John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

15. IV:45. Tuesday— Round Capitol Square— Snow— Clear

Mr Stow is a man from Connecticut, who told me he had been introduced to me two or three years since by Mr Tomlinson he also said he had come on last week from Philadelphia in company with my Son George— Mr Marvin member of the House of Representatives from New-York came to recommend General Macomb, for the appointment of Major General— Mr King a Senator from Alabama introduced Mr Deering a traveller from that State. Coll. Roberdeau brought me, one of the Telescopes, belonging to the collection of Instruments under his charge at the War Department—and a copy of Garnett’s Tables presented to me by William Elliott. Governor Barbour brought me from General Macomb a copy of the Letter of the Secretary of War Calhoun, written to him at the reduction of the army in 1821. and a Letter of General Jesup, now written at Macomb’s request, and stating the circumstances under which Macomb accepted the office of Chief Engineer with a reduction of his rank— I had already sent Message N 26. to the Senate with nominations, and among them Macomb’s name for the appointment of Major-General— I sent at the same time Message N 8 to the House of Representatives, with a Report from the Secretary of War and documents in answer to a call for the charges made against the Agent to the Creek Indians Crowell since 1. January 1826. In carrying these Messages, my Son John, after having delivered that to the House was passing through the Rotunda, with that to the Senate, when he was personally assaulted and struck on the face by Russell Jarvis, one of the Printers to the Senate— He returned the blows and an affray between them was arrested by the interference of persons who were accidentally there. The origin of this outrage was that Jarvis came to the last Drawing-Room, and my son, indignant at seeing here a man who lives by the detail of daily Slander upon me, said to Mr Stetson that if Jarvis had the feelings of a gentleman, he would not shew himself here— This was on the 2d. of the Month— On the 8th. Jarvis wrote a note to John stating that he had learned that while he was here on Wednesday before, he had spoken of him disrespectfully— He sent this note by a man named M’lean, who he said would receive any explanations— John repeated to M’lean, what he had said, declined giving any written answer and said he would hold no correspondence with Jarvis— This day, Jarvis followed him out from the House of Representatives, came up to him from behind, accosted him by name, asked him if he had given him his final answer, and upon Johns answering that he had, struck him on the face, and retreated back so that John could only strike at him in return, before they were separated. The whole Scene was witnessed by William Emmons of Boston—by Clement Dorsey a member of the House from Maryland; with another person from Prince George’s County, and by Coll. Gardner of the Post-Office—who said that Jarvis was right. Of all this I heard nothing till the Evening— Mr Southard called before dinner, and read to me, his answer to a Letter from Mr Hoffman, Chairman of the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives, enquiring what instruments, and what appropriation would be required to resume the Survey of the Coast, and his opinion of the necessity of the measure— I approved the answer, suggesting for consideration two slight alterations, towards its close— Mr Everett called here in the Evening, and spoke of the assassin’s attack upon my Son at the Capitol, while he was in the discharge 505of a public duty. I had heard nothing of it before— Mr Everett related the circumstances as he heard them, and enquired whether I should propose to make any communication to Congress concerning it— I said I should not immediately— The transaction occurred immediately under the notice of both Houses of Congress, and within the walls of their own building— It seemed to me it was rather their affair than mine to act upon it, and I should prefer that they would act upon it, setting aside every consideration personal either to me or to my Son— Under this Congress, it is doubtful whether any remedy for such brutalities, will be found, short of being provided with arms for self-defence.