Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Dream More, Do More

Many people argue about how one voice cannot make a difference, I have a story which proves otherwise. We must always remember to stick to our beliefs, speak about the truth, and never give up.

John Quincy Adams, a person best known as the 6th President of the United States, was an advocate to end slavery in the states. Adams served his term as president from 1825-1829 and returned to Washington to continue his fight against slavery as a member of the House of Representatives in 1831.

Adams would take to the House floor to debate one issue, slavery. It did not matter what bill or resolution was up for debate, he would take his time to speak about ending slavery. Eventually, southern members of congress grew annoyed and flustered, this caused them to vote and pass the "gag rule" which prevented congress from hearing any anti-slavery petition. Essentially, congress outlawed it for Adams to speak on the House floor, but he continued to speak out against slavery talking to freshman members of congress about how slavery needed to end.

In 1847 Abraham Lincoln took his place in the House of Representatives and sat on the back bench of the House next to former President John Quincy Adams and they would discuss slavery. John Quincy Adams would die in 1848 thinking he did nothing in the fight against slavery, little did he know that years later a presidency of Abraham Lincoln would be defined by the abolishment of slavery.


"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams



Always an Aggie,
CT

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