The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-01-17
MONDAY MORNING, JAN. IL.
John Quincy Adams and the Right of Pc
tition.

international Review.l
. One day in February, 1887, after
presenting an enormous number of his
usual petitions, Mr.. Adams said that he had
another paper of a somewhat extraordinary
character and he would like to enquire
whether its presentation would be in order;
1t purported to be signed by eleven slaves.
Mr. Speaker Polk was startled, declined to de-
eide the question, and said he would refer it to
the House. Mr.. Adams's long preceding ar
ray of aboltionist petitions had wearied men,
bers into inattention, but Mr.. Folks obvious
embarrassment attracted Mr.. Lewis of Ala
bama who asked what the petition was. Be-
ing told, he lost all control of himself, frothed
at the mouth, turned towards Mr.. Adams, and
CALCULATED at the top of his voice, "By God
Sir! this is not to be endured any longer!
Treason! trsasonl' screamed half dozen
other members. "Expel the old scoundrel!
Put him Quit Do not let him disgrace the
House any longer!" A resolution was moved
that Mr.. Adams, having presented a petition
signed by negro slaves, and SO given "color to
an idea" that bondmen might petition,
should be brought to the bar of the House and
censured by the Speaker. Another motion
for the rejection of the petition fell so far
short of the intensity of the occasion that it
was promptly withdrawn. 1t was intimated
that if such an offender were to escape unchas-
tized, Southern representatives would do well
to go home. Mr. Afford wished the paper to
be burned by order of the House. Mr.. Haynes
moved that Mr. Adams deserved the ''severesd
censure of of this House, and is censured ac-
cordingly." So the rain of invective and of
condemnatory resolutions pelted upon the
aged and solitary head of the Stubborn vindi-
Gator of the right of petitions; yet the hardy
old combatant never finched, but felt quite
at home and perhaps rather enjoyed himself
amid the wild din and tumnlt. 81 suppose
that if 1 shall be brought to the bar of the
House 1 shall not be struck mute by the pre-
vious question before have an opportunity
to say a word or two in my own Defence" he
said. His "word or two proved, as usual.
very rasping. He reminded gentlemen that
he had presented no petition at all, but only
asked question; he notified MIR. Lewis that
his resolution did not coincide with the petit
ton, which prayed that Slavery should not
be abolished; he made the most irate laugh at
the ridiculous and unfortunate phrase, 'giving
color to an idea He did not, however. con-
tent himself with mere sparring exhibition,
but in profound earnest made an eloquent
appeal in behalf of the universal right of Pc
tition without regard to the social status of
the petitioners In time his antagonists be-
came heartily disguised with the contest; for,
ceded to his position ON the general right of
petition, they had been over hot-headed and
Numbered into absurd as well as indefeusible
attitudes. They proposed to lay the whole
subject upon the table; but Mr. Adams stren-
uously resisted this, being relentessly bent
upon having the fight out. Therupon the
excitement again waxed furious. The more
perturbed among the Southerners sent for
their esteemed champion, Henry A. Wise, of
Virginia, absent on other business. They
told him that the IIpiOn in danOAr
Breatkless, he rushed into the Hall; but upon
learning the cause of the summons his indig-
nation was vented upon his discounted friends.
"Is that all?'' he said scornfully. I'm my
opinion. slaves are tho very persons who
should petition. The country, I be-
lieve, is SAFE" He helped matters to a con-
clusion, if not quite 10 the way expected by
his friends. The House let Mr.. Adams drop
from its scorched fingers and was content to
resolve that it could not receive said petition
without disregarding its own dignity and the
rights of large class of citizens of the South
west and the Constitution of the United States"