declared that il the rights OF the people
were to be taken away by u coalition be-
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