by James Traub
315“Of the two great political parties: “Inaugural Address of John Quincy Adams,” March 4, 1825, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/qadams.asp.
316Justice Joseph Story would later write: William Wetmore Story, ed., Life and Letters of Joseph Story (Boston: Little, Brown, 1851), 484–485.
316“speculative scruple.”: Thomas Hart Benton, Thirty Years’ View (New York: D. Appleton, 1854–1856), 54–55.
317Andrew Jackson himself made sure: Robert Remini, The Election of Andrew Jackson (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1963), 28–29.
317He encouraged Kremer: Andrew Jackson to George Kremer, March 8, 1825, in John Spencer Bassett, ed., Correspondence of Andrew Jackson, vol. 3: 1820–1828 (Washington, DC: Carnegie Institute of Washington, 1926–1935).
317“a noisy and clamorous reviler: Diaries, May 13, 1825.
318The postmaster general, John McLean: Mary Hargreaves, The Presidency of John Quincy Adams (Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1985), 51.
318“intended to neglect: Robert Remini, Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union (New York: Norton, 1991), 316.
318“was able, enlightened, patriotic: Harriet A. Weed and Thurlow Weed Barnes, eds., Life of Thurlow Weed Including His Autobiography and a Memoir (Boston: Houghton and Mifflin, 1884), 179–181.
319William McIntosh was: The story is extensively recounted in Michael D. Green, The Politics of Indian Removal: Creek Government and Society in Crisis (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1982).
320He told Adams that Governor Troup: Diaries, May 15, 1825.
320“to die without resistance: Green, The Politics of Indian Removal, 111.
320“dark and settled gloom”: Diaries, November 26, 1825.
321“He believed they were destined: Ibid., December 22, 1825.
322“the blessing of health: James Madison, “First Annual Message (November 29, 1809),” http://millercenter.org/president/madison/speeches/speech-3608.
322Monroe had celebrated: James Monroe, “First Annual Message (December 2, 1817),” http://millercenter.org/president/monroe/speeches/speech-3594.
323On November 23 his cabinet officers listened: Diaries, November 23, 25, 26, 28, 1825.
323He began by noting: John Quincy Adams, “First Annual Message (December 6, 1825,” http://millercenter.org/president/jqadams/speeches/speech-3514.
326“would have afforded high wages: George Dangerfield, The Era of Good Feelings (London: Methuen, 1953), 351.
326“now look to a single and splendid: Ibid., 349.
327a record of improvement that would not be reached: Hargreaves makes the case that Adams enjoyed substantial success on internal improvements; see Hargreaves, Presidency, 173–180.
CHAPTER 24: AN ARROW TO THE HEART (1825–1827)
329On one not atypical day: The Diaries of John Quincy Adams (hereafter Diaries), November 22, 1826, Adams Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/php.
330“our worthy little master,”: Richard Rush to Henry Clay, December 18, 1827, in James F. Hopkins, Mary W. M. Hargreaves, et al., eds., The Papers of Henry Clay, vol. 4 (Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1959).
330“There is entire coincidence: Henry Clay to the Honorable J. Sloane, April 7, 1825, in Hopkins et al., Papers of Henry Clay.
330“set a precedent for being claimed: Diaries, May 24, 1825.
330“the organ of amativeness”: Ibid., June 9, 1825.
331“a fermentation of the blood: Ibid., July 28, 1825.
331Adams’ most dangerous moment in office: Ibid., June 13, 1825.
331“A thing of rubbish: Louisa Catherine Adams (hereafter LCA) to Charles Francis Adams (hereafter CFA), April 25, 1825, in Adams Papers Microfilm (APM), Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. All letters cited in this chapter are from APM unless otherwise indicated.
331“There is something in this great: LCA to George Washington Adams (hereafter GWA), November 6, 1825.
332“unpleasant to myself: LCA to GWA, March 6, 1826.
332one contrasted a mother’s hour: LCA to GWA, undated (listed at March or April 1826).
332“a mind deeply diseased: LCA to Thos Hellen, May 17, 1827.
333“It is a painful thing to state: LCA to CFA, August 19, 1827.
333“For thee the rosy wreath: LCA to GWA, March 12, 1825.
334Lord Sharply was a man: Louisa Catherine Adams, The Metropolitan Kaleidoscope (unpublished manuscript).
