The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-01-14
Meeting of General Jackson and J.. @
Adams at President Mon roe's
Ipuea

ihe following account of the rec0ntre
between Gen Jackson aud John @. Adj.
ans, at President Monroe's levee, the
night after Adams election over jackson
for TIE Presidency, by the House of Rep
resentaiives is taken from Peter Parley's
"RecoIiections of his Lifetime: :"
/ shall pass over other individuals pres
ent, only noting an iucidcnt which res.
poets the TWO persons III the assembly who
most of all others engroSScd the thoughts
of the yisitors-Mr. Adams the elect, Gen.
Jackson, the defeated. 1t CHANGED, in the
course Of the evening, that these two per
sons. involved in the throng, approached
each other from opposite directions, yet
without knowing it,. Suddenly, as they
were almost together, the persons arounl
seeing what WAS to happen. by a sort of
instinct, stepped aside aud left them face
to face. Mr. Adams was by himself; Gen.
Jackson had Il large, handsome lady on
his Efm. They looked at each other for n
moment, and then Gen. Jackson moved
forward, and reaching Oh. his long arm,
said-"liow dc You do, Mr.. Adams? |
give You my left hand, for the right, you
see, is devoted to the fair, | hope YOU are
very well, sir" All this was yallautly
and nenrtiiy said and done. Mr.. Adams
took the Generals hand, and said, with
chilling coolness-"very well, sir: | hope
Gen Jackson is well -
1. was curious to see the western plant
er, the Indian fighter, the stern Soldier,
who had written his couniry's glory in the
blood of the enemy at New OrIeaus-ge-
nlal aud gracious in the midst Of a court,
whi'e the Old ~courtier and diplomat was
stiff, rigid, and cold AS a statute ! l. was
all the more remarkable from the fact
that, four hours before, the former had
been defeated, and the latter a victorin a
struggle for one of the highest objects of
human ambition. The personal character
OF these two individuals WAS m fact well
expressed in that chance meeting; the
gaiiautry, the frankncss and the hearti
ness OF the one, which captivated all the
coidnes, the distance, the selfconcentra-
zion OF the OTHER which repe!led all a
somewhat severe, but still acute ANALYST Of
MIR. Aaasas's character, says: IN.
doubleday, N great reason of his uupop
ularity, was his cold and antiparhelic
iuduiti, anu Tue SISliCIOn Oi selilaDueSS IL
suggested, or at least added greatly to
confrm-None approached MIR. Adams
but TO recede. He never succeeded-he
never tried to co~nciliate."
1 recoliect an auecdote somewhat Illus
trative of this. When he was a candidate
for the Presidency, hi, political friends
thought it advisable that he should attend
a cattle show at worcester, Mass, so as to
concIliate the numbers Of influential men
who might be present. Accordingly he
went, and while thers many persons
were introduced to him, and among the
rest, q farmer Of the vicinity-a man of
substance and great responsibility. On
being presented he said
"Mr. Adams, | am very glad to see
you. My wife, when she was n gal, lived
in your fathers family you were then a
little boy, and she told me a great deal
about you. She has very often combed
your head"
"Well," said Mr.. Adams in his harsh
way-"I suppose she combs your head
now" The poor farmer sIunli back like
a dashed hound, feeling tue smart, but Ut
terly unconscious of the provocation.