The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-04-28
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An Aneedote or William Z. Marcy.


Proctor's Bench, and bar contains
the following aneedote Of William L.
..There was a. debating society con-
nected with the Adams Academy, in
Leicester, Massachusetts,, to which
young Marcy Belonged. >; Though very
young, he was one OF the chief dispu-
tants, but the partisan sentiments Of the
principal Mr.. Adams) prevailed in the
society,". In the adiscussion Jefferson
and hts principles were often assailed
with great bitterness. The young stu
ldeiit admired the rising 2statesnien, and
he repelled these attacks sipgle-handed
and alone. The ability which he dis
played in bis defense began to exert on
influence in the Institution. At length
several of he'students united with him,
and Marcy found; himself the centre of
a small increasing. party, DR.. Adams
saw this, and deemed it his duty to in-
terfere. Accordingly he summoned the
young, man before him for the PURPOSE
of expostulating with him on the course
he was pursuing in advancing HIS dan
gerous political sentiments. To his
surprise, he found the young Democrat
as firm and unfinehing IN his presence
as he was in the:debate. 1T was in vain
that the gt Oh doctor, reasoned, threaten
ed and cajoled. He was met with argu-
ments which puzzled him to answer,
and which. were firmly but mOdestly
maintained. At, length Mr.. Adams
saw that matters must be brought to o
decided point. a2.:.a::ti -.'Hs.a2.
"Am i to understand, then," said he,
that you are determined to openly ad-
vo:ate the cause, and the principles Of
that inidel, jefferson here in ! this y insti-
"If I hear him or; his principles OPEN
lyattacked T shall certainly defend them.
If, however, you will forbid all allusion
to politics here, l. will most eheerfully
subscribe to- the rules said Marcy.
'"It is my duty, sir, to expose error
and wickedness in lall ways, and in
every manner, and, to. TEACH my pupils
to do the same, and, therefore, cannot
establish such rule here" said the
doctor. -, ..y,a ..,..; y,i1y .'.Gt. a@2
"Then sir, If you allow one class Of
students to discuss politics, you should
give others the same privilege, said the
'%%No, sir; not when one side proposes
to advocate infidelity and all manner of
evil,r- r-said the doctor. go, r1ct
"Who is to be the Judge rs to what
political principles are erroneous, "asked
vsa ~ am, sir; and to be plain, = You q must
abandon all public utterarces of your
sentiments. here" -.
land If I do not obey this order,
Hhat is to be the consequence ?n
"You will be expelled, from this insti-
tuition, sir" said the doctor with some
warmth. 't%f - I','.. .''.'
".This. is bigotry. and, injustice, DR..
Adams, and I shall leave your institu-
tion. My father will sustain me in re-
fusing!to stay where free discussion Is
not tolerated; where narrow, bigoted
sentiments can be advanced in the
hearing of those who differ. with them,
and where the privilege of replying Is
forbidden; and US for Mr.. Jefferson, his
memory will be renerated long after
his traducers are forgotten the deep
rlow IN his cheek and the fire in his
eve eyinciug the depths of the feelings
Which prompted this answer. The next
day he returned home and faithfully
related to his father all that had oc-
cured between himself and Doctor
Adams.
"You did right, just right, my boy"
said the father. Never furl your BAN
ner to the enemies of Thomas Jefferson,
and never turn your back on the Demo-
cratic ship, which, under his command,
is bound OH long and prosperous voy-
age"
Marcy soon after entered another
academy, where he completed his pre-
paratory course, and then entered
Browns University, at Providence,
Rhode Island, where, in July, 1908, be
graduated.