John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

1. VI. Thursday.

Mrs Tudor sent and requested me to call upon her this morning and I went— She has been led to expect that she is entitled to certain bounty Lands perhaps of the value of 1000 dollars, as the widow of an Officer of the Revolutionary War— But she had a Letter from William Otis, a Clerk in the general Land Office, stating that he had conferred with the Commissioner Hayward, who advised her to apply to me, and observed there was no record to prove that her husband was an Officer of the Revolutionary War— I took Otis’s Letter, and at the House, found in the first Volume of the Journals of the Old Congress, the Record of the Election of Mr Tudor as Judge Advocate of the Army— In the House, the Resolution of Mr Clayton proposing the appointment of a select Committee to investigate his fifteen charges against the Bank of the United States— Thomas R. Mitchell made a speech of two hours against the Bank— H. Denny, Coll. Watmough, and Mr Ellsworth supported it— Foster of Georgia and Cambreleng replied— Watmough moved an Amendment to Clayton’s Resolution, to be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, and then M’Duffie, gave up the whole ground; and advised Watmough to withdraw his amendment; and let Clayton have his Committee in his own way— The House adjourned at four O’clock without taking the question— But I conclude that M’Duffie has betrayed and sacrificed the Bank— His surrender was unexpected to me; but it is not uncongenial to the obliquity of his politics, and the unsteadiness of his mind— I had fortunately taken no part in this debate, and it is a new warning to me, to forbear all volunteering upon such treacherous ground as that covered by the floor of the House— I am constantly tempted to speak and yet have continual demonstration, that I should only expose myself to mortification, and be surely deserted even by those whom I would wish to serve and sustain. Charles J. Ingersoll and Mr Nicklin were here this Evening; they had just been at the President’s Drawing Room— Ingersoll spoke with astonishment at M’Duffie’s defection in the House.— I spent the leisure of the Evening in writing and brought up my arrears. The apportionment Bill was taken up in the Senate where Mr Webster made an eloquent Speech— I fear to no purpose— If reason or argument could effect anything at this Time, I should hope that a great and inveterate defect in the apportionment Laws, might be remedied— But the conviction is pressed upon me more and more from day to day of my utter inability to render any valuable service to the Country— I would not prematurely despair of the Republic—but my forebodings are dark; and the worst of them is in contemplating the precipice before us—yawning at our feet, from the very pinnacle of prosperity to which we have been raised, and on which we stand.

2. V. Friday.

Finished the version of the 83d. and began that of the 84th. Psalm. Both exceedingly difficult; and my task grows more oppressive as I proceed— I called at the Navy Department and enquired of Mr Woodbury, if according to the recent joint-Resolution of Congress he was prepared to pay the amount due to the Stone-Cutters Newcomb, Richards and Gridley. He said he had ten days since, given order for the payment of 48000 dollars, and that the remainder would be paid on production of the vouchers that the contract had been performed. I then called at the War Department; but the Secretary Cass was at the President’s. I left the Letter from James L. Hodges, asking my assistance to obtain admission as a Cadet 390at West-Point, for a young man recommended by him— At the House, a joint Resolution passed authorising the Secretary of State to employ Clerks to record the Patents in the Patent-Office— This Resolution has passed sub-silentio; without opposition, and without notice— A contrast sufficiently striking with the retrenchment proceedings in 1828. Mr Clayton of Georgia’s Resolution, for a Committee to investigate the direction of the Bank was taken up and he made a tiresome Speech of an hour in which he barely reached the threshold of his subject— The orders of the day were called for, and the Speaker . . . the recent alteration of the 17th. rule did not extend to the days of private business—Fridays and Saturdays— That on those days therefore the orders of the day could not be set aside by a bare majority of the House— A motion was made to suspend the rule to allow Mr Clayton to finish his Speech— It very nearly prevailed—the vote being 96 to 54. but the majority not amounting to two thirds, Mr Clayton was silenced for the day. The Bill for the relief of Susan Decatur and others was resumed— John Davis offered an Amendment, for a distribution conformable to the Prize act, which he supported by a Speech of two hours, of great power and impression— Carson followed and attempted to answer him— About four O’Clock Mr M’Duffie moved that the Committee should rise, intimating that he had a great speech to make for which there would not be time this day— The Committee rose and the house adjourned. Coll. Richard M. Johnson asked me to walk with him, and said he wished to speak with me of the state of the personal Relations between the President Jackson and me— That he, Johnson wished the relations of friendly personal intercourse between us to be restored— And that he thought the first advances to it should be made by him— He had also spoken of it, to Mr Cass the Secretary of War, who agreed with him on this point.— I said that the personal intercourse between General Jackson and me had been suspended by himself, without informing me of the reason why— I had never known his reason— I had seen at the time in the Telegraph, an anonymous statement, that it was because he knew, that I had caused or countenanced abusive charges against Mrs Jackson in the Newspapers— The fact was not so— I never had caused or countenanced directly or indirectly any such publication. But General Jackson had never asked of me the question, and I did not deem it necessary to notice anonymous charges in the Telegraph. Coll. Johnson said he had always been sure it was so— That General Jackson had come here with dispositions entirely friendly to me, and intending to call upon me— That his mind had been poisoned here by scoundrel Office-seekers— That he was a warm tempered passionate man, and had been led to believe that I was the cause of those publications against his wife— But that he Johnson knew, that the President’s feelings were now as friendly to me as they had ever been. He had told him that at the time of the debate in the House of Representatives on the Seminole War questions, he had received more assistance from me in drawing up the minority Report of the Military Committee than from all the world beside— He did not now speak by authority of General Jackson, but he knew that his disposition towards me was friendly, and had no doubt if a friendly advance from him would be accepted by me that he would make it— I said I had no desire that the interruption of social intercourse between us should continue, and was disposed to receive any friendly advance from General Jackson with kindness. He asked if I would accept an invitation to dine with him?— I said no— That was an act of mere ordinary courtesy, usually paid to every Member of Congress, which I could not consider as an advance towards reconciliation— He asked if I would accept an invitation 391to a small and select party of friends— I said that would be liable to the same objection— It would pass for mere civility to a member of Congress, and set to the account of my present situation— He then asked what I should myself think proper— I said it was not for me to prescribe— I could only say that I was willing to receive in a spirit of conciliation any advance which in that Spirit, General Jackson might make— With this, the Colonel was satisfied and we parted— But it has placed me again in a situation of the delicacy of which it is my duty to be profoundly sensible— My Son John dined with Mr Kerr, of Maryland to whom I sent an excuse— I wrote to Messrs. Newcomb, Richards and Gridley.

