The New York Herald Newspaper, June 19, 1875, Page 3

THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING —-—__- A Purther Review of the Diary of John Quincy Adams--Social Life Pifty Years Ago, Lafayetie’s Visit to America and His Triumphal Progress. THE STRUGGLE FOR THE PRESIDENCY. A Quadrilateral Contest---Adams, Craw- ford, Clay and Jackson. BHIND THE SCBNES OF ‘THE BRA OF GOOD FEELING,” The Rise and Progress of Adams as a Candidate. THE MACBETH POLICY. “If Chance Will Have Me King Why Chance May Crown Me.” MeEMorRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, COMPRISING PORTIONS OF HIS DIARY FROM 1795 TO 1843. Edited by Charles Francis Adams, Vol VL Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1875. We had occasion a few days since to review some of the questions discussed by Mr, Adams in tnig most interesting hook, We now return to the subject, and propose to follow the author through that period of his career which termi. nated his service as Secretary of State, and was | signalized by his entrance upon the Presidency, | The great value of this book will be uudcrstood when we remind our readers that it covers one of the most interesting episodes in our history, the episode marking the close of ‘the era of good feeling” and the tontest between Adams, Olay, Jackson tnd Crawford for the Presidency; the failure of the Electoral College to unite upon a candidate, and tne election by the House, and the beginning of a new destiny in our politics, This boox is vir- tually the dividing line between the old and the new, the past and the preseut of the Republic, the Period of the Revolution and what will be known hereafter in history as the period of emancipation. SOCIRTY DURING THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING. Before entering upon these stormy passages let us note some aspects of social life in Washing- ton filty yeara ago. Iu 1822 Charles Mathews en- tertains Mr, Adams and a company at Wasblug- ton with “Tbe Trip to Paris,” and ‘The Diligence,” in which he personated ten or twelve characters, male and female, This entertainment was “wonderful and amusing and continually laughable,” but “most of the hearers were weary before it was over, It is a picture of Teniers, vr of Jan Steen, imitation to admire of that which in nature is only despised,” The en- tertainment was injured by tue enthusiasm of the periormer on the plano, who was “so rapt in ecstacy at the exhibition of Matnews himself as tobe never in time for bis own.’” Tnere was a famous dinner party on tne 2d of November, 1822, which is not without interest, seeing.that among the guests was John A. Dix, Dix wasin Wash- ington, deavoring to further the interests of Jobo C, Calhoun, Mr. Adams notes that at this dinner there was @ controversy between ‘laze- Weiland himself on the subject of Tokay wine, Tazewell was a Virginian, who died at the verge of the war in extreme old age. At the time of this dinner he was a Commissioner under the Florida treaty. “dle perseveriugly insisted that } Tokay was a species of Ruenish wine. Alter insisting to the contrary for some | time, in perfecs; good bumor and clyility, As he still persisted, in une warmth of the colli- sion Isaid, ‘Why, you never grank a drop of To- kay in your life!’ Iset this down as a token of self-disapprobation for having said it.” This act Of discourtesy made @ deep impression upon the | writer’s mind, for again he says, have no good | Apology to make to myscif for this incivility, for | ‘nat Tazeweil himself 1s not spariag of feelings in the ciash of conversation, an@ had been much | otherwise even at this dinner, is no justification tome.” Oneof the Secretary’s favorite amuse- ments was swimming in the Potomac, to which babit he makes frequent reference. There was some excitement as to how to properly bury the Baron Greuho, Prussian Minister, and the first foreign diplomatist who bad died in Washington, 4nd much correspondence about funereal eti- | quette. One diplomatist proposed that Baron Mal- Hitz should carry the ribbon and cross of the Order ofthe Rea Eagie on a cusbion before the hearse. “I advised them,” says Mr. Adams, “not to carry the cushion with tue ribbon and che cross, ior if they did there would ve danger that tue people would take them for Freemasons,” The Baron was prop- erly buried, however, Galiatin, Adams and South. ard attenaing the procession, wiich numbered twenty-fve carriages, “the rain pouring in tor- rents.” Qn the 8th of January, 1824, tne anniver- Bary of the battle of New Orleans, @ great ball was given to General Jackson, newly arrived as Senator from Tennessee, at which a thousand per- sons attenced. Tunis ball was the great event of the season, ang was celebrated in the newspapers in poetry and prose. Attbis time Jackson and Adams were unusually friendiy, Adams courting she military splendor of Jackson's name, and freammmg of ronning for the Presidency with Jackson on his ticket for Vice President. Jackson himseif was profuse in his own hospitalities, for We have @ ainner party at which Clay and Cal- | | | | | houn and Adams attended. Clay becam “warm, vehement and absurd upon the tarif,” “so ardent, dogmatical and over- bearing that it was extremely diMeuit to pre- | serve the temper of friendly society with him.” | There was a visit to the theatre to see “Ihe | Benhool tor Scandal,” with Cooper as Charies Sur- | face and Mr, and Mrs, Barnes as Sir Peter and — Lady Teazie. This was Thomas Altnorp Cooper, | ward of William Godwin, who had beon playing | for thirty years, and in his da, wenty yoars ago, managed the old Park Tneatre. At another performance. at which was played “Damon and Pythias” and “Katharine aud Petrucnio,” @mung the audience were Monroe, Lafayette, General Jackson and Mr. Crawford, The per- formance was good, but Cooper is getting into she decline of age.” We fear it was drink and high \lfe, for Cooper was really about irty, inere Was another dinner party, which is not without Interest, for among ine guests were Dennison, alterward Speaker of the Louse of Commons; and tw oecome & Lord Ossory; Stanley, Who was to be the famous Lord Derby, father of the present Earl; Whortiey, aftorward Lord Wharoeciife, and Labouchere, afterward to be Lord Taunton, So that, aithough Mr. Adams Was «distressed by the