A .

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OF THE

 

JOHN ADAMS  
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
mnmxvannn m rAm:ti::::. HALL, nos’:-oar,

AUGUST 2, 1826.

A BY DANIEL WEBSTER.

BOSTON:
CUMMINGS, HILLIARD AND COMPANY.

1 825 ..

 

 mm ggmufixw

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, 88f‘
D A District Clerlfs Ofiice.

Be it remembered, that on the fifteenth day of August, A. D. 1826, and in
the fifty-first year of the Independence of the United States of America,

a Cummings, Hilliard and Company of the said District, have deposited in this

oflice the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the
Words following, to wit :

‘ A Discourse in Commemoration of the Lives and Services of John Adams
and Thomas Jefferson, delivered in Faneuil Hall, Boston, August 2, 1826.
By Daniel Webster.’ A

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled‘ An
Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps,
Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the
times therein mentioned.’ , And also to an Act, entitled ‘ An Act, supplemen-
tary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by secur-
ing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of
such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits
thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other

prints.’ . p
l ‘ _J,NO. W. DAVIS,
Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

William L. Lewis, Printer, Congress street.

etitgut floetmt.

In Common Council, Aug. 7', 1826.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Coun~
cil, be presented to DANIEL WEBSTER, Esq.“ for the eloquent Discourse deli-
vered by him in Faneuil Hall by request of the City Council, in memory of

the late venerable JOHN ADAMS and THOMAS JEFFERSON; and that he be in-

formed it is the wish of the City Council, that the same should be published. 1

Resolved, That seven thousand copies of the said Discourse be printed or '

otherwiseprocured, for the use of the citizens.

Resolved; That Messrs Curtis, Waters and Lodge, with such as the board ‘

of Aldermen may join, be a. Committee‘ to carry the foregoing resolves into
efi"ect.

Sent up for concurrence. ‘ .
JOHN R. ADAN, President.

In the Board of AlcZermen,_ Aug. 7’, 1826.
t Read and concurred, and Aldermen Bellows and Marshall are joined.

JOSIAH QUINCY, Mayor.

 

if ”  should be thus.

ADDRESS.

THIS is an unaccustomed spectacle. For the
first time, fellow-«citizens, badges of mourning
shroud the columns and overhang the arches of
this HALL. These walls, which were consecrated,

so long ago, to the cause of American liberty,

which witnessed her infant struggles, and rung
with the shouts of her earliest victories, proclaim,
now, that distinguished friends and champions of
that great cause have fallen.
The tears which flow, and the
honors that are paid, when the Founders of the
Republic die, give hope that the Republic itself
may be immortal. It is fit, that by public assem-
bly and solemn observance, by anthemi and by
eulogy, we commemorate the services of national
benefactors, extol their virtues, and render thanks
to God for eminent blessings, early given and long
continued, to our favored country.

ADAMS and JEFFERSON are no more;
and we are assembled, fellow-citizens, the aged,

the middle aged and the young, by the spontaneous
0

fun’

It is right that it p

6

impulse of all, under the authority of the munici-
pial government, with the presence of the Chief
Magistrate of the Commonwealth, and others its
official representatives, the university,  the
learned societies, to bear ou1'part, in 
festations of respect and gratituderyvhiclituniver-
sally pervade the land. Anaus ancl'lJErrEnsoN
are no more. On our fiftieth anniversary, the
great day of National Jubilee, in the very hour of
public rejoicing, in it the midst of echoing and re-
echoing voices of tlianltsgiving, while their own
names vvereoniall tongues, they tool: their flight,
together, to the World of spirits. V 4 M 

If it “be true that no one can safely be pronounced
happy while he lives; if that event which termi:-
inates life can alone ci'own its honors and its glory,
What felicity is here! The great Epic of their
lives, how happily concluded! Poetry, itself A has
hardly closed illustrious lives, and finished the
career of earthlyreniovvn, by such a consurnrnation.
Ifwe had the power, We could not wish toreverse
this dispensation of the Divine ‘Providence. The

i great ohjects of"lit"o were accomplished, the idmmma ,
was ready to be closed; it has closecl; our patriots,;w_. 
have fallen; but so fallen, at sui‘cjli‘j”.».§age, with such It do

coincidence, on such a clay, tliat cannot ration-
ally lament that that end hasficorne, which We
knew could not be long deferred. i    

