"Expel him!" rose in all directions. One resolution after another
was offered looking toward his expulsion or censure, and it was
not until February 9, three days later, that he was able to take
the floor in his own defense. His speech was a masterpiece of
argument, invective, and sarcasm. He showed, among other things,
that he had not offered the petition, but had only asked the
opinion of the Speaker upon it, and that the petition itself
prayed that slavery should not be abolished. When he closed his
speech, which was quite as savage as any made against him, and
infinitely abler, no one desired to reply, and the idea of
censuring him was dropped.

The greatest struggle, however, came five years later, when, on
January 21, 1842, Mr. Adams presented the petition of certain
citizens of Haverhill, Massachusetts, praying for the dissolution
of the Union on account of slavery. His enemies felt. that now,
at last, he had delivered himself into their hands. Again arose
the cry for his expulsion, and again vituperation was poured out
upon him, and resolutions to expel him freely introduced. When he
got the floor to speak in his own defense, he faced an excited
House, almost unanimously hostile to him, and possessing, as he
well knew, both the will and the power to drive him from its
walls. But there was no wavering in Mr. Adams. "If they say they
will try me," he said, "they must try me. If they say they will
punish me, they must punish me. But if they say that in peace and
mercy they will spare me expulsion, I disdain and cast away their
mercy, and I ask if they will come to such a trial and expel me.
I defy them. I have constituents to go to, and they will have
something to say if this House expels me, nor will it be long
before the gentlemen will see me here again." The fight went on