Oewspapers and beginning to ‘eel the fever of Presidential ambition, be sti! malntaiued to more than an ordinary degree @ brilliant, soctal lire, There were some jines published by @ fasnionable poet at the time, aud which appeared on tno Morning of the sth of January, to wulen we have referred, an extract irom which may be of inter- eat Dow, 98 showing tne social tomper that pro- | Valied during the era of good feeling:— | Wend you with ihe world to-night ? Brown and tair and wise aud wiitys | Eyes that toat in seas of light, Laughing mouths anu dimples pretiy; Relles anu matrons, mais and madades, Ali are gone wy Mrs. Avams'. vhere the mist of tne tuvure, the gloom of the past Au melt tuto ilulit at the warm glance of pl © And the only regrets, lest melting too fash, Mammas should wove of in the midst of a measure, Wend you with the world to nignt? Bast and west aud south and north, Forma cuaen ae oen brian . And ui it sae a srticns Abuunass 8 | Mr, Calhoun and his iriends, “the professions of | ‘rhe election o! Calhoun to the Presidency Adams | | decisive share, | the District Attorneyship NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET, ‘tis the noon of beanty’s reign. Webster, Hamiltous are xoing : buster Loyd and Southers: Hayne; Western Thonas, Kayly smiling boriand, Nature's yrot gy; Young Ve Wolle, al! hearts beguiling; Morgan. Venton, Brown and Lee. Belles and matrons, maids aud madames, All are gone to Mrs, Adams), HENRY CLAY AND THE PRESIDENCY. The Presidential question grew in importance, and the opinions of Mr. Adams upon nia contem- poraries are eentroiled largeiy*by his estimate of their political sympathies or the danger of their wresting from him the diadem of the Presidency. Clay especially, who was afterward to be his own Secretary of State, and whom he was to defend in later years with an earnestness almost pa- thetic, 18 scarcely alluded to by Mr. Adams, ex- cept in harsh terms, until the exigencies of the canvass made him bis supporter aud no longer his rival. On June 20, 1822, “Clay's conduct has been hostile to me and generally tn- sidious. From the time of the Ghent negotiation lhave been in the way of his ambition, and by nimself and bis subordinates he has done all in his power to put me out of tt,” And @ month later:—‘‘rhis 18 @ miserable plot against me de- vised by Olay at Ghent, and in which he has made @ tool of Russell. Clay and Russeil are the eagle and the worm of Herder’s fable—Clay soars and Russell crawls to the top of the mountain,” In November, 1523, Adams accuses Clay of endeav- oring to sacrifice the administration to his own popularity. Still later Clay “is the most impru- dent man in the world.” We haye allusion to Clay’s “Parthian shafts” and “nis subsequent Qinching from the contest whicn he had chal- lengea.’? When Clay speaks of his election to the Presidency as being certain Adams answers:— “He plays brag as he has done all bis life.” DANIEL WEBSTER. Mr. Webstemdoes not fare much better at the bands of the ex-President. Although not much older than Mr. Clay he had come later into Con- gress, and was now serving his third term as a Representative from Boston. He was aiterward to become a leader of the friends of Mr. Adams? | administration; but the relations between them during these early Presidential movements were not cordial. In January, 1824, Mr, Adams fears that the conduct of Mr, Webster is “equivocal and somewhat suspicious,” but that hg “reserved his opmion upon Webster’s mo- tives.’? April, 1824, he is convinced “that Webster had Positively engaged to support Calnoun for the | Presidency, and was now ready to support any one else,” “Ualnoun and Crawford had botn taken hold of his ambition, and he bad failen into thelr tolis.” We have Rufus King complaining of | Webster being ‘shy and nnsccial,”’ mainly be- cause of King’s friendship for Adams, Still later it was feared that Mr. Webster was being lured | by the friends of Jackson, In May, 1824, Mr. |; Adams is convinced that ‘Webster ts to have an office of high distinction in the event of Craw- ford’s election as President,” and his course bad presented ‘a combination of talent, of ambition, of political management and of heartless injui tice.” A month later this becomes the ‘timid, insidious and treacherous partiality of Webscer.” Then came o longing, to go to England as the American Minister on the part of Mr, Webster, which Mr. Adams thought mignt be “gratified hereaster,” but not immediately, a longing, in. deed, that was never to be giatified, for Webster only visited England as a private gentleman, GALHOUN AND THE PRESIDENCY, John ©, Calhoun is one of the most conspicuous caaracters in this history, The impression Mr, Adams conveys Of this distinguished man is not | that o1 the austere, Digh-minded, unselfish patriot which South Carolina mistory nas created, Cal- | houn’s ambition is @ source of constant uneasi- ness. In July, 1822, Adams complains of Calhoun’s partisans attempting to degrade him in the pub- lic opinion, and @ coolness had arisen between | them, turning relations which had once been | confidential Imto those of simple ceremony, West Point is sustained by Calhoun because of ‘the | patronage which belongs to the War Department, and to which he clings.’”’ 1t seems Adams had de- | sired to limit West Point and to reduce the ex, pense of the military education, but Calhoun would | not permitit, At another time Caltoun is spoken of as one who “has @ candidate always ready for everything,” and who was especially profuse | in candidates as the election for President drew | near. There is an intimation that Calboun would | really like War, 80 anxious he Is to strengthen the patronage of bis department. When the mission | to France 18 considered Caihoun, in nominating among others De Witt Ciinton and Edward Living. ston, bas “in all bis movements of every kind an eye vo himself,” January, 1824, Caihoun is ‘tam pering wita the Massachusetts federatists for his electioneering purposes.” Adams objects to the appointment of Mr. Dallas as Minister to Mexico in January, 1824, because he 1s an avowed parti- san of Mr. Oalnoun, There is a note of a convei- sation with S. D. Ingham, @ conspicuous politician in Pennsylvania, who was afterward to be Secre- tary of the Treasury under Jackson