4 Neither of these great men, fellow-citizens,
could have died,iat any time, without leaving an

7
iintnense void in our American society. They
have been so intimately, and for so long a tilrn;e,'i
blended with the history of the country, and espe—~
cially so united, in our thoughts and recollections,-
with the events of the Revolution, that the death
of either would have touched the strings of public
sympathy. ‘We should have felt that one great
link, connecting us with former times, was broken;

' that We had lost” something more, as it Were, of

the presence of the Revolution itself, and of the act
of independence, and were driven on, by another
great? remove, from the days of our country’s early
distinction, to meet posterity, and to mix with the
future. Lil:e“‘the mariner, vvhonithe ocean and
the winds carry along, till he sees the stars which
have directed his course, and lighted, his pathless
Way, descend, one by one, beneatli the rising hori-

zon, We should have felt that lLl1e‘Sti1‘8t1lI1%- of time 

had borne us onward, till another great luminary,
Whose light had cheered us, and Whose guidance
we had followed, had sunk away from our sight.

V t But the coricurrence of’ their death, on the anni~

versary of independence, has naturally awaliened

stronger emotions. Both had been presidents, both _
had lived to great age, both were early patriots, and
both were distinguished and ever honored by their
immediate agency in the act of independence. It
cannot but seem striking, and extraordinary, that
these two should ‘live to see the fiftieth year from
the date of that act; that they should“ complete that

53°33

W

8

year; and that then, on the dayiwhich had fast
linked forever their own fame with their country’s
glory, the heavens should open to receive them
both at once. As their lives themselves were the
gifts of Providence, who is notvvilling to recognize
in their happy termination, as Well as in their long

continuance, proofs that our country,and its bene-~
factors, are objects of His care P T

   i ADAMS and JEFFERSON, I have said, are no more._7:  i

As human beings, indeed, they are no Inore;/{ ‘
They are no more, as in 1776, bold and fearless
V advocates of independence; no more as on subse-
 quent periods, the head of the government; no

more as We have recently seen them, aged and vene-
rable objects of admiration and regard. They are
no more. They are dead. But how little isthere, of
the great and good, which can die! To their coun-
try they yet live, and live forever. They live in
all that perpetuates the remembrance of men on
earth; intherecorded proofs of their own great
actions, in the» offspring of their intellect, in the
deep engraved lines of public gratitude, and in the
respect andhomage of mankind. They in live in their
example; and they live, emphatically, and will livein
the influence which their lives and efforts, their prin-
ciples and opinions, new exercise, and will continue
toexercise, on the affairsof men, not only in their
own country, but throughout the civilized World. A
superior and commanding human inte1lect,,,a truly
great man, when Heaven vouchafesso rare a gift,

9

is not‘ a temporary flame, burning bright for a
while, and then expiring, giving place to returning
darkness. It is rather a spark of fervent heat, as
well as radiant light, with power to enkindle the
common mass of human mind; so that when it

glimmers, in its own decay, and finally goes out’ in ’

death, no night follows, but it leaves the World
all light, all on fire, from the potent contact of’ its
own spirit. Bacon died; but the human under-
standing, roused, by the touch of his miraculous
Wand, to a perception of the true philosophy, and

the just mode of inquiring after truth, has kept on i
its course, successfully and gloriously. Newton

died; yet the courses of the spheres are still
known, and they yet move on, in the orbits which
he saw, and described for them, in the infinity of
space. ,  r 2 r  

No two men now live, felloW—citizens, perhaps
it may be doubted, whether any two men have
ever lived, in one age, Who, more than thosevve
now. commemorate, have impressed their own sen-
timents, in regard to politics and government, on
mankind, infused their own opinions more deeply
into the opinions of others, or given a more lasting
direction to the current ofihuman thought. Their

  Work doth not perish with them. The tree which

they assisted to plant, Will flourish, although they
water it and protect it no longer; for it has struck:
its roots__de‘e:p, it has sent them to the very centre;
nostorm, not of force to burst the orb, can overturn

