24.7x39.8 cm (9¾x15¾") with seal affixed with orange label beneath. Signed "J. Q. Adams" on partially printed document. Co-signed by George Graham, Commissioner of the General Land Office.
John Quincy Adams (July 11, 1767 – Feb 23, 1848) was the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later the Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. He was the son of President John Adams and Abigail Adams and thus contributed to the formation of the Adams political family.
Adams shaped U.S. foreign policy using his ardently nationalist commitment to U.S. republican values. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating key treaties, most notably the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. As Secretary of State, he negotiated with Britain over the United States' northern border with Canada, negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and drafted the Monroe Doctrine. Historians generally concur that he was one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history. He lost his 1828 bid for reelection to Andrew Jackson. After leaving office, he was elected as U.S. Representative from Massachusetts in 1830, serving for the last 17 years of his life with greater acclaim than he had achieved as president. Adams predicted the Union's dissolution over slavery, and in such a case, felt the president could abolish slavery by using his war powers.
Captain George Graham (1772 – Aug 9, 1830) served as acting United States Secretary of War under two Presidential administrations from 1816 to 1817. As incumbent Chief Clerk of the War Department, on 22 October 1816, he was designated Acting Secretary by James Madison following William H. Crawford's promotion to the Department of the Treasury until Crawford's successor John C. Calhoun arrived and took over as Secretary on 8 October 1817. Outside of his Cabinet service, he is best known for a mission to Galveston Island, Texas to persuade the small Bonapartist colony of Champ d'Asile to accept American jurisdiction. There he met with privateer Jean Laffite. He was president of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States, 1819–1823, and commissioner of the U.S. land office, 1823 - 1830.