and tobe driven out of his Cabinet, and who represeuted Mr. Calhoun’s Interests, respecting G. M, Dallas, and generally respecting the treatment of Adams by friendship and the acta of insidious hostility.” | plainiy opposed in this conversation, mainly be- cause he was too young a man, YOUTH IN THE RRESIDENCY, ‘The entry in the diary on this point is worthy of | reproduction, as showing the conservative mind | which he would need to quarrel with no one. | | His name and cvaracter would serve to restore | | an umoreila,’” of the writer, “But ours was practically more a government of perzonal consideration and in- fluence than of written articles. There was in the genius of our institutions a gradwated suboraination among the persons by whom the | government Was administered. Reputation was | the basis of our elections. The embiem of its or- | ganization was @ pyramid, at the point of which was the chief, under whom men of high consider- ation, though not equal to his, naturally tound | their places. Among the sources of this consid. eration age and experience had their share, and, uniess superseded by very transcendent merit, a This had never yet veen other- wise under our present constitution, Not a single instance had occurred of a person older than the President of the United States accepting office as a head of department under him, This was not the result of any written law, but it arose from the natural operation of our system. What the effect of such a departure trom it a8 the election of Mr. Calhoun might oe I could not undertake to say.” | SHADOWS OF THE PAST, | Between Calhoun and Jackson, Adams was preferably for Jackson. He continued this iriend- ship untii after bis own election, when it broke into vindictive and angry hostility on account of Jackson's treacherous and slanderous accusation o! “bargain and saie.” It is curious to note that General Scott foats through these pages as seek- ing an election to Congress from Virginia in the interest of Calnoun. So proud was Scott of his Virginia blood thar, evidently not foreseeing the tremendous events which were to come forty vears later, he took pains to say that “nothing could give him more pain than to diferin opioion upon any subject from the people of Virginia.” We have glimpses of Horace Bioney, now living in the mimety-sixth year Of bis age in Puiladelphia, as Mr. Adams’ candidate for the mission to France, While our venerabie and iliustrious towns- man, Governor Dix, i# presents in Washington in April, 1824, busily concerned about the Presi- deney and endeavoring (o reconcile the interests of Cajhoun and Adams aad Jacksou, Lix was then @ lively young politician of twenty-six; out he must have been high in the connelis of the con- trolling spirits, for Adams says:—“"Dix afterward hinted to Taylor that Calhoun'a friends wished him to ve Secreiary of State,” @ piace it was sup- | posed mignt be Vacant, Reveruy Jounson is pro- sented at May 31, 1824, then in the tweaty-eiguth year of his age, a8 William Wirt’s candidate for of Baltimore, Mr, Adams’ objection to Johnson is young man,” ANDREW JACKSON LOOMING UP. But all tis time the really strong man tn the | eyes of the country, although it does not uppear | to have been so either to Aaams or Clay, or Val. houn or Crawford, was Andrew Jackson, Senator | from Tennessee, it Was proposed | to to Mexico. | tne erivcism upon the appoiutment was that he might be “sometimes too im- patient and violent.” At this time Jackson had been nominated by the Legislature of ren- | nessee for the Presidency, and Mr. Adams ea- j pressed the furtier fear that his nomination to a | mission might look like an atiempt te send him out of the country in the Interests of rivai candl- dates, Then there comes aseries of attentions | onthe part of Adams to Jackson, showing that | in the combinations of that time 1t was the alm | of the New Englaud statesmen to make an alll- ance with the Tennessee general. But the Ten- | nessee example reached Pennsylvania, and in | March, 1824, the Legislature of that State nomi- | Dated Jackson by 124 votes out of 126, for election as | President, with John ©, Calhoun as Vice President. The good feeling during this era wasso paramount that notwiths;anding the political quarrels, the personal intercourse of these chiefs continued unbroken, One of the objections tc nominating General Jackson as Vice Pres- ident was expressed by Mr. Livermore, Who feared the effect of his candidature in New | England because of a letter to Mr, Monroe, juat published, wherein he says “he would have hanged the three principal leaders of the Hartford Oon- vention as spies.’’ To this Mr. Adams responded :— | “L gaid the Vice Presidency was a siation in | waich the General could hang no one and in the forgotten dignity of the place and it would afford an easy, dignified retirement to his old | age,” Jackson was then m the fifty-cignth year of his age, but two months older than Mr. Adams | himself. He was not to be quietly pensioned off into history as the incumbent of a nominal and almost | useless office, Even at this lapse of flty years, | when these events and the actorsin them and | the passions engendered are hushed and buried, | | | we can scarcely read without 4 smile of the efforts o/ the great men of tne time to ignore the rude and lusty Captain of the West, who was to become | One of the transcendent figures in our politics and | to be greater in action and political power and in Influence upon his country than the eloquent Clay, the logical Caihoun or the scholarly and accomplished Adams, LAFAYETTE’S VISIT. Among the most interesting events of the pe- riod was the visit of the illustrious Lafayette, who came herein the sixty-seventh yeur of his | age to see the country he had served so pobly in | his yout, When tne invitation was extended to | Lafayette there was aiear lest it might be cou- | strued in France as “indicating strong hostility to the Bourbons,” The proposition to send a national irigate to bring him was declimed by Lafayette, Who bad the good sense to know what construc- on would be placed on that transaction, and who had experience enough of the variable moods of republicanism at home to hesitate about taxing the kindness of his friends in the United States. Adams first met Lafayette in Philadelphia