10

it; its branches spread Wide; they stretch their
rp1¢ortectingi arms broader and broader, and its top is
destined to reach the heavens. ,We are not de-A-y

rceived. I There is no delusion here.’ N 0 age will

come, in which the American Revolution ivvill ap-

pear less tl1an it is, one of the greatest events in

human history. No age will come, in which it will

cease to be seenand felt, on either continent, that
as mighty step, a great advance, not only in Ameri--
can lafiairs, but in human affairs, was made on the
Ztthof July 1776; And noage will come, We trust,
so ignorant or so unjust, as not to ‘see and acknowl-
edge the eifficient agency of these We now honor,
in producing that momentous event. it

We are not assembled, theref‘ore, fiellovv—citizensp,
as men overwhelmed with calamity by the sudden
disruption of the ties of friendship or afi"ection,i or
as in despair for the Republic, by the untimely
hlighting of its hopes. "Death has not surprised us
by an unseasonable blow. We have, indeed, seen
the tomb close, but it has closed only over, mature
years, over long protracted public service, over the

vveaknesis of age, and over life itself only when the l

ends of living had been fulfilled. These suns, as they
rose slowly, and steadily, amidst clouds and storms,
intheir ascendant, so they have not rushed from
their Ineridian, to sink suddenly in the West. Like
the rnildness, the serenity, the continuing benignity
of a summer’s day’, they have gone down with slovv
descending, grateful, long lingering light ; and now

1.1

that they are beyond the Visible margin of the
world, good omens cheer us from ‘ the bright track
oftheir fiery carpi’, , , it   . 

There were many points of similarity in the lives
and fortunes of these great men. They belonged
to the same profession, and had pursued its studies
and its practice, for unequal lengths of time indeed,
but with diligence and effect. Both were learned
and able lavvyers. They were natives and inhabi-r-
tants, respectively, of, those two of the colonies,
which, at the revolution, were the largestand most
powerful, and which naturally, had a lead inthe port

litical affairs of the times. When the colonies be-A

came, in some degree, united, by the assembling of
a generalcongress, they were brought to act toge»

their, in its de1iberations,, not indeed at the same,

time, but both at early periods. Each had already
Inranifested his attachment to the cause oftlie conn-
tr , as Well as his ability to maintain it, by printed
addresses, public speeches, extensive correspond-tr:

ence, and vvhatever other mode could be adopted,‘

for the purpose of exposing the eincroachrnents of
the Britisli parliament and animating the people to
amanly resistance. Both were not only decided, but
early friends of Independence. While others yet
-doubted, they were resolved ; where ‘ others .hesita-.t
ted, they pressed forvvard. my They were both II1BI'I1*'{i',
bers of the committee for preparing the Declaration
of Indepenclence, and they constituted the; sub.-
committee, appointed by the other membiersd ta

1.2

make the‘draugl1t.ii They left their seats in con-
gress, being called to other public employments, at
periods not remote from each other, although one
of them returned to it, afterwards, for a short time.

.N either of them was of the assembly of great men

which formed the present constitution, and neither
was atanytime member of congress under its pro-
visions. Both have been public ministers abroad,
both vice-presidents, and both presidents. These
coincidences are now singularly crowned and com»
pleted. They have died, together; and they died
onthe anniversary of liberty.

~ When many of us were last in this place, fel-a
low-citizens, it was on the day of that anniversary.
We were met to enjoy the festivities belonging to

y the occasion, and to manifest our grateful homage

to our political fathers.

We did not, we could not here, forget our vene-
rable neighbor of Quincy. ” We knew that we were
standing, at a time of «high and palmy prosperity,
where he had stood, in the hour of utmost peril;
that we saw nothing but liberty and security, where
he had met the frown of power; that we were en?-
joying everything, Where he had hazardcd every-
thing; and just and sincere plaudits rose to his
name, from the crowds whichfilled this area, and

hung over these galleries. He whose grateful duty A

it was to speakto us, on that day, of the virtues of
our fathershad, indeed,“ admonished us that ‘time
and years were about to level his venerable frame

13

iwith the dust. But he bade us hope, that ‘the

sound of a nation’s joy, rushing from our cities,
ringing from our valleys, echoing from our hills,
might yet break the silence of his aged ear ; that
the rising blessings of grateful millions might yet
visit, with glad light, his decaying vision.’ Alas!
that vision was then closing forever. Alas I the si-
lence which was then settling on that aged car, was
an everlasting silence! V For, lo! in thevery more
ment of our festivities, his freed spirit ascended to
God who gaveit! Human aid and human solace
terminate at the grave; or vvevvould gladly have
borne him upward, on a nation’s outspread hands;
We Would have accompanied him, and with the
blessings of millions and the prayers of millions,
commended him to the Divine favor.

