The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-12-11

-hhOehSi iheSi'obiiS, SlipCl W sS
given by Colonel Seaton, to the Wing
members of Congress, at his mansion on
Street The first homage of nearly ALL
as they entered was paid to John Quincy
Adams, who sat upon a sofa, his eyes
weeping, and calm seriousness on his
expression. Daniel Webster was not
present, having that day received intelli-
gence of the death of his son Edward.
major of the Massachusetts regiment. in
Mexico, of camp fever but Henry Clay
was there, with kind words and pleasant
smiles for all his friends. Crittenden,
Cerwin and other Wing senatorial pala-
dins were present. and Mr.. Speaker Win
throp-that perfect gentleman and able
presiding otficer-headed host of talent
ed representatives. Commodore Stock
ton and General Jones represented the
army and navy, Erastus Brooks and
Charles Lanman the press, Arson Bur-
lingame the young political orators,
Chester Harding and Healy the artists;
and there. too, was Mr.. Donahue, tie
Tim Linkinwater of Gales and Sea.
ton, who for thirty years had kept their
accounts. There was of course a sumpt-
uous collation., with much drinking of
healths aud many pledges to the success
of the Wing cause.
This reunion at Colonel Seaton's was
on Friday night, February IS, 1S4S. The
following Sunday John Quincy Adams
attended public worship at the Capitol,
and on Monday, the 21st, he was, as
usual, in his seat when the House was
called to order. During the preliminary
business he was engaged in copying a
poetical invocation to the muse of history
for one of the officials, and he appeared
to be in ordinarily good health. A re-
solve of thanks to the generals of the
Mexican war came up, and the clerk had
read, ''Resolved by the House that -
when he was arrested by the cry of
d" Look to Mr Adams!' Mr.. David Fish
Ell, of Ohio, who occupied the desk on
Mr.. Adam right saw him rise, as if he
intended to speak; then clutch his desk
with a convulsive effort, and sank back
into his chair Mr. Fisher caught him
in his arms, and in an instant DR.. Fries
and DR.. Mes, both members, were at his
side.
1t was solemn moment, for cry went
from more than one, Mr.. Adams is dy-
ing" 1t was thought that, like Pitt, he
would give up the ghost, with harness
on on the spot which his eloquence had
hallowed. "Stand backr' "Give him
air." Remove him. Every one seemed
panic-stricken except Mr.. Winthrop, who
quietly adjourned the House, and had his
insensible colleague removed on sofa
first into the rotunda, and then into the
speakers room. Cupping, mustard poul-
tees, and friction were restored to- and
about an hour after his attack Mr.. Adams
said, ''This is the last of earth, but am
composed" He then fell into sumber
iiohi " MIN Az hSFSl t"OhC. wi .. LAudllS
and other relatives were with him and
among the visitors was Henry Clay, who
stood for some time with the old pa
triarch's hand elapsed in his, and gazed
intently on the calm but vacant counte-
nance, his eyes filled with tears. Mr..
Adams fingered until the evening o; the
23d of February, when he breathed his
last. The funeral services were very i'm
posing, and a committee of one from each
State accompanied the remains to Boston
where they lay in state at Faneuil Hall,
and were then takeu to Quincy for inter-
ment. The committee returned to Wash
ington enthusiastic over the Inequalities
extended to them while they were in
Massachusetts.
Meanwhile the war with Mez leo had
disappointed President Polk and his adj
ministration. INSTEAD of getting a
peace through the restoration of Santa
Anna" says Colonel Benton, chat for
midable chieftain had to be vanquished
and expelled before negotiations could be
commenced. Taylor and Scott, Wing
generals, were making great military rep
utatious, and when Messrs. Clifford and
Sewer went to Mexico to negotiate
treaty, they found that one had been pre-
pared and signed by Mr.. N. P. Trist, a
clerk in the department of state, who
had been sent to ascertain how the land
lay. Mr.. Calhoun, availing himself of
the opportunity afforded by the acquisi-
ton of new territory, undertook to es-
tablish the peculiar institution where
it had neve.: existed, and to make slavery
national, not sectional.
When the national Democratic con
vention met at Baltimore, in May, 1913,
those delegates who did not indorse the
doctrine advanced by Calhoun were not
admitted. The result of this was the
assembly of another convention at Buff
falo, which nominated Martin Van Buren,
for president and Charles Francis Adams
for ice-president, and adopted as
motto, " Free Speech. Free Soil, Free
Laber, and Free Men,
Mr.. Webster had magnanimously sup
ported Mr.. Clay in 1914, but as the pres
idential contest Of lS4s approached he
gave his friends to understand that he
expected their support and he expected
to receive the nomination. When asked
whether Mr.. Clay would again be in the
field, Mr.. Webster replied that John
Quincy Adams had remarked to him some
years before that Mr.. Clay would be
candidate SO long as no should receive
nomination from majority of the people
in the town of Lexington, Kentucky, -
and he believed it would prove true. The
mere pleasure of being talked of as a
candidate. Mr.. Webster went on to say
was positive qualification, which be-
came necessary TO many men, and grew
stronger with their age. After all, y
future ageso His speeches contain nothing
of permanent value, all relating to tem=
porary topics, and never discussing fun.
damental principles: lie IS not an in
structed state~man, and he has always
kept the Wing party subservient to his
personal ambition
Mr.. Clay was equally severe in his re-
marks concerning Mr.. Webster, and the
respective friends of these great men Ie-
came embittered asthe tims for the NOM