John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

354

3. VI. Walk to Georgetown.

Armstrong. William Leffler— Isaac Clay— Henry Brent— Daniel Rush— Richard Macon— Nathanl Smith— Samuel Van Rensselaer— Stephen Everett. Edward Chambers E. F. Harrison— William H Southard Samuel L. Balch

Twentieth Congress, first Session commenced this day. Messrs. Armstrong and Leffler are members of the House of Representatives from Virginia, and called this morning before the meeting of the Houses. Mr Clay came, and spoke of the Convention with Great-Britain, relating to our North-eastern boundary, received yesterday from Mr Gallatin who has arrived at New-York— I read the Convention, and the despatch forwarded with it last Evening; but not yet the Protocols. Mr Clay brought also a Note from Mr Salazar the Colombian Minister, setting forth the claim of the Colombian Consul at Charleston to have delivered over to him a sum of money, deposited by order of the United States Court in the hands of B. F. Hunt as Agent to the Captain and Crew of a Colombian Privateer. We thought it a matter altogether for judicial decision— He mentioned also the progress of his negotiation with Mr Rumpff— Mr. Brent brought over the papers from the Department of State to be communicated to the two Houses with the Message— Mr Rush brought back the power of Attorney, from Charles H. Carroll to his brother W. T. Carroll, which the Comptroller Anderson had deemed insufficient authority for an agreement which W. T. Carroll had made, and which Charles H Carroll refused to recognize— I thought the Comptroller’s decision erroneous; and that the power was sufficient to warrant the agreement. Mr Southard who came in while we were conversing about it thought so to— About two O’Clock, Mr Macon and General S. Smith of the Senate and General Van Rensselaer and Mr Everett of the House came as a Committee and Mr Macon speaking for them informed me, that they were charged to inform me that a Quorum of both Houses had been formed, and that they were ready to receive any Communication which I should be pleased to make to them— I desired them to thank the respective 355houses for this notification, and inform them that I proposed to make a communication to them in writing, to-morrow at twelve O’Clock— After the joint Committee had left me, Everett came back, and informed me of the issue of the Election in the House— There were 207 members present; and only 6 absent—205 votes given—of which Andrew Stevenson of Virginia had 104 and was chosen— John W. Taylor of New-York 94. Philip P. Barbour 4. and 3 scattering— This settles the complection of the House— In the Senate, the Vice-President John C. Calhoun took the chair—only two members of that body were absent—Daniel Webster, and Jesse B. Thomas— There is a decided majority of both Houses of Congress in opposition to the Administration— A State of things which has never before occurred under the Government of the United States— Messrs. Chambers and Harrison members of the Senate, called after the houses had adjourned— Mr Balch came to ask for a place. Said he was a son of the Clergyman at Georgetown; and had been six years in the army— There is no place vacant— Mr Southard brought me voluminous proceedings of a naval Court Martial at Philadelphia, upon Master Commandant William Carter— I this Evening finally revised, and signed the two copies made by my son John, of the Message to the two Houses of Congress— Printed copies of it were sent to several of my friends—