The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-02-13
ADAMS MIDNIGHT JUDGES.
The Story of nn Estrnn.c,,cnt cs .
President and ILLS Successor.

ne S'orS Oh nn i;Htrnnr"rIcnt Ss .
President and ILLS Successor.
The story OF The quarrel between
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Is
very interesting, nnd In answer to an
inquiry would say that 1t was an at
tempt Oh the part OF Mr. Adams to nm
point number OF his friends in differ.
ent sections Of the country to life posi.
tions upon the bench just as his prcsi.
dental term was ending and Mr.. JEFF
fcrson's beginning.
A few moments before the expiration
or the Sixth congress IN 1S0! am net
WAS passed creating number of new
districts and circuit courts. Mr. Ad-
ans selected the judges from among
his friends and political supporters and
had their commissions prepared before
he approved the law. AT that time 1t
was the practice for congress 10 at
Journ Mt midnight OH the Sd OF March.
and the term OF the president expired
Mt the SAME moment. Mr.. jefferson,
being aware OF the intentions of Mr..
Adams. gave his watch to Levi Lin
coin. who had been selected for his
cabinet. siii toid linn to take posses
sion Of the office Of secretary of state
as the hands pointed TO midnight Mr..
Lincoln obeycd Instructions uud inter-
rupted Chief Justice Marshall, who
was acting as secretary Of state, In the
act OF attesting the commissions Of the
new Judges with the great seal of state.
a few had been completed, but the
greater part lacked the seal Mr. Lin.
coin entered Judge Marshalrs office
without warning and said:
Il have been ordered by President
JEFFERSON to take possession Of this de.
partment and its pnpers."
Mr.. Jefferson has not yet qualified
| as president" exclaimed the astonisl.
cd chief Justice.
Nevertheless he considers himself
an executor or trustee and instructs me
to take charge OF the archives OF this
department until nc is duly qualified"
but 1t Is not yet II O'clock" said
Judge Marshall. taking out his watch.
"This is the presidents watch and
rules the hour" said Mr.. Lincoln.
Judge Marshall carried away tho
commissions that were completed, and
the men who received them were after
ward known as Adams midnight
Judges"
Mr.. Jefferson considered this an in
ffingement of his prerogatives and an
invasion Of his authority us president,
and for many years he and Mr.. Adams
! We're bitterly hostile, although he con-
unued to correspond with Mrs. Adams
, In friendly manner. On the other
hand, Mr.. Adams was offended with
dr. jefferson because OF The removal
OF his son, John Quincy Adams, who
was registrar Of bankruptcy Mt Boston.
h1r. Jefferson afterward explained that
he was not aware that the young
Adams who held the office wns n son Of
the ex-prcsidcnt or lie would not have
brought about by Dr. benjamin Rush.
for which Mr.. Jefferson was prepared
by n sympathetic letter from Mrs
Adams Mt the time Of the death of his
daughter, Mrs. Epps.
The letter Of Dr. Rush to Mr.. Adams
urging the reconciliation is one Of the
most eloquent appeals that can be
imagined. lie says:
"Fellow laborers in erecting the fab
ric Of American liberty and indepcnd-
ence, fellow sufferers in the caIumnics
and falsehoods Of party rage, fellow
heirs Of the gratitude and affection Of
postcrity and fellow passengers in the
same stage which must soon convey
both into the presence of the Judge
with whom forgiveness and the love Of
your enemies is the condition Of your
acceptance, embrace = embrace each
other, bedew your letters Of rcconcilia-
tion with tears Of affection and JOY"
Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Adams re-
sumcd their correspondence and friend
ly relations until their death. which oc-
Cured on the same day, but some Of
Mr.. Jefcrsons partisans refused to ap-
prove the onciliatlon.-Chicngo Rec
ord.