335“My own feelings incline: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, vol. 2, August 3, 1827, Adams Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, http://www.masshist.org/publications/apde2/view?id=ADMS-13-02-02-0003-0008-0003.
335a man coming from Baltimore told Adams: Diaries, July 9, 1826.
335“the time, the manner, the coincidence: Ibid., July 9, 1826.
336“That moment to me was inexpressibly: Ibid., July 13, 1826.
336“the tumult of the world: Ibid., September 2, 1826.
337“that you should waste your property: LCA to John Quincy Adams (hereafter JQA), July 18, 1826.
337Adams agreed to strike: Diaries, November 30, 1826.
337“you will have no time: JQA to GWA, December 31, 1826.
338“indolence and self-delusion.”: Stated by JQA in letter to GWA, June 3, 1827.
338“I have been horror-struck: JQA to GWA, November 12, 1827.
338“Much conversation with George: Diaries of Charles Francis Adams, August 18, September 2, December 22, 1827.
338at John Adams’ death he reflected: Ibid., July 9, 1826.
338“a check upon my vagaries: Ibid., January 31, 1827.
338“Ever since my engagement: Ibid., April 24, 1827.
339“Her feelings are constantly carrying: Ibid., October 13, 1827.
339“My father has unfortunately: Ibid., July 4, 1826.
339“He makes enemies: Ibid., September 6, 1824.
339Adams spent countless hours writing: JQA to CFA, November 7, 1827, to July 20, 1828.
340“In truth,” he wrote: CFA to JQA, February 19, 1828.
CHAPTER 25: A GREAT MAN IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME (1825–1826)
342Adams worried that the South Americans would embroil: The South American background is ably described in Mary Hargreaves, The Presidency of John Quincy Adams (Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1985), 144–146.
343The president hoped the Russian: The Diaries of John Quincy Adams, May 19, 1825, Adams Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/php.
343He urged “suspension: Hargreaves, Presidency, 154–155.
344The president and his secretary of state continued: Ibid., 143.
345“captivated all young: Thomas Hart Benton, Thirty Years’ View (New York: D. Appleton, 1854–1856), 65.
345“the first tangible point: John Clement Fitzpatrick, ed., The Autobiography of Martin Van Buren (New York: Da Capo, 1973), 199.
345“the most dangerous stab: Charles M. Wiltse, John C. Calhoun, vol. 1: Nationalist, 1782–1828 (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1944–1951), 324.
346both understood that by trying: Autobiography of Martin Van Buren, 200.
346the Foreign Relations Committee issued a report: Wiltse, John C. Calhoun, vol. 1, 325.
346The black republic was “a firebrand: Benton, Thirty Years’ View, 66.
347When it finally came time: Hargreaves, Presidency, 151.
347Adams chose this opportunity to fully clarify: John Quincy Adams, “Special Message, March 15, 1826,” http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=66632.
349He rambled across a range: March 30, 1826, in Register of Debates, Senate, 19th Congress, 1st Session.
349Clay lost his cool completely: Daniel Walker Howe, The Political Culture of the American Whigs (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979), 126.
350being careful, he later claimed: Autobiography of Martin Van Buren, 204.
350“the divided state of our Senate: Hargreaves, Presidency,
153.
350He reiterated Adams’ bottom-line positions: Ibid., 156.
351“felt an anxious desire”: Ibid., 119.
351“An issue has been fairly: Wiltse, John C. Calhoun, vol. 1, 337.
CHAPTER 26: CULTIVATING HIS GARDEN (1826–1827)
353On May 12, 1827, Van Buren stopped by: The Diaries of John Quincy Adams (hereafter Diaries), May 12, 1827, Adams Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/php.
354“We must always have party: Charles M. Wiltse, John C. Calhoun, vol. 1: Nationalist, 1782–1828 (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1944–1951), 348.
354The Enquirer endorsed Jackson: Robert Remini, The Election of Andrew Jackson (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1963), 58.
354“falsehoods and calumny: Ibid., 63.
355Major Alan Campbell wrote from Louisville: Alan Campbell to Andrew Jackson, February 4, 1827, in John Spencer Bassett, ed., Correspondence of Andrew Jackson, vol. 3: 1820–1828 (Washington, DC: Carnegie Institute of Washington, 1926–1935).
