Arguing About Slavery

[matthew mckeon]

I've just finished William Lee Miller's "Arguing About Slavery," an account of the "gag rule" imposed by slaveowners in Congress to prevent any discussion of slavery or abolition, in the 1830s and 40s.

The hero is John Quincy Adams, already in his seventies, as he uses his prestige, parliamentary skills and sheer stubborness to eventually overthrow the gag, and restore the right of petition and freedom of debate in Congress.

Adams, sarcastic, snobbish, yet capable of compassion and kindness, is described as a enormously intelligent figure, linked to the revolutionary generation of his father and mother, as well as the generation going to fight the war: Adams remembered the Battle of Bunker Hill, and freshman Congressman Abraham Lincoln was in the House, when Adams died there, still in harness.

Adams envisioned civil war breaking out over slavery, and that slavery would be ended by a president using war powers. It was an idea that was "terrible" but the abolishing of slavery would be "a glorious end"

For all the serious themes, it is a fast moving, very enjoyable book, painting a vivid picture of the still rough hewn Congress, the eccentrics and heroes of the early abolitionists, and a good primer on republican politics, at its best and worst.

[texascavcadet]

Sounds good Ill look into that.
Yes John Adams was a good man. and as history tells he was very right.

[unionblue]

Matt,

I have the book and very much enjoyed it. Glad to see it brought up for review.

It definately sets the stage and supports the contention that slavery, not any other issue, was the main source of contention between the South and the rest of the nation. It also shows how much freedom to whites the South was willing to sacrifice in order to maintain the institution.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[Alabaman]

Matthew,

I'll try to buy the book. Thanks for discussing it.

Did you or anyone see the 2 hour PBS show John and Abigail Adams? It was shown in the last several days on PBS's 'Experience' (IIRC?) program.

While it didn't cover the topic you mentioned, it did reveal an overview of John and Abigail Adams. Interestingly, J. Adams was severely maligned by Thomas Jefferson; his and Abigail's best friend. Jefferson apparently paid a man to slander Adams' name in the papers. Adams, being a Federalist, seemed in constant attack by Jefferson. The show covered Adams defending the British soldier in the Boston Massacre but not of the gag rule.

It is often written that Adams was crass and obstinate, even canky in his demeanor. To me it appears that Adams was very direct, fruitfull and honest to a fault. He undertook all he did with complete devotion and unselfishness. The tv show, narrated by Dr. McCullogh pointed out this along with the vast accomplishments of John Adams, which were numerous and great. It began with Adams pondering his perceived lack of recorded greatness among his Continental peers and ended more or less in the same though. It sparked an interest in me that is actually greater than reading the WBTS. Perhaps I'll begin a little reading on Adams and the Revolutionary War, and rest the CW theme a bit.

Rob

[elektratig]

Alabaman,

John Adams was truly a giant. I haven't seen the program you mention, but by coincidence I began reading McCullough's biography of him last night. The one significant mark against him, in my mind, is the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts during his presidency, which his Federalist administration used to persecute the emerging Jeffersonian Republicans in clear violation of the First Amendment. (That, in turn gave rise to the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, penned by Madison and Jefferson, respectively, which John Calhoun later used as one of the bases for his theories of nullification.) I'll be interested to read what McCullough has to say about that sorry episode of Adams's presidency. The later reconciliation between Jefferson and Adams, and the fact that they died on the same day -- July 4, 1826, fifty years to the day after July 4, 1776 -- have always touched me. Jefferson's last words were reportedly, "Adams still survives." He was wrong. Adams had died hours earlier.

Adams's son, John Quincy Adams, is also a remarkable figure. After a brilliant early career (senator, various ministries, Secretary of State under Monroe), his presidency almost immediately foundered on the rising tide of the Jacksonian revolution, which swept him out of office after one term in 1828. Yet he returned to the House, where he performed remarkable service fighting the "gag rule" (a terrible tactical mistake by the South, IMHO) during the 1830s and 1840s.

[matthew mckeon]

Great book. Lots of interesting bits. John Quincy Adams was secretary of state when John C. Calhoun was secretary of war. In his journal Adams remarks how intelligent and honest Calhoun was as secretary, but also a disturbing conversation when Calhoun(this in the 1820s) was already considering secession over slavery, even if it meant rejoining Britain as colonies.

For all his sarcasm and the incredibly unpopular stand he took, Adams maintained friendly relations with many of his opponents. Henry Wise, later governor of VA, particularly remembered him fondly. Also as common with anyone who criticized slavery, he received a great many death threats.

Another thing that got me, because it was mentioned on another thread, was the suppression of the US mails, to bar abolitionist materials. What a slippery slope! First it was abolitionist pamphlets, then it began to spread to newspapers that carried critical articles about slavery, then even coverage of the gag rule debates. A lesson about censorship for our times.