3. VI Saturday

Attended the House at Noon— Mr Southard heretofore Secretary of the Navy was there— He comes upon a cause between New-Jersey and New-York before the U.S. Supreme Court— Mr Clayton, understanding that he might have his speech cut short by the expiration of the hour, moved to postpone the consideration of his Resolution till Monday next, which was carried— The States were called over for Resolutions— The Bill for the relief of Susan Decatur was further debated in Committee of the whole Jesse Speight in the Chair Mr M’Duffie made a long, vehement and tedious speech for Mrs Decatur; and read a Letter from her with a certificate and declaration of the great parsimony with which she has lived from the time of her husband’s decease, and another against her nieces, all which he introduced with high panegyric— The house listened to him as they always do with great attention; but the usual character of his eloquence is vehement verbosity—energy of manner and infirmity of substance— While he was speaking Mr Newton of Virginia sent for me to go into the Library, where he introduced me to General Taylor of Norfolk, and two other Citizens of the same State— Returning to the House I found P. L. Tracy replying to M’Duffie— He was followed by Elutheros Cook of Ohio, who proposed an Amendment to the Amendment of John Davis, and made a speech which brought the Clock to half past four.— The Committee then rose and the house adjourned— I received from Coll. Richard M. Johnson a Note without date or signature which I copy for curiosity— “Genl. Jackson expressed great Satisfaction that I had the conversation with you which I detailed to him and expressed a wish that I should assure you of his personal regard & friendship & was anxious to have a social and friendly intercourse restored between you— There I left it and have satisfied my own mind. I shall communicate to Govr Cass the same and there it rests with me, having done what my heart suggested— The President expresses himself as perfectly satisfyed now that you never did countenance the publications to which I alluded & entertains for you the highest opinion as a man of honor &c.— Please destroy this when you read it.” So far so good— The President is now perfectly satisfied that I never countenanced the Newspaper publications against his wife—and wishes the relations of social intercourse to be restored between us— Coll. Johnson is to tell this to Governor Cass and there leaves it— And what is now my duty to myself and to the Country? To seek Governor Cass?—no.— But to return to Coll. Johnson his paper instead of destroying it—letting him know that I have a copy of it— To thank him for the conciliatory part he has taken in this affair, and to assure him of my gratification that the President is satisfied I countenanced no newspaper publications against this wife. 392A restoration of friendly social, and personal intercourse between President Jackson and me, at this time would attract much public notice, and could not fail to expose me to obloquy.— The old federal party now devoted to Mr Clay have already more than once tried their hands at slandering me— They have drawn the sword and brandished it over my head— If I set my foot in the President’s house, they will throw away the scabbard. I must therefore walk with extreme circumspection; even that will not protect me from their malignity— Something is due to myself—and the path is narrow to avoid on the one hand the charge of an implacable temper, and on the other of eagerness to propitiate the dispenser of power— We had company to dine— Besides the persons named in the margin, J. Sergeant had promised to come—but the Judgment of the Supreme Court was delivered this morning, upon the case of the Missionaries to the Cherokees imprisoned in Georgia. It pronounces the Statute of Georgia under which they are imprisoned unconstitutional. Sergeant, who with Mr Wirt argued the cause for the Missionaries has been waiting only for the decision of the Court—and goes for home to-morrow. He sent me a note of excuse by Peters. I finished this Morning the version of the 84th. Psalm.

4. VI. Sunday.

Began the version of the 85th Psalm— Attended this morning with Mrs Adams at St. John’s Church, and heard Mr Keith of Alexandria— He read prayers for Quinquagesima, or the Sunday before Lent and preached from Revelations 3.20. “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”— The Sermon was partly written and partly extemporaneous—generally read from the manuscript; but with occasional exhortations unpremeditated—among which was one drawn from a conversation this morning with Mr Hawley, the Minister of the Church, who has been nearly three months at death’s door and is yet confined to his bed—who told him that he had found it impossible to discipline his mind to the imminent prospect of dissolution while it was impending over him— Mrs Tudor called upon me after the morning service to make inquiry concerning her claim for revolutionary Military Bounty Lands— I told her I had found in the Journals of the old Congress the record of her husband’s appointment as Judge Advocate of the Army but not the time of his resignation— She said it was not more than three Months before the close of the War, and that Coll. Lawrence of New-York was his Successor— In the afternoon I heard Mr Smith, at the Presbyterian Church; but a cold rain had come on, and there were only between thirty and forty persons in the House— Mr Smith read the 5th Chapter of Galatians—made two prayers and gave out two hymns to be sung with a commentary upon each line of each hymn, and concluded by directing the doxology to the Trinity to be sung—but gave no Sermon— I received by the Mail several Letters, and with one of them a Memorial signed by several thousand persons upon the existing relations between the United States and the Cherokee Tribe of Indians, and the imprisonment of the Missionaries. The Memorial was the result of a very numerous Meeting at New-York, and a Letter from a Committee of the Signers requested me to present and support it— Blunt wrote to me some days since, and mentioned that this Memorial would be sent to me, and I had intended to answer him, declining to present it— But his Letter had escaped from my memory, and remained unanswered— I now concluded, though after much hesitation to present it to-morrow Morning, well assured that it will be of no avail, but willing to perform to the utmost of my power, my duty.

5. V: Monday.

Rainy Morning— I rode to the Capitol—stopping at the Post-Office, to deliver a bundle of Speeches and documents, which I forward to the members of the Massachusetts Legislature from the County of Plymouth and others, among whom some of my friends. At the House it was the day for calling Petitions, and at the call of Massachusetts I presented the Memorial from New-York, concerning the Cherokees and the missionaries imprisoned in Georgia— It was read at my request, and I moved that it should be printed and referred to a Select Committee— This immediately gave rise to a debate which consumed the day— Speight moved its reference to the Committee on Indian Affairs— Bell, Chairman of that Committee, made one of those Speeches, common in the house, when a subject comes upon them unexpectedly, arguing against the reception of the memorial but closing with a repetition of Speight’s Motion— The Georgia members were variously affected— Clayton raved, and said that before the decree of the Supreme Court should be carried into Execution, Georgia should be made a wilderness— Thompson of Georgia finally moved that the Memorial be laid on the table— The question was taken by yeas and nays 91. for. 92 against laying on the table— The vote was first thought to be carried for Stewart of Pennsylvania had voted in the affirmative by mistake— He corrected it before the decision was announced— Wayne then attempted to move a postponement of consideration for a fortnight— Drayton actually moved a postponement. John Davis moved a reference to the Committee of the whole on the state of the Union— Everett had proposed this to me, and said it was an understanding between the parties that the subject should be discussed in Committee of the whole on the Union. This was personally satisfactory to me, but did not discharge my duty to the Memorialists— Stewart moved the previous Question, but withdrew it at my request to give me the opportunity to give my reasons for not assenting to Davis’s proposition— Beardsley of New-York followed with an argument that the Memorial should be laid on the table— He said he thought I should have moved that myself. Cambreleng noticed that the Memorial, though from New-York, was not presented by any of the Representatives from that City— I said I had reason to believe, that it was from no disrespect to the members from New-York, that the memorial had been sent to me; but from a belief that it would be an unpleasing task to them— It was no pleasing one to me— I had wished to decline it— But after examining the contents of the Memorial, had deemed it my duty to present it.— The House were now in possession of it, and would dispose of it as they thought best.— Stewart renewed his call for the previous question which was seconded and taken— Wickliffe moved that the vote should be taken upon the simple question of commitment— I asked for the yeas and nays and they were taken— The Commitment was carried 96 to 93— And then it was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union without a division— This decision is precisely what I wished; though having moved for a select Committee, I did not feel at Liberty to assent to it— In Committee of the whole on the state of the Union, I may leave it to the management of other hands—and may take any part or no part in the debate as I may think proper— The three members from the City of the New York, voted to lay the Memorial on the Table— Cambreleng and White voted against the Commitment— Verplanck for it. I returned to Coll. Richard M Johnson his Note and told him I had taken a copy of it which he approved— I thanked him for the part he 394had taken in this affair, which I believe proceeded on his part from a good intention— I wrote to the Committee who had forwarded to me the Memorial from New-York, informing them of the disposal of it made by the House— Wrote also to my Son Charles.