355The election of 1828 saw the rise: See Lynn Parsons, The Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009).
355Jackson promised to furnish Lee: Andrew Jackson to Henry Lee, December 25, 1826, in Bassett, Correspondence.
355Jackson and Calhoun forces loaned: Jackson to Duff Green, May 20, 1826, in Bassett, Correspondence.
355“bargain, intrigue and management”: See, for example, the March 28, 1826, issue of the United States Telegraph (Washington, DC, 1826–1837).
355The Telegraph was soon printing: Robert Remini, Andrew Jackson, vol. 2: The Course of American Freedom, 1822–1832 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998), 78.
356Duff Green wrote to Jackson: Duff Green to Jackson, June 9, 1827, in Bassett, Correspondence.
356Jackson himself wrote to Buchanan: Jackson to James Buchanan, July 15, 1827, in Bassett, Correspondence.
356“The tables are completely turned: Henry Clay to Francis Brooke, August 14, 1827, in James F. Hopkins, Mary W. M. Hargreaves, et al., eds., The Papers of Henry Clay (Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1959).
356Adams would be the last president to stand fast: Samuel Flagg Bemis, John Quincy Adams and the Union (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956), 136.
356the president had billed to the American people: Ibid., 133–134.
357In late March 1827, Daniel Webster wrote: Daniel Webster to Clay, March 25, 1827, in Charles M. Wiltse and Harold D. Moser, eds., The Papers of Daniel Webster, Correspondence (Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1974–1989), vol. 2.
357“prepare a series of pieces: Clay to Webster, April 20, 1827, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
357“My belief is that Mr. Adams: Clay to Francis Brooke, September 24, 1827, in Hopkins et al., Papers of Henry Clay.
357“& by the aid of friends: Webster to Clay, March 25, 1827, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
357He wrote to William Gales: Webster to Gales, June (no day specified), 1827, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
358The two appear to have lived together: Jon Meacham, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House (New York: Random House, 2009), 22.
358“General Jackson’s mother: Robert Remini, Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union (New York: Norton, 1991), 325.
358“another & perhaps a better mode: Clay to Webster, August 19, 1827, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
358Webster reported from New York: Webster to Edward Everett, November 18, 1827, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
358“I hope your office: Webster to Henry Clay, November 5, 1827, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
358His very precision and stiffness: Woodrow Wilson, A History of the American People (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1918), vol. 3, 270.
359“I returned their salutation: Diaries, October 13, 1827.
359“grateful for the kind: Ibid., October 16, 1827.
359“If he would only lend himself: Louisa Catherine Adams to Charles Francis Adams, October 15, 1827, in Adams Papers Microfilm (APM), Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.
360He explained to Mr. Bailey: Diaries, March 7, 1828.
360He brought home blossoms: Ibid., March 27, 1827, and after.
360the first act of conservation: Bemis, John Quincy Adams and the Union, 123.
360“The catalpa trees are in full: Diaries, June 13, 1827.
361“The opposition party,” wrote John Tyler: Remini, Election of Andrew Jackson, 168.
361the contract for the printing of the laws: Wiltse, Calhoun, vol. 1, 360.
361Congressmen stoutly defended: Diaries, February 14, 1828.
362As Adams noted in his diary: Ibid., February 14, 1828.
362“He is incompetent: Ibid., December 17, 1827.
CHAPTER 27: THE SUN OF MY POLITICAL CAREER SETS IN DEEPEST GLOOM (1828–1829)
363On April 15, 1828, Adams dispatched: The Diaries of John Quincy Adams (hereafter Diaries), April 15, 1828, Adams Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/php.
363President Adams’ inclination: Mary Hargreaves, The Presidency of John Quincy Adams (Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1985), 210.
364“in some measure forfeit: Louisa Catherine Adams (hereafter LCA) to Charles Francis Adams (hereafter CFA), April 17, 1828, in Adams Papers Microfilm (APM), Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. All letters cited in this chapter are from APM unless otherwise indicated.
364the committee issued a report: Hargreaves, Presidency, 211.
364“disastrous occurrence: Diaries, April 24, 1828.
365save themselves “from the wreck.”: Ibid., May 1, 1828.
365Adams felt as if he were fighting: Ibid., March 28, 1828.