"While still indulging our thoughts on the Ncoin»-—
cidence of the death of this venerable man with the
anniversary of independence‘, We learn that Jeffer-
son, too, has fallen; and that these aged patriots,
these illustrious fellow-laborers, had leftour World
together. _ May not such events raise the sugges-
tion that they are not undesigned, and that Heaven
does so order things, as sometimes to attract strong-~
ly the atte‘ntion,y and excite the thoughts of men?
The occurrence has added new interest to our anni-
versary, and will be relnemberecl, in all time to come.

The occasion, fellovv-citizlens, requires some ac-
count of the livesand services of J onn Animus and
“THOMAS JEFFERSON. This duty must lflccessarily

C)
, e.)

14

‘l)e.perfo1'1ned with great brevity, and in thedis-»

charge of it I shall be obliged to confine myself,

principally, to those parts of l theirhistory and cha-

racter which belonged to them as public men.
J01-IN ADAMS was born at Quincy, then part of

the ancient town of Braintree, on the 19th day of
October (Old Style) 1735. He was a descendant
[of the Puritans, his ancestors having early em.igrat-

edit from Eiiglandgand settled in Massachusetts.
Discovering early a strong love of reading and of
knowledge, together with marks of great strength

and, activity of mind, proper care was taken by his

worthy father, to provide for his education.   He pur-
sued his youthful studies in Braintree, under Mr.

.Marsh, a teacher whose fortune it was that Josiah

Quincy, Jr. aswell as the subject of these remarks,
should receive from him his instruction in the rudi-~
ments of classical literature. Having been admit-

ted, in 1751, a member of Harvard College, l\'In..

ADAMS was graduated, in course, in 1755; and

on the catalogue of that Institution, his name, at

the time of his death, was second among the living
Alumni, being preceded only by that of the venera-—
bleHo1yoke. VVith what degree of reputation be

left the University, is not now precisely known. H VVe

know only that he was distinguished, in a class
which numbered Locke and Hemenvvay among its
members. Choosing the law for his profession, he

commenced and prosecuted its studies at'VVorces--
‘ ter, under tl1ediregct.ion of Samuel Putnam, a gen—-

l5

-tleman whom he has himself describedlas an acute

man, an able and learned lawyer, and as in large |

professional practice at that time. In l758, he
was admitted to the bar, and commenced business
i11Br'aintree. a He is understood to have made his
first considerabl_e effort, or to have-attained his
first signal success, at Plymouth, on one of those
occasions which furnish the earliest opportunity for
distinction to many young men of the profession, a
jury trial,.and. a criminal; cause. , His business
naturally grew with hisreputation, andhis resi-—
d ence _ in; ,the t vicinity l afforded the ssoppjortunity, t as
his growing eminence , gavethe power, of entering
onthe larger field of practice which the capital pre-
sented. In T766, he removed his residence to Bos-
ton, still continuing his attendance on the neighfl:)or——.

ing circuits, and notrr1nf1'equently called to rejmotej

parts of if the Province. t .In* l7,70t his professional
firmness  broughtto a test of some severity,
on the application of the British officersi and r sol-

diers to undertake their defence, on the trial of the

indictments found against them on account of the

transactions of j the memorable 5th of March. . He,

seems to have thought, on‘ this occasion, that a
man can no more abandon the proper duties of
his profession, than he can abandon other duties.
The event proved, thatas he judged well forhis
ovvnreputation, so “ he judged well, also, for the
interest and permanent it fame of his country. ' The

result of that trial proved, that notwithstanding

16

the. high degree of excitement then existing, in
consequence of theirneasuresr of they Biritishl gov»-
ernment, a jury lofMassach'usetts would not de-
prive the most reckless enemies, even the oflicers
of that standing army, quartered amongtthern,
which they so perfectly abhorred, of anypart of
that protection which the law, in its mildest and
most indulgent interpretation, afforded to persons
accused of crimes. *

