Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-06-07
My morning was taken up in reading the Debates of the First Congress upon the removing power. It seems probable that I shall now have to go into a thorough examination of Mr. Webster’s Speech. God protect me through it. It is the critical moment of my life and I am twenty seven years old. Let that fact and its associations already recorded on my last birth day stir me up.
Attended divine Service and heard Mr. Frothingham. My daughter Louisa with me. Text John 1. 19. “Who art thou.” She distracted my attention. The character of the Saviour and John with a reference to the Communion, and to self examination. This is very blind. Afternoon Mr. Eliot, a young Missionary from St. Louis, on an errand for charity.1 His Sermon was an Address. 2. Corinthians 8. 13 and 14. “For I mean not that other men be eased and ye burdened; But by an equality that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality.” A very ingenious argument in favour of rendering aid from here to build up a Church at St. Louis. The manner was good, and the whole application interesting, and had it’s effect. But my mind was not convinced and therefore it would have been weakness to have yielded to the mere example of others. He had a collection afterwards which was well supported.
Read a Sermon of Barrow. Ephesians 5. 2. “And walk in love.” The necessity and good effects of charity. A very good discourse, but my head is so full of constitutional argument I do not pay proper attention to my regular duties. Evening wrote a Paper No. 8 of Political Speculation and did not go to bed until midnight.
Rev. William Greenleaf Eliot had gone to St. Louis following his graduation from Harvard Divinity school in 1834, and by March 1835 had organized the First Congregational Society there. He had been brought up in Washington of Massachusetts parents and had taken his first degree at Columbian College there. In 1837 he married Abigail Adams Cranch, a daughter of Judge William Cranch of Washington. Eliot’s long career in St. Louis was 154devoted to the establishment of churches and schools and to raising funds, in extraordinary amounts, for their support. He was active in movements for temperance reform, women’s rights, and the emancipation of salves. In 1853 he established Eliot Seminary which later became Washington University. He resigned his pastorate in 1870 to become the University’s chancellor, a post he held until his death in 1887 (
DAB
).
1835-06-08
Morning pleasant but with the wind rather Easterly. I read over my paper this morning and decided that it would do. Then to the Office. A good deal of time taken up in running round after a Carriage and Horses. I finally concluded my bargain with the man for the former and made an appointment with Mr. Forbes to try the latter at 5 o’clock p.m.
My father and mother both came into town. The former down to the Office. As he was sitting here Alexander H. Everett came in. His object to see me doubtless but when I intimated so, he turned it off. Conversation general, until he left and then my father went. Home to see my Mother. They dined with us, and of course I lost the greater part of the day.
Afternoon, went out and tried the pair of horses which I concluded to take. Evening engaged in reading Mr. Webster’s Speech and all the accompanying reasoning of the first Congress.1 Fatigued by the heat and exercise.
In the Senate on 16 Feb. 1835, Webster spoke in favor of the bill to repeal the Act of 1820 limiting the terms of service of certain officers, generally called the Executive Patronage Bill. The speech is recorded in
Register of Debates in Congress
, 11:458–470.
1835-06-09
My new number came out this morning. It will do.1 I was occupied in studying out the subject of my question. Then to the Office. Wilson came in from Quincy with Commissions and to take out the Carriage and horses. All this ran away with several hours. The remainder of my time taken up in arrears of Diary occasioned by my repeated absences and extraordinary occupation. I returned to the House early and was quite busy. But I have given up for the present Juvenal and Thiers and Deffand and Crabbe, all my relaxation to the business on hand.
Afternoon taken up in reading the Debates of the First Congress and the Patronage bill. My principal difficulty is in the value of my materials. The abundance of them is so great that I find it will require 155thought to arrange them. Evening, I wrote the beginning of my Argument upon Webster’s bill but it did not satisfy me. Retired fatigued.
The editor of the Advocate, in calling particular notice to CFA’s newest piece, wrote, “No. 8 of Political Speculation, is a thrilling appeal to every true patriot.... Let it be read with care and deep attention” (9 June, p. 2, col. 4).