John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

8. IV:45. Saturday— Walk round Capitol Square— Sat to Harding.

After my usual morning walk round the Capitol Square, I gave a sitting of an hour to Mr Harding the Painter, at his own lodgings in the Pennsylvania Avenue— Mr Lawrence, a member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, introduced two brothers by the name of Stewart, and a Dr Adams, all his constituents of Washington County Pennsylvania, General Van Rensselaer came with a Mr Gregg, from the Western part of New-York— Mr Davis a member of the House of Representatives from South-Carolina, with a young Mr Taylor, son to the Governor of that State—going to the Law School at Litchfield, Connecticut—where Mr Davis told me he had himself been one year— Mr Seymour the Senator from Vermont introduced a young man, from Port Tobacco in Maryland, named Davis, who lodges at the same house with him— Mr Seymour asked me if there was any prospect of a new diplomatic appointment abroad for Mr Heman Allen. I told him there was no Mission of the Rank of Minister Plenipotentiary to which I could appoint him for the present— George Watkins brought me from the Department of State a Letter from Mr Clay to Mr Gallatin, upon the subject of his agency in relation to the North-eastern boundary arbitration; which I approved— Mr Brent was here twice—the first time, with a Letter from Charles Walsh of Baltimore, repeating an old application for a diplomatic appointment— He now wishes for that of Charge d’Affaires to the Republic of Colombia, in the place of Beaufort T. Watts who is returning home— The second was with a speech which Mr Campino, the Minister from Chili proposed to deliver to me, on his presentation, with a translation— In that interval Mr Smith, member of the Senate from South-Carolina came 461and introduced a young man, named Thomas, as a nephew of the late Mr John Gaillard. He has however not been in South-Carolina these four or five years. Bartholomew Wistar and Samuel Bettle are two Quaker companions of Elizabeth Robson, the female preacher, from England. They came to inform me that they had obtained permission for her to preach to-morrow in the Hall of the House of Representatives, and to request my attendance— About two O’Clock Mr Clay came and presented to me Don Joaquin Campino, who delivered his Letter of Credence as Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Chili— He addressed me in very few words in Spanish, which were explained to me, by his interpreter—and which comprized only a small part of the Speech which he had delivered in writing— The Speech was complimentary to the United States, and personally to me, expressing the grateful acknowledgment of the Chilian Government that the United States had been the first power which had recognized the Independence of Chile, and to send them a Minister— In return it observed that he was the first Minister ever sent by Chili to a foreign power—apologised for the delay of this reciprocation—expressed the satisfaction of his Government with the conduct of Mr Allen, during his residence among them, and also with that of Mr Larned now the Charge d’Affaires—it finally expressed the earnest wish of Mr Campino that while residing here, he might be instrumental in cementing the friendly relations between the two Governments. I answered briefly every part of his speech as if he had delivered it first expressing my regret at not being able to speak to him in his own language, I desired his interpreter to say that the People and Government of the United States had witnessed with deep and constant sympathy the arduous struggle of the People of Chili for National Independence. They had taken pleasure in being the first among the Nations to recognize that event, and in sending the first diplomatic Mission, which had ever been received in Chili— I desired him, in writing to his Government to say that I had learnt with the highest satisfaction that our late Minister, Mr Allen, had so conducted himself during his residence as to have secured the approbation of the Chilian Government; and that our present Chargé d’Affaires Mr Larned had also made himself acceptable, as I hoped and trusted he would continue to do— For the Sentiments of personal respects, and kindness, tendered from the President of Chili, to myself, I requested him to say that I received them with much sensibility and with a cordial and reciprocal return— I joined also very sincerely in the wish of Mr Campino, that his Mission might contribute to improve the intercourse and friendly relations between the two Countries— That his reception and treatment here, might render his residence among us as agreeable as possible, and that on finally returning home, he might carry with him an opinion of our Country still more favourable than that with which he had come— The Secretary of Legation as well as the interpreter came with Mr Campino. The Audience was over in ten minutes; and Mr Clay remained