lWithout pursuing Mn. ADAMS’ professional
course further,-suflice it to say, that on the first
establishment of the judicial tribunals under the
authority of r the State, in 1776, he received an
offer‘ of the high and responsible station of Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court. But he was des-
tinedfor another and a different career. From
early life the bent of his mind Was toward politics ;
a propensity, which the state of the times, if it
did not create, doubtless very much strengthened.
Public subjects must have occupied the thoughts
and filleolup the conversation in the circles in
which he then moved; and the interesting ques-
tions, at that time just arising, could not but seize
on day mind, like his, ardent, sanguine and patriotic.
The letter, fortunately preserved, written by him
at Worcester so early as the 12th of October,
1755, is a proof of very comprehensive views, and
uncommon depth of reflection, in a young man not
yet qi.Ill36. tvventy. In this letter he predicted the
transfer of power, and the establishment of a new

l'7l

seat of empire in America; he predicted, also, the in-
crease of population inthe colonies ; and anticipated
their naval distinction, and foretold that all‘Europe,
combined, could not subdue them. All this is said,
not on a public occasion, or for effect, but in the style

of sober and friendly correspondence, as the result

of his own thoughts. ‘I sometimes retire,’ said
he, at the close of the letter, ‘and laying things
together form some reflections pleasing toimyself.
The produce of one of these reveries you have
read aboVe.’* i This prognostication, so early, in
his own life,  early in the history of thecountry,
of independence, of vast increase of numbers, of
naval force, of such augmented power as might
defy all Europe, is remarkable. It is mor—e..re-
markable,tl1at its author should live to see fulfilrled
to the “letter, what could have seemed to others,at

up “Extract of aletterwritten by John Adams, dated at,Worcester,,Massachu-
setts, October 12, 1755. i i
‘ ‘Soon after thereformation, a few people‘ came over into this new world,
£or_co~nscie_nce sake. Perhaps this apparently trivial incident may transfer
the great seat of empire into America. It looks likely to me; for, if we can
iiemove the turbulent Gallicks, our people, according to the exactest computa-
tions, virill in another century, become more numerous than England itself.
Should this be the case, since we have, I may say, all the naval stores ofthe
nation in our hands, it virill be easy to obtain a rriastery of the seas; and
then the united force of all Europe will not be able to subdue us. The only
Way to keep us from setting up for ourselves is to disunite us. V '

‘Be not surprised that I am turned politician. This whole town is im-
mersed in politics. .'I' he interests of nations, and all the dim of war, make
the sttbject of every conversation. I sit and hear, and after having been
led through a maze of sage observations, I sometimes retire, and laying things
together, form some reflections pleasing to myseltl Therproduce of one of
these reverie: you have read above,’ a

l8

the time, but the extravagance of youthful fancy.
His earliest political feelings were thus strongly
American ; and from this ardent attachment to his
native soil he never departed.

A lWhile still living at Quincy, and at the age of
twenty-four, .Mr. Adams was present, in this town,
on the argument before the Supreme Court re~—
specting W/ritsof Asststamce, and heard the cele»
brated and patriotic speech of JAMES OTIS. Un-
questionably, that was a masterly performance.
Norflighty declamation about liberty, no superficial
discussion of popular topics, it was a learned,
penetrating, convincing, constitutional argument,
expressed in a strain of high and resolute patriot-~
ism; He grasped the question, then pending

between England and her Colonies, with the

strength of a lion; and if hesometimes sported,
it was only because the lion himself is sometimes
playful. Its success appears to have been as great
asitsmerits, and its impression was Widely felt.
Mi‘. Adams himself seems never to have lost the feel-
ing it produced, and to have entertained constant-
ly the fullest conviction of its important effects.

