John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

336 Washington Saturday 25. May 1844.

25. V. Saturday

Brengle Francis French Richard Silsbee Nathaniel Bancroft George Mrs Thornton Mrs Talbot Mary Talbot Sykes George and 6. New Jersey men Childs Henry H M’Duffie George Duncan Alexander Belser James E. Eaton John H Dickinson David W Rockwell Julius And numbers

The meeting of the select Committee on the Smithsonian bequest was fixed for this morning at half past 9. but the only members who attended except myself were Brengle and French— I read my draught of a preliminary bill to appropriate a sum sufficient to make the fund immediately available for application to the purposes of the testator, to Mr French who without hesitation approved it— I have therefore the consent of a majority of the Committee to report it, but I was not ready with my report— It was agreed therefore that when my report is ready, I shall call a meeting of the Committee for their final action upon the reference At the house, the journal of yesterday was only read in part— At the motion of John Slidell of New-Orleans the reading was superseded without objection, before it was half concluded— A bad practice; because it precludes the correction of errors which are frequent and often important— Cave Johnson’s motion to reconsider the order for printing the documents reported by the Committee of Elections in the context between John W. Jones, and John M. Botts, was postponed from Monday to Wednesday next— At Slidell’s motion the order was made that all debate in Committee of the whole on the state of the Union, on the bill in relation to the Louisiana Land claims shall cease on Thursday next at 4 O’Clock P.M. Zadok Pratt, chairman of the Committee on the Public buildings and grounds reported sundry resolutions of which was one directing the Commissioner of Public buildings to remove the shed over the statue of Washington in the square East of the Capitol, and sell it, and with the proceeds of the sale to pay for a suitable railing round the Statue. Debate and a violent speech of John P Hale against the Statue. Winthrop defended the Sculptor and at his motion the Resolution was referred to a select Committee of five. Wentworth attempted to introduce a crazy or fraudulent memorial from Joe Smith the Mormon prophet which was not received 79 to 86— Committee of the whole on the private Calendar R. C. Winthrop in the Chair— 96 bills and resolutions were reported to the house, without objection, and one to which I objected too late. I appealed from the decision of the chairman, but on failure of a quorum withdrew my appeal— Sundry motions to adjourn over to Wednesday and to Tuesday next, all of which failed.— After dinner the Marine band played on the grounds at the President’s house, where I met sundry old acquaintance. Other visitors came in the Evening to my house.