New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-13
made in connect ton with this subject pays just
trihnta To that distinguished statesman.

tribute to that distinguished statesman
King apparently came to talk with me Of the Compro-
mise ana s sne anv persons present that he said but
nf te lie deeply mortified at the issue and very
s siavenodeT s. that his motives tis occasion
been CTy Of r wn rca T
bad motives il one Of the most envenoined weapons OF
and indeed sm 6o 9 IF SS sr GSd
nought The selfish and the social passions are iner
Spsa fS sS that cy son.
Just cause Of rcoach to any man that IN prG counting "
the utmost G ms proo d hs There are no
doubt s Impurities Of humanity Of rssionnsn
bcnevolenoe and using Justice aud virtue the stakes
upon the turn OF card or the cast OF die But TINS
deeply corrupted than ours Such characters are rare
among Many of our public men have principles 700
pliabc 10 popular impulse but few are deliberately
dishonest and there Is not in the Union OF purer
integrity than Rufus King.
Mr. Lowndes of South Carolina at that time
Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Relations IN
the House, and one of his reports on the affairs OF
Spain suggests highly discriminating sketch OF his
position aud character.
Lowndes man of fine talents, Of good principles, OF
mild temper, and placid manners,grave but cheeIin}
in his fortune and two years declined choice of two
missions, either TO Constantnope or 10 Russia, wnon
sonal nuence in the House of Representatives than any
member and generally friendly to tue present
the general impression of his Independence he Is rather
oveisootons to maintain that ho a1 &c s
porting the Administration IN the man, nc IL APT 10 seeh
Tor differences OF detail He Joins In no factios OPPOSE
ton hut he loves to ways and Of his own
SO. in this he proposes not what the PRESIDENT
Executive might have held up in terrorem" in negota-
ton with Spain and the possession of which would
stve direction to the President to take at all
events Lowndes. finding it doubtful whether either OF
the proposals would pass, produced differing from
that of the President to manifest at all events his hde
pendence.
The delineation of Judge johnson of the Supreme
Court of the United States is in different vcin and
affords specimen of Mr.. Adamss power of vitupcr-
alton, when noensed by what he deemed gross viola
| tons of justice.
This Judge johnson of considerable talents and
law knowledge restless, turbulent, hotheaded pol
vasser for Crawford and though Judge iaringly indie
pendent placehuuter for himself and his brother,
carpenter In Charleston. He obtained, through Craw-
ford influence the appointment OF collector for the port
Of Charleston. kept it two or three months IN doubt
tempting to bargain his brother into it in his place This
the man whose judicial Sto %as so mfh M a.
| Ternagant virtue!
The amiabIe and modest character of John Sergeant
of Philadelphia appears to have had strong attrac
ton for Mr.. Adams who records his impressions in
graceful miniature.
Sergeant of the ablcst and most distinguished
members of the House. There is mild and placid char
acter in his manners and great simplicity without awk
wardness in his department. exceedingly suited to acquire
influence in popular assembly They are the manners
Courier without its awnlng His eoquence partakes of
his which is always cool and self possessed Pow
by the gcneness of its approaches, and as he
never gives oense, he is treated with respect by all
| parties.
| On the other hand, the notorious editor Of the
Aurora William Duane, calls forth equal
tempt and disgust which Mr. Adams labors for words
| to express.
Duane has character to lose He is known to be un
in III Ar
General Government and OF the State of
get II Mr. Monroe had bought him. he would have boon
good for nothing and the purchase wod have been so
injured the fdministrstion tenfod more than ali the
good he could ever have done Rejected by mr. Monroe
ranks of De Witt Clinton AS merely The editor of
ton To prove him vcnal and proNigaie would only
show him fiji for the trade which he pursles, OF dissent
eSpeience in public affairs much Knowledge craned
without order method into his head and ndefatigable
slanderer consists in mixing truth with falsehood in such
proportions that with the ignorant the macGs ana
the we'll" As partisan, he can he useful only
flse6Sod For The SUPPORT of truth or correct principle
imrotent 10 NIX Monroes Adminstrai,cn he Is
I hdtnaP' dangerous 'S I'll s0' '"' "'"' '"'' '
Under date of May 80, 1920, Mr.. Adams gives one
of the bits of autObiographc confession which often
relieve the monOtony Of political discussion, and
throw an intense light his personal character.
He has often been accused of an intolerabe haugt-
ness and overestmate of his claims to distinc-
ton, but Judging from his diary the very reverse of
this was the case. Like all of decided intel
lectual endowments he tenacious of his opinions
and sometimes urged them with undue vehemcnce;
but this was not founded in sefconceit much rs in
a naturally irascble temperament, which was easily
kindlcd to wrath but perhaps az easily pached. he
certainly suffered from an exaggerated sense OF his
own defects; he was the last to claim superior
merit Of any kind; and his rare powers adIIra
bly, tempered by his still rarer humility.
/ have never been more ovcrcrowded with business
than through the of this month have ever
thoroughly felt the essential obstacle To good
cording much important business at the same time To
increase activity by voluntary aggavaon OF labor,
to 1909. The general impression upon my mind in re-
viewing the journal of that time Is It's extreme lnanity
incident character grave remark sally Of humor IL
the persons with whom dined or played cards
the walks that took the visits that paid received
tic books that read and sometimes the letters that
wrote or Seyed IL feeSrds no Ss q inc
to consists in the recoectons that 1t brings back as
docayed monument may the practiced antiquary
to trace the whole original Inscription have spent
Of Others, and too little in cltivatng my own-too much
passive study and too little in active energy Ny life
the 1906 Of Intellect did
my es and Of n mot liz n y the
British attack upon our Chesapeake gate in the sum
of 1o07. Since then my journal mas been record
events opinions and important conversations hut
is only proix, without being more interesting and
will he fit for exposure to any eye but my own
There parts Of which my children should please
Heaven to make one OF them worthy OF his grand
sire, may take pleasure in consulting when shall be In
the dust. In coming to this passage, ii he too shod
have spent large portion Of his days In studOus Idle
let him solace himself with the conclusion which
my principal comfort. that he can be no other than mat
God and nature have made him. and that, although not
gifted with genius his mediocrity has not been without
usefulness world. Not all have the wisdom Of
the serpent All can be harmless o dove.
In the same tone is the entry on Christmas day, In
ha comments with allie canflor nm