6. V. Tuesday

I finished yesterday the version of the 85th. and began this morning that of the 86th Psalm. Mr Hastings called upon me this morning and took back a paper which he had left with me respecting the manufactures of glass— He said he would attend the Committee to-morrow Morning.— At the House of Representatives, there was a call for Petitions by States—resumed from Massachusetts where it had stopp’d yesterday, by the debate which arose upon the New-York Memorial— I overtook Mr Cambreleng, walking to the Capitol, and apologised to him for having presented the memorial—it being considered as a courtesy that every member should present Petitions from his own particular constituents— After the States had been called over— Reports from standing Committees; and Reports from Select Committees were called for by the Speaker— The first order of the day then was the Resolution of Mr Clayton of Georgia, upon which he made a Speech of three hours and more, repeating and reinforcing all the charges of his Indictment against the Bank of the United States— He was very tiresome, but the house listened to him with much attention—excepting that a large portion of the Seats were deserted. When he finished he announced that all he had till then said was mere inducement and he had a great deal more to say, but would detain the house no longer— As he sat down, ten or twelve members sprang up to speak among whom were Wayne of Georgia and Root of New-York. The Speaker said Root had the floor— Wayne asked him to yield it for a moment, to allow him to offer an Amendment to his Colleague’s Resolution, which would give him something to talk about. There was a laugh in the House at the implied Sarcasm of Wayne, upon Clayton; as if his three hours Speech was not worth answering—but Root said he had enough to talk about, and refused to yield the floor— He moved that the house should adjourn, which was carried— I saw in the House Mr Webster and Mr Seymour of the Senate— They had the apportionment Bill before them, with an Amendment proposed by Mr Webster of the success of which he is doubtful— I wrote short Letters to J. Connell, and Joseph Blunt. Mrs W. S. Smith dined with us— I was able to write very little this Evening.

7. V.15. Ash Wednesday.

Attended the Committee on Manufactures. Horn, J. S. Barbour, and Dayan were present— Dr Condict, Worthington and Findlay absent. I received a note from Silas Condit, mentioning that the Doctor was absent from indisposition— J. S. Hastings and J. S. Wright attended the Committee— Mr Hastings gave some information respecting the manufactures of glass, and Mr Wright, respecting the Neponsit Manufacture at Canton of Satinets Kerseys and Negro Cloths— He brought also Samples of the Smyrna wool— One or two Memorials and Statements were read; and the Committee adjourned to meet on Friday Morning— In the House, after the usual introductory business of the morning, Mr Clayton’s resolution for a Committee to investigate the affairs of the Bank was immediately taken up— General Root made a Speech of about an hour in favour of A Bank of the United States; and moved that the investigating Committee should consist of seven and be chosen by ballot. Crawford of Pennsylvania, and Evans of Maine, also in favour of a choice of the Committee by 395Ballot— Then Beardsley of New-York, in a speech of near two hours made a joint attack upon the Bank, and upon General Root— His personalities were of the most offensive character— He continued till past four, when the House adjourned; leaving his speech yet unfinished— Mr Root had spoken irreverently of the proceedings of what are called the Albany Regency—the predominant party in the State of New-York, and partizans of Mr Van Buren— Pendleton says there are in the House but three partizans of Root—Eight Anti-Masons—two National Republicans and twenty-one Regency men. I answered a Letter received from N. Biddle, President of the United States Bank— Mrs Tudor called on me this Evening, to make enquiries concerning her claim for Revolutionary bounty Lands, on account of her husbands Service as Judge Advocate of the Army. I promised to see the Commissioner of the General Land-Office concerning it

8. V:45. Thursday.

Finished the version of the 86th and began that of the 87th Psalm— This work languishes as I proceed; and I foresee that it will soon stop; by a cessation of flow to the stream— Mr Tracy, the Member from New-York called this morning, and introduced to me two of his friends— Mr Perkins of Connecticut and Dr. Almy of the Western part of the State of New-York— I called at the General Land-Office, and conversed with the Commissioner Mr Heyward, concerning the claim of Mrs Tudor. I told him that the appointment of Mr Tudor as Judge Advocate of the Army in the Revolutionary War, and the Assignment to him of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, were both recorded in the first Volume of the Journals of the old Congress and referred him to the pages. He said he would see the Secretary of War upon the subject— At the House, almost immediately after their Meeting Mr Clayton’s Resolution was resumed— Mr Beardsley finished his Speech, and renewed his attacks upon the Bank and upon Genl. Root; who replied with equal acrimony: and fully divulged the cabalistic political combination of the New-York Banks and their safety fund— Bell of Tennessee then made a speech of an hour and a half against the chartering of the Bank at this Session—and his principal argument was with reference to the President’s Opinions and to his proceedings respecting the Bank— The question was taken upon Root’s proposed amendment to choose the Committee by Ballot and by yeas and nays it was rejected 88 to 92. only 180 members voted— There were of course about 16. accidentally or otherwise absent—for the most part Skulkers— Mr Wayne then moved a long amendment to Clayton’s Resolution—he proposes a Committee to sit during the recess, and to report to the next Session of Congress— Mr Burges of Rhode-Island proposed an Amendment to this Amendment. There were several very sharply debated points of order; in one of which Mr Wayne spoke of Root, with great indignation and contempt— M’Duffie justified Root, but Root himself made no reply— There were motions for printing the Amendments both of Wayne and Burges, but before any decision Dr Condict moved an adjournment, which was carried— Mrs Tudor sent to me a note requesting me to call upon her this Evening. I went, and found her desirous of sending a Petition to Congress, for bounty Lands and commutation pay— Mrs Stewart gave me a Statement drawn up by Mr D. J. Pearce; upon which I promised to call upon the Secretary of War; and if necessary to draw up a Petition for Mrs Tudor to sign, and to present it to the House next Monday.