‘I do say,’ he observes, ‘in the most solemn man-

ner, that Mr. Otis’ Oration against "Writs of Assist»-«
ance, breathed into this nation the breath of life.’
In r1765 Mr. Adams laid beforethe public, what
I suppose to be» his first printed performance, ex»
cept essays for the periodical press, a Dissertation
on the Canon and FeudalLaw. The object of

19

this i work was to show that our New England-
ancestors, in consenting to exile themselves yfiiomt
their native land, were actuated, mainly, by the
desire of delivering themselves from the power of
the hierarchy, and from the monarchical and aris-
tocratical political systems of the other continent ;
and to make this truth bear, with effect, on the
politics of the times. Its tone is uncommonly
bold and animated, for that period. He calls on
the people, not only to defend, but to study and
understand their rights and privileges ; urges earn-
estly the necessity of diffusing general knowledge,
invokes the clergy and the bar, the colleges and
academies, and all others who have the ability
and the means, to expose thelinsidious designs
of arbitrary power, to resist its approaches, and
to be persuaded that there is a settled design on
foot to enslave all America. ‘Beit rem‘e1nbered,?
says the author, ‘ that liberty must, at all haz-r
ards, be supported. VVe have a rightto it, de-
rived from our Maker. But if We had not, oer
fathers have earned it, and bought itfor us, at
the expense of’ their ease, their estate, their plea-
sure and their blood. And liberty cannot be pre-
served without a general knowledge among the

A people, who have a right, from the frame of their A

nature, to knowledge, as their great Creator, who
does nothing in vain, has given them understand"-
ings, and a desire to know; but besides this, they

“ have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefen-

90

sible right to that most dreaded andyenvied kind
of knowledge, I mean of the character and conduct
of their rulers. ,Rulers’ are no more than attornies,
agents, and trustees of the people; and if the
cause, the interest and ' trust, is insidi-ously betray»
ed,ior wantonly trifled away, the people have a
right to revoke the authority, that they themselves
have cleputed, and to constitute other and better
agents, attornies and trustees.’ “

The citizens of this town conferred on«Mr.
Adams his first political distinction, and clothed
him with his first political trust, by electing him
one of , their representatives, in 1770. Before this?
time he had become extensively known throughout
the province, as well by the part he had acted in
relation to public affairs, as by the exercise of his
professional ability- He was among those who
took the deepest interest in the controversy with
England, and Whether in or outof the Legislature,
his time and talents vvere alike devoted to the
cause. In the years 1773 and 1774 he Was chosen
a counsellor, by the members of the General Court,

. but rejected by Governor Hutchinson, in the form»

er of those years, and by Governor Gage in the
latter. a i

The time was now at hand, however, Wheiithc
affairs of the colonies urgently demanded united
councils. An open rupture with the parent State
appeared inevitable, and it was but the dictate of
prudence, that those who were united by a corn»

.21

men interest and a common danger,‘ should protect a
that interest andguard against that danger, by
united efforts.   A General Congress ofDelegates

from a1l“““tl1e colonies, having been proposed and

agreed to, the House of Representatives, on the

17th of June 1774, elected J AMES BOWDOIN, Tr-ro-

«MAS iCUSHING, SAMUEL ADAMS, JOHN Anmwrs, and

ROBERT TREAT PAINE, delegates from Massachu-

setts. This appointment vvasrnade at Salem, where

the General Court had been convened by Governor

Gage, in the last hour of V the existence of a House’
of Representatives under the provincial Charter. 

While engagedrrin this important business, the

Governor having been informed of What was pass»

ing, sent hissecretary with a message dissolving
the General Court. , The secretary finding the
door locked, directed the messenger to go in and
inform the speaker that thesecretary was at the

Cl0O1'iWl12l1 a message from the Governor. The

messenger returned, and informed the secretary
that the orders of the House were that the doors
should. be kept fast; . whereupon the secretary
soon after read a proclamation, dissolving the

General Court upon the stairs.. Thus terminated,

forever, the actual exercise of the political power of
England in or over Massachusetts.  The four last
named delegates accepted their appointments, and
took their seats in Congress, the first day of its

meeting, September 5, 1774, in Pliiladelphia. - .

4;.

