Mr.Adams had never been an active partizan.

In his career as Senator, both in Massachusetts and in Washington, during Mr.Jefferson's administration, he had satisfactorily demonstrated his ability to rise above party considerations, in the discharge of great and important duties.

And his long absence from the country had kept him free from personal, party, and sectional bias, and peculiarly fitted him to take the first station in the cabinet of a President aiming to unite his countrymen in fraternal bonds of political amity.
Referring to this appointment, Mr.Monroe wrote Gen.

Jackson as follows, under date of March 1, 1817:--"I shall take a person for the Department of State from the eastward; and Mr.Adams, by long service in our diplomatic concerns appearing to be entitled to the preference, supported by his acknowledged abilities and integrity, his nomination will go to the Senate." Gen.

Jackson, in his reply, remarks:--"I have no hesitation in saying you have made the best selection to fill the Department of State that could be made.