9. VI:15. Friday.

Finished the version of the 87th. and began that of the 88th. Psalm— The 87th. is short; but exceedingly difficult, and very obscure— The proper names of Rahab and Babylon, Tyre Philistia and Ethiopia, must be made to range in the compass of three lines— There are repeated Transitions from the third to the first, and from the first to the third person. These with the transitions of the Tenses from the past to the present, and from the present to the future, occasion must always perplex the sense and present obstacles to versification— I attended the Committee on Manufactures. Dr Condict. H. Horn, and Mr Dayan were there— A bare Quorum— Findlay, Worthington and J. S. Barbour absent. I read the two Letters received from the Secretary of the Treasury—upon the frauds on the Revenue, and the average prices— The Secretary of the Treasury advises to abolish the minimums, and levy ad valorem duties— This was discussed in Committee, and unanimously disapproved— He proposes alternatives, and the Committee adjourned to meet next Tuesday when I am to produce the draught of a Bill, for consideration— We found the House in Session— Mr Clayton’s Bank Resolution was immediately taken up. The Amendment proposed by Mr Wayne, was another Resolution, and Mr Burges’s still another. Burges proposed a postponement till Monday, and that the Resolution and both Amendments should in the mean time be printed— Speight raised a question of Order, whether Burges’s proposal for a Committee of 7 to be appointed by Ballot could be received after the rejection of Root’s motion yesterday— The Speaker inclined to think it not in order, but had not read Burges’s Amendment— Everett pointed out differences between the motions but the Speaker decided the Committee of 7 to be chosen by ballot was out of order. Then Burges at the suggestion of Wickliffe moved a Committee of 8. which the Speaker thought was in order— M’Duffie rose and with some impatience said the great evil above all others in this case was delay. That it was of infinite importance that the house should do what it meant to do at once— Wayne started up and asked if the evil, of which the Gentleman spoke was evil to the Country or to the Bank— M’Duffie turned pale, and replied that he must say the course of the Gentleman from Georgia in the house, was intolerably supercilious and impertinent— Wayne rose again—his eyes flashed with fire and he in substance told him that if he wished to give proof of manhood it must be elsewhere— They were called to order and the Speaker said the observations made on both sides had been very improper. Barstow of New-York moved a reconsideration of the vote yesterday which rejected Root’s motion for the choice of the Committee by Ballot. He said he had not changed his opinion, and should vote the same way again—but some of his friends absent yesterday had requested him to give them an opportunity to vote and he was willing to gratify them— The vote was accordingly taken—after a Call of the House—and the reconsideration prevailed 98 to 93. still a small vote. The hour had now expired, and the house went into Committee of the whole, Speight in the Chair upon Susan Decatur’s bill— Slade of Vermont and Burd of Pennsylvania made Speeches against J. Davis’s amendment. It was rejected, and the Bill was reported to the house without Amendment— Davis renewed his Motion for amendment—rejected by yeas and nays 78 to 102— Pearce’s Amendment in favour of the M’Knight’s met the same fate 80 to 93 and the Bill itself was then rejected 78 to 95. Before the House adjourned, C F. Mercer, referring to the wrangle that had taken place 397between Wayne and M’Duffie, said he hoped they would be reconciled— He called upon them according to Parliamentary usage sanctioned by practice in England. He stated what had been first said in the warmth of debate by Wayne, without intention he had no doubt—but which he thought was justly offensive to M’Duffie— He called upon Wayne to disavow the offensive intention— Wayne said he was convinced by the opinion of his friends around him that what he had said in the heat of debate was susceptible of an offensive imputation upon M’Duffie— He disclaimed all such intention and declared his full conviction of the patriot Spirit of the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means— M’Duffie declared himself entirely satisfied, and said that he retracted the words he had used with infinitely more pleasure than it given him pain to speak them. Mr Wayne then complimented him upon his Spirit, and the house adjourned. The newspapers absorbed my Evening.

10. IV:30. Saturday

I called this morning on the Secretary of War, Mr Cass, to enquire in behalf of Mrs Tudor and her claim— He told me that Mr Hayward had spoken to him on the subject, and that Mrs Tudor sent for him yesterday, and he had conversed with her. He had directed an examination to be made of the Records in the War Office, and when made would inform me of the result. He thought however the claim of Mrs Tudor would not come within those provided for by the Continental Congress— I mentioned to him the Letter I had left, of Mr Hodges recommending a youth for admission as a Cadet at West-Point. He said he believed they could not comply with Mr Hodges’s desire this year, an appointment having been made at the request of Mr Grennell, with the recommendation of the whole Massachusetts delegation.— In the House Mr Everett from the Library Committee offered a Resolution, authorising the Clerk of the House to purchase 240 copies of a documentary Volume respecting the Bank of the United States, to be distributed one to each member of the House and 25 copies to be deposited in the Library. Foster of Georgia opposed the Resolution. Barringer of North Carolina moved an Amendment, to purchase only 50 copies to be deposited in the Library, and called for the yeas and nays first upon his Amendment and that being rejected, upon the Resolution which was carried by a small majority—95 to 80.— The Post-Office bill, was then at the Supplication of Coll. Richard M Johnson taken up, read a third time and passed— Mr Doddridge of Virginia moved a reconsideration of the vote yesterday which rejected the Bill for the Relief of Susan Decatur—and then moved a postponement of it till next Friday— While this was in discussion, with motions to lay on the Table, and for the previous question, a motion was made shortly after two, and carried, to adjourn— I had called before the Meeting of the House at Gadsby’s, and seen Mr Southard— His brother, the member of the House came in while I was there— Both of them, Mr S. L. Southard’s daughter Virginia, and the other company above-named dined with us— R. Peters and his daughter was invited, but he is ill and keeps his daughter to nurse him— I received a Letter from J. Connell; and one from William Sullivan, with a Pamphlet on the Boston Port Society.

11. V:30. Sunday

Finished the version of the 88th. Psalm— Rainy day.— Heard at the Presbyterian Church Mr Smith, in the morning from John 8.56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad.” The gladness of Abraham was the joy conferred by Religion— Mr Smith’s formula leads him always into the same track, and it becomes tedious— I had visitors between the Services— Mr Hoffman of Baltimore, and Mr Barrell of Boston—and after them W. B. Hodgson who told me he expected by the middle of the week to leave the City to return to Constantinople. He is nominated to the Senate, as the Dragoman of the Legation of the United States, instead of Navoni who has been displaced for misconduct— Mr Smith’s afternoon text was from Matthew 22.35. “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? 37. Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy mind.” The subject of the discourse was [“]the Love of God.” Mr and Mrs Lee were there; and Mr James— I read attentively after Church the opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, delivered by Chief Justice Marshall in the case of Worcester the Missionary against the State of Georgia— It pronounces the Law of Georgia, under which Mr Worcester is imprisoned in the Penitentiary, Unconstitutional, null and void— There is no doubt that the execution of this Sentence will be resisted, and defeated by the Government of Georgia— A case of collision between the Judicial authority of the Union, and the Authority of the State is no brought to an issue. The immediate Power is in the hand of the State— The Executive of the Union, is leagued with the State Authority; and the two Houses of Congress are about as equally as possible divided in the case— It is clear that the Constitution and Law of the Union, and its judicial authority will be prostrated, before the despotic power of the State; and I would it were possible for me to anticipate the course to be taken, and the measure proper to be proposed, when the information shall come back— Convinced that I can effect nothing, my own course will be to withhold myself from all action concerning it.

