Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1828-06-05
Morning at the Office. Kents Commentaries. Received a short letter from Mother containing little of any thing except some ridiculous stories. This was the day fixed for the public dinner given to Mr. Webster and after much doubt I determined not to go being scarcely able to afford it.1 In consequence of this decision I made a sort of agreement to go Medford with Chardon Brooks in case his brother did not go with him. After this agreement had been made I repented of it and would have been glad to have gone to the dinner, but it was too late. His brother did go out with him and I lost both chances, about which I consoled myself with my ordinary duties.
Webster was under attack by the Boston shipping interests, hitherto among his strongest supporters, for having voted for the high tariff act of 1828. The public dinner, at Faneuil Hall, was designed to show that Massachusetts manufacturers, who benefited from protection, were now behind the Congressman. Webster made a long, defensive speech, explaining his course (Columbian Centinel, 7 June 1828).