22
A The proceedings of the first Congress are well
known, and have been universally admired. It is

in vainthat we would look for superior proofs of r

wisdom, talent, and patriotism. Lord Chatham
said, that for himself; he must declare, that he had.
studied and admired‘ the free states of antiquity,
the master states “of the world, but that for solidity
of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of

eornclusion, no body of men could stand in prefer»
ence to this Congress. It is hardly inferior praise
tosay,‘thateno production of that" great man him-
self can be pronounced superior to several of the pa»-

pers published as the proceedings of this most able,

. most firm, most patriotic assembly. There is in-

deed, nothing, superior tothem in the range of politi—-
cal fdisquisition. They not only embrace, illustrate,
and enforce every thing which political philosophy,
the love of liberty, and the spirit of ‘free inquiry
had antecedently produced‘, but they add new and
striking views of their own, and apply the whole,
with irresistible force, in support of the cause
which had drawn them together.

Mr. Adams was a constant attendant on the
deliberations of this body, and bore an active part
in its important measures. He was of the com»
mittee to state the rights of the colonies, and of
that also which reported the address to the king.

-t As it was in the Continental Congress, fellow-

"citizens, that those whose deaths have given rise to
. this occasion, were first brought together, and call»

23

ediion tounite ; their industry and their ability, in
the service of the country, let us now turn to the
other of these distinguished men, and take a‘ brief
notice of his life, up‘. to the period when he a,ppear—~
ed Within the Walls of Congress. a . 4 _  

THOMAS JEFFERSON, descended from ancestors
who’ had been settled in Virginia for some genera-

tions, Was born near the spot on which he died, in

the county of Albemarle, on the 2d of April, (Old
Style,) 1743.  His youthful studies were pursued

in the neighborhood of his father’s;residence, until

he was removed to the . college of William and
Mary, the highest honors of which he in due time

received. ~ Having left the college with reputation,

he applied himself to the study of the law, under
the tuition of George Wythe, one of the highest
judicial names of which that State can boast.
At an early age he was elected a member yoftthe
Legislature, in iwhgicli he had no sooner appeared

than hedistinguished himself, by knowledge, ca-

pacity,and promptitude. ' p ,
Mr. Jefferson appears to have been imbued

with an early love of letters and science, and to
have cherished a strong disposition to pursue these

objects. a To the physical sciences, especially, and

l to ancient classic literature, he is understood to
have had a Warm attachment, and never entirely
to have lost sight of them, in the midst of the

busiest occupations. But, the times were times
for action, rather than for contemplation. t The

Qci

eountry was to be defended, and to be saved,
before it could be enjoyed. Pliilosopliiic leisure

and literary pursuits, and even the objects of‘ pro?

fessional attention, were all necessarily postponed
to the urgent calls of the public service. i The exi-~
gency of the country made the same demand on—Mr.
Jefferson that it made on others who had the abil-
ity and the disposition to serve it ; and he obeyed
the call ;, thinking and feeling, in this respect, with
the great Roman orator; Qmis emlm est tame capil-
clue in grerspicvleazda cogrzoscerzdaqtw 7"6’l”Z677’& rziatrwm,
zit, psi 67} trctctmzti contemplarzniqzice we cogrzzitioarzie
clignissimas subito sit allaitum periczilmn discri-
meazque paetrriw, cm} 8’Lbl7’I)o37l’i7"6 i0]’)’Iit’I,&l(t-0”"iq’l:L6’ possit,
mm illa omrzria, relirzquat atqzie a7)j*2Ic’ia;tE, etrziaxnz srl
diriurizerare se stellas, amt 7lZ6t"li7”’Ii memde' 9’7Z»(Qg"?'?/Iit’l.4L~
dmem posse €W’Z)’l‘it7”'8i’l£’l” .9 A
Entering, with all his heart, into the cause of
liberty, his ability, patriotism, and power with the
pen naturally drew upon him a large participation
in the most important concerns. VVherever he

‘was, therewasi found a soul devoted to the cause,

power to idefend and maintain it, and willingness
to ineurlall itshazards. In 1774 he published a
Suinrnary View of the Rights of British America,
a valuable production arnong those intended to
shows the dangers which threatened the liberties
of the*‘country, and to e11cou1*ii.ge the people in
their defence. ,‘l:n.lune 1775 he was elected a
rnember of the Continental Congress, as successor

254

to PEYTON RANDOLPI-I, who had retired on account

of ill health, and took his seat in thatbody on the

21st of thesame month. t t e
And now, fellow—citizens,t without pursuing the
biography of these illustrious men further, for the

present, let us turn our attention to the most pro-  

rninent act of their lives, theirparticipation in the
DECLARATION of>Il\lDEPENDENCE.
Preparatory to the introduction of that important
measure, acornmiittee, at the head of which was
Mr. Adams, had reported a resolution, which Con-

gress adopted the 10th of May, recommeriding, in

substance, to all the colonies which had not already
established governments suited to the exigencies of
their affairs, to adopt strait gcwerhmerzt, its ‘LUOMZCZ,
tn the oprzlmrm, of the representatives of the people,
best conduee to the lta]9p'mess «and safety, of tlzerir
constituents the particular‘, and America the general.