12. V:15. Monday.

Began the version of the 89th Psalm. At the House— Overtook and walked with Drayton—and then with I. C. Bates— The States were called over for Petitions. Bill for relief of Susan Decatur with the pending motion for Reconsideration was postponed till next Friday— Boon of Indiana moved a Resolution that the Hour for the Meeting of the House should for the future be 11. O’Clock in the Morning. Whittlesey of Ohio objected to it on account of the urgent business of Committee—especially of the Committee of Claims— Wickliffe Chairman of the Committee of Public Lands—sustained him— Clay of Alabama of the same Committee, wished much to meet at eleven— He thinks I suppose it would cut short the enquiry into the second Auditor Lewis’s concerns— The Resolution was finally laid upon the Table. Mr Clayton’s Resolution for the Bank Enquiry was taken up, on the reconsideration of Root’s amendment to choose a Committee of seven by ballot— Mr Burges was not in the house. 399the two last having been rainy days— Leavitt of Ohio made a Speech of an hour and a half against Root’s Amendment full of bitter insinuations against the friends of the Bank— He was followed by Daniel of Kentucky; a half-deserter from the Jackson cause— He supported Root’s amendment, declaring himself however an Enemy to the Bank, unless he should be otherwise instructed by his constituents— He spoke much of the Politics of New-York, and said it was a common proverb in Kentucky, that such and such things would puzzle a Philadelphia Lawyer—and that he would say of the Politics of New-York— He said too there was no part of the world into which you could go, where you would not meet a Kentuckian— Angel of New-York delivered a long lamentation and vituperation of Root; and misrepresented much that he had said— Root interrupted him and explained several Times; but he went on— Jenifer replied by a long dissertation upon federalism, which Angel had attacked, and federalists, till at last he was called to order— Collier of New-York then said he wished to address the house, but he moved to adjourn, it being past four O’Clock, and the house did adjourn— I have been these two days without fire in my chamber. This day was almost summer heat and in the Evening there was a thunder-gust, with a shower of enormous hail-stones— I had much difficulty to write.

13. IV:30. Tuesday

I went up to the Capitol soon after nine this Morning, and finished the draught of a bill for the Meeting of the Committee on Manufactures—for the purpose of repressing frauds on the Revenue— I found John S. Barbour already at the Capitol, walking about in the passage ways— He came to the Committee-room, for about five minutes, before the hour of the Meeting of the Committee; but did not attend the Meeting— There were present at that Condict, Dayan, Horn and Worthington—to whom I read my draught of a bill, made according to the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury, and taken chiefly from a Bill reported by the Committee of Manufactures at the Session before last— Diversities of opinion soon arose— Horn very good humouredly opposed every thing— Worthington manifested a similar disposition with more reserve. Dayan objected to the provisions of the draughted bill, but proposed measures less energetic. Dr. Condict was earnest upon the object— We sat till noon, and adjourned till to-morrow Morning as I propose now to have daily Meetings till we have determined whether to report a Bill or not— In the House, Mr Clayton’s Bank investigation Resolution was taken up— Collier of New-York made a speech of an hour and a half; in which he fully exposed the system of combined Banks and safety fund of that State— The political caballing—the reservation of 3 per Cent from the Capitals of all the Banks— The party combinations intertwining with them—the patronage of, by, and through three Bank Commissioners with Salaries each of 1500 dollars a year—the holy league and Covenant of banks loaning money at seven per Cent, against a Bank which discounts at six per Cent, with the bearing of all this upon the Resolutions of the Legislature of New-York, instructing their Senators and requesting their Representatives to oppose the rechartering the Bank of the United States—the jugglery of party discipline—the political frauds and hypocrisy of the party, styling itself the 400Republican party—their subserviency to the Regency of the Albany Argus, and their motive of recommending themselves to favour by their joint and violent attack upon Root, were all displayed in a manner at once cautious, playful, and bitter— After he closed, M’Duffie rose merely to urge that the question might be taken to day— I gave notice that I should before the final question upon Mr Clayton’s Resolution should be taken offer an Amendment to it, which I sent to the chair— There was then a Call of the House—and after one Call of absent members a suspension of it—202 members answered as present. The vote upon Root’s Motion to choose the Committee by Ballot was 100 to 100. and the Speaker decided against the ballot—that is to appoint the Committee, himself— Plummer voted for the Ballot but before the decision was announced changed his vote— Jenifer was unaccountably lounging about the house, and did not get within the bar till after his name was called— He asked, but was not allowed to vote— Burges was absent—sick—Kerr—Randolph of New-Jersey, Mitchell of Maryland—Ingersoll absent— In this case as in the choice of the Speaker and the apportionment Bill, by carelessness and accident always operating against right the decision was against the declared sense of a majority of the House— Wayne’s Amendment was then taken up and he spoke for two hours till he was so hoarse that he could not articulate; and the house adjourned leaving his speech unfinished— Walking home with Drayton and Cambreleng, I noticed this and Drayton said Wayne had never learned when or how to finish a speech— The apportionment Bill yesterday passed the Senate without amendment 24 to 23.

14. VI.30. Wednesday.

At the Committee of Manufactures at ten— Condict Dayan, Worthington, Horn present Findlay and John S. Barbour absent— My draft of a Bill was discussed without drawing near to any conclusion— Mr Horn read a letter to him from a manufacturer expressing a strong aversion to repealing the minimum system of imposts— The majority of the Committee are equally averse to it and I told them I would report just such a Bill as they should direct. But I assured them that I became from day to day more firmly convinced that this system of minimums must ultimately be abandoned, or that there would be an insurrection in the South— The main argument for sustaining the minimums in the Letter to Horn was that Congress would not directly levy so high duties as are levied by this winding process— We are to meet again to-morrow, and I told the members of the Committee I should wish to meet every morning until we shall have come to some determination upon my draught of a Bill— In the House Wayne’s proposed amendment to Clayton’s Resolution was taken up— He spoke for about two hours; and the instant he sat down Hubbard of New-Hampshire rose, moved the previous Question, and a call of the House— The direct object of this was to cut off all discussion upon my proposed Amendment— The call of the house was first made, and when the first call of names was gone through Hubbard moved to suspend the call and renewed the motion for the previous Question— To this I objected that the House could not entertain two motions from a member at once— The Speaker who evidently favoured Hubbard told me the previous Question did not admit of debate, unless I spoke to a point of order, which I said I did—and it was to enquire whether the Gentleman from 401New-Hampshire could have two Questions under the consideration of the House at once— The Speaker said the Question was whether the call of the House should be suspended— Everett suggested to me while I was speaking that I might speak against that. I said I did object to the suspension of the Call, because I wished every member in the City whose attendance could be procured should be present— I deemed my Amendment extremely important and was very anxious to have a full vote upon it— I believed the original Resolution proposed a Committee with powers which the House itself did not possess and was not competent to give— The Speaker said again I could not debate the previous Question—but I did not permit myself to be disconcerted by these interruptions— I said I had yesterday given notice that I should move this Amendment expressly declaring that it was to anticipate that the previous Question would otherwise be moved before I could offer it— I had abstained from assigning my reason for offering it, but my object had been to shew as I thought I could that the original Resolution would transcend the legitimate Powers of the House— I had no desire that any humiliating process should be pursued towards the absent members, but merely that they might be sent for and their attendance requested— The doors were for some time closed and then the call was by consent suspended— Mr Hubbard’s motion for the previous question was not sustained by a majority of the House—the question was taken by yeas and nays on Mr. Wayne’s Amendment, and lost 26 to 164 my Amendment was taken up— Beardsley, Hogan, and Howard successively offered Amendments for delay, and supported them by speeches— Cambreleng, M’Duffie, Polk and Arnold took part in the debate— I had proposed to limit the time for receiving the Report to the 14th. of April— M’Duffie asked me to extend it one week further to the 21st to which I assented— The other Amendments were all rejected, by successive yeas and nays— Twice the yeas and nays were taken upon motions to adjourn, which were rejected, and at last the yeas and nays were taken upon my Amendment which was carried 106 to 93— On the Resolution as amended the question was taken and carried without a division— Everett renewed the motion for the appointment of the Committee by Ballot nine instead of seven— But afterwards withdrew the motion— I moved five because the Speaker had told me that seven having been once rejected would be out of order— But five were thought too few— I moved seven again—and the Speaker said that would be the number if not objected to— At half past eight the house adjourned, and it was past nine when I got home— The family had just dined—

