154

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY
(1767 - 1848) Sixth President of the United States, Secretary of State under Monroe who principally formulated the Monroe Doctrine. His signature "John Quincy Adams" on the cover of a most historically-important pamphlet, 23pp. 4to., Washington, April 4, 1844 (printed by Blair & Rives), entitled the "Massachusetts Resolutions," a report recommending a Constitutional amendment abolishing the right of the slave states to count their slaves toward representation. The pamphlet reads in part: "...Mr. Adams, for the Select Committee of nine...in behalf of himself and Mr. Giddings, made the following REPORT: The subscribers, forming the minority of the Select Committee to which were referred the resolves of the Legislature of Massachusetts of 23d March, 1843, proposing to Congress to recommend, according to the provision of the 5th article of the Constitution of the United States, an amendment to the said Constitution...with a deep sense of the importance of the subject, of the magnitude of the interests involved in its consideration, and of the dignity of the source from which the resolves, calling for the action of this House, have emanated...The subscribers are under a deep and settled conviction that the provision in the Constitution...is repugnant to the first and vital principles of republican popular representation; to the self-evident truths proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence; to the letter and sprit of the Constitution of the United States itself...to the liberties of the whole people of all the free States, and of all that portion of the people of the States where domestic slavery is established, other than the owners of slaves themselves; that this is its essential and unextinguishable character in principle, and that its fruits, in its practical operation upon the government of this land, as felt with daily increasing aggravation by the people, corresponds entirely with that character...the slave representation in this House, and in the colleges of electors for the election of President and Vice President of the United States, is repugnant to the first and vital principle of republican popular representation...The second averment...that the slave representation in this House, and the electoral colleges, is repugnant to the self-evident truths proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence...The importation of slaves from Africa, prohibited in the mother country, was not only allowed in the colonies, but enforced by the sanction of the King and Parliament...one of the aggravated crimes of George the Third...The Constitution of the United States in express terms, declares that the House of Representatives shall be composed of members representing PERSONS. This phraseology excludes by direct implication, representation of property. The principle of pure democracy—a representation of persons and not of property—is the vital element in the organization of the House of Representatives...Nor is there one word in the Constitution recognizing the right of property in persons. So far from this, that it has been maintained by plausible argument, that the words 'all other persons' cannot, in fair construction, be understood to include slaves...The person represented is the slave; the constituent is the master; and the representative, the mirror reflecting the wishes, feelings, and interest of the master against the unalienable rights of the slave. ..The representative is thus constituted, not the friend, agent, and trustee of the person whom he represents, but the most inveterate of his foes...[slavery] established a privileged order of feudal lords in disguise, linked them together in one common interest hostile to that of the whole community, and armed them with a controlling overruling power over the legislative councils and executive authority of the Union....The result is seen in the fact that, at this day, the President of the United States [and many other federal officials] are not only citizens of the slaveholding States, but individual slaveholders themselves..." Adams also gives background on the "gag rule" enacted by Congress in 1835 in an attempt to ban debate on slavery, noting that it was "...not only a violation of the Constitution by the arbitrary suppression of the right of petition; it is the suppression of the freedom of debate in the House; a curtailment of the powers of the House itself...We believe that slavery is an evil of portentous magnitude to the people of every State where it is tolerated...the Legislature of Massachusetts...invites [Virginia]...by abolishing slavery, to emancipate herself...make your slaves free, and you shall have eighteen votes in the Representative Hall and twenty votes in your college of electors...Restore them the rights conferred upon them by the God of Nature, as men. Allow them the rights of cultivating and improving the immortal sprit within them...Class them no longer with the brutes that perish, or with inanimate matter, insensible to human suffering...So shall you no longer have in prospect, rapidly approaching on you, an exterminating war in which the Almighty has no attribute that can take your side..." After the text of the report is the text of the amendment which rewrites the third clause of Article One, Section Two of the Constitution removing the three-fifths clause. The pamphlet also notes actions taken in response to the report: "Resolved, That the amendment of the Constitution of Massachusetts, ought not to be recommended..." Also included is a resolution of R. Barnwell Rhett who declined to be part of the original committee noting that the three-fifths clause "...was one of the compromises of the Constitution, without which it would never have existed, and without which it cannot now exist...". Also signed by co-sponsor Rep. J. R. GIDDINGS (1795-1864) Loosely bound with string, and housed in a custom document folder. Light foxing to pages, Adams' signature bears some ink bleeding, otherwise very good condition.