Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-10-07
The morning was delightfully pleasant. I give no daily account of the state of my family because I thank Heaven that as yet they are well. And the incidents of the past week have been so numerous, I have said nothing of my brother’s departure which we regret. Since the difficulty his manner to me has been changed to so great an extent, that I have felt a return of my ancient good feeling which time and haughty treatment had as I thought destroyed. He and his Wife have also treated mine in a way which I shall not soon forget. They have been kind and obliging to her at a moment when such conduct was essential. I hope the time may come when I can do something to show my grateful feeling.
Office. Mr. Hallett called upon me–A long political conversation. The plot thickens, but nearly all my father’s political friends have deserted him. And the fire of Masonic hatred is opened upon him with a fury that baffles conception. The course of Mr. Webster, A. H. Everett and his brother, Governor Lincoln and others will be worth remembering. What a situation this puts me into here! But inasmuch as I cannot help myself, my way is to grin and bear it. Only basing myself upon the broad ground of principle and taking care to justify every one of my acts by some suitable motive in my own mind.
Rode to Quincy to dinner. Found my father and mother pretty well. I was surprised to hear A. H. Everett had been here, and stated a piteous case to my father. He says he must leave the State. Is this true? or is it for effect upon my father’s compassion? Time will disclose this. 188I went with my Mother to Mrs. Adams’ on business. Finished what I had to do and returned. Conversation. Informed by my father of his political plan of action,1 also of Quincy’s affair which is the turning point of the canvass. Returned home. Evening, copying a letter for my father.
“I desired Charles to suggest to the Anti Masonics in the event of a failure of election of Governor by the People, when the selection of the two Candidates comes to be made by the House of Representatives, to drop me altogether, so as to have their whole strength to give to two out of three Candidates instead of four” (JQA, Diary, 7 Oct.).
The fourth candidate was S. C. Allen of the Workingmen’s Party. That JQA’s plan, which was the one he ultimately followed, was formulated so early has not been generally noted.