82. ADAMS (John), Midnight Appointments of.—
One act of Mr. Adams's life, and
one only, ever gave me a moment's personal
displeasure. I did consider his last appointments
to office as personally unkind. They
were from among my most ardent political
enemies, from whom no faithful cooperation
could ever be expected; and laid me under
the embarrassment of acting through men
whose views were to defeat mine, or to encounter
the odium of putting others in their
places. It seemed but common justice to
leave a successor free to act by instruments
of his own choice. If my respect for him
did not permit me to ascribe the whole blame
to the influence of others, it left something for
friendship to forgive, and after brooding over
it for some little time, and not always resisting
the expression of it, I forgave it cordially,
and returned to the same state of esteem and
respect for him which had so long existed.
* * * I maintain for him, and shall carry into
private life, an uniform and high measure of
respect and good will, and for yourself a sincere
attachment.—
To Mrs. John Adams. Washington ed. iv, 546.
Ford ed., viii, 307.
(W.
June. 1804)
See Commissions.
