The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-01-29
Meeting OF General Jackson and ]. @.
Adams at President MOnrOe'S Levee.

The following account of the rencontre
between General Jackson and John Quincy
Adams, at President Monroe's Levee, the
nigh; after Adams election over Jackson
for the Presidency, by the House of Repre-.
sentatives, is taken from Peter Parley's re.
collections Of his lifetime:
L shall pass over other individuals pres.
ent, only noting an incident which respects
the two persons in the assembly who most
of all others engrossed the thoughts Of the
visitors-M.. Adams the elect, General
Jackson, the defeated. 1t Glanced, in the
course of the evening, that these two per-
sons, involved in the throng, approached
each other from opposite directions, vet
without knowing it. Suddenly, as they
were almost together, the persons around,
seeing what was 10 happen by n sort ofin
stinct, stepped aside and left them face to
face. Mr.. Adams was by himself; General
Jackson had large, handsome lady on his
arm. They looked at each other for IA mo.
ment, and then Gen. jackson moved for.
ward, and reaching out his long arm, said
How do you do, Mr.. Adams! give you
my left hand, for the right, you see, is de,
voted TO the fair; hope you are very well,
sir. All this was heartily and gallantly
said and done. Mr.. Adams took the Gen.
erals hand, and said with chilling coldncss
Very well, sir; II hope General Jackson
lis weli!' 1t was curious to see the western
{planter, the Indian fighter, the stern soldier,
who had written his country's glory in the
blood of the enemy at New Orleans gem
al and gracious in the midst of court,
Uh al
stiff, rigid, and cold rs n staturel 1t was all
the more remarkable from the fact that, four
hours before, the former had been defeated
aud the latter was a victor in struggle for
one of the highest objects Of human ambi-
ton. The personal character of these two
individuals was in fact well expressed in
that chance meeting the galIantry, the
frankness and the heartiness Of the one,
which captvatcd all; the coldness. the dis
tance, the self concentration of the other
which repelled ALL A somewhat severe
but still acute analyst Of Mr.. Adams char.
acter, says: Undoubtedly, one great rea.
son of his unpopularity, was his cold, and
antipathetic manner, and the suspicion of
seltishness, it suggested, or at least, added
greatly TO confirm. None approached Mr..
Adams but to recede. He never succeeded
never tried 10 conciliate.
4 recollect an anecdote illustrative Of this.
When he was candidate for the Presiden
cy, his political friends thought it advisable
that he should attend cattle show at Wor.
cester, Mass, so as to conciliate the numbers
ofinfluential men who might be present.
Accordingly he went, and while there ma
ny persons were introduced to him, and
among the rest, farmer of the vicinity
man Of substance and great respectability
On being presented, he said:
Mr.. Adams, am very glad TO see you.
My wife, when she was girl, lived in your
fathers family; you were then little boy,
and she told me great deal about you.
She has very often combed your head.
Well. said Mr.. Adams in his very harsh
way-I suppose she combs your head now!
The poor farmer shrunk back like lashed
hound, feeling the smart, but utterly uncon.
scious Of the provocaiion.