365“are united by a spirit: John Quincy Adams (hereafter JQA) to CFA, May 29, 1828.
365McLean finally fired the man: Hargreaves, Presidency, 52.
366“The conduct of Mr. McLean: Diaries, June 3, 1828.
366He and Adams planned to raise duties: Robert Remini, Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union (New York: Norton, 1991), 330.
367The politics of the protective tariff: Hargreaves, Presidency, 192.
367The delegates crafted a series of resolutions: Ibid., 194.
367“defeat or oppression.”: Charles M. Wiltse, John C. Calhoun, vol. 1: Nationalist, 1782–1828 (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1944–1951), 357.
367“judicious tariff.”: Andrew Jackson to Major Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton Jr.), June 29, 1828, in John Spencer Bassett, ed., Correspondence of Andrew Jackson, vol. 3: 1820–1828 (Washington, DC: Carnegie Institute of Washington, 1926–1935).
368The bill’s features were so extravagant: Robert Remini, The Election of Andrew Jackson (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1963), 171–173.
368“we had put the duties: Ibid., 174–175.
368“Can we go the hemp: Daniel Webster to Joseph Sprague, April 13, 1828, in Charles M. Wiltse and Harold D. Moser, eds., The Papers of Daniel Webster (Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1974–1989).
368“we determined to put such ingredients: Wiltse, Calhoun, vol. 1, 369.
368“The Jackson party is playing: Henry Clay to John J. Crittenden, February 14, 1828, in James F. Hopkins, Mary W. M. Hargreaves, et al., eds., The Papers of Henry Clay (Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1959).
369a verbatim copy of a letter from Jackson: National Journal, March 7, 1828.
369“still more ferocious than barbarous: Diaries, March 17, 1828.
369John Binns of the Democratic Press: Remini, Election of Andrew Jackson, 154–156.
370When he heard that Navy Secretary Samuel Southard: Jackson to Samuel Houston, December 15, 1826, in Bassett, Correspondence.
370“I will unrobe his hypocrisy: Jackson to Hugh L. White, February 7, 1827, in Bassett, Correspondence.
&nb
sp; 370“There let your friends: John H. Eaton to Jackson, January 21, 1828, in Bassett, Correspondence.
370“most earnest wish that for the present: Arthur P. Hayne to Jackson, September 20, 1828, in Bassett, Correspondence.
370“He is certainly,”: Jackson to Sam Houston, December 15, 1826, in Bassett, Correspondence.
370“It appears to me that he is destined: William Crawford to Clay, February 4, 1828, in Hopkins et al., Papers of Henry Clay.
370Clay responded equably: Clay to Crawford, February 18, 1828, in Hopkins et al., Papers of Henry Clay.
370“I had fear of Mr. Adams: Clay to Francis Blair, March 1, 1828, in Hopkins et al., Papers of Henry Clay.
371“It struck the eye and fancy: Diaries, July 4, 1828.
372“I cannot bear the loneliness: LCA to CFA, July 16, 1828.
372She wrote a ballad: LCA to George Washington Adams, July 1, 1828.
372Charles reached Washington to find: CFA to Abigail Brooks Adams, September 9, 1828.
372The president and Rush, he thought: Webster to Nathaniel Williams, November 5, 1828, in Wiltse and Moser, Papers of Daniel Webster.
373“The sun of my political career: Diaries, December 3, 1828.
373Jefferson must have seen a letter Adams had written: In Documents Relating to New England Federalism, 1800–1815 (Boston: Little Brown, 1905), Henry Adams prints Jefferson’s letter to Giles, Giles’ letter to the Richmond Enquirer, and Adams’ response in the National Intelligencer, 21–36.
374“the whole body of the Federalists: CFA to JQA, November 20, 1828.
374He had heard, correctly: Diaries, February 28, 1829.
CHAPTER 28: STAY THY HAND, GOD OF MERCY (1829–1831)
379whether in the history of any animal: The Diaries of John Quincy Adams (hereafter Diaries), March 31, 1829, Adams Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/php.
380“to feed the cormorant appetite: Ibid., March 14, 1829.
380“He complains of dejection: Charles Francis Adams (hereafter CFA) to Louisa Catherine Adams (hereafter LCA), April 4, 1829, in Adams Papers Microfilm (APM), Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. All letters cited in this chapter are from APM unless otherwise indicated.