Life and Public Services of John Quincy Adams Part 18

"Get up a resolution to meet the case," exclaimed a member from North Carolina.

Mr. George C. Dromgoole, who had acquired a very favorable reputation as a parliamentarian, was selected as the very man who, of all others, was most capable of drawing up a resolution that would meet and cover the emergency. He produced a resolution with a preamble, in which it was stated, substantially, that, whereas the Hon. John Quincy Adams, a representative from Ma.s.sachusetts, had presented to the House of Representatives a pet.i.tion signed by negro slaves, thus "giving color to an idea" that bondmen were capable of exercising the right of pet.i.tion, it was "Resolved, That he be taken to the bar of the House, and be censured by the Speaker thereof."

Mr. Haynes said, the true motion, in his judgment, would be to move that the pet.i.tion be rejected.

Mr. Lewis hoped that no motion of that kind would come from any gentleman from a slaveholding section of the country.

Mr. Haynes said he would cheerfully withdraw his motion.

Mr. Lewis was glad the motion was withdrawn. He believed that the House should punish severely such an infraction of its decorum and its rules; and he called on the members from the slaveholding States to come forward now and demand of the House the punishment of the gentleman from Ma.s.sachusetts.

Mr. Grantland, of Georgia, would second the motion, and go all lengths in support of it.

Mr. Lewis said, that if the House would inflict no punishment for such flagrant violations of its dignity as this, it would be better for the Representatives from the slaveholding Slates to go home at once.

Mr. Alford said, if the gentleman from Ma.s.sachusetts intended to present this pet.i.tion, the moment it was presented he should move, as an act of justice to the South, which he in part represented, and which he conceived had been treated with indignity, that it be taken from the House and burnt; and he hoped that every man who was a friend to the const.i.tution, would support him. There must be an end to this constant attempt to raise excitement, or the Union could not exist much longer. The moment any man should disgrace the Government under which he lived, by presenting a pet.i.tion from slaves, praying for emanc.i.p.ation, he hoped that pet.i.tion would, by order of the House, be committed to the flames.

Mr. Waddy Thompson moved the following resolution:--

"Resolved, That the Hon. John Quincy Adams, by the attempt just made by him to introduce a pet.i.tion purporting on its face to be from slaves, has been guilty of a gross disrespect to this House, and that he be instantly brought to the bar, to receive the severe censure of the Speaker."

The idea of bringing the venerable ex-President to the bar, like a culprit, to receive a reprimand from a comparatively youthful Speaker, would be a spectacle so disgraceful, and withal so absurd, that the proposition met with no favor. An easier way to reprimand was devised. Mr.

Haynes introduced the following resolution:--

"Resolved, That John Quincy Adams, a Representative from the State of Ma.s.sachusetts, has rendered himself justly liable to the severest censure of this House, and is censured accordingly, for having attempted to present to the House the pet.i.tion of slaves."

Several other resolutions and propositions, from members of slaveholding States, were submitted to the House; but none proved satisfactory even to themselves. Mr. Adams, unmoved by the tempest which raged around him, defended himself, and the integrity of his purpose, with the distinguished ability and eloquence which characterized all his public labors.

"In regard to the resolutions now before the House," said he, "as they all concur in naming me, and in charging me with high crimes and misdemeanors, and in calling me to the bar of the House to answer for my crimes, I have thought it was my duty to remain silent, until it should be the pleasure of the House to act either on one or the other of these resolutions. I suppose that if I shall be brought to the bar of the House, I shall not be struck mute by the previous question, before I have an opportunity to say a word or two in my own defence. * * * * * *

"Now, as to the fact what the pet.i.tion was for, I simply state to the gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. D. H. Lewis,) who has sent to the table a resolution a.s.suming that this pet.i.tion was for the abolition of slavery--I state to him that he is mistaken. He must amend his resolution; for if the House should choose to read this pet.i.tion, I can state to them they would find it something very much the reverse of that which the resolution states it to be. And if the gentleman from Alabama still chooses to bring me to the bar of the House, he must amend his resolution in a very important particular; for he may probably have to put into it, that my crime has been for attempting to introduce the pet.i.tion of slaves that slavery should not be abolished. * * * * * *

