The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-12
] H..

1t was in tho Twenty seventh Congress that
a resolution WAS offered to censure John
Quincy Adams for presenting a petition from
citizens Of Massachusetts requesting the
adoption Of immediate measures for the
peaceful dissolution OF the Union. 1t was in
the debate on this resolution that Wise OF Ken
lucky spoke OF Mr.. Adams as ~ white haired
hypocri.c." and charged him with fprslking
the friends Of his father and trampling On the
ashes Of the dead Hc referred to him as one
who. in the fury OF his apostate zeal. could
prey upon tho dead like the vampire, and de-
clared that he was as dcfunct as Burr and rs
dead as Arnold. Marshall Of kentucky fol-
lowed in u no less savage and re-
morscless speech. When Adams arose to
reply he became ut once the accuser and
arraignod tho Shareholders at the bar Of the
nation for endcavOrng to destroy tho right OF
petition and the liberty Of speech. Giddlngs
records that his manner was calm and self
possesscd his voice clear and firm: his words
measured: his form erect undcr the weight OF
more tan seventy years. There he stood.
confronting power which for more than half
century had controllel tho councils OF the
nation" Replying to Wise. Adams referred 10
his connection with the duel in which Cilley
had fallen. and pronounced him far moro guilty
than the man who pulled the trigger by
which brother member had been sent to
judgment He declared that Wise had come
to the House with his hands dripping with
blood and his face smearcd with human gore.
and that with these evidences OF murder upon
his person he had attcmpted to read moral
lectures to mcnbcrs Of the House. GiddinGs.
In his account OF the trial, says he was sitting
near Wise at tho time and rend IN his connte-
nance the feelings which tortured him. Whom
Adams came 10 Marshall he suggested the
propriety Of his returningto Kentucky to COM
mencc the study If law. He made mn allusson
to his moral habits. AMI expressed an earnest
desire that hs might reform. As no con-
tinued his remarks h" became more ana
moro impa ssion ed. md drawing one shalt after
another from his culver he sent them with UNI
erring aim into the f. n of his victim Mar
snail was pale with emotion and the whoIe
expression OF his face revealed his hunilia-
ton. lie declared afterwnrd that he would
rather have suffered death than tho torment
to which he had been subjected. ON subse-
auent occasion when he entarod the hall and
found Adams replyin. With some severity toan
attack from some M nmber from Penns' lvanIa,
Marshall, on hearing the facts. said, We'll. II
lie has fallen into Adams's hands, all can say
Ia. may God have mercy on his soul" Adams
continued his defence, or rather his prosec"-
ton. OF the stockholders until Oh motion OF
Bolts OF Virginia tho whole subject OF the
resolution to censura was lad on the table.
In less than month Giddings presented
similar petition from ohio. praying for disco
luton OF the Union. but not u word was heard
about consuming him orabout the high treason
involved in tho act
Tho tremendous triumph achieved on this
occasion by Mr.. Adams is thus referred to by
Mr. Giidin2s in "a lettar to his wife, dated Feb,
o. 1872: "Sovor in my life have felt that the
welfare OF this mighty nation depended so
much upon tho courage aud determination of
the friends OF liberty as | have for the past
week. Mr.. Adams has spoken three days.
He Is. / believe, the iost extraordinary
man living: but cannot attempt descri ption
either Of him or o. his speech Suffacs 1t to