ere I am to be
found;' saying, as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. W. C. Johnson)
did just now, that he would call to account any person who dared
make allusion to what had taken place between him and another member
of this house. I do not intend to hear that any more, for myself or
others, if I can help it. Therefore I move to bring the matter up
for full discussion here, whether we are to be twitted and taunted
with remarks that a man is ready to meet us here or elsewhere. It
goes to the independence of this house; it goes to the independence
of every individual member of this house; it goes to the right of
speech and freedom of debate in this house; and I felt myself bound
to bear my testimony in the most decided manner against the practice
of duelling, or anything in the shape of even a virtual challenge
taking place in this house, now and forever. If the committee think
proper to put me down, after a debate of three weeks, involving
almost every topic under the sun, and in which not one man has been
called to order, I must submit. It shall go out to the country, and
I am willing that the sober sentiment of the whole nation shall be
my final judge on this subject."

Mr. Adams, after having recapitulated his course of proceedings on
various topics, and explained his motives and their relations on former
occasions, and his present general views on those subjects, closes his
remarks on duelling by declaring that what he had said had been from
motives of pure public spirit, with no disposition to offend any
gentleman, and least of all the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wise); but
that he had felt it his duty to say what he had said, because he
believed that the application of the principle of duelling, as regards
different portions of this house, is such that it must be discarded;
that duelling must be considered as a crime, and that it must not be
countenanced by professions of any necessity for its existence.

In January and March, 1841, Mr. Adams delivered his celebrated argument
before the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of the United
States, appellants, against Cinque and others, appellees. This was
afterwards published at length. In it he publicly arraigned before that
court and the civilized world the conduct of the then existing
administration, for having, in all their proceedings relating to these
unfortunate Africans, exhibi