The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03


Of the South. might have been con-
doned by his constituents. But his
stand upon the question Of the embargo.
and the suspension Of foreign trade,
was a much more serious matter. He
had written to his old father at Quincy
that the pillars Of the Jeffersonian pol
Icy were unqualified submission to
France: unqualified defiance Of Great
Britain" but upon the defiance Of Great
Britain he was presently to express
himself like true Jeffersonian- He
wrote from New York. May 1. 1906. that
the city was In q ferment over the con-
duct Of the British man-o'-war Leander,
which was then In harbor. and . shot
from which had killed q man on q
coaster coming up from the Delaware.
The captain Of the British ship had been
indicted by the Grand Jury Of New York
for murder. and all communication be-
tween the ship and shore had been cut
OF. SO that sundry officers who were
on shore could not return on board. But
the attack on the Chesapeake by the
Leopard In June Of the next year threw
all previous manifestations OF British
naval arrogance into the shade. The
| Federaiists Of Boston saw no occasion
| In the incident for calling town meet
| Ing. but their opponents did. and men,
Der OF the committee which drew some
vigorous resolutions. "since rely approv-
ing the proclamation and the firm and
dispassionate course Of policy pursued
by the President OF the United States"
was John Quincy Adams. the only Fed
eralist OF any prominence at the meet
Ing. Already as a Senator he had In
troduced resolutions upon the capture
and condemnation by the British courts
| OF American ships for being engaged In
trade with the enemies OF Great Britain
Two Of them had been adopted with
some notifications. but the third had
| been rejected. not unnaturally. since 1t
proposed the drastic retaliation OF "sus-
pending the power Of transfer OF all
certificates in the funds or bank stock
of the United States held by subjects
of the King OF Great Britain until the
| British Government shall have given
satisfaction to the United States on the
| subject OF the said seizure and condem-
nations. and no longer"
The action of the British Admiral In
the case OF the Chesapeake was Indeed
disavowed and apologized for by the
British Government and Canning was
careful to separate 1t from the general
questions In controversy. Of which the
chief was perhaps the right OF Impress
ment. Nevertheless II necessarily ex-
acerbated the general controversy. 1t
was against the British royal proclama-
ton commanding naval officers to i'm
press seamen. and, In effect denying the
right Of American naturalization, as
well as against Napoleons proclamation
| In effect confscating neutral vessels
laden with goods destined for the enc
mics OF France that Jefferson pro-
claimed the embargo as measure OF
self defence. 1t was, Of course. In
tensely unpopular In New England;
whoever supported It lost political stand
ing there. Adams voted for II. and
though he afterward was In favor OF
lifting IL, this was on the ground that
! It was Intellectual for Its object. and
that even more vigorous measures
ought to be undertaken. Al any rate.
his course cost him his popularity and
ultimately his seat In the Senate In ad-
dition. as he admits and complains. to
many personal as well as political
friendships. 1t even cost him the pa :
rental displeasure. for his wife wrote to
him from Quincy that his father was
much incensed against him. and that
:
in particular which the old Roman
never could forgive" Mr.. Ford fails
to Identify the votes In question. but
doubtless they were some Of the mani
festations of the sons Jeffersonianism.
And yet John Quincy. during his service
in the Senate. never allied himself with
the party of the Jeffersonians. was
never accepted by them. and promptly
4. Iii taat ION for nj
maiic post for a young friend and con-
nection OF his own. II is impossible TO
ascribe his course in the Senate to any
other motive than sense Of public
duty, sometimes co'ored, no doubt by
what one of his descendants has de-
scribed as IAN inclination to be other
wise minded" His vindication OF his
conduct against his colleague and jeal-
Gus rival. Timothy Pickering. will be
conclusive to the candid reader. 1t was
the resolutions OF censure adopted by
the General Court Of Massachusetts
which determined his resignation while
h had yet year Of his term to serve
II seems that he had determined 10
make a canvass for reelection. That
appears to be evident not only from
the wording OF his resignation but from
the bitterness with which he subse-
quently spoke of the departure from
custom involved in filling the vacancy
Immediately instead of giving time fol
public discussion. Bitterness. indeed. is
ra her too frequently obvious in his re-
sentiment of the treatment accorded II
him by his fellow citizens and is indeed
the chief drawback TO the readers
pleasure in the perusal. II Is rather
curiously in evidence in his annoyance
at the political dsparagement contained
in q very cordial recognition OF tht
literary merits Of his Harvard lectures
Still more In the attempt which he
imagines he detects to inJure him with
his students. IAN attempt the haseness
and the cunning Of which betrays it'
origin to me az plainly as II 1t hat
borne its name printed In capitals upor
its front. An attempt upon their hearts
through the medium OF their under
tandngs-sophistry prompted by envy
But the crawling parvenues of selfisf
, suhtlety often stumble over the gen
erous feelings Of human nature. upor
which. they found no calculation. be-
cause they cannot comprehend their ex
istence." This Is pretty bad, doubtless
but IL must also be said that II Il
: not ut all like John Quincy in general
4 In. In, ha