that some among them might not
be genuine.[10] But while denying all intention of trifling with the
House, he rejected the mercy extended to him in the last of the (p. 279)
long series of resolutions before that body. "I disclaim not," he
said, "any particle of what I have done, not a single word of what I
have said do I unsay; nay, I am ready to do and to say the same
to-morrow." He had no notion of aiding in making a loophole through
which his blundering enemies might escape, even though he himself
should be accorded the privilege of crawling through it with them. At
times during his speech "there was great agitation in the House," but
when he closed no one seemed ambitious to reply. His enemies had
learned anew a lesson, often taught to them before and often to be
impressed upon them again, that it was perilous to come to close
quarters with Mr. Adams. They gave up all idea of censuring him, and
were content to apply a very mild emollient to their own smarting
wounds in the shape of a resolution, to the effect that slaves did not
possess the right of petition secured by the Constitution to the
people of the United States.

[Footnote 10: Mr. Adams afterward said: "I believed
the petition signed by female names to be
genuine.... I had suspicions that the other,
purporting to be from slaves, came really from the
hand of a master who had prevailed on his slaves to
sign it, that they might have the appearance of
imploring the members from the North to cease
offering petitions for their emancipation, which
could have no other tendency than to aggravate
their servitude, and of being so impatient under
the operation of petitions in their favor as to
pray that the Northern members who should persist
in presenting them should be expelled." It was a
part of the prayer of the petition that Mr. Adams
should be expelled if he should continue to present
abolition petitions.]

In the winter of 1842-43 the questions arising out of the affair of
the Creole rendered the position then held by Mr. Adams at the head of
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs exceedingly distasteful to the
slave-holders. On January 21, 1842, a somewhat s