Browsing: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 1

1. The critical New York legislature was almost evenly divided between the supporters of JQA and Crawford, with Clay’s friends holding the balance of power. Admonishing his New York followers not to make any deals, JQA urged them to delay the legislature’s decision as long as possible, so that pro-Adams sentiment could gather, and to work for a new election law, which would allow the people to vote directly for the state’s electors. For an earlier report on the New York political situation, see entry for 25 Jan., above.