John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

14— V.30.

I called this morning, at the Bank of the Metropolis, where it was balanced, leaving 33.30. to my credit— Then at Plumbe’s Daguerreotype Office where they took two likenesses of me a full front face, and a profile; both quite successful— At the House Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, and Robert Dale Owen, of Indiana, presented Resolutions, of those States, respectively— Robert Smith, of Illinois, asked leave to present a Resolution, directing the Committee of Foreign Affairs, to inquire into the expediency, of reporting a Joint Resolution, directing the President of the United States to negotiate with Spain, for the purchase of the Island of Cuba, upon principles, recommended in the proceedings, of a Public Meeting, of the Citizens of Springfield, Illinois— But objection was made, and the Resolution not received— David Levy alias Yulee now a Senator, from the State of Florida; had 428already offered, a similar resolution; for the purchase of the Island of Cuba, In the Senate, which he afterwards withdrew These are mere explosive effusions of the Spirit of aggrandizement, which has taken possession, of this People—and which will hereafter characterize their History— The North American Continent, and the Archipeligo of Islands, separating them from the southern Island must and will, in no great distance of time, form component parts, of this great Confederated, Anglo Saxon Republic. The House then proceeded, to the consideration of Private Bills, several of which were passed. In Committee of the Whole Garrett Davis of Kentucky, in the Chair, and others reported to the House, with recommendation that they should not pass, which were accordingly rejected by the House— Those reported favorably by the Committee, were passed by the House, except that for the relief of John Anderson, of Missouri, during the Debate upon which, on the third reading, the House adjourned without taking the Question— While the House were in Session, I gave a sitting, in the Room of the Committee, of Territories, to Mr. Billings, the Painter from Erie, Pennsylvania, for my Portrait. It was the second sitting of about an hour, and he required only one more— We had evening visits from Mr. Healey and Mr. Dubourjal who has painted a beautiful miniature of Mrs. Polk, wife of the President— The competitors for the fourth Painting in the Rotunda, are so numerous that I fear that Mr. Healey will be disappointed, in his desire to obtain it.