15. V:15. Thursday

Mr Heyward the Commissioner of the General Land-Office called on me, and had a Letter from one of the Clerks in the War Department signifying that Mr Tudor could not have had any claim to military bounty Lands—insasmuch as the Judge-Advocate General of the Army had not been considered a Military Officer— Mr Heyward said he would see the Secretary of War, and hoped he might decide otherwise— Mr Radcliff of New-York came to see me about his project for a Rail-road across the Isthmus of Panama— He has seen Mr Livingston, the Secretary of State upon the Subject; he thinks very favourably of the project; but that it must first be undertaken by a private Company, before the aid of the Government can be given to it— Mr Radcliff read to me a Letter he had recently received giving a deplorable account of the situation of things in that part of South-America; but he still clings to his project, which seems likely to share the fate of Charlemagnes project for uniting the waters of the Rhine and of the Danube— I attended the Committee on 402Manufactures, but there was no Quorum— Dayan and Horn were the only members present— We discussed my draught of a Bill till the Time of the Meeting of the House, without coming to any result— Mr Horn is an importing merchant, and inclines to no further restriction, to provide against the frauds upon the Revenue— Dayan seems to be a more candid and tractable person— Horn’s personal appearance is not prepossessing. We read through the Tariff-Bill of 1828. but could come to no conclusion— In the House on the reading over of the Journal of yesterday, the Bank investigation Committee were announced— Clayton, Adams, M’Duffie, R. M Johnson, Cambreleng, Thomas of Maryland, and Watmough— The Chairman and a Majority of the Committee, are taken from the minority of the House upon the Resolution as it passed— But Watmough seemed to be satisfied with the Committee— He told me it was not so bad as he had expected— The Committee were notified by the Chairman to meet at ten to-morrow Morning, in the Room of the Committee of Claims— There came up in the House a Resolution offered some time since by General Root for an Amendment of the Constitution by changing the mode of electing the President of the United States— This was a favourite electioneering topic five years ago—but no one cares a straw about it now— Root made a short Speech; but no one answered him, and he got rid of his Resolution by moving its reference to the Committee of the whole on the State of the Union— The appropriation Bill, came next, and a very warm debate arose upon a motion of Warren R. Davis of South-Carolina, to strike out the item for Salary of a Minister to the Republic of Colombia— The Committee had obtained Evidence that the Republic of New-Grenada had six Seaports on the Atlantic, and three on the pacific Ocean by a Letter from General Santander now at New-York. Bullard of Louisiana congratulated the Chairman of the Committee of foreign Relations, upon the discoveries in physical Geography that he had made since this subject was last before the house. This sarcasm quite overset Archer’s philosophy and put him in a passion— This item was passed by for further consideration— The additional item of 35000 dollars for contingencies to the Turkish Legation was also passed over and the Bill was reported by the Committee to the House— Before the adjournment, I asked to be excused from further service upon the Committee on Manufactures—but it was late; and at the request of Coll. Richard M. Johnson, and of other members, I waved the motion for the present, giving notice of my intention to renew it to-morrow Morning. In the Evening a Mr Lane of Ohio brought me a note of introduction from Mr Webster, and sat in conversation with me about an hour— It was the President’s Birthday—and the last Drawing-room for the Season, was held at the President’s House.

16: V:45. Friday.

Rode to the Capitol. Met at ten O’Clock the Bank-investigation Committee— Clayton, M’Duffie, R. M. Johnson, Cambreleng, Thomas of Maryland, Watmough, and myself— First in the room of the Committee of Claims of the house—from which we passed into the Committee-Room of the Committee of Commerce. Some arrangements were made for going to Philadelphia together— There was some question with regard to expenses, and allowances by the House to the Committee— It was agreed to consult the precedents of the Committee which in the year 1819. was sent to Philadelphia on a similar Commission—particularly the accounts of their expences— I observed from recollection that the Committee on that occasion agreed among themselves to accept no invitations to dinner, or to evening parties— I proposed the same agreement now, and it was so unanimously determined. We agreed to meet again at ten tomorrow Morning— At the Meeting of the Committee on Manufactures, Dr Condict, 403Dayan, and Worthington were present— Findlay, Horn and J. S. Barbour were absent— My draft of a Bill for preventing frauds on the Revenue was further discussed without coming to any conclusion. Agreed to meet again, Monday Morning— In the House I renewed my request to be excused from further service on the Committee on Manufactures, for reasons which I briefly stated— Much to my surprize it excited considerable debate—to abridge which, and particularly at the request of Mr Wayne of Georgia, I withdrew the motion for the present, reserving to myself the right of renewing it, before the departure of the Bank Committee for Philadelphia— The General Appropriation Bill, was taken up; and many of the items discussed in Committee of the whole were again debated. I took part only in that upon the item of 35000 dollars for contingencies of the Legation to the Porte— Archer, Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Relations now explained the purpose of the appropriation, which was for presents upon the Negotiation and exchange of Ratification of the Treaty— Archer gave a succinct account of the Negotiations, and did full Justice to the preceding Administrations with regard to these Transactions— The appropriation was partially opposed, from various quarters, and especially by E. Whittlesey of Ohio—who objected to it, as a payment of tribute— I supported the whole appropriation, and it was carried almost unanimously, though Archer at one time had consented at the instance of M’Duffie to reduce it to 26000 dollars— The calls from all parts of the House for the whole appropriation, that M’Duffie finally gave up his objection to any part of it.— This was the second instance of effect produced by my share in a debate, favourable to the opinion which I sustained— The first was in the passage of my Amendment to the Bank investigation Resolution— It increases beyond expression my anxieties; as the reasons assigned by several members for objecting to excuse me from the Committee on Manufactures— It was near 6 in the Evening when the House adjourned— Mr Stanbury the Reporter brought me just at the adjournment, the notes taken by the Englishman Codd of my reasons assigned for asking to be excused from the Committee on Manufactures— Gales and Seaton wished to have the revised Notes by nine this Evening; to publish with the debate in the Intelligencer to-morrow Morning— But the Notes were so incorrect that I found it would be necessary to write them all over again— I could not correct them, and when they sent for them in the Evening I returned them by the boy, sending word that they were too incorrect for publication— Mr Radcliff was here two hours of the Evening, discussing his projected Railroad over the Isthmus of Panama— I received Letters from Mr Marston of Quincy and my brother’s daughter Elizabeth and my wife had one from his, indicating his approaching dissolution.