"Sir, it is well known, that from the time I entered this House, down to the present day, I have felt it a sacred duty to present any pet.i.tion, couched in respectful language, from any citizen of the United States, be its object what it may; be the prayer of it that in which I could concur, or that to which I was utterly opposed. It is for the sacred right of pet.i.tion that I have adopted this course. * * * * * * * * Where is your law which says that the mean, and the low, and the degraded, shall be deprived of the right of pet.i.tion, if their moral character is not good?

Where, in the land of freemen, was the right of pet.i.tion ever placed on the exclusive basis of morality and virtue? Pet.i.tion is supplication--it is entreaty--it is prayer! And where is the degree of vice or immorality which shall deprive the citizen of the right to supplicate for a boon, or to pray for mercy? Where is such a law to be found? It does not belong to the most abject despotism! There is no absolute monarch on earth, who is not compelled, by the const.i.tution of his country, to receive the pet.i.tions of his people, whosoever they may be. The Sultan of Constantinople cannot walk the streets and refuse to receive pet.i.tions from the meanest and vilest of the land. This is the law even of despotism. And what does your law say? Does it say that, before presenting a pet.i.tion, you shall look into it, and see whether it comes from the virtuous, and the great, and the mighty? No sir; it says no such thing.

The right of pet.i.tion belongs to all. And so far from refusing to present a pet.i.tion because it might come from those low in the estimation of the world, it would be an additional incentive, if such incentive were wanting.

"But I must admit," continued Mr. Adams, sarcastically, "that when color comes into the question, there may be other considerations. It is possible that this house, which seems to consider it so great a crime to attempt to offer a pet.i.tion from slaves, may, for aught I know, say that freemen, if not of the carnation, shall be deprived of the right of pet.i.tion, in the sense of the House."

When southern members saw that, in their haste, they had not tarried to ascertain the nature of the pet.i.tion, and that it prayed for the perpetuation, instead of the abolition of slavery, their position became so ludicrous, that their exasperation was greatly increased. At the time the pet.i.tion was announced by Mr. Adams, the House was very thin; but the excitement it produced soon filled it; and, besides, the sergeant-at-arms had been instructed to arrest and bring in all absentees. The excitement commenced at about one o'clock, and continued until seven o'clock in the evening, when the House adjourned. Mr. Adams stood at his desk, resolutely refusing to be seated till the matter was disposed of, alleging that if he were guilty, he was not ent.i.tled to a seat among high and honorable men.

When Mr. Droomgoole's resolution was read to the House for its consideration, Mr. Adams yielded to it one of those sarcastic sneers which he was in the habit of giving, when provoked to satire; and said--"Mr.

Speaker, if I understand the resolution of the honorable gentleman from Virginia, it charges me with being guilty of giving color to an idea!'"

The whole House broke forth in one common irrepressible peal of laughter.

The Droomgoole resolution was actually laughed out of existence. The House now found that it had got itself in a dilemma,--that Mr. Adams was too much for it; and, at last, adjourned, leaving the affair in the position in which they found it.

For several days this subject continued to agitate the House. Mr. Adams not only warded off the virulent attacks made upon him, but carried the war so effectually into the camp of his enemies, that, becoming heartily tired of the contest, they repeatedly endeavored to get rid of the whole subject by laying it on the table. To this Mr. Adams objected. He insisted that it should be thoroughly canva.s.sed. Immense excitement ensued. Call after call of the House was made. Mr. Henry A. Wise, who was, at the time, engaged on the Reuben Whitney affair, was sent for: with an accompanying message that the stability of the Union was in danger!

Breathless, and impatient, Mr. Wise made his appearance, and inquired what was the matter. He was informed.

