Fork Union Military Academy - Skirmisher Yearbook (Fork Union, VA)

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it g 1 H E LSK I RZM IS HLER y position he had once occupied. threatened with assassination-standing un- moyed to ask the right of petition for those who were helpless and debased. He held up his accusors to ridicule. read them a lesson in parliamentary usage and taught them that there was still fire burning in his old shattered fralne. Fire years later he presented another petition which caused a similar dis- turbance. Fearing they had been in too great haste in the former petition. the slareholders decided to be more deliberate this time. For six weeks the House was turned into a turmoil of furious men, who respected neither gray hairs nor pure character. lt was a trying time for the old patriot: his weak body could scarcely endure the strain, but his abilities made him more than a match for the whole House. There he stood. alone, not to defend himself. but to plead in behalf of the oppressed. lt was a decisive victory in .Xmerican legislation, which won without blood, wrested forever the right of free discussions in free America from a powerful tyranny. On the very spot of his fame, under the dome where he had won the applause of a listening Senate. at a ripe old age. this noble patriot, this Chris- tian statesman fell. exclaiming This is the last of earth. l am content. Vfhis essay is the production of a member of our .XCHLlC111f'.-EDITORJI 112

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? Wmjgfi. THE SKIRMISHER Y :pa 5 Y 37- -, John uincy Adams - .f Hli divine principle of individual freedom so long confined in dungeons began to assert itself in the Revival of Learn- ing-the Renaissance and the Reformation. This was the fvaf life-giving principle of the Revolutionary lYar, and had its best expression in the Declaration of lndependence. l 'i f'4 'f4? E lt was a principle which inspired john Quincy Adams for a half-century of public service lt enabled him as Senator. as Minister of State, as President, but most of all as a Representative to teach the Amer- ican people obedience to the state and personal independence. Believing duty to be above everything else, and true to his own teachings. although he had filled two continents with his fame. although he was at that age when most men seek repose, he forgot his own personal comfort and stepped down to the level of a representative. In 1331 when he entered Congress his first utterance was a protest against all party affiliations, which he justly considered a crime. Not caring whether a question before the House would benefit a political party. he would say lVill it benefit the whole worldu? Nothing, however, so well shows the conscience of the man as his rela- tions to the slavery question. Although slavery was deeply rooted among the people, although it was supported by the Constitution. sanctioned by the re- ligions, he saw and declared its utter destruction. Already an old man with gray locks and wrinkled brow but with the vigor of youth, he gave his last remaining powers for the final struggle. The slaveholders for the protection of their interests had put in the rules of the House, the resolution, that all petitions referring to slavery should be laid on the table. Consequently when Mr. Adams arose one day and asked the Speaker if a petition, which he held in his hand from the slaves, came under the rule of the House, the southern members were very much surprised and became involved in an angry debate. They demanded that this honorable gentleman who had presented the petition for slaves should be publicly con- demned. For three days the storm raged. lYhat a sight to see! An old man turning away from the quiet and rest so much needed, not thinking of the 111

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