on the 2d of Octover, 1824¢ There was a ball with inscrip- | tions and mottoes and painted scenery and a visit to Christ church, where Charles J. Ingersoll and Lafayette attended public ser- vice, A visit to the Peters farm, now em- bracea in the grounds of the Centennial bulid- ing, followed. Adams was shown a Spanish chest. nut tree, the nut of which was pianted by Presi- dent Washington just before nis retirement from the Presidency. There was an imspection of the | Penitentiary prisoners. ‘The contrast of desperas tion, malice, hatred, revenge, impudence, treach- ery and scorn displayed upon this collection of | criminals was more remarkable from the cueer- fulness, kind feeling and joy visible in the counte- nances of the peopl: crowding about the General wherever he goes.” On the 5th of October, 1824, Lalayette was received ia the Hall of Indepen- dence, tbe interior of which Mr. Adams notes “has been entirely changed since the time when the Congress of the Coniederation met there.” After the reception Laiayette reviewed the children of the public schools, nearly four thousana in num- ber, from seven to fourteen years of age, from the j steps of the south front door of the State House, There were addresses, banners and song, and “a speech in French by General Cadwallader’s son, a jad of about fourteen.” This procession took up | three hours in passing, during which “the Gen- eral deciined being seated or covered, even with From Philadelphia Lafuyette continued to Baltimore, accompanied by Adams | as secretary of State. Whon he landed he was | entertained ina tent ‘used by General Washing. | ton during the Revolutionary war, borrowed | from Mr. Custis, of Arlington.” Among those who received Lafayette were Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. Colonel John E, H@ivard, ‘one of the highly distinguisned oMcers of the Revolution,” and “several other veterans or the same class, all | deeply affected by the scene, which was truly | | of their iabors, their achievements and their en- | by friends in New York, but New York did not | votes was to capture tue office, It was a canvasa pathetic.” On the 10th of Deeembver Lafayette was received by the House of Representatives, | Mr. Clay being the Speaker. “G. W. Lafayette’s | | observation to me:—‘What a glorious day for his | father!’ On the Ist of January there was a ain- | mer given by members of both Houses of Con- | | press, attended by the President; “a storm of rain afterwards turning to snow.” Mr. Ciay | made a speech about Bolivar and the cause of South America, “and seemed very desirous of eliciting speeches trom me and Mr. Caihoug, He told me that he shoulda be glad to have with me. goon some confidential conversation upon public , affairs,” JOUN ADAMS IN HIS OLD aGr. There 1s a glimpse of the venerable Joun | Adams, the father of the writer, then closing his long and glorious life at Quincy, August 25, 1923, © Mr. Adams writes:—“At one we arrived at my father’s house, and I was deeply affected at seeing him. He is bowed with age, and scarcely can | walk across @ room without assistance.” A week later he engaged Stewart to paint the picture of | bis father, The artist promised that he would “take with him his best brush, to paint a picture of-affection and of curiosity for future times.’ | | There was a rumor among the political scandals of the day that Jonn Quincy Adams was under the displeasure of bis father, wno had made a will Jeaving bis son without an inheritan This Tumor was brought to the attention of Adums, who, inan entry on March 25, 1824, “My father’s conduct to me bas been that of a most al fectionate lather, He had not left it to the disposal of the will to bestow upon me my portion of the es- tate; he had conveyed it to me by deed irreyoca- bie by himsel’.’’ On Septemoer, 1924, a year later, there is another visit tov John Adame, whose “mind 1s stili vigorous, but canuot dweli long pon any one subject.” “Articles of News anu of political speculation in the newspapers are read to him, on wWhicn he remai With sound giscern- ment.” The ex-President was then nearly nincty years of age. His #ignt was so dim that he could neither read nor write; be could not walk with- out aid, and his heaving was partially affected. “ele receives some jettcrs,”’ saya Mr, Adams, ‘and + dictates answers to tiem. In general, the most remarkable circumstance of bis preseut state is the total prostration of his physical powers, leav- ing his mental faculties scarcely impaired at ail.” A STORY OF WASHINGTON There is & glimpse of Washington in a story toid “qwice over by Crawiord at a meoting of tue Cabinet, October 10, 152% In fue early part of lus Adiministranon Washington had gone to the Sepate With the project of a treaty to be negotiated, and waited during the delivera- tions, “They debated it," says Adama, “and pro- posed alterations; 80 that when Wastington leit the Senate Chamber he said he would be damned if he ever went there again, and over since that lume treaties have voen negotiated by the Wxecn- tive before submitting them to tho consideration of the Senate.” WAS PATRICK HRNRY A COWaRD ? Thore is a jurther story Which, Row that wo are in a Revolutionary episode, we may reacue from obiivion—a story of Pawick Henry which is worthy of higrorical inguiry, “On March 21, 1848," says Mr. Adams, ‘1 calied as the beginning of the even- ing upon Colonel John Taylor, the Senator from Virginia, and R. P. Garnett, “’ member of the House, Who bas just returned from a visit home, Taylor continues low in health and feeble, le repeated to me tae anecdote conceraing Putrjek Henry, Which he bad reiated some weeks since at my house, that im the campaign in 1781 | Henry actually proposed in secret session of the Lewisiature of Virwinia that so | ter, and which ougot never to bave been or to be she might obtain tne most favorable terms. Tay- | lor was himse.f a memver of the Legislature, and | heard him move to go into secret session, there to | make the proposition ana support it by an elo- | quent speceh, It met with suen immediate indig- | nant aud wuiversal opposiion that when the de- | bate ciosea he had changed his side und was among the most ardent and most sanguine for | perseverance in the war, Taylor thinks there is @ great exaggeration in the