Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-04-06
Anecdote aof William L
'H3ias - Marcy ~ 1885

Proctor's "Beneh and Bar'
contains the following anecdct
of William L. Marcy: -s--
There was a debating societ =
connected with the Adams
. academy, in Leicester, Massa-
chusetts, to which young Marcy
belonged. Though veryyorlnS,
he was one of the chief. dlspu-
tants, but the partisan sc1ti-
: ments Of the principal (Mr.
Adams) prevailed in, the socie-
ty. In the discussion Jefferson
and his principles were often
{ assailed with great bitterness.
The young student admired the
rising statesman, and he re-
PEELED these attacks single
handed and alone.- The abifIty
which be displayed in his de
fence began to exert an infu-
ence IN the Institution. At
length several of the students
united with him and Marcy
found himself the center of
small but increasing party. DIR.
Adams saw this and deemed IL
his duty to interfere. Accord
ingly, he summoned the young
man before him for the purpose.
of expostulating with him up
on the course he was pursuing,
in advancing his dangerous
political sentiments. To his
surprise, he found the young
Democrat as firm and uhflinch-
ing in his presence as he was
in the debate. 1t was in vain
that the good doctor reasoned,
threatened and cajoled. He
was met with arguments which
puzzled him to answer, and
which were firmly but modestly
maintained. At length Mr.
Adams saw that matters must
I be brought to a decided point
Gam | to understand, .then,"
said he, ''that you are determ-
ined to openly advocate the
cause and principles of that in
fidel, Jefferson, here in this in
stitution 2"
''If / hear him or his princi-
pies openly attacked / shall GER
tainly defend him. Ii. however,
you will forbid all illusions to
politics here, | will most cheer
fully subscribe to the rules"
said Marcy. -,
"It is my duty, sir, to expose.
error and Wickednessin all ways,
and in every manner, and to
teach my pupils to do the same,
and therefore cannot establish,
such a rule" said the doctor.
'"Then, sir, if you allow one
class of students to discuss pol
itics, you should give the others
the same privilege" said the
young man. -.
"NO,. sir, not when one side
proposes to advocate infdelity
and all manner of evil said the
doctor. .-.- ..,s
"Who is to be the judge as
to what political principles are
erroneous ?" asked Marcy.
81 am, sir and to be plain,
you must abandon all publicut-
terance of your sentiments
here"
"And if I do not obey this
order, what IS to be the conse-
quence ?" .--
"You will be expelled from
the institution, sir" said the
doctor, with some warmth.
"This is bigotry and injus-
tice, DIR. Adams, and l shall
leave your institution. My
father will sustain me in refus-
ing to remain where free dis
.cussiOn is not tolerated-where
narrow bigoted sentiments can
be advanced in the hearing of
those who differ from them, and
when the privilege of replying
is forbidden and as for Mr..
Jefferson, his memory will be
venerated long after his tradu-
GERS are forgotten" said the stu
dent, the deep glow ON his
cheek and the fire in his eyes
evincing the depth of his feel
ings which prompted this an
swer. The next day he re-
turned home and related to his
father all that occurred between
himself and DIR. Adams.
"You did right, just right,
my boy" said the father
"Never furl your banner to the
enemies of Thomas jefferson,
and never turn your back on
the Democratic ship, which un-
der his command is bound on a
long and prosperous voyage"
Marcy soon after entered an
other academy where he COM
pleted his preparatory course,
and then entered Brown Uni
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