WRITINGS OF Sur HOUSTON, 1827
96
elegance: but as the public will be better enabled to judge of its merits by submitting a specimen, I will claim the liberty of using a quotation from a poem composed in reference to Mr. Jefferson, on the subject of the Lewis and Clark's expedition up the Missouri. Here, Sir is the Quotation: "Let dusky Sally henceforth bear The name of Isabella, And let the mountain all of salt Be christened Monticello. The hog with navel on his back, Tom Paine may be when drunk, Sir, And Joel call the Prairie-dog, Which once was called a skunk, Sir." The authenticity of this poem has never been denied to Mr. J. Q. Adams. From the facts which I have stated, and the evi- dence adduced, I think it is not difficult to determine, that the gentleman from Ohio was mistaken, when he assured us that the revilers of Jefferson had fallen to rise no more. [At this point in the debate the CHAIR arrested the speech in consequence of the expiration of the time allowed for the con- sideration of resolutions. A day intervened, during which all debate on the resolution was suspended, by the consideration of business which took precedence. On Saturday, Mr. Houston re- sumed as follows:] The remarks in which I· was engaged when arnsted by the Chair, were intended to shew by evidence which has never been controverted, that Mr. John Q. Adams enjoys some distinction as a poet. In what order of poets he ought to be ranked is a matter which I will let better judges than myself determine. But is it not singular that those arrayed against Mr. Jefferson and his Administration should have found it necessary, for the purpose of bringing the same into contempt, to have descended to per- sonalities, lampooning in doggerel rhymes of the lowest order? This has been done, and the present Chief Magistrate was among the foremost. But I am assured by a gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr. John- son) that the personage who now fills the Executive Chair of this Union is not only the son of a distinguished predecessor, but also the relative of the immortal Samuel Adams. Sir, I am equally indisposed as that gentleman, or any other individual, to impute to any man the foibles or iniquities of his ancestors, whether lineal or collateral. I ask, Sir, whether the present Executive,
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