Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

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2MEMOIRS OF JOHN ADAMS DIX.

ing, refreshing, invigorating all, may be turned out of its
course and forced into channels to which the common feeling
is alien, and in which it may be converted into a fountain of
bitterness and strife. I conjure you, then, to avoid all this.
Ask us not to do what every principle we have been taught,
and taught by your fathers, to venerate, condemns as unnatural and unjust."
Amid these painful discussions it is refreshing to turn to
an address of a different character. I allude to the speech,
made March 21, 1848, on a proposition to abolish the mission
to the Papal States. This measure was opposed by the Senator from New York. His remarks were listened to with attention and interest, including as they did an account of the
order and state of the Court of the Vatican, a summary of the
history of the temporal power, and such a pleasant description of the Eternal City, its Campagna, and ancient port, as
an accomplished classical scholar would be expected to give.
Pope Pius IX. had but recently begun his reign; he was admired and honored as a prince of liberal views and progressive tendencies; it was in a spirit of great cordiality toward
him, and of veneration for that branch of the Church of
which he was the admired head, that this plea for a suitable
representative near him was made; and the desired object
was accomplished.
I omit particular mention of other speeches made about
this time, such as that on the California claims, March 29,
1848; on the Yucatan bill, May 17, in the same year; and
on trade with Canada, delivered several months later. It is
time to proceed to the subject of the Free-soil movement in
1848.
Silas Wright was inaugurated Governor of the State of
New York January 1, 1845. The reluctance with which he
accepted that office was justified by the events which followed. His administration was embarrassed by a series of untoward occurrences, in consequence of which, notwithstanding