Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

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MEMOIRS OF JOHN ADAMS DIX.

become well known as an able controversialist and an intelligent critic of public affairs. It was natural that he should
feel a deep interest in the politics of the day. IHe seems to
have taken as active a part in them as was consistent with his
position in the military service. The Presidential campaign
which resulted in the election of John Quincy Adams, in the
year 1824, was hotly contested. Five candidates were in the
field: John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War under President
Monroe; William H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury;
John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State; Henry Clay, Speaker
of the House of Representatives; and General Andrew Jackson. I shall have occasion again to refer to that remarkable
canvass in connection with my father's political history; for
the present it is sufficient to say that, like most of the gentlemen of the army, he was an enthusiastic admirer and staunch
supporter of Mr. Calhoun, whose cause he advocated with a
practised and facile pen. That distinguished statesman, in a
letter to him from Washington, September 28, 1823, attests
the value and importance of his work as a writer on public
affairs:
" I write at present, not to communicate information (for I
believe my friends in New York are well informed), but to
express the pleasure which I have derived from the perusal of
your letters. I see the cause begins to be supported as it
ought to be in your city. Let the same spirit of free, bold,
and enlightened discussion be extended to the other great
cities, and the good effects will soon be visible. This can best
be effected by correspondence."
Colonel Charles G. Haines, a member of the New York Bar,
and a prominent politician of that day, writes to him about
the same time, referring to certain articles from his pen:
"It is proper for me to remark that your essays have been
republished very generally throughout the western country.*
The junior editor of the Statesman informs me that they are

* I. e., the western counties of the State of New York.