John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

380

28. V:15— Round Capitol Square—

Strong— James Elmer Drayton William Lee— Richard H Rush— Richard

Mr Strong a member of the House of Representatives from New-York came with a person, whom I think he called Elmer, from that State— Mr Drayton, member from Charleston South Carolina, brought me a Letter from J. R. Pringle, Collector of the Customs at that Port, whose Commission is about to expire, soliciting a re-appointment— Mr Rush afterwards sent me a Letter from Mr Pringle to him, containing the same request— I told Coll. Drayton that I intended to send the name of Mr Pringle to the Senate for re-appointment at their next meeting, and I had a conversation with Mr Rush on the Subject— Pringle is devoted to the opposition, and so is Drayton, though with more observation of forms of decency than many others— Mr Jeremiah Condy, from whom I receive the Charleston Newspapers, and scraps of Letters every day, and Mr John Geddes once Governor of South-Carolina, have each written me a Letter, asking this Office for himself— And yesterday I received a Letter from W. H. Crawford, recommending Geddes in a manner peculiar to himself—that is in language of rudeness, self complacency, and monitorial advice— My system has been and continues to nominate for re-appointment all officers for a term of years, whose Commissions expire, unless official or moral misconduct is charged and substantiated against them. This does not suit the Falstaff friends who “follow for the reward”—and I am importuned to serve my friends, and reproached for neglecting them, because I will not dismiss or drop from executive offices, able and faithful political opponents, to provide for my own partizans— Crawford informs me that he considers his health as entirely restored; as Luther Martin shortly before he died, when in a state little above absolute fatuity, told me that he had some months before been so exceedingly out of health that some of his friends for a time had thought his understanding was impaired. There has been some talk here among the friends of the Administration, of running Mr Crawford as their Candidate for the Vice-Presidency; and Mr Rush thought that this Letter, was intended as an advance towards reconciliation— Treachery of the deepest dye is at the bottom of Crawford’s character. It was before his palsy combined with strong mental powers little cultivated, and a desperate energy of Soul. The whole composition was more like one of Milton’s fallen Angels, than that of any other man I ever knew—excepting that Milton has made his devils true to each other— Since his paralysis, Crawford has lost much of his memory, much of his judgment, and some of his Address— What he has lost of these he has gained in nervous irritability and morbid energy— He has been abandoned by all those of his friends who know his condition, but has been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in Georgia, and those of his former partizans who are now friendly to the Administration, and who do not know his State have inclined to start him for the Vice-Presidency. I have given no countenance to the project and trust it will fail— Lewis Williams of North-Carolina has been the principal promoter of it, and Mr Rush told me that Williams this day asked him whether Crawford had written Letters 381to him avowing himself against the Administration, and in favour of General Jackson— Rush said he had; upon which, Williams said he would then give him up. Mr Richard Henry Lee from Loudoun County Virginia was here—a visit; and Mr Rush; who came so late, that we had not time to converse upon business. I attended with Mrs Adams, Abigail S. Adams and Mary C. Hellen at the Washington City Fair, for the benefit of the orphan asylum— Similar to that held the day before yesterday at Georgetown. It was at Carusi’s large Hall, which was so much crowded with company that it was with difficulty that we reached the tables where the Ladies were officiating as counter-keepers— We made a few purchases, and I gave Mr Everett, whom we met there, a baby cap, to send to his wife, with my best regards, for her newborn daughter. It was observed of the Articles furnished for the sale the proportion of fansy pieces was too great, and that of the useful too small— They sold however very well— We had a company of members of Congress their Ladies and others at dinner— Those invited were W. S. Archer, John and Mrs Bailey, Isaac D. Barnard, Samuel Bell, Mr Cresson, John Culpeper, Dr Dungleson, J. P. Erwin, Levin Gale, Ralph I and Mrs Ingersoll, Kensey Johns, Richard B. Jones, N. R. and Mrs Knight, J. T. Lomax, Wilson and Mrs Lumpkin, Nathanl Macon, Charles F. Mercer, Charles Miner, Thomas J. Oakley R. W. Oakley, James K and Mrs Polk, John and Mrs Tayloe, Benjamin O. and Mrs Tayloe, John W. Taylor, Jesse B. and Mrs Thomas, Ebenezer and Miss Tucker, George Tucker, Major Waldron, Tobias Watkins, W. H. Watkins, and Daniel Webster— Major Waldron gave me an old parchment Indian deed, dated in July 1727, and having the name of my Great Grandfather John Quincy, as one of the English Signers to the Treaty. I this day approved, Missouri Leadmine leases N 106–109 and licenses 16. and 18. but not 17. owing to a defect in the bond.