John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. V:30— Thursday— Fahrenheit 50.

This day closed the Constitutional Term of the 21st. Congress, and the Career of its second Session. Mr Davis called and spent about two hours with me in conversation upon Politics—entirely personal politics. He has been here during the whole Session of Congress, and says that he has often been in direct communication with Calhoun— Says he told him he was the strong man of South, and expected to obtain the votes of all the Southern States except Georgia— Davis understood him that he intended to be a Candidate against Jackson at the approaching Election; a purpose which it may be his policy to announce, as the Supporters of Jackson, will not support him on their ticket for the Vice-Presidency. Davis says he told Calhoun he was opposed to him, and should oppose him, and that he must be careful to say nothing to him of a 135confidential nature, because he might have occasion to use what he should say and should feel himself entirely at Liberty to say it— That Calhoun told him he had no desire to interfere with his views; but only asked for fair play, in public; and if the election should come to the House of Representatives— I asked him if the Jackson party proposed to elect Mr Crawford Vice-President— He said no— That Mr Van Buren was not for him, nor Mr Forsyth—but Mr Troup was— As to Forsyth’s disposition he had but recently ascertained it—having firmly believed till lately that he was for him—but he now knew he was not— I asked him what Granger was here for— He said to be out of the way from home, that he might not be elected a delegate to the National Anti-masonic Meeting at Baltimore, next September— That Granger was weary of his position as the head of the Anti-masonic party, and wanted to withdraw from it— He said he was himself a Mason, and was willing, to let the Antimasons have their Governor and State Legislature, upon condition that they should yield the Electoral Ticket— That could not be conceded to them— He expected this arrangement would ultimately take effect— He further said that Mr Sanford might possibly be run for Governor, and that Mr Marcy who is to come to the Senate in his place would take an Independent stand, and in no wise make himself subservient to Mr Van Buren— He said he had long known Mr Marcy intimately— That he was Son-in-Law to Benjamin Knower a man of great wealth, and shrewd intelligence, who dissuaded him from running as Governor, that he might not be too much under the operation of Mr Van Buren’s influence and who would not be willing that he should be so now— Congress passed last Evening a Bill making a new grant of twenty-nine or thirty-thousand dollars to Mr Monroe— Davis says Mr Clayton of Delaware was the Senator by whose means it was called up out of turn and passed, though it was Mr Hayne who made the motion— They adjourned between seven and eight this Evening— The President signed the internal improvement Bill—which he was expected to return with his objections— The offensive proviso to the General Appropriation Bill was struck out.