John Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 December 1798
John Adams to Abigail Adams
Philadelphia Decr 31. 1798
My Dearest Friend
I hope you have health enough to bear to share with me some of my Griefs. I have determined to do a Thing this day, which puts my Phylosophy to a Tryal. The Lt Gen. and Major Generals have recommened Col Smith to the Command of a Regiment. This is a Degradation of him to which I would not consent, without his Consent. I have written to him hoping that he would forbid the nomination. But his Pride is humbled to that degree that he writes me he will accept. It would give me less Pain to follow him to the Grave: but I know not but he and his Connections would blame me, if I refused, and I have concluded to send in the nomination.1 His situation will be miserable, under the Command of his former equals and Inferiours. The Prejudices against him are such that I think it problematical whether the Senate will not again Negative him, and I am sure if they do it will give me no pain. If he has forfeited his Character for Integrity and Honor he ought not to have a Regiment: if he has not he deserves a Brigade, and more.— Happy Washington! happy to be Childless! My Children give me more Pain than all my Ennemies. If Smith has forfeited his Honor, I wish some kind friend would have given me the Facts and the Proof.— In such a Case I would not nominate him to be a Lt.— But no such fact or Proof has been presented to me.
There was not a Line of Recommendation of W. Smith to be Loan officer of N. Carolina. But if there had been many I could not have nominated him. There were as many Candidates as for the Treasury of the Mint and these among the most respectable Natives of the state.2
I long to hear of Thomas.— Providence has preserved your Family you say. Ay and in many more and much greater dangers at sea, than you have any Idea of. Why Should I distrust? I do not. I have been preserved, almost miraculously preserved, I hope for some good— and not merely to be punished with the Knowledge of the Disgrace of my Children. My Grand Children I see are destined to be the poorest Objects in the Community. Partly in Grief and partly in Indignation, I am your ever affectionate
J. A
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A”; endorsed: “J A / December 31 / 1798.”
1. On 31 Dec. William Smith Shaw delivered to the Senate JA’s nominations for the augmented army regiments that had been authorized in July. Among the nominations was that of WSS for the position of lieutenant colonel in the infantry. The Senate confirmed the appointment on 7 Jan. 1799. The Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser, 8 Jan., remarked that there were some Federalists who were reluctant to vote for WSS owing to his land speculation but did so because they were persuaded by northern senators and had been told that JA would resign if they did not (, 5th Cong., 3d sess., p. 298, 299, 303).
2. William Smith, AA’s nephew, previously sought an appointment as a revenue inspector in North Carolina, for which see vol. 12:xxiv–xxv, 422–424. On 24 Dec. 1798 JA nominated Sherwood Haywood to be commissioner of loans for North Carolina; Haywood was confirmed by the Senate on 26 Dec. (vol. 12:453, 454; , 5th Cong., 3d sess., p. 298). For Benjamin Rush’s appointment as treasurer of the U.S. Mint, see vol. 12:454.