panegyric upon Heury by Mr, Wirt, and says that Henry bad mueli less eMcient agency in the Revolution vban | many others.” This Colonel John Taylor was the | sriend of Jegerson, who was to die within a lew weeks after this conversation, He had been a member of the Senate in 1792, thirty years pre- viously, aud had taken an important part in the strauggies of Virginia. POLITICS DURING THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING. The most vaiuable part of Mr, Adams’ book ts that which concerns the election for the Presi- dency in 1824, At the close of what ts calied “the era of good feeling” parties were in a hazy, unae- fined position. ‘The Jederalisty or republicans ceased their distinctive party quarrels; tue con- troversies arising our of the war of 1812 and the primcipies involved m the Jormation of the gov- ernment had grown dimmer aud dimmer, Jefler- son, whose induence had been dominant for twenty-five years, was living in extreme old age in Monticeilo, while Adams, bis great rival, was | verging upon his ninetieth year at Quincy. Botn, in @ very 1ew moutus, Were to pass trom the ecene during renown, Mr. Monroe’s administration Seemed to be governed by the principle of avoid- ing all responsibility, incurring no trouble and uuding the country over the effects of the war of 1812, Around him were daring, gifted men, am- bitious for the honors of the Presidency, There was William H. Crawford, a famous name In those days, but now lost in tue roar of nolster events, Secretary of the lreasury, a Virginian, settied in Georgia, who had been Muuister to France under Madison, acting Vice President im the Senate during @ part of Jefferson’s administration and Secretary of tho Treasury under Monroe, Craw- ford was the representative of the Jesfersonian influence, or what remained of it, and at this time Was suffering from an attack of paralysis or rheumatism, which made it impossible tor him even to stgn the warrants of the Treasury. An- drew Jackson was Senator trom Tennessee, hav- ing won military position of the highest rank by his victories over the British in 1815 and over the | Seminoles in Fiorida atterward, He had just re- tired from the army, resigning the rank of major general, and was now entering upon the political phase of his career, which was afterward to be- come so remarkable and to exercise so important ‘nm influence upon the country. Henry Clay was Speaker of “the House aad in the forty-seventh year of his age, in the full possession of his brilliant and remarkable faculttes. Calhoun, in the foriy-second year of his age, bad attained @ race eminence as one of the coming men of the Kepublic. These were the leading candidates for the Presidency. There were whispers of the nomination of\Rufus King, then drawing toward the Close of bis life, and re- garded by Adams as one of “the wisest and best men In public life.” De Witt Clinton was urged have the strength in politics possessed by Vir- ginfa or the South, and the ambitious leader of tne Empire State was compelled to content him- self with lesser honors, . PARTY ISSUES. lt is difficult to understand the questions that animated this canvass for the Presidency. Looked at irom this distance of time, and even with the advantage of Mr. Adams’ invaluable tnformation, they become purely personal. There was no question to excite the passions. The Missouri compromise settlement bad so determined the quesiion of glavery that there is not an allusion to the subject m this sixth volume of these “Memoirs,” althougn im otner pages Mr. Adams wrote with burning and bitter anger upon the efforts of the Southern men to ex- tend the area of slavery. The most important questions were foreign, These never extended beyond the Giscussions of the Oabinet, ‘he ora- tors taiked about Greck independence, and liberty | in South America and Panama missions. Now and | then Mr. Clay made shallow speeches on tue tarit, but this bad not assumed a tangible shape. Tue era of good feeling seems roally to have beens kind of armed truce. Monroe was to be permitted to pass out of the Presidency, and whichever of his rivals, by managewent, intrigue or personal | Popularity, could attain the largest number of | of passion and not of principle, PRESIDENT MONROR. James Monroe, once President of the United blates, has become a faded memory. Itis dim. cult to gather from Adams any twprossion of the | character or ability of the ex-President, At one time, in 1823, in August, he had an attack of cramp, and lay two hours in insensibjlity, ana | wag believed to be dying, in which event we | shold probably have had Danie! D, Tompkins, then Vice President, among our list of forgotten Chief Magistrates, In one entry we note that Mr. Adams thinks “the President is often afraid of the skittisuness of mere popular prejudices. I am aiways disposed to brave them.” Monroe evi- dently had an exaggerated idea of the influence of European politics upon America. There are many references to the “alarm and dejection” and the concern with which he dreaded com- munications tom foreign Powers. There was a scandal on one occasion about the appropriation jor furnishing the President’s house, and the | President furnished a memgrandum upon the | subject. “I'his memorandu says Mr. Adams, | ject, ter mines of Crawford and Calhoun for the | Iaecoid | substance of 1! was in reference to patronage and man or nature to raise me.’ “THE MACBETH POLICY.” Two years had elapsed since this conversation | 100k place, and Mrs, Adums, wife o1 tue Secretary, found herself a guest at the house of the same Judge Hopkinson, In thelr country place at Bor- dentown, on wwe Delaware. the Judge had not abandoued his iatention to support Adams; bat, nding it impossible to approach him on the sub- addressed a coniidential letter to Mrs. Adams, which she might, if she saw fit, show to her husband, This letter begins with the follow- ing quaint sentences :—“Joseph Hopkinson to Mrs, Adams—Now we ure speaking of Bordentown, jet me beg you to consider for a Moment that you | andl are sitting with or without @ brigut moon, | as you please, on the piazza looking into | ‘he garden, in familiar chat. In such | circumstances we may say many things | Which 1t would be by no means proper to write to the second lady of the Republic, that shall be first hereafter.” Mr, Hopkinson then continues to say that Mr. Adams ‘43 too Jastidious and reserved on a certain subject as interesting to the eountry as to himself; that he “chills and depresses the kind feeling and fair exertions of nis iriends. His total indifference annoys them, and the Mac- beth policy if chance will make me king why chance may crown me’ wili not answer where little Is left to chance or merit. Kings are made by politicians and newspapers. The man who sits down waiting to be crowned either by cuance or just right will go bareheaded all his life.” Mr, Hopkinson poinred out that among others Robert Walsh, the editor of the National Gazette, in Phila- | delphia, @ man ‘of warm disposition and great ability” and willing to support Agams, feared that he had been discour- aged and checked in Wis exertions. “But,” says Mr. Hopkinson in conciusion, my speech is quite long enough for a piazza chat and I wait for your reply.” “p, S.—you will understand I would not Gare to say or write half of the above to Mr. A. but you may do what you choose with tt.’ Mrs. Adams taking the discreet occasion laid the paper before he? husband, who wrote a reply on | January 23, 1823, under the title of “The Macbetn | Policy.” In tuis statement, which ts too long to be republished, Mr, Adams laid down the prin- ciple that the Presidency should be assigned to “the mostable and the most worthy ;” that the law of frienaship was a reciprocation of good offices, and that to ask or accept friendly service 1m- pied the obligation of returning it; that if a can- didate jor the Presidency asked the service of nis friends and was elected he was bound torender them a@ service in return, whicb in principle would be essentially, vitally corrupt. As to checking or disneartening Mr. Walsh he had no such purpose, His only wish was that Mr, Walsh would do what he thought was best for nis own interest. As to his own candidature it was uncertain. He had seen no disposition on the part of the people in any section of the’ Union, not even in New England, to make him @ candidate. The Richmond Enquirer had pronounced him out of the combat; his career had not attracted eitner the federal or the republican party, because he had been independent of party, ‘The federalists re- garded him asa deserter, the democrats as an apostate. ‘All rising to great places,’ says Lord Bacon, 4s by a winding stair; and if there be tac- tions it 18 good to side a man’s sell while be is in the rising ana to balance himself when ne is placed.’” “I have neither,” continues Mr. Adams, “ascended by the winding stair nor sided myself inthe rising.” ‘Tnis independence of party will alwaysin warm, factious times be mistaken and misrepresented by common politicians for un- steadiness of principle; and the man who acts upon it must make bis account tostand or fall on broader grounds than We within the bounds of @ geographical subdivision and with other props than political sectarianism or individual imtrigue. If your watch has no mainspring you will not keep time by turning round the minute hand, If 1 cannot move the mass I do not wish to trifle with the in- dicator.” “If my countrymen preler others to me I must not repine at their cnoice. Indifference at the heart is not to be won by wooing. The ser- vices that have no tongue to speak lor themselve: would be i!l aided by the loudest trumpet, Merit and just right in this country willbe heard. And in any case, if they are not heard ‘withoutmy tur? I shall acquiesce in the conclusion that it is because they do not exist.” INTRIGUES FOR THE PRESIDENCY, This is the first presentation of Mr. Adams’ opinions on the question of the Presidency. A year later, January, 1824, and we have a conversa- tion with Mr. Fuller, iu which Adams is asked if he would accept the nomination of Vice President with Crawford as President. “I told thers he says, “that I kuew something of these mi! and Presidency; they were disclosing themseives from | day to day more and more and there was not much to be discovered.” A day or two later he was informed that Craw- ford had made a bid to the friends of Mr. clay for the Presidency, offering Clay the second place, and he knows that there was “‘cau- cusing and persevering effort onthe part of the friends of Mr, Crawford to bring about this re- sult.” “A nomination forthe Vice Presidency,” says Adams, ‘in co-operation withone for Mr. Crawiord as President, could h: no charms tor He did not despise the Vice Presidency or “wish peevishly to reject the second place because he could not obtain the first; but he did not believe in @ nomination by a caucus of Congress- men, On the 30th of January Colonel R. M. John- son, afterwara to be Vice President under Martin Vap Buren, said to Adams that Ca'hoan had pro- posed an arrangement by which Adams should be “enters into details of a very bumillating charac- required of him.” ‘There appears to be nothing really censurable im all these transactions.’’ “There arises irom all this an exposure of do- mestic and household concerns almost as incon- graous to the station of @ President of the | United States as it would be to a blooming virgin | to exhibit hersell paked before a muititude, The | mahguity of political opposition bas no feenng of | delicacy.” In this era of good feeling there were kitchen cabinets, aad On one Occasion Adams fears tne French Legation “has access to tue | President through anotner whispering gallery. | Such i tue way of the world; there are winding | stairs in every direction.” On December 16, 1824, Adams has an interview with George Suliivan, who comes to tell him that the President ts in straigutened circumstances and is anxious to have a claim presented to Congress on nis behalf vefore It suall decide on the grant to be made to General faiayette. These embarrassments were occa- sloned by the payment of money to his brother in England; they Joliowed bim ty the end of bis ite, Alter bis retirement from the Presidency he wa: compelled to dnd refuge with bis relatives ta New | York, where he died im 1831, 00 the étu of July, almost absoiutely in want, THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION GROWS HIGHER, In 1822 resident Jackson had really no party in Congress. There wore three purties—one for Crawiord, one fur Clay and