Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 to Lewis Tappan
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03891 Author/Creator: Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1845/07/15 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 25.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written as congressman. A beautiful and deeply felt letter. Concerning the opposition of abolitionists to his bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Adams writes that with opposition from both abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates, he resorts to silence and inaction. He further writes that, consulting the "sortes biblicae" (randomly opening a bible to learn one's fortune or course of action), he found the passage where the Prophet [Nathan] advised King David that the Lord had not chosen him to build the Temple (2 Samuel 7: 2-13). He ends the letter here. (Adams died three years later. Compensated emancipation was enacted in April 1862.)
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