Chapter IV: Impeachment (3)

[566] Cutler announced it as "an outrageous, infuriated declamation, which might have done honor to Marat, or Robespierre." (Cutler, II, 184.)

[567] _Memoirs, J. Q. A._: Adams, I, 359.

[568] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 642; _Chase Trial_, 256.

[569] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 644; _Chase Trial_, 257.

[570] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 644-45; _Chase Trial_, 258.

[571] See _infra_, chap. X.

[572] See _supra_, 196.

[573] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 651-52; _Chase Trial_, 266.

[574] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 641-62. John Quincy Adams notes in his diary that Randolph spoke for more than two hours "with as little relation to the subject matter as possible--without order, connection, or argument; consisting altogether of the most hackneyed commonplaces of popular declamation." Throughout, records Adams, there was "much distortion of face and contortion of body, tears, groans and sobs." (_Memoirs, J. Q. A._: Adams, I, 359.)

"His speech ... was devoid of argument, method or consistency--but was replete with invective & even vulgarity.... I never heard him deliver such a weak feeble & deranged harangue." (Plumer to his wife, Feb. 28, 1805, Plumer MSS. Lib. Cong.)

"After he sat down--he threw his feet upon the table--distorted his features & assumed an appearance as disgusting as his harangue." (Plumer, Feb. 27, 1805, "Diary," Plumer MSS. Lib. Cong.)

[575] See _supra_, chaps. II and III; _infra_, chap. VI, and vol. IV, chap. I.

[576] "There was a vast concourse of people ... and great solemnity." (Cutler to Torrey, March 1, 1805, Cutler, II, 193.) "The galleries were crowded--many ladies. I never witnessed so general & so deep an anxiety." (Plumer to his wife, March 1, 1805, Plumer MSS. Lib. Cong.)

[577] Plumer, 323.

[578] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 665-69; _Memoirs, J. Q. A._: Adams, I, 362-63.

[579] _Ib._ 363.

[580] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 669. By this time Burr had changed to admiration the disapproval with which the Federalist Senators had, at first, regarded his conduct of the trial. "Mr. Burr has certainly, on the whole, done himself, the Senate, and the Nation honor by the dignified manner in which he has presided over this high and numerous court," testifies Senator Plumer, notwithstanding his deep prejudice against Burr. (Plumer, March 1, 1805, "Diary," Plumer MSS. Lib. Cong.)

[581] See Adams: _U.S._ II, 243.

[582] See Plumer, 324; _Memoirs, J. Q. A._: Adams, I, 371; Adams: _John Randolph_, 131-32, 152; Channing: _Jeff. System_, 120; Adams: _U.S._ II, 243.

[583] Plumer here adds six years to Chase's age--an unusual inaccuracy in the diary of that born newspaper reporter.

[584] Plumer to his son, March 3, 1805, Plumer, 325.

[585] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 1213; and see _Annual Report, Am. Hist. Assn. 1896_, II, 64; also Adams: _U.S._ II, 240.

[586] Cutler, II, 185.

[587] _Annals_, 8th Cong. 2d Sess. 1213; and see J. Q. Adams to his father, March 14, 1805, _Writings, J. Q. A._: Ford, III, 117.

[588] Jan. 30, 1805, _Memoirs, J. Q. A._: Adams, I, 341.

[589] See Adams: _U.S._ II, 243.

[590] See _infra_, chap. X.

[591] Plumer, 325. Jefferson soon took Plumer into the Republican fold.