one for Calhonn. The strength of Jackson and Adame, such as they had, tay outside of that hgdy. Toe drst appearance of Adams a8 a candidate arose jrom the efforts of his friends tu the Nortu Atlantic States. In volume 5, page 97, a4 far back as Pebruary, 1822, there isa note Of @ conversation between Mr. Adams and Judge Hopkinson, of Philadelphia, m which Mr, Hopkimson urged Mr. Adams to vecome 4 candi date, Adams replied tuat he would take no step in wdvance of promote pretensions to the I resi- dency, “If,” he gays, “that oMice is to be the prige of cabal and intrigue, of partisan newspa- pers, briving by appointments or bargaining for foreign missions, I have no ticket in that lottery.” At tno efd Of this conversation Mr. Adams re- marks:—‘df there has ever been an éiection of a | President of the United States without canvassing | and intrgus there has been neve since that of my tatner; there will probably never be another, The materiaia for canvassing are and for some time lave been plentifully offered to me and pressed upon me. | could not be igno- Fant of the consequences of declining tuese offers, but I conid not accept them with satisfaction to myself or With that consciousness of rigat which ould be | L nGver have forieited aud wick Ja dearer to me | Digowa election was in doabs jk b supported as President, with Jackson for Vice President, and that Clay should have the Secre- tarysbip of State and Caihoun have the Secretary- ship of the Treasury, “not as & bargain or couli- tion, but by he common understanding of our mutual frienda” Te this Adams made no response. Ip his Giary he uotes that it cls closes the foriorn hope of Calboun, which ts to se- cure a step of advancement to himself and tue total exclusion of Crawiord, even from bis pres. | Henry Clay thirty-seven, ent office at the head of the Treasury. There ts further conversation with the venerable Rufus King, who does not appear to be as cordial in his support of Mr. Adams aa the Secretary could wish. “He bad,” says Adama, “at one time during the present administration hopes of being the nextin succession, and there is a spice Of disappointment in all bis Opinions.” “King,” he adds, “18 one of the best and wisest men among us, vut bis own ambition was inflamed by splendid success in early | life, sollowed by vicissitudes of popular favor and hopes deferred ontil he has arrived nearly at the close of his public career.” It was really at the close, for King died thre e yeara after, at Jamaica, PLOTS AND COUN TRR-PLOTS. Congress Was in session, and the canvass for the Presideucy continued without pau Webster pretended to fear that In the event of Mr. Adams’ neral proserip- clay was confi- tion of federatista from office.” dent of carrying eight States, which was dismissed as ‘a game of brag.” In April, 1824, there was a publication in the New York Putriot stating that Adams had offered the Vice Presidency to Mr. Ciay, and it Was suggested that Adam: prosecute the publisher for libel, Adams denied that he had made any such proposai to Clay, “yet friends of mine and friends of Clay, too, had o/ten suggested {t to me as desirable, nor ts there any thing In it unconstitutional, illegal or dishonor bie.” DeWitt Clinton sent a me effect that he wished to see Adams President, with Jackson ag Vice President, and evidentiy en- deavoring to lay pipes with the new administra- tion, Adams sent a gracious response to Clinton, | altuough he did not entertain the highest opinion of his character, as will be seem in previous pages of the diary, The nomination of Jackson, by the Legisiature of Penosyivania, in March, 1824, tobim his prominence in the canvass and made him realy the most important figure in the con- troversy. A month after this there was another proposition of a coalition, Clinton offering to sup- port Adams, provided he wouid be made Secretary of State, With Caluoun Secretary of the Treasury. Adams replied that “he was not disposed toseil the skin before the animal Was taken, and that while 3 j the first to submit to Great Britain, in order that | tman any station to which it is in the power of | liberate in bis own mind, much less announce to others, who should compose bis Cabine! ton’s political Juture aud power were so change- fal that he might one day be as sure to lose for ak administration of which he should be a member the support of New York as the preceding or fol lowing day he mignt obtain it. NEW YORK FIFTY YEARS AGO, New York did not have a much better reputa tion in those days than it has now. Postmastes General McLean carried a story to Adams in August to the effect that De Witt Clinton.beleved that the Legislature of New York would elect electors favorable to Crawiord. The truth wat that a majority of them voted for Adams, De Witt Cifaton said to MeLean, “® number suflicient ta Muke a majority will be bought, and that the same might be bought for any purchaser and by any purchaser—even a foreign Power.” Thia Statement was made flity years ago by no less a man than De Witt Clinton and to nolessa man than Jobn McLean, afterward to be Judge of the Supreme Court and a candidate for the Presiden. tial nomination in 1866 against Fremont. Upon it Mr. Adams makes this strange comment:—‘‘De Witt Clinton ought well to know the people of New York and their Legislature. He has nimsell applied for his own advancement to the Preak dency so much money as to have ruined his own fortunes. He has, therelore, no scruple against the" use of money for that purpose, and bas perhaps 1m jormer times bougnt some of the very individuals of whom he now speaks thus. I hope better things, and believe taat corruption nas not yet quite arrived at that pitch. That the Legislature ot New York will sell wll the suffrage of the State I think more than probable, and must find satis. faction in the certainty that it will not be sold to me.” THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FAILS TO AGREE. Clearly the contest was more ana more betwe: Jackson and Adams. We have Senator Jonnson, of Kentucky, professing neutrality between Jack+ son and Adams, and have an expression, on the part of Olay, of his sorrow jor having opposed Adams, The Electoral College had voted without result, Jackson received ninety-nine votes, John Quincy Adams eighty-four, Crawiord