Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-02-20
Morning hazy but soon changed to a clear sun and a lovely day. I went to the Office as usual and passed my time much as usual, first reading Mr. Hayne’s Speech upon the Western Lands, a bitter Phillipic upon the course of the Eastern States. The truth is that the course of these States during the War was and is totally indefensible and it is a weak point to touch, but still it is not generous to touch so often the subject. The people here have came to their senses and punished the Authors of those measures by removing them from public life. And 168the other States ought to accept of this as sufficient without pushing farther.1
I went to see Mr. Brooks but found his Office closed which led me to conclude that the closing scene was rapidly approaching. I then passed the remainder of the morning in reading Mr. McDuffie’s Speech upon the Amending the Constitution as to the election of President.2 It is a better Speech than I thought, though too long and not sufficiently laboured. Returning home I found Abby had received a letter from Medford intimating that her Mother might not live through the day. She was of course very much affected. After dinner I read Demosthenes as usual. My first Article upon Eloquence was published this morning but so obscurely placed that I do not think it has justice done to it.3 Miss Julia Gorham came in to pass the Evening so that I went out and attended an unusually full meeting of the Debating Society. The discussion upon the Militia was renewed but not carried on with vigor, as none of the warmest Members joined in it. But the question approaching to a decision, I waited till the close and found that my side of it prevailed, after which I went rapidly home.
CFA was reading the newspaper reports on the great debate on public-land policy in the United States Senate during Jan.–Feb. 1830. The protagonists were Daniel Webster, who had shifted with New England from a narrow to a broad construction of the Constitution, and Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina, who made the most of the threat of federal “consolidation” and the near-treasonable course of New England leaders in opposing the War of 1812. Hayne’s speech opening the debate had been printed in the Columbian Centinel, 6 Feb., p. 1, cols. 2–5; his rejoinder to Webster appeared in the issue for 20 Feb., p. 2, cols. 2–5. Publication of Webster’s speech followed; see below, entries for 27 Feb., 3 March.
George McDuffie’s speech delivered in the House, Feb. 1826, is in Williston’s Eloquence at 4:97–152. See below, entry for 2 March and note.
Massachusetts Journal, 20 Feb., p. 1, cols. 3–4. The communication appears under the rubric “Literary,” bears the heading “No. 1,” and is signed “Orator.”
1830-02-21
The day was again exceeding lovely and beautiful. I attended divine service this morning and heard Mr. Sewall preach a long and tedious Discourse which did not please me at all. Abby went to Medford, her Mother being still alive, with her brother Chardon. And I had a solitary dinner at home. My amusement consisted in reading Kaimes until I received a Note from Edward Brooks with the request of Abby that I should go out to Medford to bring her in. This seemed so strange a part of the plan that I did not know what to do, but after going to Mrs. Chardon Brooks’ and conversing with her, I found her husband was to stay all night, so I went down, got a Chaise and started off. Upon arriv-169ing I found that Mrs. Brooks was still living though very low and all the family present very much affected. It was a melancholy spectacle and in itself exciting as well as affecting. I remained downstairs talking with the family until after tea, when just before my starting to return I received a Message from her expressive of a desire to see me. This I had not expected today but I went immediately. The scene was a melancholy one for she was unable to speak yet anxious to express to me her feelings. She was altered totally, and looked as if Death already claimed her in all but one little spot. I had never seen before, any one so situated and I felt the sadness of the spectacle, but I was not so horror struck as I expected. There was nothing of that shocking nature which my feelings had anticipated. She apparently had sent for me to express her kind feelings and was unable, and I felt the signal she made of it more than expression. God rest her kind soul. She has done her duty on earth, and sees no terrors in a better place. The loss of her family is greater than her own. We returned to town and after calling at the houses of the different relations to let them know the facts so far as we knew, we passed the remainder of the evening at home.1
Mrs. Brooks’ last day seemed equally extraordinary to all those who recorded its details. After a night during which she had been unconscious and at the point of death, at about eight in the morning she had revived and was “sensible and collected” (Brooks, Farm Journal, 21 Feb.). For some days there had been “much alienation of mind, but on the last there was none. The voice only was gone” (CFA to LCA, 13 March, Adams Papers). She saw successively each member of the family. When Abby kissed her “she sent for me by a sign to Abby and a strong exertion to articulate my name.... [F]or the few moments I was there she seemed to be attempting to express to me words of affection” (same). “After these interviews she drew her cap over her Eyes and tried to compose herself” (Charlotte Everett to Edward Everett, 23 Feb., Everett MSS, MHi), “taking her leave of us all with the utmost resignation and tenderness and then requesting us to leave the room” (Brooks, Farm Journal).