John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

14. VI: Heard Mr Little, at the Bath-room— He preached from 2. Corinthians 4.1.2. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;—But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” It was a controversial Sermon about Unitarianism— One of the Georgetown College Jesuits named Kohbrann108has published a pamphlet purporting to be a complete refutation of the unitarian doctrine, to which Little has replied by a Sermon preached last Sunday, which is advertised for publication. That of this day was only supplementary to it— After Church I left a Card at Strother’s for Governor Cass; and then called on Dr Tucker at Mrs Wilson’s— I found lodging there two Mr Simmons’s, father and Son with their Ladies; they belong to South Carolina, and have been spending the Summer at Newport, Rhode-Island. The elder Mr Simmons told me, that they had been fellow passengers with me last Tuesday evening, in the Steam-boat from French-town to Baltimore. While I was there Major Van de Venter and Captain Smith, of the army came in— I went thence to Mr Crawford’s, and found him in his Bedchamber— Mr David Trimble the member of the House of Representatives from Kentucky was with him— Mr Crawford has been confined at least these six weeks with a severe bilious fever. His wife has also been dangerously ill, and his children and Servants have all shared in the epidemic. He told me that 17 persons have been affected by it in his family more or less— Many of them after apparent recovery have relapsed two, and some of them three times— They are now all convalescent, excepting his second son, Macon— He himself rides out, and is able to attend to business; but complains that he has not yet recovered his appetite, and said that yesterday for the first time, he found his usual symptom of health; a relish for a glass of cold water. Trimble is going to Boston— He is very lately from Kentucky; where, and in all the Western Country it has been as sickly as in this neighbourhood— Trimble said he had himself but just recovered from a severe bilious fever— On returning home I resumed my Diary and wrote till dinner time. Spent the Evening at Mr Wirt’s alone with him— Conversation chiefly upon the recent incidents in Florida— General Jackson, Judge Fromentin, and the late Spanish Governor, and Commissioner Callava— Jackson committed Callava to prison. Fromentin issued a writ of Habeas Corpus, with the intention of discharging Callava— Jackson summoned Fromentin before him to answer for having interfered with his authority— Fromentin first alledged sickness for not going; and afterwards went; not as he alledges, in obedience to the summons, but merely to give amicable explanations— There were violent scenes of altercations, between the parties; Callava has published a long protest against Jackson’s proceedings in the newspapers— Jackson and Fromentin have complained of each other to the Government, and all the newspapers are full of discussion upon the subject; generally taking side against Jackson, because they have seen hitherto little, but on one side of the questions— Among the rest the Richmond Enquirer a paper edited with considerable ability, and the organ of the new Virginia faction, under the auspices of Spenser Roane, chief Justice of that State has come out with great virulence— The Enquirer, under constant professions of esteem for Jackson’s public services has always betrayed a rancorous and malignant hostility against him. But Wirt has been himself heretofore a Correspondent of the Richmond Enquirer, and almost worships Spenser Roane— He is therefore alarmed at these premature ebullitions of the Press, and thinks there ought to be some anonymous counter publication in the National Intelligencer, to shield the Administration from censure. Wirt is inclined to think Jackson has been wrong, both in sending Callava to prison, and in summoning Fromentin before him— He thinks they were both priviledged persons— Callava, as the Spanish Commissioner, and Fromentin as a judge— I mentioned to him that Jackson had objected to the writ of Habeas Corpus, as issued illegally in form even if Fromentin had the right to issue it. Wirt said there could be no doubt that it was irregularly issued— Wirt thinks that the President should return to this City as soon as possible; to determine upon the course to be pursued in this case and some others after returning home, I read further in the life of W. Pitt.