sorty-one ana The States that voted for Jackson were New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, In- diana, Mississippi and Alabama, with scattering votes im New York, Maryland, Louisiana and Tilinots, Adams received the voted of New England, the majority of tho: in New York and a few in Deia+ ware, Maryland, Louisiana and Iulinots, Crawford Was supported by Virginia and Georgia, with five votes in New York, two in Delaware and one in Maryland. Olay received Kentucky, Obio and Missouri, and four votes in New York. If the Electoral College in any way expressed the sense of the country, Jackson certainly was the choice of the people, for his strength extended over North and South, while the others received local and sectional support. Under the constitution there was no election, and the matter, there fore, went to the House. Clay was out of the can- vass, and the first expression we have of his attl tude is an entry in vhe diary, dated January 17, 1825, “Clay says his course is fixed, and he should consider the elevation of the hero Jackson as the greatest calamity which could befal the country.” THE “BARGAIN AND SALB” CHARGE. We have looked into this diary carefully to dis- cover, i{ possibie, if there could be any basis for the charge that afterwards became one of the Dotorious political scandals of the time, that be- tween Ulay and Adams there was a “bargain and of the oMice of the Secretary of State in re- turn for Ulay’s support of Adams as President, On the 17th of December, Congress having been im session and the unfortunate resuit of the Electoral College being known, Robert P. Leteher, of Kentucky, a member of Congress afterward Governor of that State, the intimate friend of Ciay, called upon Adams “ostensibly about a matter of business, but really to talk about the Presidency,” Letcher was anxious to kuow the sentiment of Adams towards Clay. ‘The drift of bis talk was,” says Adama, “that Clay would will- ingly support me if he could thereby serve him- self, The subject of his meaning was that it Clay's friends could know that he would have @ prominent share in the administration that might induce them to vote for me, even in the face of Instructions. Letcher did not profess to have any authority from Clay for what he said and he made no definite pro- posals, He spoke of this interview with me a8 altogether cenfidential, and in my answers to him I spoke in more general terms.” This 1s the first int:mation we have of any desire on the part of Clay to support Mr. Adams; and the fact that this conversation took place between Adams (@ canuidate for election) and Letcher—an avowed and intimate iriend of Clay—and that the appointments to office under an administration that as yet baa not been formed, ts certainly a singular revelation of the inzerest und feeling in- spired and its moral tone, by the canvass, CLAY AND ADAMS IN ALLIANCE. On the ist of January, 1825, Letcher calied again upon Adams and asked him if he would meet Clay for conversation; that the dimerences between Clay ard Adams lad “given concern to some of the members of the Kentucky detegation.”* Later, on the same day, Vlay and Adams met at the Lafayette dinner, and Clay himself expressed a desire to have a confidential conversation. nia conversation seems to have taken place on the 9th of January, 1825, Sunday evening. Clay calied on Adams at six, remained and spent the evening in a long conversation, explanatory of the past and prospective of the future. He said that the time was drawing near when the choice must be made in the House of Representatives of @ President from the three candidates presented by the Electoral Collewe; that he had been mu urged and solicited with regard to the part in th transaction that he should take, and he had not been five minutes landed at his iodgings before he | had been appiled to by a friend of Mr. Crawiord’s im @ manner so gross that it had disgusted him; that some of my [rienas aiso, disctaiming indeed to bave any authority from me, had repeatedly ap- | plied to him, airectly or inairectiy, urging consid: erations personal to himeeif as motives to bis cause, He bad thougnt it best to reserve for some time his determination to hiimseif—first, to g! decent time for hisown funeral solemnities as candidate, and, second, tu prepare and predis- pose all bis friends to a state of neutrality be tween the three caudidates who would be before the House, so that they might be free ultimately to take tmat course which might be most con- | @uecrve to the public ifigerest, Tue time bad now | come at which he might be explicit im his cont. munication with and he had for that purpose asked this confidential interview. He wished me, fas far as | might think proper, to satisty him with regard to some principles of great public import ance, but without any personal consideration ior himself, In the question to come before the House, betw General Jackson, Mr, Crawford and myse-f, he had no hesitation in saying that his preference would be for me.” . THE CANVASS BECOMES FURIOUS. ‘This is the fifst intimation of an alliance be tween Clay and Adans. Alliances were made and svught in other directions, Juckson called on Crawtord, and when President Monroe heard of this he was “greatly socked,” and said it was “porrible to thing of. Calhoun expressed him- self as neuttal between Jackson and Adams, which Adams regards as ‘‘contrasting singularly with the conduct of his partisans.’ On the 25tn of January there Was much excitement im the House on the occasion of Clay and & majority of the Ohio and Kentucky delegations expressing their determination to vote for Adams, ‘the effect of which Would be to knit the coalition of the South with Delaware.” Louis MoLane, of Delaware, a member of Congress, whe was after- ward to be Secretary of State under Jackson, id they ‘‘would overthrow the Capitol sooner than vote for Jackson.” On the 2th of January Rafus King called upon Adams to express his con: fidence in the result. Oharies Carroll, of Carroll ton, of the Revolution, and Taney, of Baltimore, afterward Chief Justice of the United States, ex pressed themselves for Jackson, much tothe of Adama, who, in maxing note of the fi ‘es that he would be at the head of a administ “ot tien to rt politioal ot geourapnlen.’ oa the ‘ot ‘iam