The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-13
Look on That Picture And Then
on This. .

From the Ne,c York Times, (Republican.)
After John Quincy Adams had retired, in
1929, from the office of President of the
United States, he enjoyed two years of leisure,
and was then elected member of the House
of Representatives from the Plymouth district
in Massachusetts. In that position he served
his country and the people of his district until
his death, in 1S48. Before taking the highest
office to which an American can aspire he
had represented his Government at the Courts
of the great powers of Europe, had sat in the
United States Senate, and had held the port
folio of the State Department under Monroe.
In 1880 he consented to re-enter public life,
and after seventeen years service as work
ing member of the House he died sin the
harness" After the war of 1872 it became
necessary to establish national bank. This
bank, called the Bank of the United States,
was chartered in 1916, and by law the charter
was to expire in 1886. 1t was provided that
the Government should take one-fifth of the
stock, and that individuals might subscribe
for the remainder. The bank began business
in 1917, and in 1929 committees of both
houses of Congress reported in favor of renew
ing its charter. Three years later an act OF
renewal was passed, and was vetoed by Pres
ident jackson. In 1886 the bank became a
State institution under a Pennsylvania charter,
and its affairs were wound up i'll 1910.
Among those who held stock in the origI-
nal bank was Mr. Adams. When he was
about to re-enter public life as member OF
Congress, in 1881, he foresaw that he might
be called upon to vote with reference to the
renewal of the charter. Three weeks before
the opening day of the first session of the
Twenty-second Congress he sold his stock.
We find in his memoirs this record of his ac-
ton:
"PHILADELHHIA, 9th.
81 called upon Nicholas Bidde at the United
States Bank and received two dividends Of my bank
stock by an order upon the branch bank at wash
to be Sold and the proceeds to be RENTED accord
ing to such directions as may give. i told MN
that, as l might be called TO take part IN puDlic
measures concerning the bank, and was favorable
to it. wished to divest myself of all personal In
terest in it, $40
So scrupulously honest was he that he
would not retain the slightest pecuniary IN
terest in national bank whose charter
could not be renewed except by act of the
Congress in which he might be sitting as a
member.
Thirty-eight years later the Little Rock and
Fort Smith Railroad Company was in danger
of losing its valuable land grant, which had
been given by act of Congress, subject to
conditions which had not been fulfilled.
James g. Blaine was Speaker of the House.
A bill renewing this grant was pending. Its
friends were in despair. They appealed to
Blaine, and at his suggestion, as he admits, a
point of order was raised upon which he
ruled in such way as to save the bill from
.sthe sleep of DEATH and cause it to become
a law. Two and a half months later this
Speaker, who had saved the grant to the
company, sent the following letter to Warren
Fisher, Jr, who, with one or two others,
controlled the disposition of railroad COM
pany's securities:
AUGUSTA June 49, 1869
luy Dear Mr.. Fisher: 1 thank you for the article
from Mr.. Lewis. 1t is good in itself ana NH no
good. He writes like q man of large intelligence
and comprehension. Your offer to admit me to a
participation in the new railroad enterprise IS IN
every respect as generous / could expect or de-
sire thank you very sincerely for 1t, and In this
connection l wish to make q suggestion of some,
what selfish character II is this: You spoke OF
MIR Caldwell disposing of share of his interest to
me. If he really designs TO do so; wish ne Wound
make the proposition definite SO that eouia k1 ;Y
the full development of the enterprise ne mlSh ign
grow reluctant to part with the snare; ana u9
not by this mean any dstrust of him. do not feel
that shall prove a deadhead in the enterprise If |
once embark in it. see various channels in which
/ know l can be useful Very hastily "a and SIN
MIR. Fisher India street, Boston,
Mr.. Blaine continued to be Speaker for
nearly six wears from this date. He became
an agent for the disposal of the stock and
bonds of the company, and for his services
received large percentage in securities.
After entering into this arrangement with
Fisher, and while ''anxious to acquire an
Interest promised by Caldwell, he directed
the attention of these men to the great favor
he had done them in ruling upon the suggested
point of order
The honest and patriotic voter is invited to
set one record by the side of the other and
mark the difference between the character
and impulses of Adams and the character and
impulses of Blaine. Can it be that Blaine 5
character is more acceptable to the voters OF
o-day than that of Adams would be? Time
will tell.