John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

17. V:15. symbols 5 symbols 6 symbols Cloudy

Watkins brought me the Letter of Mr Hammond of Cincinnati to the Editors of the National Intelligencer, and the Extracts from Clay’s Letter to him written last October stating objections to a vote for Mr Crawford— There were several erasures from the extracts: of passages which Watkins had thought it would be advisable to omit— This confirmed me in the opinion that it would be better not to publish it, at all— The passages erased were of no consequence in themselves but as they would give a handle for cavillers— Watkins gave me also a Letter from H. Niles, in behalf of T. M. Rodney with whose appointment as commercial Agent at the Havana, he wishes that his recommendation yesterday of Simonton may not interfere. Mr M’Intyre was a man of whom I had no knowledge but who came to borrow 200 dollars— I gave Mr Southard several papers for reference to the Departments both of the Treasury and the Navy. The Court of Inquiry have made a call for Documents which make it a matter for consideration whether the Correspondence between the Navy Department and him of the last year should not be laid before them— Porter’s conduct was then so dissatisfactory to President Monroe, that he declined seeing Porter, and but for his previous services would then have brought him to a Court-Martial— But as no measure was actually taken against him then it seems unfair to make 154to make his conduct then a subject of censorial inquiry now— I gave Southard the opinion of Walter Jones upon the proposed City Lottery, and asked him to write to The Attorney General who is at Baltimore, asking his opinion of the legality of this quadruple Lottery and also to give me his own— On examination of the precedent cited by Jones, it does not bear him out in his argument. Southard’s first impression was like mine that the Law does not give the President the power to approve such a Lottery. The Revd. Salmon Cowles came twice for a Subscription for Alma College, at New Athens, Harrison County Ohio— Captain Bainbridge introduced a young Mr Payne, son of late Mr William Payne of Boston. He was to leave the City to-morrow Morning— Governor Barbour had further Letters from Governor Troup of Georgia; with enclosures leading to the expectation that within three days from the time when they were written a hostile incursion of Creek Indians into Georgia, was thought inevitable. Barbour had prepared an answer to Troup’s first Letter, which has now become unsuitable. Chilly Mackintosh has made written specific charges against the Agent Crowell, and presents various claims for protection and indemnity— Referring to the 8th. Article of the Treaty of Indian Springs, which contains a promise of protection, very insidiously introduced and the purport of which was certainly not considered by the Senate when they advised to the ratification of the Treaty— I directed that Crowell should be suspended from the Agency, and called to answer to the Charges of Governor Troup and of Mackintosh— In the mean time that a special temporary agent should be appointed— That General Brown should be consulted and General Gaines ordered to repair to the neighbourhood of the Creek Territory and to wait there for Instructions. No report yet from Crowell— The instant we begin to move, the want of money is felt; the means of the Executive are so limited; and the aspect of War is so menacing, that I know not how we shall avoid the necessity of calling Congress together in the midst of Summer— Rodney and Purviance both came to obtain the appointment of commercial agent at the Havana: they were both here together; Rodney with S. Pleasonton, and Purviance with D. Brent. Mountain afterwards came with T. Randall, to solicit the same office— Dr. Watkins came afterwards with Mr Southard; to ask an order upon the Navy Department, from me for the payment of about 9000 dollars, due to the Widow and Administrator, of a Mr Johnson, a Purser in the Navy, who is herself at the point of Death. The account is adjusted, and the balance due to Johnson acknowledged; but it is charged upon a contingent appropriation before 1824 which is exhausted— There is no fund from which the payment can be made; and the question is whether I could transfer the payment of it to any other appropriation— I thought I could not but Mr Southard took the papers to consult the Laws concerning transfers of appropriation, according to which I am definitively to act. Elgar the Commissioner of the public buildings was here I told him . . . 155upon the designs for the tympanum of the Capitol, and mentioned to him Dr Thornton Coll. Bomford, and C. B. King the painter as persons to whom he might refer to the questions first, whether any one of the designs deserved the premium, and if anyone did, which it was— Coll. Roberdeau, brought me from the War Department a large map of Georgia. There was a heavy thunder shower, which detained me from my daily walk till Evening— The State of the atmosphere these two days, together with the prospects of Affairs, and dark anticipations, unduly affect my breath and Spirits