Washington Jan. 4th 1824
Dear Samuel,
Since I wrote last week I have received your letter of the
18th ult. which has given me much satisfaction - particularly as it
gives so favorable account of your health and that of the family,
which I pray may be continue to improve.
You mention that you had received but one Washington paper, and had not seen the
Message of the president- Altho' that had been the case when you
wrote, I presume that you soon after received several papers -
as I have continued to forward the Intelligencer, & Washing Republi-
can direct to you, and the National Journal, through James, to you
also- Niles' Register is sent to me from Baltimore, after reading it
I inclose it to Dr Scott - and you have the right to read it if you
wish - it is taken by the Doctor, Colonel an myself, each paying his
proportion of the price of the papers and postage. From the three
papers which I send you, you will get an account of every thing of im-
portance which is done in Congress. I should have sent you a copy
of the documents accompanying the presidents message - but I find
every document of any interest to be published in some of the papers
which I send. You cannot form any very satisfactory opinion
of the prospects of the different candidates for president, from any of
the newspapers - as each paper endeavors to set his own favorite can-
didate in the best possible point of view - and at the same time uses
every art to represent the opposing candidates in the most unfavorable
light- Therefore it becomes necessary, to avoid wrong impressions, to read
the papers which support the different candidates. After all that has been
said in favor of Mr Calhoun, Jackson and Clay, and of the high estima-
tion in which they are said to be held in different parts of the United States
it is considered here by the most informed, that the great contest will
be finally between Mr Adams & Mr Crawford; and will be a trial of
strength between the North and the South. There would be no hesitation
in predicting the final result, if the divisional line were the same that
divides the slave holding from the free states. But some of the middle
states, particularly Pennsylvania (and perhaps New York) have hitherto been
so divided on the question as to offer no indication by which to conjecture
one whom she will eventually support. At the present time it is thought
Mr Adams takes the lead of any other candidate - which may not be the
case a few months hence. There will not probably be any Congressional
caucus. The members from several states, and among the rest, from Vermont,
have refused to attend one - and the subject is becoming more unpopular
every day - Mr Crawfords friends in Congress have been very much en-
gaged in favor of a caucus - but the friends of all the other candidates, con-
stituting a large majority in Congress, have opposed the measure, as likely
to result unfavorably to some of their own favorite candidates.
The Greek fever prevails about as much at Washington as in other parts
of the U.S. and a considerable portion of Congress have not escaped the conta-
gion- Every republican, and every Christian, who is a republican, must
sincerely rejoice at the success of the Greeks, and pray for this final
success. But it would be an act of perfect [ ] for this govern-
ment to openly espouse their cause - it would probably bring all the force
of the holy alliance upon the poor Greeks, and also upon us, who are
already sufficiently obnoxious to the [ ], as a nursery of repub-
lican principals- This subject will soon be discussed in Congress, and with
what results I cannot at present foresee.
I wrote to your Mama & also to Mary, last week - which letters I hope
will arrive safe- The week past has been mild, and we have had consider-
able rain; it is now colder- I hope you have had a thaw - sufficient to
raise the streams- I remain well- Pray give my best to your
Mama & Mary - and to the rest of the family. May you all be happy!
S C Crafts-