with me a short time after the Minister and his Legation had withdrawn— He mentioned a new Candidate for the Office of Treasurer—Mr Savage, now the Chief Justice of New-York— The motives suggested for this appointment are political; and one of them is to prepare for Mr Savages being brought forward as the Candidate for the Office of Governor of New-York— Mr Clay spoke also of the Mission to England, and named Mr Rush, Governor Barbour and Mr Webster, as persons perhaps inclined to accept it— In fitness for the Office Mr Webster stands pre-eminent— The political considerations at the present moment are unfavourable to his appointment— Mr Clay said that if Governor Barbour should be appointed he would certainly not remain more than a year or two in England; and he thought it would be best, if Mr Webster would postpone his pretensions for that time; but that after what had passed, if Mr Webster should insist upon it, he thought he should be appointed— Mr Whittlesey, a member of the House of Representatives from Ohio, introduced a young man from the State of New-York, by the name of Taylor— Mr Bailey of Massachusetts came and passed a couple of hours with me this Evening: His object was to make a proposition, in the first instance not very distinctly disclosed, but which I chose immediately to understand, and to meet in a manner altogether explicit. He ultimately informed me that it had been suggested to him by Mr Webster— He said that the Election of Governor, and of the Legislature of Kentucky would take place next August— That the great and decisive struggle of the 462parties would be at that election, which would decide the fate of the subsequent election of electors of President and Vice-President, in November. These Electors, by a recent act of the Legislature, are to be chosen by a general ticket throughout the State— Immense exertions are making by the opposition party to carry this Election of August— They spend much money, and there is an indispensable necessity of concentrating them in the same manner— Now Mr Bailey’s question to me was whether I had a sum from five to ten thousand dollars, that I was disposed to give, without enquiring how it would be disposed of, but which would be employed, to secure the Election of General Metcalfe as Governor of Kentucky next August— I answered that there was a sentiment, expressed first by the late Mr Lowndes—much repeated since, by General Jackson and his friends though not practiced upon by them, but hitherto invariably observed by me; that the Presidency of the United States was an office neither to be sought nor declined— To pay money for securing it directly or indirectly, was in my opinion incorrect in principle— This was my first and decisive reason, for declining such a contribution— A second reason was that I could not even command a sum of five thousand dollars, without involving myself in debt for it— And a third was that if I once departed from the principle, and gave money, there was no rule either of expediency or of morality, which would enable me to limit the amount of expenditure which I ought to in cur— I could certainly appropriate half a million dollars to the same object without transcending any Law, and with as much propriety as I could devote 5000 to the election of a Governor of Kentucky— Mr Bailey seemed surprized to hear that I could not raise five thousand dollars without borrowing—and said Mr Webster had told him, I had a large sum, fifty or sixty thousand dollars lying dead, in a Bank at Boston— I told Mr Baily candidly the state of my affairs— That the expenses of my family, and the support of my three Sons now absorb very nearly the whole of my public Salary— That all my real Estate in Quincy and Boston is mortgaged for the payment of my debts— That the income of my whole private Estate, is less than 6000 dollars a year, and that I am paying at least 2000 of that for interest upon my debt. Finally that upon going out of Office in one year from this time, destitute of all means of acquiring property, it will only be by the sacrifice of that which I now possess that I shall be able to support my family— I note as a remarkable incident this proposition to me to contribute five or ten thousand dollars to carry the election of a Governor and Legislature of Kentucky— The mode of expenditure is by the circulation of newspapers, pamphlets and hand-bills— It is practiced by all parties, and its tendency is to render elections altogether venal. The coincidence of Mr Clark’s proposal that I should write a pamphlet in answer to Ingham’s Slanders about my Accounts, with Mr Clay’s opinion that Mr Webster if he insists upon it should be appointed to the Mission of Great Britain, and with Mr Webster’s proposal that I should spent five or ten thousand dollars upon the election of a Governor of Kentucky, is perhaps all accidental; but in the operations of parties objects of great dissimilarity to each other are often connected by imperceptible links together.