"And is that all?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr. Wise. "The gentleman from Ma.s.sachusetts has presented a pet.i.tion signed by slaves! Well, sir, and what of that? Is anybody harmed by it? Sir, in my opinion, slaves are the very persons who should pet.i.tion. Mine, sir, pray to me, and I listen to them; and shall not the feeble supplicate? Sir, I see no danger,--the country, I believe, is safe."

At length the exciting subject was brought to a termination, by the pa.s.sage of the following preamble and resolutions; much softened, it will be seen, in comparison with the measures first proposed:--

"An inquiry having been made by an honorable gentleman from Ma.s.sachusetts, whether a paper which he held in his hand, purporting to be a pet.i.tion from certain slaves, and declaring themselves to be slaves, came within the order of the House of the 18th of January,[Footnote: This order was the same as that adopted by the House on the 18th of May, 1836. See p.

281.] and the said paper not having been received by the Speaker, he stated that in a case so extraordinary and novel, he would take the advice and counsel of the House.

"Resolved, That this House cannot receive said pet.i.tion without disregarding its own dignity, the rights of a large cla.s.s of citizens of the South and West, and the Const.i.tution of the United States.

"Resolved, That slaves do not possess the right of pet.i.tion secured to the citizens of the United States by the const.i.tution."

The slave pet.i.tion is believed to have been a counterfeit, manufactured by certain members from slaveholding States, and was sent to Mr. Adams by the way of experiment--with the double design of ascertaining if he could be imposed upon; and, if the deception succeeded, those who got it up were curious to know if the venerable statesman would redeem his pledge, and present a pet.i.tion, no matter who it came from. He was too wily not to detect the plot at the outset; he knew that all was a hoax; but, he resolved to present the paper, and then turn the tables on its authors.

[Footnote: Reminiscences of the late John Quincy Adams, by an Old Colony Man.]

On the 20th of December, 1838, Mr. Adams presented a pet.i.tion praying for the establishment of international relations with the Republic of Hayti, and moved that it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, with instructions to consider and report thereon. This motion was opposed with great warmth by members from slaveholding States. Mr. Adams was repeatedly interrupted during the delivery of the brief speech he made on the occasion.

Mr. Bynum insisted that the gentleman from Ma.s.sachusetts should take his seat, under the rule. If, however, he was permitted to proceed, Mr. B.

hoped some gentleman of the slaveholding portion of the House would be allowed to answer him.

Mr. Adams.--Sir, I hope so. Only open our mouths, gentlemen; that is all we ask, and you may answer as much as you please.

Mr. Bynum.--I object to the gentleman proceeding further with his observations, except by consent of the House. If we have rules we had better either obey them or burn them.

The House voted, by 114 to 47, to allow Mr. Adams to proceed.

In continuing his speech, Mr. Adams said, that even admitting the object of the pet.i.tioners is abolition, as has been alleged, they had the right to pet.i.tion for that too; for every individual in the country had a right to be an abolitionist. The great men of the Revolution were abolitionists, and if any man denies it, I will prove it.

Mr. Wise.--I deny it.

The Speaker said this was out of order.

Mr. Adams.--I feel obliged to the gentleman from Virginia for giving me the invitation, and I will now prove what I say.

The Speaker said this did not form any part of the question before the House.

Mr. Adams.--George Washington, in articulo mortis, by his last will and testament, before G.o.d, his Creator, emanc.i.p.ated his slaves.

Mr. Wise.--Because he had no children.

The Speaker again interposed, and said the gentleman could not go into that question. It was entirely out of order.

Mr. Adams.--I did but accept the invitation of the gentleman from Virginia. I do not wish to go further. I simply take the position that George Washington was an abolitionist in the most extensive sense of the term; and I defy any man in this House to the discussion, and to prove to the contrary if he can.

The Speaker called Mr. Adams to order.

Mr. Adams.--Well, sir, I was stating the high authority which is to be found for the principles of abolition. Does the gentleman from Virginia deny that Thomas Jefferson was an abolitionist?

Mr. Wise.--I do.

The Speaker again interposed.