細節
ADAMS, John Quincy. Document signed, ("J. Q. Adams") as President, to Nathaniel Silsbee (1773-1850), "Senator Elect for the State of Massachusetts," with several words added in Adams's hand, Washington, 2 February 1829. 1 page, 4to. Verso with recipent's docket. Fine.
A LAME-DUCK PRESIDENT CALLS THE SENATE TO A SPECIAL SESSION THE DAY OF HIS SUCCESSOR'S INAUGURATION. An unusual document by which the President, preparing to hand over the reins of government, notifies Silsbee (a member of the pro-Adams faction in Congress) that "certain measures touching the Public Good requiring that the Senate of the United States should be convened on Wednesday [4 March 1829] you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber...then and there to receive and deliberate on such communications as shall be made to you." The recipient's name and the date are added by Adams; the original date, 12 January, he has neatly altered to "2 February."
As per the outgoing President's request, the Senate convened in Special Session on 4 March 1829, the day after Andrew Jackson's inauguration, an event which Adams pointedly declined to attend. "Actually, all but one member of JQA's cabinet had advised him not to attend the inauguration. So bitter was the antagonism that conventional gestures would have appeared ridiculous" (Nagel, John Quincy Adams, p.327). JQA and his father, in fact are the only Presidents not to have attended the swearing-in of their successor.
A LAME-DUCK PRESIDENT CALLS THE SENATE TO A SPECIAL SESSION THE DAY OF HIS SUCCESSOR'S INAUGURATION. An unusual document by which the President, preparing to hand over the reins of government, notifies Silsbee (a member of the pro-Adams faction in Congress) that "certain measures touching the Public Good requiring that the Senate of the United States should be convened on Wednesday [4 March 1829] you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber...then and there to receive and deliberate on such communications as shall be made to you." The recipient's name and the date are added by Adams; the original date, 12 January, he has neatly altered to "2 February."
As per the outgoing President's request, the Senate convened in Special Session on 4 March 1829, the day after Andrew Jackson's inauguration, an event which Adams pointedly declined to attend. "Actually, all but one member of JQA's cabinet had advised him not to attend the inauguration. So bitter was the antagonism that conventional gestures would have appeared ridiculous" (Nagel, John Quincy Adams, p.327). JQA and his father, in fact are the only Presidents not to have attended the swearing-in of their successor.