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Freedom. The first struggle occurred on the right of which Slave-masters with characteristic tyranny sought This was resisted by the venerable patriot, and to suppress. what he did was always done with his whole heart. Then was " poured upon him abuse as from a cart Slave-masters, foaming avowal for an out their shame," became conspicuous, not less effrontfor an than of sentiments at which Civilization blushed,

Human

petition,

ery of manner where the accidental legislator was lost in the natural overseer, and the lash of the plantation resounded in the voice.

In an address to his constituents, 17th September, 1842, exMr. Adams thus frankly describes the treatment he had perienced



" I never can take part in any debate upon an important subject, be it only upon a Lanin return. mere abstraction, but a pack opens upon me of personal invective at me. guage has no word of reproach and railing that is not hurled

And "

in the

Where

On

same speech he gives a glimpse of Slave-masters

she wheedles." the South can not effect her object by brow-beating,

another occasion he

said,

with his accustomed power

" Insult, bullying, and threat, characterize the Slaveholders in Congress and submission the Representatives from the Free States."



talk,

timidity,

the Slave-masters contented with the violence of True to the instincts of Slavery, they threatened

Nor were words.

And personal indignity of every kind, and even assassination. here South-Carolina naturally took the lead. The Charleston Mercury, which always speaks the true voice of Slavery, said in 1837: » Public opinion in the South would now, we are sure, justify an immediate resort even on the floor of Congress, were they forthto force by the Southern delegation, man who dared to insult them, as that ecwith to seize and drag from the Hall any has dared to do." centric old showman," John Quincy Adams,

And

in at a public dinner at TValterborough,

on the 4th of July, 1842, the following served

by Mr. Adams

toast,

in one of his speeches,

South Carolina, afterwards pre-

was drunk with

unbounded applause " Mav we never want a Democrat to trip up the man to'prepare a halter for John Quincy Adams !

heels of a Federalist, or a hang[Nine cheers.]

A Slave-master from South-Carolina,

Mr.

Waddy Thompson,

Representatives, threatened the " and another Slave venerable patriot with the "penitentiary;

in debate in the

House of