3 July 1827
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Recreation US Constitution
237

3. III:30. Boat Bath— Antoine with me— Garden walk

Hughes. George Jones— Coll. Roger. Rush— Richard. Menou. Count de Macomb. Alexander Thayer— Coll. Stephen Roberdeau— Coll. Isaac Frye— Nathl. junr

The Ex-Cadet Hughes called this morning, and stated that it was highly important to him to obtain an immediate decision upon his application for a Commission. He stated that he had gone through a course of Education for the Military Profession— That he was unfitted for any other— That to lose the Commission for which he had been preparing, would be ruin to him— That he acquiesced in the decision of the Court-Martial against him, but hoped that his dismission from the Academy would be considered a punishment sufficiently severe for his offence— He asked therefore for a Commission, according to his rank in the Class, and if that could not be obtained, he then requested a Commission immediately after those of his Class— I told him that I would consider of his case, and let him know my determination shortly— Coll. Jones the Adjutant General was here, with a Letter of Resignation of Assistant Surgeon J. Wallace, to take effect from the 31st. of August next, which Jones said was conformable to usage, and to which I agreed— Mr Rush called and read me a Letter from himself to C. J. Ingersoll upon the subject of naturalizing foreigners— He is averse to all Laws restrictive of naturalization, and would confer the rights of a native citizen to every foreigner from the day of his setting his 238foot upon our soil— With this opinion I do not exactly concur— He also took with him the Letter from Mr C. Dorsey, concerning my opinions upon the projected amendments to the Constitution of the United States for taking the Election away from the House of Representatives— I told Mr Rush distinctly what my opinions were— That I had expressed speculative opinions favourable to an amendment of the provisions in the Constitution, for the primary Election of President and Vice-President— In the Constitutional organization of the Electoral Colleges— I had thought it would be more conformable to the analogy of the other parts of the Constitution, if the whole Union should be divided, into Election Districts— Each District to chuse one member of the House of Representatives for each Congress, and one Elector at each Presidential Election, and that the Legislature of each State should elect the two additional Electors— I had expressed the belief that this would be an improvement— I still inclined to the same belief. But I never have believed or said any thing to indicate the belief that in the only contingency which assigns the Election to the House of Representatives, it ought to be taken from them and given to another body— For setting aside all reference to the last, or to the next Election. I thought in the peculiar contingency of a divided vote in the electoral Colleges, without majority for any one Candidate, the House of Representatives, was of all others the body peculiarly fitted for making the Selection. Being the popular branch of the Legislature— They would generally make the choice most pleasing to the People; and having a participation with the President in the enactment of Laws, they would be most likely to harmonize with a President chosen by themselves than by others— But I further said that the Constitution had left the trust of making Amendments to the two Houses of Congress without admitting the co-operation of the President— It was therefore doubtful to me whether the President could with propriety recommend to them any Amendment— But I had no doubt whatever that there would have been great impropriety in my recommending such an Amendment, after the circumstances under which I had myself been elected by the House— For I could not have done it without giving countenance to those base aspersions upon which the amendment mongers had rested all their cause— I thought therefore there could be no public benefit, and there might be some inconvenience in promulgating my opinions on these subjects— Mr Rush said he would write to Mr Dorsey accordingly.— The Count de Menou called here just before dinner, and mentioned that he had passed the Sunday at Philadelphia, at the same house where Mrs Adams lodged— That he left her well yesterday morning intending to proceed immediately to New-York— The Count, General Macomb, Coll. Thayer, Coll Roberdau, and Mr Frye, dined with us— The whole day was one of the hottest I ever suffered— Fahrenheit in my chamber at 90—and scarcely air to breathe— The fourth of my seedling apple-trees died— All the Silk-worm moths which we have had are now also dead—

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