friends were promptly informed of the detention of General Bayley, and were about to return to Washington when Senator Barrow was taken seriously ill, and in the course of a day or two died. His disease resulted, it is supposed, from exposure on the night of his departure from Washington.

This sad occurrence, of course, terminated the affair, and was deeply regretted by all parties. Mr. Benton in the Senate, and Mr. Hannegan, with others, delivered appropriate and touching eulogies over the dead senator, and his death was also noticed in the House in terms which showed the great respect with which he was regarded by Congress, and by all who knew him.

Congress, after a prolonged and important session, adjourned.

CHAPTER XIX.

Re-election to Congress-Opening of the Session-Organization of the House of Representatives-Mr. Winthrop Elected Speaker-Abraham Lincoln Takes his Seat in the House-New Members of the SenatePresident's Message-Death of Mr. Adams-Circumstances Attending it.-Marks of Respect to his Memory-Treaty of Peace with MexicoGeneral Taylor's Return Home-Nomination to the Presidency.

AFTER the adjournment of Congress I returned to Alabama and was warmly welcomed by my friends. In the course of a few weeks I was nominated by a Whig convention for re-election and accepted the nomination. The Democratic party brought out no opposing candidate, and I had the satisfaction of being elected to represent the people of the whole district without regard to party lines.

The opening of the session of Congress in December presented some features of unusual interest, some members of both houses having disappeared and others having been elected to take their places.

The House of Representatives was organized by the election of the Honorable Robert C. Winthrop, of Massachusetts, as Speaker, the House having a Whig majority.

Mr. Winthrop was eminently qualified to fill the important position to which he was chosen; his personal appearance was impressive, tall, with a face expressive of intellect and character, and with a bearing that would have distinguished him in any assembly; his attainments were large; he was a statesman and a scholar, and his accomplishments made him a very pleasing person in

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social life; his election was received with great satisfaction throughout the country; a Northern man but with a breadth of view and a liberality of sentiment that inspired confidence everywhere.

Among the new members of the House there was one who not only attracted attention at the time but rose to great distinction in the country afterwards-Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois.

In the Senate, Mr. Dallas, the Vice-President, presided with his accustomed dignity, his appearance imparting a charm to the position which he filled. Several new senators appeared, among them was Mr. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi. He had recently returned from Mexico, where he had rendered such important services in the army and had won great distinction.

Mr. Stephen A. Douglas had been elected to the Senate from Illinois, and his distinguished services in the House made him at once a conspicuous senator.

Mr. R. M. T. Hunter, who had won great distinction in the House of Representatives by his services, and having been at one time Speaker of the House, had been elected as a senator from Virginia.

President Polk's message, which was promptly delivered to both Houses, recommended several subjects for consideration, but treated chiefly of the military events which had occurred in Mexico. He spoke in glowing terms of the brilliant victories which had been won by our arms, and urged still a vigorous prosecution of the war. General Winfield Scott occupied the city of Mexico with his splendid army and was a conspicuous figure at home and abroad. The President referred to the triumphs of our arms under both the great military commanders, General Taylor and General Scott, and made some suggestions as to the policy of conducting the war with a view to securing certain advantages upon the conclusion of a treaty of peace with Mexico.

LAST WORDS WITH MR. ADAMS.

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In the course of a few weeks an important and sad event occurred-the death of Honorable John Quincy Adams. The circumstances attending it were remarkable. On the 21st February, a resolution had been offered by a Whig member of the House expressing appreciation of the services of General Winfield Scott and tendering him the thanks of Congress; immediately a Democratic member moved to amend the resolution by inserting the name of General Gideon Pillow, and also moved the previous question, which of course cut off debate. It was well known that General Pillow had been appointed by the President to his position in General Scott's army, and had conducted himself in a way so offensive to that commander as to make himself an object of criticism, and at length he was ordered to appear before a court-martial for trial. The clerk was proceeding to call the roll when I rose from my seat and walked to the desk of Mr. Adams to pay my respects to him; I had just returned from a visit to Alabama, where I had been called to argue a cause before the Supreme Court, at Montgomery, and my relations with Mr. Adams made it proper that on the first day I entered the House after my return I should call and speak to him. After exchanging a word or two with Mr. Adams he said: "Mr. Hilliard, is not General Pillow under arrest at this time?" I replied that it was understood that he had been ordered before a court-martial on charges preferred against him as an officer. "And yet," said Mr. Adams, "they propose to include his name in a resolution giving the thanks of Congress to General Scott. Of course the previous question cuts off debate, and I cannot address myself to the House, but when the call is ended I shall rise and ask the Speaker if General Pillow is not ordered before a court-martial for investigation of his conduct in Mexico." I saw that Mr. Adams was much excited, and I returned to my seat to observe the result.

The National Intelligencer accurately describes what occurred:

"Just after the yeas and nays were taken on a question, and the Speaker had risen to put another question to the House, a sudden cry was heard on the left of the chair. 'Mr. Adams is dying!' Turning our eyes to the spot, we beheld the venerable man in the act of falling over the left arm of his chair, while his right arm was extended, grasping his desk for support. He would have dropped upon the floor had he not been caught in the arms of the member sitting next to him. A great sensation was created in the House; members from all quarters rushing from their seats and gathering round the fallen statesman, who was immediately lifted into the area in front of the clerk's table. The Speaker instantly suggested that some gentleman move an adjournment, which being promptly done, the House adjourned. A sofa was brought, and Mr. Adams, in a state of perfect helplessness, though not of entire insensibility, was gently laid upon it. The sofa was then taken up and borne out of the Hall into the Rotunda, where it was set down, and the members of both houses and strangers, who were fast crowding around, were with some difficulty repressed, and an open space cleared in its immediate vicinity; but a medical gentleman, a member of the House (who was prompt, active, and self-possessed throughout the whole painful scene), advised that he be removed to the door of the Rotunda, opening on the east portico, where a fresh wind was blowing. This was done; but the air being chilly and loaded with vapor, the sofa was, at the suggestion of Mr. Winthrop, once more taken up and removed to the Speaker's apartment, the doors of which were forthwith closed to all but professional gentlemen and particular friends. While lying in this apartment, Mr. Adams partially recovered the use of his speech, and observed, in faltering accents: 'This is the end of earth'; but quickly added: 'I am composed.' Members had by this time reached Mr. A.'s abode with the melancholy intelligence, and soon after Mrs. Adams and his nephew and niece arrived and made their way to the appalling scene.