The men with whom he had exciting scenes in regard to the "right of petition" and its cognate issues were in no case the leading statesmen of the day.

Wise, Bynum, Dromgoole, Pinckney, Lewis, Thomas F.Marshall, and the other Southern representatives with whom Mr.Adams came in conflict, were ready and brilliant men, but were far below the first rank of debaters.

Indeed, with few exceptions, the really eminent debaters were in the Senate during the period of Mr.Adams's service in the House.

Mr.Clay, Mr.
Webster, Mr.Calhoun, Mr.Benton, Mr.Hayne, Mr.Silas Wright, Mr.
Crittenden, Mr.Ewing, Mr.Watkins Leigh, Mr.Rives, Mr.Choate, Mr.John M.Clayton, Mr.Berrien, were an altogether higher and abler class of men than those with whom Mr.Adams had his frequent wrangles in the House.

The weapons which he so successfully employed against the young "fire-eaters" would have proved pointless and valueless in a contest with any one of the eminent men who in that long period gave character to the Senate.
The only time Mr.Adams ever crossed swords in the House with a man of commanding power was in the famous discussion of January, 1836, with George Evans of Maine.