The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-02-28
OF WASHINGTON.

TInN. lS25-1S2ii.
There was little cordialitv. during the
administration Of John Quincy Adams.
between the occupants of the Capitol
and of the Executive Mansion, or as it
has been called since the occupation Of
Washington by the British. the White
House. The interior of the building was
then burned. and the exterior walls were
so blackcned by the smoke that they
were painted white to conceal the marks
Of the conilagration.
Mr.. Adams. who had been defeated by
the people. and whose election by the
house OF representatives, was believed by
many to have been secured by Il bargain
between his friends and those of Henry
Clay, sought 10 conciliate his opponents
by attempting in his inaugural message
to ignore party lines. In this he followed
the example Of Mr. Jefferson. who COM
menced his administration. erected on
the overthrow OF his political antagonists
with the memorable declarations " We
have called by different names brethren
Of the same principle; we are all Rcpub-
licans.--we are all iederalists. His
early appointments were made without
regard to the political opinions Of the ap-
pulntccs. and he appeared determined SO
to distribute his patronage as neither
to reward his paltiSanS nor to prescribe
his opponents. Instead of harmonizirg
the personal fcuds between the friends of
those who had been candidates with him.
he antagonized each one with his admin
istration at the earliest possible moment,
and before the expiration of his first year
in the White House he had wrecked the
Republican party left by Monroe as com
pletely as his father had wrecked the
Federal party established by Washington.
Mr.. Adams failure in the adminiStra-
ton of IN eifce for which he had been
educated inspired him with a maynard
and an obstinate spirit of contrarctv.
He was honest. in the common accept
ance Of the word, vet his sense of polti-
cal morality was so warped that he was
dogged and daring without the advan-
tageS accruing from honesty. TIE fed
eralsts hated him. because he had de
serted their ranks in which he naturally
belonged: while the Democrats Cor Re
| publicanS. rs they called themsclvc>) dis
trusted him. because they knew that at
heart he WAS their enemy. He was
faithful to his public duties, not only OK
aiming the details of executive bust
ness. rs it was transacted i'll the different
departments. but passing many of his
evenings i'll mechanically signing patents
and landwarrants. His annual and spc-
cial messages TO Congress displayed i'm
mense information and profound retec-
ton; but many OF the recommendations
| made in them were cold distractions. of
no practical value. and they were never
needed.
The President had married when in
| London, Miss Louisa Catherine johnson.
| Her father was an American birth but
Just before the Revelation he went to
| England. where he resided until after the
| independence of the colonies had been
recognized His brother. then the Gov
erlor of Maryland. obtained the passage
of an act 10y the Assembly of this State
establishing his title to lands which would
| otherwise have been coniscatc,l. and lie
returned to the United States where he
was appointed superintendent of revenue
stamps. Mrs. Adams wa, well qualified
to preside over the domestic affairs at the
| White House. She had four children, -
three SONS and one daughter. of whom one
only. Mr.. Charles Francis Adams. sur
vived her. 1t is related, as evidence of
her good sense, that on one occasion Ms.
Mason. of Analo>tan Island. called ac
companed by two or three other ladies
belonging to the first families o: Virginia,
to enlist Mrs. Adams in behalf of her
son-in-law. Lieutenant Cooper CATER
wards Adiutant General of the United
States army. and subsequently of the
Confederate forces. who wanted to be
detailed as an aid-dc-camp on the staff of
General Macomb. Mrs. Adams heard
their requests. and then replied: Truly
ladies', though Mesdames Maintcnon and
Pompaduur are said to have controlled
the military appointments of their times.
do not think such matters appertain to
influence with Mr.. Adams, it Shnuld bc
Given 10 Mrs Scott. with whom became
acquainted while travelin. last summer. =
Mr.. Adam ; private secretary WAS his
son John Adams. who had inherited
many of his pcculiaritics, and who soon
made himself very obnoxious to the
friends of General Jackson. One even
Ing. Mr.. Russell Jarvis. who then edited
The Washington Tttcgr"ph. Il newspaper
which advocated .Iackson's election. at
tended Il - rawing-room at the White
House, escorting his wife and party of
visiting relatives from Boston. Mr..
Jarvis introduced those who were with
him to Mrs. Adams. who received them
cpurtcously. and they then passed into
the East Room. Soon afterwards they
found themselves standing opposite to
Mr.. John Adams. WHO was conversine
with the Rev Mr.. Strtson 'Who is
that LADY," asked Mr.. Stctson. THAT. "
replied Mr.. John Adams. in Il tone $,
loud that the party heard it. " is the wife
Of one Russell Jarvis, and il they knew
how contemptlhly liz is viewed in this
house they would not he here. The
Bostoniann at once paid their parting res
poets to Mrs Adams and Withdrew, Mr..
Jarvis having first ascertaincd from Mr..
StetSon that it was Mr. John Adams who
had inSulted them. \ few days after
wards Mr. Jarvis sent note to Nh John
Adams. demanding an explanation, by a
friend of his. Mr. Mclean. Mr.. Adams
told Mr.. Mclean that he had no apology
to make To Mr. Jarvis and that he wished
no correspondence with him. Consider