THE HESPERIAN STUDENT,
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ol European politics at lust brought llio Englishmen to
their senses ami t lie treaty signed left things in llio same
condition ns beforo tho war. Tho London Times angrily
declared that the Yankees had negotiated better than they
had fought, that England had attempted to force her prin
ciples upon America and had failed.
Again, as Secretary of State under Monroo's administra
tion Adams met John B II in tho ucrson of Mr. Canning,
English minister at Washington England was trying to
quietly get possession of the mouth of the Columbia river
There had been some talk in Congress ol sending some
troops thither. Canning called to sec the Secretary of
State about it. "Have you," asked Adams, "any claim to
the mouth ol the Columbia?" "Why," said Canning, "do
you not know that we have a claim?" "I do not know,"
niiMveicd Adams, "what you claim or what you
do not claim; you claim Asia, you claim Africa, jou
claim " "Perhaps," interrupted Canning, "a piece
of the moon." "No," said Adams, "I have not heard that
you claim exclusively any portion of the moon; but there
is no spot on this habitable globe, that I could aflirm the
you do not claim." John Bull didn't secure tho mouth
of i he Columbia. Adams wanted to bo president, ho
worked hard to secure tho ofllce, how did he work? By
toiling with almost superhuman industry at his duties as
Secretary of State. Further than this he did nothing to
help his individual "boom." Adams, Jackson, Clay, and
Crawford were the candidates; there was no choice in the
electoral college, and by Clay's help Adams was chosen
President b' the house. Clay being1 thereafter made
Secretary of State, the cry of bargain was promptly
raised by Jackson and Co. but no proof that could stir,
vivo the campaign that gave it birth was brought forward
The fact was that Clay had to choose betwecu Adams
and Jackson, and whichever one he had supported would
probably have made him Secretary if he desired the
ofllce; ho undoubtedly showed good sense by making tho
choice he did. As president Adams refused to use his xp
pointing power to reward old friends or make new ones
and it is a ghastly commentary on our civil service, that
hisrcctitudo payed the way for Jackson's success. Adams
political history did not cud when he vacated the prcsi
dential chair; position was but a secondary affair with
him. As was said oT another president. "His high aim
was manhood." All he desired wa- n chaucc to work.
When asked if he would accept the position of represents
ivc in congress, he replied that he would, and that ho
should not consider it as detrac ting from his dignity as
cx-president, to serve as town councilman if elected to
that position.
At G3 years of age this cx.prcsident took his seat for
the first time in the house of representatives. lie shirked
no duties because of age, was regular in attendance, never
failed to vote unless for some good reason, aud did an
amount of committee work that might well have put to
shame many of the younger members. Iraciblc and at
times sarcastic he gained few personal Iriends, but bear-ishnc-s
is not a daingerous vice in a government like
ours.
He became by force of circumstances preeminently the
champion of the right of petition. In 1830 the southern
members secured the passage of the "Gag Law," which
forbade the reception of any petition in regard to the
question of slavery. Each time when the old rules were
portion of them; each session lie offered great numbers of
petitions from all over the country only to have them
ruled out of order. He presented petitions of all kinds
that were sent to him; petitions for the abolition of sla
very, petitions for tho perpetuation of slavery, petltir ns
for the dissolution of the Union, petitions for his own
removal from the committee on foreign affairs; even
petitions for his own expulsion from tho house. The
fight was long, but in 1846 the Gag Law was repealed.
Twice during the contest did democratic members try
to get through resolutions calling him to tho bar of the
house to be censured by tho speaker, twice did he begin
the fight well nigh alone aud both times did ho succeed
so well in his defense that his opponents were glad to lay
their own resolutions on the table.
He was possessed, Morse tells us, of but few of tho attri
butes of an orator, yet in the excitement of passionate
debate, with wild gesticulation, with cracking voice and
streaming eyes, his brain still went like clock work and
by virtue of his deep sincerity he gained for himself the
title of "Old Mau Eloquent." In spite of bad temper
and caustic speech he gained the respect both of friends
and foes, and in 1848 when he entered the house for the
first time after a prostrated illness, the entire body rose to
receive him. in the following February, at 80 years of
age, paralysis struck him down at his post of duty. Borne
from the house iu an unconscious condition, he died on
the twenty second.
He was a man made great by manliness. Many have
died for the sake of liberty, lie lived for it. Ho may well
havo been one of the great departed whose spirits wen 1
invoked by Whittier when he said,
"To party claims, to private aims,
Itcvcat that august face of truth,
Whore-to are gtven the age of heaven,
The beauty of immortal youth.
So shall our volco of sovereign choico,
Swell tho deep bass of duty done,
Ami strike the key of times to be,
When man and God shall speak as one."
'85.
Scene at a club tabic:
Senior: "Who. is going to hear Prof. Grube speak
on Faust tonight"
Fuesuman, (eager for useful information); "Faust!
What is that?"
Oh I a curious thing is lovo
As it comes from above
Aud lights like a dove
On some.
Hut some it never hits
Without it gives them (Its
And scatters all their wits
Oh hum I
"Are you certain of securing the diadem?" asked the
minister of the dying mau, and when the man said he
didn't "want to diadem bit," the minister and tho doctor
both flew, and us a matter of consequence the man got
better.
Facitious Friend (tp young lady engaged in an entre
nous witli a Soph) "Kittic, do you think you could be
saved if I throw you a ropo ?" Young lady (momentarily
relieved) "Why, do vouj tlilnU .'n1---.ap" -r
HEBaiBiJcusfiSL,rrfanauar , -
