CHAPTER XII.

Mr. Adams takes his seat in Congress—­his position and habits as A
member—­his independence of party—­his eulogy on the death of ex-president
James Madison—­his advocacy of the right of petition, and opposition to
slavery—­insurrection in Texas—­Mr. Adams makes known its ulterior object.

Mr. Adams took his seat in the House of Representatives without ostentation, in December, 1831.  His appearance there produced a profound sensation.  It was the first time an ex-President had ever entered that hall in the capacity of a member.  He was received with the highest marks of respect.  It presented a singular spectacle to behold members of Congress who, when Mr. Adams was President, had charged him with every species of political corruption, and loaded his name with the most opprobrious epithets, now vieing with one another in bestowing upon him the highest marks of respect and confidence.  That which they denied the President, they freely yielded to the man.  It was the true homage which virtue and patriotism must ever receive—­more honorable, and far more grateful to its object, than all the servility and flattery which power and patronage can so easily purchase.

The degree of confidence reposed in Mr. Adams was manifested by his being placed at once at the head of the Committee on Manufactures.  This is always a responsible station; but it was peculiarly so at that time.  The whole Union was highly agitated on the subject of the tariff.  The friends of domestic manufactures at the North insisted upon high protective duties, to sustain the mechanical and manufacturing interests of the country against a ruinous foreign competition.  The Southern States resisted these measures as destructive to their interests, and remonstrated with the utmost vehemence against them—­in which they were joined by a large portion of the Democratic party throughout the North.  Mr. Adams, with enlarged views of national unity and general prosperity, counselled moderation to both parties.  As Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures, he strove to produce such a compromise between the conflicting interests, as should yield each section a fair protection, and restore harmony and fraternity among the people.