Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-11
Gen. Jackson and John quincy Adams.

The following account of the rencontre be-
tween Gen. Jackson and John Quincy Adams,
at President Monroe's levee, the night after Ad-
ans election over Jackson for the Presidency
by the House of Representatives, is by Peter
Farley" S. G.. Goodrich ~
/ shall pass over other individuals present. on
ly noticing an incident which respects the two
persons in the assembly who, most of all others,
engrossed the visitors-Mr. Adams the elect
Gen. Jackson the defeated. 1t chanced in the
course of the evening, that TWO persons, invplv-
ed in the throng, approached each other from
opposite directions, yet without knowing it,
Suddenly, as they were almost together, the per-
sons around seeing what was to happen, by
sort of instinct. 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 moment, and
then Gen. Jackson moved forward, and reaching
out his long arm, said: 'How do you do, Mr..
Adams / give you my left hand. for the right,
as you see, is devoted to the fair; hope you are
very well, sr''
All this was gallantly and heartily said and
done. Mr. Adams took the Generals hand, and
said, with chilling codness-"Very well, sir;
hope General Jackson is we'll" 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
genial and gracious in the midst of court,
while the old courtier and diplomatist was stiff,
rigid, cold as statue 1t was all the more re-
markable from the fact, that four hours before,
the former had been defeated, and the latter
was q victor in a struggle for one of the highest
objects of human ambition. The personal char
acter Of these two individuals was in fact well
expressed in that chance meeting; the gallantry,
the frankness, the heartiness OF the one, which
captivated all; the codness, the distance, the
self-concentration of the other, which repeled
all. a somewhat severe but acute analyst OF
Mr. Adams character ys:-"Undoubtedly, one
great reason of his unpopularity was his cold an-
tipathetic manner, and the suspicion of selfish
ness suggested or, at least, aided greatly to con-
firm. None approached Mr.. Adams but to re-
cede. He never succeeded-he never tried to
conciliate."
recollect an anecdote somewhat illustrative
of this. When he was q candidate for the Pres
idency, his political friends thought it advisable
that he should attend cattle show at Worces-
ter, Mass. so as to conciliate the numbers OF in
iuential men who might be present Accord
ingly he went, and while there many persons
were introduced to him. and among the rest
farmer of the vcinity-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 gal, lived in your fathers
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, 81
suppose she combs yours now." The poor far
mer slunk back like a lashed hound, feeling the
smart, but utterly unconscious Of the provoca-
ton