Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams.

Memoir of the Life of John
Quincy Adams., by

Josiah Quincy This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost
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Title: Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams.
Author: Josiah Quincy
Release Date: January 2, 2007 [EBook #20256]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: Engraved by H. Wright Smith from a Painting by A. B.
Durand
I live in the Faith and Hope of the progressive advancement of

Christian Liberty, and expect to abide by the same in death.
J. Q. Adams.]

MEMOIR
OF
THE LIFE OF
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

BY
JOSIAH QUINCY, LL. D.
Justum et tenacem propositi virum, Non civium ardor prava jubentium,
Non vultus instantis tyranni, Mente quatit solida.

BOSTON: CROSBY, NICHOLS, LEE AND COMPANY. 1860.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by PHILLIPS,
SAMPSON & CO., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the
District of Massachusetts.

Stereotyped by HOBART & ROBBINS, New England Type and
Stereotype Foundery, BOSTON.

THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
This Work,

PREPARED AT THEIR REQUEST, IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED, BY THEIR ASSOCIATE,
JOSIAH QUINCY.
BOSTON, June 1, 1858.

PREFATORY NOTE.
The ensuing Memoir comprises the most important events in the life of
a statesman second to none of his contemporaries in laborious and
faithful devotion to the service of his country.
The light attempted to be thrown on his course has been derived from
personal acquaintance, from his public works, and from authentic
unpublished materials.
The chief endeavor has been to render him the expositor of his own
motives, principles, and character, without fear or favor,--in the spirit
neither of criticism or eulogy.
JOSIAH QUINCY.
BOSTON, June 1, 1858.

CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
BIRTH.--EDUCATION.--RESIDENCE IN EUROPE.--AT
COLLEGE.--AT THE BAR. --POLITICAL ESSAYS.--MINISTER
AT THE HAGUE.--AT BERLIN.--RETURN TO THE UNITED
STATES, 1

CHAPTER II.
RESIDENCE IN BOSTON.--RETURNS TO THE BAR.--ELECTED
TO THE SENATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.--TO THE SENATE OF
THE UNITED STATES.--HIS COURSE RELATIVE TO THE
ATTACK OF THE LEOPARD ON THE CHESAPEAKE.--RESIGNS
HIS SEAT AS SENATOR OF THE UNITED
STATES.--APPOINTED MINISTER TO RUSSIA.--FINAL
SEPARATION FROM THE FEDERAL PARTY, 25
CHAPTER III.
VOYAGE.--ARRIVAL AT ST. PETERSBURG.--PRESENTATION
TO THE EMPEROR. --RESIDENCE AT THE IMPERIAL
COURT.--DIPLOMATIC INTERVIEWS.--PRIVATE
STUDIES.--APPOINTED ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO
TREAT FOR PEACE WITH GREAT BRITAIN.--LEAVES RUSSIA,
44
CHAPTER IV.
RESIDENCE AT GHENT.--AT PARIS.--IN
LONDON.--PRESENTATION TO THE PRINCE
REGENT.--NEGOTIATION WITH LORD
CASTLEREAGH.--APPOINTED SECRETARY OF
STATE.--LEAVES ENGLAND, 59
CHAPTER V.
FIRST TERM OF MR. MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION.--STATE
OF PARTIES.--SEMINOLE WAR.--TAKING OF
PENSACOLA.--NEGOTIATION WITH SPAIN.--PURCHASE OF
THE FLORIDAS.--COLONIZATION SOCIETY.--THE ADMISSION
OF MISSOURI INTO THE UNION, 77
CHAPTER VI.

SECOND TERM OF MONROE'S PRESIDENCY.--STATE OF
PARTIES.--REPORT ON WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES.--PROCEEDINGS AT GHENT
VINDICATED.--VOTES WHEN HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES DEFENDED.--
INDEPENDENCE OF GREECE.--CONTESTS OF
PARTIES.--ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 120
CHAPTER VII.
ADMINISTRATION AS
PRESIDENT.--POLICY.--RECOMMENDATIONS TO
CONGRESS.-- PRINCIPLES RELATIVE TO OFFICIAL
APPOINTMENTS AND REMOVALS.--COURSE IN ELECTION
CONTESTS.--TERMINATION OF HIS PRESIDENCY, 142
CHAPTER VIII.
PURSUITS OF MR. ADAMS IN RETIREMENT.--ELECTED TO
CONGRESS.--PARTIES AND THEIR PROCEEDINGS.--HIS
COURSE IN RESPECT OF THEM.--HIS OWN ADMINISTRATION
AND THAT OF HIS SUCCESSOR COMPARED.--REPORT ON
MANUFACTURES AND THE BANK OF THE UNITED
STATES.--REFUSAL TO VOTE, AND CONSEQUENT
PROCEEDINGS.--SPEECH AND REPORT ON THE
MODIFICATION OF THE TARIFF AND SOUTH CAROLINA
NULLIFICATION, 175
CHAPTER IX.
INFLUENCE OF MILITARY SUCCESS.--POLICY OF THE
ADMINISTRATION.--MR. ADAMS' SPEECH ON THE REMOVAL
OF THE DEPOSITS FROM THE BANK OF THE UNITED
STATES.--HIS OPINIONS ON FREEMASONRY AND
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. --EULOGY ON WILLIAM
WIRT.--ORATION ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
LAFAYETTE.--HIS COURSE ON ABOLITION PETITIONS.--ON

INTERFERENCE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY.--ON
THE POLICY RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC LANDS.--SPEECH ON
DISTRIBUTING RATIONS TO FUGITIVES FROM INDIAN
HOSTILITIES.--ON WAR WITH MEXICO.--EULOGY ON JAMES
MADISON.--HIS COURSE ON A PETITION PURPORTING TO BE
FROM SLAVES.--FIRST REPORT ON JAMES SMITHSON'S
BEQUEST, 219
CHAPTER X.
MARTIN VAN BUREN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.--MR. ADAMS' SPEECH ON THE CLAIMS OF THE
DEPOSIT BANKS.--HIS LETTER ON BOOKS FOR UNIVERSAL
READING.--ORATION AT NEWBURYPORT.--SPEECH ON THE
RIGHT OF PETITION.-- LETTER TO THE MASSACHUSETTS
ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.--ADDRESS TO THE INHABITANTS
OF HIS DISTRICT.--HIS VIEWS AS TO THE APPLICATION OF
THE SMITHSONIAN FUND.--HIS INTEREST IN THE SCIENCE
OF ASTRONOMY.--LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ON AN ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY.--LETTER ON THE
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.--RESOLUTIONS FOR THE LIMITING OF
HEREDITARY SLAVERY.--DISCOURSE BEFORE THE NEW
YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.--ADDRESS ON THE SUBJECT
OF EDUCATION.-- REMARKS ON PHRENOLOGY.--ON THE
LICENSE LAW OF MASSACHUSETTS.--HE ORGANIZES