Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1837-12-02
The day was cloudy and damp as has been the case for the most part with the weather we have had. I went to the Office where besides some little business matters, I sat down to write a letter to my Mother inclosing my little sketch.1
My feelings much acted upon by the extraordinary decision of the Mayor and Aldermen upon a late application of Dr. Channing and others for the use of Faneuil Hall.2 The craven spirit has got about as far in Boston as it can well go. I wrote an article to the Morning Post approving of his editorial remarks of this morning,3 and had a warm argument in Mr. Brooks’ room with two or three of my connexions there. They are always of the conservative order, and I can not often be.
Home. Herodotus. T. K. Davis dined with me. Conversation of various sorts, political and critical. He staid all the afternoon. It is agreeable to have such variety. Evening, Mr. Brooks was here for a couple of hours. Writing afterwards.
To LCA, 2 Dec., Adams Papers. The letter contained a request that various dates be supplied. On the biographical sketch, see entry of 11 Nov., above.
The Daily Advertiser, 2 Dec., p. 2, cols. 5–6, carried a communication from Rev. William Ellery Channing protesting the action of the mayor and aldermen in denying the use of Faneuil Hall for a meeting to express the public outrage at the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy in Illinois. To the letter was appended editorial comment approving the official action.
The editorial in the Boston Morning Post, 2 Dec., p. 2, cols. 1–2, strongly opposed the action of the mayor and aldermen. CFA’s communication endorsing the stand must be that signed “One of the Many” in the 4 Dec. issue, p. 2, col. 2: “Words cannot express the deep loathing which I feel for doctrines which sap the very foundations of our free republican institutions.... [I]f ever I, knowingly, vote for one of the persons who could consent to lay Boston under the burning disgrace of this proceeding, may I suffer the fate which poor Lovejoy met in resisting the same tyrranical spirit!”