17. V. Saturday.

I attended this Morning at ten the Bank-investigation Committee— All the members present— Mr Cambreleng said he would not be ready to go, before next Wednesday— It was then determined to go that day— Judge Clayton takes his wife and child with him, and goes separately— Mr Thomas goes to Frederick to-morow, and will meet us at Baltimore Wednesday Evening— M’Duffie, Johnson, Cambreleng, Watmough and myself are to go together in an Extra Stage, which I engaged to procure, and which is to come and take us up, at the door of the House at 1. O’Clock next Wednesday— The account of expences of the Committee of 1819. was not in the Clerk’s Office, but in that of the Register of the Treasury— A Copy of it was sent for by the Clerk of the House 404and by him brought to me, after the House met— I gave it to Mr. M’Duffie. In the House, Mr Wickliffe moved a Resolution for Enquiry into the conduct of Elijah Hayward, Commissioner of the General Land-Office, and Wickliffe being himself Chairman of the Committee of Public Lands he moved its reference to the Committee on Private Lands— Heyward was very feebly defended by one or two Members from Ohio—chiefly by Irwin—who moved its reference to a Select-Committee. Another moved its reference to the Committee on the Judiciary— I supported by a very few words the Select Committee— E. Everett whispered to me that the Speaker would in that case make me Chairman of the Committee, but I said I should excuse myself, as by the Rule of the House every member already on two Committees may— The question to refer to the Private-Lands—but that for reference to the judiciary, succeeded by a small majority— Everett voted for it, saying to me that it was because that Committee would pursue the enquiry—while Stevenson the Speaker would have appointed a Committee who would smother it— While the House was in Session, my Son John sent me a Letter from Charles received by the mail informing me of the death of my dear and amiable brother Thomas Boylston Adams, last Monday the 12th. of March 1832. in his sixtieth year, which he would have completed on the 15th. of September next— I had engaged to dine this day with Mr Clay, but sent him an apology; and made one verbally to Mr Pendleton who had invited me to dine with him next Tuesday— The house adjourned soon after two O’Clock. I called and saw Mr Webster at his lodgings, and enquired of him the state of the apportionment Bill— He said his Amendment had failed by a vote of 24 to 23. Mr Clay being absent, and probably to avoid voting against the Amendment, as if present he would have done. He said Frelinghuysen and Tomlinson had also voted against us; and now Chambers and Naudain were called away by sickness in their families. Mr Webster’s dinner was brought in, and I left him; telling him I would see him again on Monday to have some Conversation with him on the Tariff— Evening Snow Storm I wrote to my brother’s widow, and to my Son Charles.

18. V:30. Sunday. Fahrenheit 12

Finished the version of the 89th. and began that of the 90th Psalm. The weather cleared off cold in the Night. My Thermometer stood this morning at 12. and the whole day was one of the severest Northwesters of the Winter— I heard in the morning Mr. Smith from Romans 1.18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Between the services Mr Hassler paid me a visit with his Son and a French Officer of the Board of Longitude, named Nicolet, travelling in this Country upon scientific pursuits— In the course of half an hour’s Conversation, with this Gentleman, I formed a high opinion of his intelligence and attainments. His remarks upon what he had seen in this Country indicated a philosophical mind, keen observation, and a constantly recurring comparison between the manners and 405institutions of Europe, and those of America— I should be very desirous of further acquaintance with him— While they were with me General Macomb also came in. Mr Smith preached this afternoon from Hebrews 13.15. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Mr John Davis and Mr Appleton were here this Evening, and we had much discussion upon the approaching modification of the Tariff— Davis is one of the ablest men, and of the first standing in the House; representing the District of Worcester in Massachusetts: he is one of the Pillars of the manufacturing interest; and especially devoted to that of wool-growing— These visitors absorbed much of my Time, and I was obliged entirely to write over, my remarks in making application to the House, to be excused from the Committee on Manufactures— Journalizing runs in arrear.

19. V:30. Monday.

Attended at ten the Committee on Manufactures— Condict, Horn, Dayan, Worthington present— Barbour there a few minutes but went away to attend a meeting of the Virginia delegation. I read my draught of a Bill for the prevention of frauds on the Revenue. Mr Horn is the most intractable member of the Committee— It is impossible to bring him to agree to any thing.— Mr Dayan has been very inflexible too—but he was this day a little more yielding— We are to meet again to-morrow— In the House, it was the weekly day for Petitions and Resolutions— Several Bills passed to the third reading— The General Appropriation Bill, and one other passed.— A Bill relating to insolvent debtors was debated. Judge Baldwin called me out and promised to call upon me this Evening— I went to the Senate chamber at the door of which I met Mr Webster, with whom I went in to the Committee Room, and we talked over the Apportionment Bill and the Tariff— The former he said, would have no chance of amendment if called up before the return of Mr Chambers of Maryland, and Dr Naudain of Delaware. I desired him if he could to keep it until my return; which he said he would. Of the Tariff he spoke with much uncertainty— I pressed him upon the abandonment of the minimums, and the return to a system of ad valorem duties— He could not come to it, for he is too closely tied to Clay— He asked me if I would repeal the duty on wool— I said yes, upon coarse wool, as part of the disposition to ad valorem duties— He said no, he could not do that. It had prodigiously increased the breed of sheep, and the repeal of it would be very unpopular in New-England— I said a bounty upon raising Sheep, might benefit upon agriculture, but to tax the indispensable raw material one hundred per Cent— Mr Webster seemed apprehensive that the final compromise of interests would be made at the Expence of New-England— In the Evening Mr Frye called upon me—afterwards Judge Baldwin and finally Thomas R. Mitchell of South-Carolina— Baldwin said Judge Wilkins was about to propose in the Senate as an Amendment to Mr Clay’s Resolution, his Baldwin’s plan for the modification of the Tariff—Ad valorem duties—cash payments and a duty on Sales at Auction. The judge was very anxious that I should see and converse with Mr Wilkins upon 406his plan— He said he should see Wilkins again in the morning, and would ask him to call upon me in the house. Mitchell came to urge me not to persist in my request to be excused from serving further in the Committee on Manufactures— He thought I could render much service by conciliating the parties— I told him I could accomplish nothing—having not the slightest weight with either of the parties— He said that he and his friends were exceedingly unwilling to vote upon the question; but that if I did insist, he should call for the yeas and nays— It is clear that if I renew the request, it will have the appearance of seeking more compliments—and with this notice that the yeas and nays would be called, I should be suspected of forcing them as a trophy to my own importance— They do not wish to vote at all upon it, and if I compel them to vote they will attribute it to my own Self-sufficiency— My situation is distressing, deeply; without prospect of coming out of it creditably, but I cannot withdraw from it; and must abide by the issue—such as a higher power may dispense.

20. V.15. Tuesday.

Finished the version of the 90th. Psalm— Met the Committee on Manufactures at ten. Condict, J. S. Barbour, Dayan, Horn, Worthington present— Findlay absent— I thought it necessary to bring something to a point, and had draughted a Bill for the prevention of Frauds on the Revenue— After much discussion, all the members of the Committee agreed it should be reported except Mr Horn, who said he should oppose it with all his power. It is a Bill, predicated upon the principle that the present Tariff-system is to be maintained—which I believe not only impolitic but impracticable— I proposed to report this Bill, because it was urged strongly by the manufacturers, and because I wish to see how it will meet the public opinion. There is such a total diversity of opinions upon every question concerning the Tariff that had it not been for this emergency, I doubt whether I should have brought them to report any Bill at-all upon the frauds— I met for a moment the Bank Investigation Committee, and we agreed five to go, from the House itself at one to-morrow. I asked the Clerk of the House to give me a Clerk to copy off my draught of a Bill. He sent one named Perry, who in the Committee-room of the Committee on Manufactures made the copy— In the House Mr Wilde of Georgia offered a Resolution for altering or abolishing the standard of gold coins—and for levying a stamp duty on Bank-Bills— The Bill relating to insolvent debtors was taken up—two Amendments were moved by Mr M’Duffie and adopted after debate, and the Bill passed to a third reading— W. B. Shepard offered a Resolution for employing a Painter to fill up the four empty frames in the Rotundo. J. W. Taylor, called for the question of Consideration; and it was lost by yeas and nays 76 to 80— Mr Payton Gay came to enquire concerning my brother and was greatly shocked at hearing of his decease— A Mr Shannon was introduced to me, by Mr Chilton Allan— Shannon is going as Charge d’Affaires to Guatimala and enquired if I knew any person who could give him information about that Country. I referred him to Mr William Radcliff— Mrs Tudor sent me this Evening a message requesting me to call upon her which I did— It was to talk about her claim. I received a Letter from Charles which I answered.

