Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/20

 QUINCY

QUINCY

dential mission to London in behalf of the patriot colonies. He arrived at London, Nov. 16, 1774, and had conferences with Dr. Franklin, Jonathan Williams. Jr.. Lord North and Lord Dartmouth. In his appeal for justice he was sustained by Lords Chatham and Selden, and his influence in the British councils was apparent. His healtli again failed, and in obedience to the wishes of his political friends, but contrary to the advice of his physician, he set sail for America, March 16, 1775. After being live weeks at sea, and when the ship was three days from land, he dictated a farewell letter to his family and nearest friends. He is the author of the articles signed *• Hyperion " (1767), and " Tertius and Nubibus," '"Edward Sexby." and •' Marchmont Nedham" in Edes and Gill's Gazette (1774-75); Draught of Instructions to the Boston Representatives in May, 177-', and Report of a Committee Chosen by the Inhabitants of Petersham, 4th January, 1773 (1773); Observa- tions on the Act of Parliament commonly called the Boston Port Bill, icith Tlioughts on Civil Society and Standing Armies (1774). He died on shipboard within sight of Boston, April 26, 1775. QULNCY, Josiah, statesman, was born in Boston, Mass.. Feb. 4, 1772 ; son of Josiah and Abigail (Phillips) Quincy. He attended Phillips Andover academy, 1778-87, and was graduated from Harvard, A. B., 1790, A.M., 1793. He studied law under Col. "Wil- liam Tudor of Boston ; was admitted to the bar in 1793, and prac- tised in Boston. He was married, June 6,

1797, to Eliza Susan, daughter of John and Maria Sophia (Kem- per) Morton. In

1798, when the nds- understanding be- tween France and the United States had reached a point where armed resist- ance seemed the only

alternative left to the American people, Quincy delivered the 4th of July oration in the Old South church, which gave him the Federalist nomination for representative in the 7th con- gress in 1800. He was defeated by Dr. Wil- liam Eustis, the anti-Federal candidate, after an exciting contest. He was a state senator, 1804-05 ; a representative in the 9th-13th con- gresses, 180.5-15, and while in congress spoke and voted against the embargo act. the war with Great Britain and the admission of Louisiana as a stat«. A committee of the house proposed a law prohibiting the slave trade after Dec. 31, 1807,

and providing, among other penalties, that al Negroes imported after that date, should be for- feited by traders violatijig this law. The anti- slavery members of congress Siiw the danger of committing the government to the policy of the slave holders who maintained their right to hold and sell men as property, and it was therefore moved tiiat the words " entitled to his or lier freedom" be substituted for "forfeited." Mr. Quincy at fii-st opposed the clianging of the bill, holding that only by forfeiture could the govern- ment get control of the Negroes and so dispose of them in a manner for their own interest, but when it came to the passage of the bill, he sup- ported the reconxmittal on the grounds that he could not consent to an action which should allow the sale of Negroes by the government. On Jan. 14, 1811, ha delivered his famous speech on the admission of Louisiana, in which he stated that if the bill were passed, the bonds of the Union would be dissolved, and that the states that originally composed it would be free from their moral obligation and would not be bound to maintain a Union with the proposed new states. He held that this new territory could be absorbed by a vote of the people, but not by that of a pass- ing congress. He believed that the purchase of Louisiana — in view of the designs of Napoleon and the advantage of a free ojiening of the Missis- sippi — would be accepted by the United States as an addition to its possessions. But he clearly foresaw the disasters that threatened the nation by the precedent established by this unconstitu- tional act, which gave congress the authority to multiply slave states without tlie consent of the people, and made slavery national and freedom sectional ; prophesying that it would finally deluge the country with fratricidal blood. He opposed the declaration of war with England in 1812, but upon the issuing of the proclamation he supported the government. During his last session in congress he delivered speeches against the enlistment of minors and against the pro- posed invasion of Canada. He declined re-elec- tion in 1814.; was a member of the state house of representatives, 1815-23 ; a member of the state constitutional convention of 1820, and speaker of the house in 1821. In December, 1822, he was elected mayor of the city of Boston to succeed John Phillips, May 1, 1823 ; and in this office, 1823-28, introduced reforms that completely re- constructed the city department. He established the first house of correction in Boston ; a house of reformation for juvenile offenders, and re- organized the police force and the fire depart- ment During his administration the Faneuil Hall Market was erected and the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument was laid by General Lafayette, with Daniel Webster as orator, June