Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-16
Gen Jackson and John @. Adsma

The following account of the meeting be-
tween Gen. Jackson and John Q Adams at
President Monroe's levee, the night after
Adams election over jackson for The Presi
dency by the House of Repressntatives is
from & Gocdrich' q Recollections 81
shall pass over other individuals present,
only noting an incident which respects the
two persons in the assembly, who, most of all
others, engrossed the thoughts of visitors-Mr.
Adams the elect, Gen. jackson the defeated.
1t CHANGED, in the course Of the evening, that
these two persons, involved in the throng, ap-
preached each other from opposite directions,
yet without knowing it Suddenly, as they
were almost together, the persons around,
seeing what was to happen. by a sort of in
stinct stepped aside and left them face to face.
Mr.. Adams was by himself; Gen. jackson
had a large, handsome lady on his arm.
They looked at each other for a moment, and
then Gen jackson moved forward, and reach
ing out his long arm, said: Chow do you do,
Mr.. Adams? L give you my left hand, for
hope you are very well, sir" All this was
gsllantly and heartily said and done
Mr. Adams took the Generals hand and
said, with chilling coldness. Very well, sir I;
1 hope Gen. jackson is well.' Itwas curious
to see the Western planter, the Indian fighter,
the stern soldier who had written his country &
glory n the blood of the enemy at New Or
Leans, genial and gracious in the midst of q
court, while the old courtier and diplomat was
stiff, Iigid, cold as a statue. 1t was all the
more remarkable from the fact, four hours be-
fore, the former had been defeatsd, and the
latter was victor in a struggle for one Of the
hig hest objects Of human ambition.
The personal character Of these two indi.
viduals was in fact well expressed in ths,
chance meeting; the gallantry, the frsnkness
and the heartiness of the one, which capti-
waited all the coldness, the distance, the
self.concentration of the other, which repelled
all. A somewhat severe but still acute an
alyst Of Mr.. Adams character, says: " Un
dOubtedly the reason of his unpopularity
was his cold, antipsthetic manner, and the
suspicion of selfshness it suggested, or, al
least aided greatly to confirm. None ap.
preached Mr.. Adams but to recede He never
succeeded-te never tried to eonciliate.'
I recollect an anecdote somewhat iilustra-
tive of this When he was a candidate fol
the Presidency, his political friends thought
it advisable that be should attend a csttle
show at Worcester, Massachusetts, so as to
conciliate the numbers of influential men who
might be present Accordingly he went, and
there many persons were introduced to him,
and among the rest farmer Of the vicinity
a man Of substance and great respectability.
On being presented, he said:
"Mr. Adams, [ am very glad to see you.
My wife, when she was gal, lived in your fs.
theirs family; you were then little boy,
and she has told me great deal about you.
She has very often cOmbed your head"
WELL" said Mr.. Adams, in his harsh way,
&C suppose she combs yours now" The pOU
farmer SUNK back like 4 lashed HOUND, feel
ing the smart, but utterly unconscious of tie
proyocation.