The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-26

author follows the subject OF his sketch from
the influences which moulded his infancy.
through his school and college days. through
his reiterated experiences OF European life and
diplomatic service. through his somewhat un-
lucky debut In tho Federal Legislature. and
his career as Secretary Of State. till he reached
what must then have seemed the climax
Of success In his election to the Presi-
dency But. Mr.. Morse we'll points out
and the thorough appreciation Of the fact
is one Of the capital merits OF this biography
that Mr.. Adams's career in many other ways
anomalous. was in this respect especially ex-
ceptional that he did his best work at q time
when other men are wont to cease from their
labors. that his moral dignity was most strik-
inGly revealed and his best title to honor gained
when the day Of his greatness seemed to be com
plctely passed. He was to earn" says Mr.
Morse. In his old age noble fame and dis
tnction far transcending any achievement OF
his youth and middle life. and was to attain
tho highest pinnacle OF his renown after he had
left the greatest office Of tho Government. and
during period for which presumably nothing
better had been allotted than that he should
TRANQUILITY await the summons of death" II IL,
indeed. a striking circumstance that the full
moss Of greatness for one who had been Senator.
Minister to England. Secretary Of State. and
President. remained to be won in the compare
lively minor position OF a Representative in
Congress.
Mr. Morse brings into view fact OF much
importance to the historian which seems.
however hitherto to have escaped the atten-
ton Of those who have dealt with the career OF
the subject Of his biography. Satisfactory evil
dence is adduced for the assertion that Mr..
Adams was the first to announce the doctrine
that the abolition Of slavery could DO lawfully
accomplished by the exercise of the war pow
ers OF the Government Mr.. Morse finds a
formulation Of this principle in n speech made
in May. 1886. by Mr.. Adams. who then said;
From the instant that your slave owning
States become the theatre Of war civil servile. or
foreign. from that instant the war powers ofthe
Constitution extend TO interference with the in
stitution OF slavery in every way in which 1t can
be interfered with from a claim OF indemnity
for slaves taken or destroyed to a cesson OF
State burdened with slavery 10 a foreign
power" Again in speech delivered in June.
1S41. he appears to have declared that slavery
could be abolished in the exercise OF the treaty
making power" having reference. doubtless. to
a treaty concluding a war. A little later. in
April. 1912. he averred 1t to be one Of the laws
Of war that when a country Is invaded, and
two hostile armies are set in martial array. the
commanders of both armies have power to
emancipate all the slaves in the invaded terri
tory" Mr.. Morse tells us that. besides the
speeches here quoted. there is extant an ex-
plicit statement Of the same doctrine. viz. the
assertion OF the constitutionality of emancipat-
ing slaves as a war measure in letter written
by Mr.. Adams to a friend in Massachusetts.
We agree with Mr.. Morse in thinking it re-
markable that credit should have never before
been given to John Quincy Adams for the first
utterance of a principle which was useful in
our national extremity. and by which slavery
was TO be abolished in the United States.