The Portland daily press., 1886-12-04
/. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
Personal RecoIIectIons Of the De-
ceased Statesman.
An Article Which win Interest Many
Readers.

Mr.. Adams. as is well known, belonged to
distinguished family. His grandfather
was leading spirit in the American Revolu-
tiOn, and the successor Of Washington In th .
Presidential chair. His father afterwards
held the same excellent position. and after
long and brilliant service in the House OF
Representatives, where he was known as the
"Old Man Eloquent" suddenly died in his
seat-his dying utterances being the memoir
able words-"This Is the last Of earth"
Mr.. Adams, when he was elected to the
Goth Congress. was not an unknown person
age. In 1s4s he was the candidate OF the
barn Burners for Vice President on the
ticket with Martin Van Buren,; and his In
dependent position in politics In that nation
al canvass was characteristic Of the man.
Originally Whlg Of anti-slavery tenden-
cies, he very naturally came into the ranks
Of that class Of men. who were the original
founders Of the Republican party. When
Mr.. Adams entered the House Of Represent
atiyes in 1858, he was In his prime, being then
81 years Of age. In personal appearance he
was Of medium height, stout built, but not
eoIpulent, had finely developed head.
clearly indicating apredominence Of the intel
lectual over the physical, with a pleasant
face, the contour Of which clearly marked a
man Of decision, firmness and will.
As speaker Mr. Adams could not be
called an orator. IN the ordinary sense Of the
term He seldom engaged In the debates Of
the House, but when he did, he commanded
the attention Of his hearers, thing that but
very few members could do. His speeches
were always clothed in the choicest lam
guage, devoid Of every thing like can't or
show, and eminently practical. His points
were always well put, his logic clear and
convincing, and when fred up, he always
spoke with good deal Of force and effect.
In social life Mr.. Adams was one Of the
most companionable men In the world, at the
same time II Is true, that In society matters
he preferred a few trusty, Intimate friends
His associations with his peers were al
ways pleasant and agreeable, with a slight
tendency perhaps to some Of the arlst0cratic
notions Of the adams family"
Intense love Of country was a prominent
element In the character Of Mr.. Adams, and
In the trait he was a true representative Of
his illustri0us ancestors.
The second session Of the 36th Congress
was attended with unusual political ex-
element. Lincoln had been elected
President, and the Southern leaders had de-
elded TO 20 out Of the Union. But their
plans for time were kept secret as possible;
and II was not generally believed by the rep
resentatives Of the free states, that the
South would take up arms against the gov
ernment. For this reason, the loyal men,
bers Of Congress did not understand, as they
now see, that the National Capitol was rest
Ing upon volcano, whose slumbering fires
were liable TO be sprung upon them at any
moment.
In the month OF February, 1861, the Re-
publican members Of Congress for the first
time during the session had a secret meeting
"a Atannaa M ~ fh.. ali Al
outsiders, including reporters were exclud-
ed.
Speeches were made by a large number Of
those present, in which all the speakers
would be no actual appeal 10 arms on the
part Of the South that II was game Of brag
and bluster, and that the trouble would be
settled-as 1t hadIbeen before-by comprom-
Use.
It was getting late in the evening, when
Charles Francis Adams arose. and almost his
first Inference was: The South means tcdr
and zoe hare got 20 fght, and he proceeded
to declare that the rebels In Vir-
ginia were raising an army TO be rushed up
ON Washington; that the members Of Con-
gress were In peril and liable 10 be arrested
any day, the Capital and the archives seized
and the Capfol and government placed in
He further explained the situation. that less
than 800 United STATS EEQans ,EseA In
sympathy with the South; and that
the people Of the city were in
about the same proportion dtsloyal,
and would in the event Of a conflict take
sides with the South, and that the general
government under the administration OF
Buchanan afforded no protection upon which
any reliance could be placed. Gen. Curtis,
who afterwards fought the battle OF Pea
from Iowa, followed Mr.. Adams, taking the
same ground These eloquent, hery speeches,
strange as IL may now seem, were DeheVed
By a majority OF those present 10 be notes OF
needless alarm. But they produced one good
effect. Ii aroused the members TO the neces-
sity Of at least taking immediate precaution-
airy measures by raising large committee
OF safety" with power to act.
This committee very soon after found MI.
Adamss predictions true, and the wonder 70
this day Is that the rebels made the mistake
in not carrying these reasonable plans into
effect, as they then had the power 10 90.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Adams'5 strong anti
slavery sentiments, ne was Wiling 70 make
reasonable concessions to the South for the
sake Of peace and 10 avert civil war.
As soon, however, as he found
the rebels were bound to 20 out Of the Unioa.
humiliating to the North, he took strong
ground for vigorous prosecution OF the
war.
In selecting man to torepresensus as min
lister at the court Of. Great Britain, President
Adams. The able and effieiept manner in
which he guarded our rights; and held the
English government responsible Tor per-
mitting rebel war steamers TO be fitted out
In their ports, is well known to the country.
IL was one of the most responsible posts OF
duty occupied by any OF our public servants
during the war; and among them all, both In
| the field and In the civil service, none made
| a more honorable record than Mr.. Adams.
In the death Of Charles Francis Adams
| the American people are reminded, that al
| though but little more than two decades
| have passed since the close Of the war, near
| ly all Of the great actors, upon whom the
| government most relied during its perils are
/ gone. But as successive generations shall
| come and 90, their heroic deeds and loyal
devotion 10 country will forever gild the
| brightest page in American history:
j. J. p.