Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-11-12
The returns come in this morning and manifest one thing decidedly—The total prostration of the National Republican or till now dominant party. Even in their head quarters in this City, they have failed in electing one man on their own strength. And their Senatorial tickets have failed in all the surrounding Counties. The Country votes come in very heavily for my father and show a falling off only for the Nationals.1
I went to the Advocate Office where they were in great glee. I rejoice at it on account of the inhuman attempt to crush my father by those who professed once to be his friends. It has recoiled upon themselves with a force they will long have cause to remember. But the election devolves upon the Legislature, and a new and difficult question presents itself—One upon which I conversed with Mr. Hallett for some time. I hope that yet my father may be able to withdraw himself from the caballing of a Legislative assembly.
In my absence from my Office, I missed several persons whom I should have seen. Walk before, and after dinner. Began a second time the Novum Organum. Evening, the Fair Maid of Perth and Racine’s play of Berenice.
In final returns, JQA and the antimasonic ticket polled 18,274 votes or 29 percent of the votes cast. The National Republicans polled 25,149, the Democrats 15,493, the Workingmen 3,459. The Antimasons carried 100 of 301 towns and five counties (Bristol, Franklin, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth). In the gubernatorial election of 1832, in which the National Republicans had won a clear majority, the Antimasons had been third; the National Republicans had polled 8,797 more votes, and carried 100 more towns, the Antimasons had polled 3,519 fewer votes and won 34 fewer towns than in the contest just concluded (Darling, Political Changes in Mass.
, p. 104, 115).
1833-11-13
The weather very fine today, although growing quite cool. The returns still come in very unfavourably to the National Republicans. The running is quite close between the three Candidates and manifests the indisposition of the People to sustain this wreck of a party any longer. There must be new divisions. But the prospects of the Nation are not good. God only knows what may become of us. I am half disgusted with the Republican principle, although if we analyze truly such feelings we shall find too often that they grow out of dissatisfied personal consequence. The Government is yet dispensing it’s blessings [fol. 212] [fol. 212] [fol. 212] [fol. 212] 213and though the worm of corruption is making it’s way in the interior, it yet looks fair on the outside.
I spent an hour or two with Mr. T. Davis in conversation and took a long walk. My health troubles me. After dinner, I read Virgil but was not so much occupied as I ought to have been. Evening, the Fair Maid of Perth, and Berenice. I wrote a letter to my father upon the political state.1
13 Nov. (Adams Papers). He reported the Antimasons sanguine that JQA would emerge successful; however, he opposed assent by JQA to election by a “legislative cabal,” more particularly in a legislature composed of a majority from the opposition party.