21. V:15. Wednesday— From Washington to Baltimore

Began the version of the 91st Psalm— I attended the Committee on Manufactures, at ten. Condict, Horn, Dayan, J. S. Barbour and Worthington were present— Findlay absent— I read my two fragments of a draught for a Report upon the modification of the Tariff—parts of which were satisfactory, to one member, and displeasing to another. other parts were the reverse. It was to no one entirely satisfactory— On the Meeting of the House, when the Reports from standing Committees were called for by the Speaker, I reported from the Committee on Manufactures A Bill for the prevention of frauds on the Revenue, which at my Motion, was read a first and second Time by its Title. I then moved that it should be printed and referred to the Committee of the whole House on the State of the Union— Root moved that the Bill should be read, and three or four Sections were read; upon which Root moved to suspend the reading of the remainder— I took the occasion of reporting this Bill to say that I should not renew the request to be excused from further service on the Committee on Manufactures; for which I assigned my reasons, and apologized to the house for having given them any trouble on the subject— Mr Wilde’s Resolution upon the Coins and Bank Bills was taken up; and Mr Cambreleng made a short speech upon it— At one O’Clock we left the House and found a Stage of Belzhoover’s at the door— George M’Duffie, R. M. Johnson, Churchill C. Cambreleng, and John G. Watmough, with a young man from Kentucky named Wheeler, formed the Company with me— We departed from the Capitol at a quarter past one—dined at Rossburg, and alighted at Barnum’s Tavern at Baltimore at Sunset—being the equinoctial day— We found at Barnum’s Mr Francis Thomas who had come in from Frederick— Judge Clayton came in the Evening, but lodged at a different house— Mr James H. Buchanan, appointed Minister to Russia, was likewise at Barnum’s— J. S. Skinner the Postmaster came in, and talked with Coll Johnson about the modification of the Tariff, and the dissolution of the Union— A person also by the name of Gibson came to visit me in the course of the Evening.

22. V. Thursday— From Baltimore to Philadelphia

In the course of the day I finished the version of the 91st. and began upon the 92d Psalm. I rose at 5. At half past six we took the Steamer Carroll of Carrollton—and in precisely five hours at half past eleven we landed at Frenchtown, went into the Railway Cars and in one hour and forty minutes came to the Delaware at Newcastle— There we met several persons, whom we knew. Among them, Captain Gardner of the Army, and William D. Lewis who is one of the Proprietors and Directors of the Rail-way company— We came up to Philadelphia in the Steamer Robert Morris Captain Douglass—landed at Chesnut Street wharf as the Clock Struck four in the afternoon. We were nine hours and a half from Baltimore to Philadelphia— William Findlay Sometime Governor of Pennsylvania, afterwards a Senator of the United States, and now Treasurer of the Mint was Passenger with us— We came to the United States Hotel, directly opposite to the Bank, and in half an hour were in Committee. Judge Clayton’s wife and child were with him— Mr Cambreleng and Coll Watmough were appointed a Sub-committee to engage a Clerk— It was resolved that Judge 408Clayton the Chairman should write to the President of the Bank, Mr Biddle, and notify to him our Commission and our arrival, and proposing to call on him at the Bank to morrow Morning at ten— We discussed the question about the charge against the Bank, of subsidizing the Press— I persisted in my objection against the pretension to try or censure individuals whom we had no right to summon for examination into their transactions, nor to condemn unheard— The question was postponed— We found invitations to a Ball this Evening at Mrs John Sergeant’s; but we confirmed our previous determination, to accept no invitations to dinner or Evening parties— An exception was made for Coll. Watmough, this Evening he being here at home, and Mrs Sergeant’s brother— He undertook to offer excuses for the rest of us— Coll. Johnson, M’Duffie, Cambreleng and Thomas went to the Theatre— We had as visitors in the course of the Evening Mr Watson, former Mayor of the City, John Connell, and Coll. T. L. M’Kenny.

23. VI:30. Friday.

Mr Rogers and Mr Sutherland called upon us this Morning; and Mr Ingersoll at Noon— Sutherland has twice been called home within the last Month; by the death of two of his children— The Committee met immediately after Breakfast; the answer from the President of the Bank was read, announcing his readiness to receive the Committee at ten this Morning. The Committee proceeded to the Bank, and met there the President Nic. Biddle, and three Directors Horace Binney—Thomas Cadwalader and Manuel Eyre. Mr Biddle presented a verbal, short and comprehensive exposition of the Affairs and condition of the Bank, with reference to a number of Documents which he exhibited— The Committee then retired to their room, and adjourned to meet at two O’Clock at the Bank again— William B. Read was appointed Clerk to the Committee— At the Meeting at two O’Clock, Mr Clayton presented a portion of his charges against the Bank; with some new ones, and Mr M’Duffie presented those originally advanced by Mr Clayton, but which he had now omitted— Mr Biddle was requested to furnish a copy of the verbal statement, which he had made in the morning— Before dinner I walked and met Judge Hopkinson, with whom I strolled to the building now erecting for the mint— At Mr Hopkinson’s I met Mr James Brown, Robert Walsh, and Miss Mease— The Committee had again a short Meeting after dinner from 5 to 7. in which Clayton pursued his scrutiny of minutiae— My associates went to the Theatre— I had met this morning Mr S. L. Southard, and called and spent an hour with him at his lodgings this Evening—after which I spent another hour at John Sergeant’s— All the Members of the Committee received invitations to the Anniversary Fireman’s Ball, at the Masonic Hall, which it was of course determined to decline

24. V.45. Saturday

This Mr Dyott called upon me this Morning. He is a manufacturer of Glass phials and bottles—of the phials of the low prices, many people use great multitudes and the duty is sufficiently protective; but not for the larger phials—all being assessed by the grace, and not by their value. Mr Dyott said he was to go early next week 409to New-York, but on his return would call on me to visit his manufacture, to which I agreed.— The Committee met at nine O’Clock, and went to the Bank— President Biddle was there; and the Directors, Cadwalader, Binney and Manuel Eyre— Mr Biddle presented various statements and documents— Clayton read his written charges— Then part of his printed Indictment Counts; upon which Mr Biddle gave various explanations— M’Duffie called for the examination of Mackintosh’s charges against the President and Cashier of the Norfolk Branch— Adjourned from 2. to 5.