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LINES ON THE DEATH OFJOHN QUINCY ADAMS
- The University of North Carolina Press
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America and Other Poems 47 Oh, may that star’s resplendent light Continue o’er the world to shine, Till nations now in Pagan night Shall worship at thy holy shrine. Till all the people of the earth, From north to south, from east to west, Hear tidings of the Saviour’s birth, And bow unto his great behest. Till superstition’s blighting sway Shall flee before religion’s light, As doth the glorious orb of day Disperse the shadows of the night. LINES ON THE DEATH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS⁸ THE great, the good, the just, the true, Has yielded up his latest breath; The noblest man our country knew, Bows to the ghastly monster, Death; The son of one whose deathless name Stands first on history’s brightest page; The highest on the list of fame As statesman, patriot, and sage. 8. The son of Abigail Adams and John Adams, the second president of the United States, John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) served as the sixth president of the United States (1825–29). Soon after leaving office, he was elected to Congress and became a vociferous opponent of slavery. He took particular aim at the gag rules that prohibited the acknowledgment and consideration of antislavery petitions in Congress. In 1841 Adams participated in the defense of the Amistad slave rebels in a case that the Supreme Court decided in favor of Joseph Cinqué and the other West Africans on the Spanish slaver. 48 America and Other Poems In early youth he learned to prize The freedom which his father won; The mantle of the patriot sire, Descended on his mightier son. Science, her deepest hidden lore Beneath his potent touch revealed; Philosophy’s abundant store, Alike his mighty mind could wield. The brilliant page of poetry Received additions from his pen, Of holy truth and purity, And thoughts which rouse the souls of men! Eloquence did his heart inspire, And from his lips in glory blazed, Till nations caught the glowing fire, And senates trembled as they praised! While all the recreant of the land To slavery’s idol bowed the knee— A fawning, sycophantic band, Fit tools of petty tyranny— He stood amid the recreant throng, The chosen champion of the free, And battled fearlessly and long For justice, right, and liberty. What though grim Death has sealed his doom Who faithful proved to God and us; And slavery, o’er the patriot’s tomb Exulting, pours its deadliest curse; Among the virtuous and free His memory will ever live; Champion of right and liberty, The blessings, truth and virtue give. ...