In 1804, Bonaparte stepped from the Consul chamber to the throne of the French Empire.  All Europe was bending to his giant rule.  Great Britain alone, with characteristic and inherent stubbornness, had set itself as a rock against his ambitious aspirations, and prosecuted with unabated vigor its determined hostility to all his measures of trade and of conquest.  In November, 1807, the British Government issued the celebrated “Orders in Council,” forbidding all trade with France and her allies.  This measure was met by Napoleon, in December, with his “Milan Decree,” prohibiting every description of commerce with England or her colonies.  Between these checks and counterchecks of European nations, the commerce of the United States was in peril of being swept entirely from the ocean.

During most of this perplexed and trying period, Mr. J. Q. Adams retained his seat in the United States Senate.  Although sent there by the suffrages of the Federal party, in the Massachusetts Legislature, yet he did not, and would not, act simply as a partisan.  This in fact was a prominent characteristic in Mr. Adams throughout his entire life, and is the key which explains many of his acts otherwise inexplicable.  His noble and patriotic spirit arose above the shackles of party.  He loved the interests of his country, the happiness of Man, more than the success of a mere party.  So far as the party with which he acted advocated measures which he conceived to be wise and healthful, he yielded his hearty and vigorous co-operation.  But whenever it swerved from this line of integrity, his influence was thrown into the opposite scale.  This was the rule of his long career.  No persuasions or emoluments, no threats, no intimidations, could turn him from it, to the breadth of a hair.  It was in consequence of this characteristic, that it has so frequently been said of Mr. Adams, that he was not a reliable party man.  This was to a degree true.  He was not reliable for any policy adopted simply to promote party interests, and secure party ends.  But in regard to all measures which in his judgment would advance the welfare of the people, secure the rights of man, and elevate the race, no politician, no statesman the world has produced, could be more perfectly relied upon.

This disposition to act right, whether with or against his party, was developed by the first vote he ever gave in a legislative body.  While in the Massachusetts Senate, the Federalists were the dominant party.  It was the custom in that State, to choose the whole of the Governor’s Council from the party which had the majority in the Legislature.  In May, 1802, Mr. Adams was desirous that a rule should be adopted more regardful of the rights of the minority.  He accordingly proposed that several anti-Federalists should have seats in the Council of Gov.  Strong, and gave his first vote to that measure.