The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-13
GheGttelliasttter
,onn Adams's trouble with Sen.
ntOfa.

ANOEHt
.y,,l,y',' Washington Letter to Boston Journal
President John Adams in 1893 nOmin
,,.j ". V. Murray to negotiate with
II. French government. This step was
,.ssn without the knowledge Of u feder-
i spstor, although the federal lists were
n a majority 10 the Senate. A caucus
II federal senators was held, and II was
Ssclded to reject the nomination unless
!, TSs Withdrawn, and 10 appoint COM
mitlee 10 wait upon the president 10 re-
Sn,,, liz withdrawal. Senators Bingham,
Rssj SedgwIck, Ross and Stockton were
,nOoInIed "a that committee, and they
Jisced their chairman 10 address q re-
'rscIlul note 10 the president expressing
,Tish that he would permit them 10 walt
aDoD and converse with him on the sub
III Of the nomination. An answer was
Immediately returned that the president
would b. happy to receive the committee
Al biz house "a gentlemen att o'clock that
evening. /
vsiled on the president, and were usher
"A INTO the reception room. As they en-
Iered, Mr.. Adams met them ut the door,
,Hyiug, with some warmth: Gentlemen,
an glad TO see you, As friends, and mem.
bsn Of the Senate; but as a committee
interfering, as think you are, with my
executive duties, cannot consent to re-
seIve you, and protest against all such
interference. have Gdaty to execute, and
90 have you. know, and shall do mine,
and want neither your opinion nor aid 10
in itsexecutton."
Then, and not ill then, did the presi-
dent request his visitors to be seated.
Senator Bingham, rs chairman Of the
committee, said, "ThRL they had not the
most distant idea OF interfering with the
presidents official powers or duties, but
that it was out OF pure regard and respect
for them that the interview had been re-
quss,ed that tho difference Of opinion
between the president aud Senate upon
such measure would be lamented by all
The friends Of the administration, and Il
WA only to avoid this that the committee
had requested the interview
IA this WIS an intimation that the
nomination would be rejected, the presi.
dent manifested the bad temper Of his
family, and said: "Well then, gentlemen,
II YOU are determined to interfere In di.
pomatic affairs, reject Mr.. Murray. You
have the power to do this, and you may
DO it, but it ia upon your own responsi-
bilily' Some warm words followed, and
when the committee left, some were
offended, while others laughed at the
passion Mr.. Adams had put himself in
iOr their attempting 10 advise him and
10 help bin out Of scrape.
The committee called a CAUCUS OF the
federal senators, which met that very
evening, and there was unanimous
expression that the nomination, unless
new modelled, should be rejected. The
president and the Senate were thus at
cross.purposep, and Chief Justice Ellis.
worth Of the Supreme court was asked
by the federal senators 10 persuade Mr..
Adams to remodel the mission, IL he
would not Withdraw the nomination.
The president yielded, and appointed the
mediator, Chief Justice Ellsworth, Pat.
rick Henry and the old nominee, William
Vans Murray, "a joint ENJOYS TO France.
Patrick Henry declining William R. Da.
Wis was nominated n his place, and the
trIumVirate was Confirmed.