Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-13

of the paper all the scenes os confusion end
uproar that had occurred before were tame
and spiritless to those which followed.
Shouts of "treasop." texpel the old scoun-
drel, put him out" resounded from every
part Of the hall. and mingled with threats
OF more serious nature. but in the midst
OF 1t all MIR. Adams stood serene and I'M
daunted. Several resolutions were intro
duced, some fer the censurc and others for
the expulsion of sIr. Adams, and many vio-
lent speeches were made Mr. Adams stood
at his desk from l o'clock until I, refusing
to be seated until the whole matter was dis
pCsed or Some OF the resolutions he dis
missed with a bitter ,saeer. while others he
TORE 10 pieces by his satire. Finally, with a
bitter sheer. he said that before any of the
resolutions could be adopted. they would
nave 10 be ma terially revised. as they all
charged MIN with being guilty Of presenting
Peution OF slaves asking for the abolition
OF slavery. while. IL the House would read
the petition. they would find that the petit
TONERS asked for the perpetuation and not
the abolition of Involuntary servitude.
This discovery only added fuel to the
names, as 1t incensed his antagonists to
nave been caught in such a papable trap.
nasty consulate ton had, and Mr..
DromgCole of Virginia who was regarded
as the most expert parliamentarian in the
Rouse, was selected to draft a resolution
tnat would cover the case. He produced a
anu resolution, Wntch charged
that Mr. Adams had presented to the House
petition signed by negro slaves. thus
Swing color to an itea that bondsmen were
cap aole or exercising the right of petition"
ana resolving that he be censured by the
speaker Upon this several fiery speeches
were made by southern members At length
Mr. ADAMS took the floor in his own de-
leise. men he reached the Drcmsoole
lesoiuu0h' with one of his most sarcastic
sneefS. he said: Mr. Speaker If under
stand the resolution of the honorable son-
, 1ie,nan from Virginia. it charges me with
giving color to an idea" This double en-
tenure was irresistible, and a peal of laugh
Ter broke from the whole House. and the
Dromgoole resolution was actually laughed
our OF existence. The debate lasted for
several days longer. and was conducted
MIN great violence, but at last disposed of
py .he adoption of a resolution simply de-
Starring that the petition could not be re-
ceNed ana that slaves had no right of
petition. "
I His CrOwninw Triumph.
Inc croWning victory of the Old Man
Eloquent came. however, in 1872. At that
1ne ne presented petition from Haverhir
MASS. asking that Congress take steps to
peaceably dissolve the t-nion setting forth
several causes for such dissolution. Mr.
Adams moved that the petition he referred
10 a select committee, with instructions TO
report an answer showing why the pr,yer
Oh the petitioners ought not to be granted
S'che tEaI followed pf no
widest that had ever been witnesso, sn d.
Rouse As on the former occa siops sever,
LeSolutlons were Immediately offered some
LOT cehsute and others for expulsion The
$50 discussion continued until the Houso
adjourned for the day
:. nat hisht consultation was held and
l.. vas determined to crush Mr. Adams
ana settle the dispute over Tho racarti"n
or petitions forever. Mr. Thomas = III"
snail Of Kentucky was chosen as sno,es-
I'm, anu at tie session next day he Of
fersa, sstias OF resolutions recitng the of
lenses charged against Mr. Adams and
Gaming him To the bar of the House to
De cehSured by the Speaker He followed
Ihe resolutions with, speech of great
Of H. ar ,,,, ei'qutnce. His dcnuncia lions
o. me spirit OF disunion We're terrific and
caHei Tor the louIest applause both from
The floor of the House and tn rro,r,Iel eai.
lelieS. Nor did be spare the venerable
man VINO had offended by presenting the
petition He spoke with q soennity wholly
unusual with him. and when he finished
me vast crowd that had assembled to
nS.eh 10 ms ar"dJsnHent of Mr.. Adams
anat Mr. Adams would be condemned.
They had not yet fatbomed all the powers
ana resources Of the venerable statesman.
inf Hie for oG'E IA % hso with and
years old. He fell that in all that VAST
audience he coulde leoh for no sympathy,
nut lie was strong I'M his convictions of
Calmly and Deliberately. in that high
keyed voice usual ~ him. he began his
defer 90. With doep and touching pathos ne
reviewed his cGreers calling to mind the
honorS that ha4 bestl heapvd upon him by
Washington, Jefferson. Madison and Mon
roe and by the people of the whole coun-
try, and then his voice. took on tone
of cold contempt as he referred to his as
Sallant and compared his magist erial airs
with those of the great Marshall Of Nir-
sinia, who had been his friend for half a
century. He literally crushed his assail-
ant with his. torrent of Indignation.
Fer eleven days the debate continued
with angry vehemenCe. Mr.. Adams was
assaulted with all the rhetoric sarcasm
and eluquence of Marshall, Wise Gilrler
and others, but the old man met each
fresh attack with fresh energy. Finally
On the eleventh day, when he arose ~ con-
clude the debate, Mr. Bolts Of Virginia
moved to lay the whole matter on the
table, Mr.. Adams yielding to him for that
purpose. The motion agreed to by a
decisive majority. thus leaving Mr.. Adams
triumphant over all.