People, he said, "always supported his cause from a
cold sense of duty," and "we soon satisfy ourselves
that we have discharged our duty to the cause of
any man when we do not entertain for him one
personal kind feeling, nor cannot unless we
disembowel ourselves like a trussed turkey of all
that is human nature within us." With a candidate
"of popular character, like Mr. Clay," the result
would have been different. "The measures of his
[Adams's] Administration were just and wise and
every honest man should have supported them, but
many honest men did not for the reason I have
mentioned."--_Webster's Private Correspondence_,
vol. i. p. 469.]

* * * * *

Mr. Adams's relations with the members of his Cabinet were friendly
throughout his term. Men of their character and ability, brought into
daily contact with him, could not fail to appreciate and admire the
purity of his motives and the patriotism of his conduct; nor was he
wanting in a measure of consideration and deference towards them
perhaps somewhat greater than might have been expected from him,
sometimes even carried to the point of yielding his opinion in (p. 205)
matters of consequence. It was his wish that the unity of the body
should remain unbroken during his four years of office, and the wish
was very nearly realized. Unfortunately, however, in his last year it
became necessary for him to fill the mission to England, and Governor
Barbour was extremely anxious for the place. It was already apparent
that the coming election was likely to result in the succession of
Jackson, and Mr. Adams notes that Barbour's extreme desire to receive
the appointment was due to his wish to find a good harbor ere the
approaching storm should burst. The remark was made without anger, in
the tone of a man who had seen enough of the world not to expect too
much from any of his fellow men; and the appointment was made,
somewhat to the chagrin of Webster and Rush, either one of whom would
have gladly accepted it. The vacancy thus caused, the only one which
arose during his term, was filled by General Peter B. Porter, a
gentleman whom Mr. Adams selected not as his own choice, but out of
respect to