John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

28. VI: I went this Morning to the Office before eleven O’Clock— That is, upwards of an hour earlier than usual, and had a succession of visitors there— First D. P. Cook of Illinois— He mentioned that judge Lucas had written to him, requesting him to enquire, if any complaints had been addressed to the Department, or to the President against him, on the allegation of his having misrepresented the opinions of the people of Missouri— I told him that no such complaint had been made here, either to the Department; or so far as I knew, to the President; though I had seen such charges against him in the St. Louis Enquirer.— Cook told me of the Mission given by Crawford to Thomas the Senator from Illinois to examine not the Banks, but the Land-Offices in the States of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Cook says it is in violation of the principle of the Constitution that no member of Congress shall hold an Executive Office; and also of the Law, which prohibits a member of Congress from being a contractor— He examined three or four Land Offices, where never a foot of land has been sold; has been preaching wherever he went, Mr Crawford for the next Presidency, and is paid by Mr Crawford at discretion— Cook says that Thomas told him he took the Mission because he needed the compensation for it— Some notice has been taken of this affair in the Washington City Gazette; at which Thomas is in great indignation and has used both menaces and promises to induce him to give up the author or publisher of the Letter— I asked Cook what was the meaning of an Editorial Article in the Edwardsville Gazette, quizzing Edward Coles. He said it was only because Coles had actually been to the Editor of that paper, and asked him to announce him as a Candidate for the Office of Governor of the State; telling him he was neither an Edwards man nor a Thomas man; but meant to stand on his own bottom, when Cook said he could not get three hundred votes throughout the State— Cook said the affair of Thomas’s Land Office-mission would probably be noticed this day in Congress; but it was not— Mr Shaler came to make some further settlement of his Accounts— There are two or three Charges, which there is some difficulty in admitting— Mr Ruggles, Senator from Ohio came with a Mr Ward now of that State; but formerly of Massachusetts, and a Grandson of the late General Artemas Ward— He wishes to be employed to go to Europe as a bearer of despatches— Dr Sewall came to ask for a copy of the Census to send to Dr Worcester for his Gazette, but I have not a copy even for the use of the Department. Dr Sewall told me that he was succeeding here in his profession, entirely to his satisfaction; and far beyond his expectations. Dr Thornton brought me a Letter from himself to Samuel Green of New-London, about a copy-right. He is apprehensive of losing it by having neglected to deposit a Copy at the Department of State within the six months— The Doctor thinks the copy-right may 192still be saved by depositing a copy after the time has expired— I thought the Law was otherwise, but referred it to the Attorney-General— Mr Newton, Chairman of the Committee of Commerce came to ask again for a communication of papers, relating to commercial affairs. Copies of the papers relating to the Negotiation with France had already been transmitted to the Committees of Foreign Relations both of the Senate and House of Representatives— I had reserved one copy for the use of the Office, but promised to send it to Mr Newton: and I shewed him the extract from the Letter of R. M. Harrison of 7. September last, relating to the operation of the Navigation Act in the West-Indies— Newton has for many years represented the borough of Norfolk; where the Navigation Act is most out of favour, and where they are now getting up a memorial against it. The Governor of Virginia too, Thomas Mann Randolph, son in Law to Mr Jefferson, has thrown his weight into the Scale by an invective against the Navigation Act in a Message to the Legislature of that State. I took over to the President, Letters received this Morning from Judge Fromentin— One of these is in reply to mine informing him that he had mistaken the extent of his authority— He persists in his opinion and promises to assign his reasons hereafter— Another is a Letter to Captain Henley of the Hornet, declining to assume Jurisdiction, upon a vessel taken by him into Pensacola with Slaves. The President said the sooner we could get rid of the Priest, the better— I mentioned to the President that Mr Trimble of Kentucky had this day offered a Resolution in the House, calling for all the papers of the Negotiation with France; and that there is another Resolution calling for all the papers relating to General Jackson’s Florida quarrels— I was for giving them all; and letting Congress battle it out among themselves upon them. The President appointed a Meeting of the Members of the Administration for to-morrow, to decide upon it. I spoke to him of Mr Raguet’s wish to go as Consul to Lima, or to Rio de Janeiro. He thought there would be some difficulty in displacing Robinson or H. Hill— But will think of it further— I left with the President a draft of an answer to Mr Canning, concerning the Newfoundland Pirates— In the Evening I received a Note from Mr Canning promising to call upon me at three, to Morrow— Mrs Adams was a little better, and barely able to dine below. My difficulty of writing continues.