John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. III:15. The winter is setting in with severity. I heard a Mr Jennings preach at the Capitol, and afterwards paid a number of visits. To N. Edwards and Freeman Walker, Senators from Illinois and Georgia lodging at Mrs Peyton’s— Edwards is still afflicted with the influenza, which continues to prevail almost universally. I have it yet myself, slightly, with the ordinary symptoms only of a cold, but with the peculiarity that it seems to be intermitting; occasionally disappearing for three or four days and then returning. Walker is a young man, and enjoys a high reputation for abilities and integrity. He has also a handsome person, and pleasing deportment. Edwards says that in the party controversies of Georgia, which are exceedingly violent, Walker is neutral. The heads of the two parties, are Mr Crawford the Secretary of the Treasury, and John Clark, Governor of Georgia. Clark and Crawford have fought one duel, in which Crawford was wounded in the left hand. About two months since Clark published a pamphlet containing a history of the feud between him and Crawford which is of nearly twenty years standing— The narrative exhibits Crawford in the most odious light; as sacrificing every principle to his ambition, and states a series of facts supported by documents, so very disadvantageous to Crawford’s character, that it seemed to require an answer— None however has yet appeared— Clark complains that at the duel, Crawford, countenanced by his second, refused to take another shot, merely because his left hand was disabled; and that he afterwards declined fighting him on a second Challenge. As Crawford had already killed one man in a duel, these refusals to fight are more to his credit than his disadvantage— But the whole tissue of his conduct towards Clark, as stated in the pamphlet has been altogether unjustifiable. He proves, beyond reasonable doubt, that the attack upon General Jackson, and through him upon me; in the affair of the Seminole War, was commenced, organized, and instigated by Crawford. But he more than insinuates that Crawford was concerned with the Indian agent Mitchell in smuggling African Slaves into Georgia, from Amelia Island— This I totally disbelieve— The pamphlet has produced an effect unfavourable to Crawford’s reputation as a man, and the present state of the Treasury does him no credit as a financier— His friends however are numerous, persevering, and well trained to political intrigue— Edwards thinks that Walker will be at the head of a third party in Georgia. I also visited at Georgetown H. G. Otis, Senator from Massachusetts, R. King from New-York, and B. Gorham the new member from Boston, in the room of Jonathan Mason resigned— They all lodge at the Hotel at Georgetown.