But this was the last spasm of impotent malice. From the commencement of his trial his reputation rose in public estimation, and it continued to rise, till at the time of his death, it had reached an elevation never surpassed by that of any man on the American Continent, with the single exception of Washington. The astonishing popularity of this lately defamed and persecuted man, is evinced by the strange and extraordinary praises it extorted from pohticians of every description. On the announcement of his death, prominent men on the floor of Congress seized the occasion to make speeches in his honor. Among | the eulogists were numbered no less than three gentlemen from the South. -The speeches were, by order of the House, published in a pamphlet, and of this 20,000 copies, adorned with a portrait of the deceased, and a copy of his autograph, were distributed at pubhc expense.
A panegyric on Napoleon, from which all allusion to with important appointments, by and with the advice and consent of a Whig Senate, the two former to foreign missions, ajid the latter to the post of Secretary of the Navy his military achievements should be excluded, would be regarded as a unique performance, yet it would find its counterpart in these Congressional oraisons funebres. In these the reader is told, in general terms, of the talents, virtue, and patriotism of the deceased ; but not a hint is given of that course of conduct which in fact secured for him these very eulogies. This CongressiSnal monument raised to the honor of Adams, gives no intimation that he was the champion of constitutional liberty, the restorer of the right of petition, the indomitabte foe of human bond- age. No allusion is made to his terrible