Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-12
THE DIARY OF JOHN Q. ADAMS.
A Difference with DANIEL webster.
and u Case of Duty on mOIasses.

oAN - Ooo0 VI ASAty Ou mOA0s9eN.
A passage in the journal apropos Of
Mr.. Websters speech on the tariff bill
l(l842) exhibits curious specimen Of
the political complications OF the day,
and throws some light on the mutual
personal relations Of the two great
statesmen: 'a ss' '"
/ walked with Plumer to the Capitol
to hear the close of Mr.. Webster's
speech upon the tariff, which did, He
spoke about an hour; but the principal
part of his speech was delivered yester.
day. 1t was universally admitted to be
an able and powerful speech. Many Of
the members came and spoke to me
while | was in the House. TomIinson,
Of Connecticut, and Var, Rensselaer,, of
New York albany spoke of accounts
received by them from their respective
States, containing manifestations OF
opinion against Mr.. Crawford, who is
now denominated the caucus candidate.
j. w. Taylor told me that j. A. Dix had
been with him this morning from Gen.
Brown, who was extremely anxious him
self to see Taylor. The object was to
state to Taylor that it was the desire Of
Mr.. Calhoun TO be supported for the
Office Of Vice President that there was
every prospect of certainty that there
would be a majority of the Legislature
of New York for me; that the wish OF
Mr.. Calhoun's friends was to fall in with
this prospect, and they wished that this
arrangement might be further recon-
mended from this place,
Taylor said he believed the best way
would be TO let the thing take its course.
| said that my friends would do as they
should think proper. Personally, and
on purely public grounds / should pre-
fer to see the Wee Presidency conferred
upon General Jackson. | believed the
public sentiment among those really my
friends was decidedly, perhaps unalter-
ably, the same. The only possible rea-
son for hesitation was Jackson's being
candidate for the first office, and for that
reason thought the course of New York
should be left to itself, l had no objec.
ton to Mr.. Calhoun's obtaining the Vice
Presidency.
G. A. Foote gave me a small colored
drawing, directed to Mrs. Adams, sent,
as he said, by his eldest sister, a widow
Briant-an emblem of friendship. He
said his sister and his father were both
great Adamsites, though he himself was
"a caucus man.
X ] told him. laughing, that his sister
was wiser politician than he--which,
he said was very possible. .
Crowninshield, after Webster had fin
ished his speech, had some conversation
with him in his seat, and Immediately
afterward came to me and inquired il /
had expressed an opinion in favor Of the
present tariff bill, said no--not as it
stood. The double duty upon molasses
was to me an insuperable objection
against it. He said he had Just been
talking with Webster, and asked. him
how he came on with his Presidential af-
fairs; to which be answered he did not
know, and, 10 tell him the truth, did not
care. Why so2 Why, it seemed to him
nothing was to begot with one more than
with another. There was this damned
tariff aud our friend ], @ is as bad upon
it as any Of the rest No, said Crown
inshield; have understood he was not
in favor Of this bill" i had it, said
Webster, from his own lips
While Crowninsbield was telling me
this, Webster came out from his seat, and
was passing by us. ! called to him, and
he sat down by me. / asked him if he
had said had told him | was in favor
of this tariff bill as it now stood. He
said no; had had no conversation with
him on the subject; but he had been told
last week that, upon some inquiry made
of me, had answered / was in favor OF
the bill.
Crowninshield had not expected |
should so Immediately call upon Web.
ster for explanation; and Webster ex-
peeted it as little. They were both en-
barrassed Crownnshield said he had
understood Webster to have said be had
my opinion directly from myself--wbich
Webster again explicitly disayowed,
When he was gone Mr.. Crowninshield
told me that Webster had expressly said
in words what he had repeated to me; it
was impossible that he should have mis-.
understood him, and added he had not
doubt that Webster had positively en-
gagged to support Calhoun for the Presi-
dency, and was now ready to support
any one else. AT all events, this incl
dent completes the demonstration of
Webster's political feeling toward me.
Calhoun and Crawford have both taken
hold of his ambition, and he has fallen
into their tolls.