” This significant vote was soon followed by the
direct proposition, which RICHARD I-IENRY LEE had
the honor to ‘submit to congress, by resolution, on
the '7th day of June. it The published journal does
notexpressly state it, butthere is no doubt, I supe-
pose, that this resolution wast-in the same words,

b when originally submitted by Mr. Lee, as when

finally passed. Having been discussed, on Satur-
day the 8th, and Mondaythe 10th of'June, this re-

solution was on the last mentioned day postponed, i

for further consideration, to the first day of" July;
and, at the same time it was voted, that a commit-

26

tee belrappoiintedito‘ prepare a nE~cr.ARArIoN, to the
effect of the resolution. This committee was elect-
ed by ballot, on the following day, and consisted
of THOMAS JEFFERSON, J01-IN ADAMS, BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN, ROGER SHERMAN, and ROBERT LIV»

INGSTON.
It is usual”, when committees are elected by bal-

‘ lot, that their members are arranged, in order,

according to the number Of'i‘VOteS1Whl(3ll each has re»
ceived. A Mr. Jefferson, therefore, had received the
highest, and Mr. Adams the next highest number
of votes. The difference is said to have been but

‘of a single vote. lMr. Jeflierson‘ and Mr. Adams,
standing thus at the head of the committee, were

requested, by the other members, to act as a sub-
committee, to prepare the draft ; and Mr. Jefferson
drew up the paper. Theoriginal draf't,as brought
by him from his study, and submitted to the other
members of the committee, with interlineations in
the hand——writing of Dr. Franklin, and others in

that of Mr. Adams, was in Mr. J efl'erson’s posses-

sion at the time of his death. The merit of this
paper is Mr. Jeff'erson’s. Some changes were
made in it, on the suggestionof other members of
the committee, and othersby Congress While it
was under discussion. But noneof them altered
the tone, the frame, thearrangement, or the gen-
eral character of the instrument. As a composi--
tion, the declaration is Mr. Jefl"erson’s. It is the

2'?

production of a his mind, and the high honor of it be»
longs to him, clearly and absolutely. it

It has sometimes been said, as if it were a dero-
gation from the merits of this paper, that it con-
tains nothing new; that it only states grounds of
proceeding, and presses topics of ‘argument, which
had often been stated and pressed before. But it
was not the object __,of the declaration to produce
any thing new. It was not to invent reasons for
independence, but to state those which governed
the Congress. Forgreat and sufiicient causes, it
was proposed to declare independence; and the
proper business of the paper to be drawn, was to
set forth those causes, andjustify the authors of the
measure, in any event of fortune, to the country,
and to posterity. The cause of American inde-
pendence, moreover, Was now to be presented to
the World, in such manner, if it rnightso be, as to
engage its sympathy, to command its respect, to
attract its admiration ; and in an assembly of most
ableand distinguished men, THOMAS JEFFERSON
had the high honor of being the selected advo-
cate of this cause. To say that he performed his
great Work Well, would be doing him injustice.
To say that he did excellently Well, admirably well,

«would be inadequate . and halting praise. Let us

rather say, that he so discharged the duty assigned
him, that all Americans may well rejoice that the

work of drawing the title deed of their liberties de-

volved on his hands.

28 i

VVith all its merits, there are those whohave
thouglit that there was one thing in the declaration
to be regretted ; andthat is, the asperity and ap-
parent anger with which itspeaks of the person of’
the king ; the industrious ability with which it ac-—
cuinulates and charges upon him, all the injuries
which the colonies had suffered from the mother
country, Possibly some degree of injustice, now

or hereafter, at home or abroad, maybe done to

the character of Mr. efiersibn, if this part of the
declaration be not placed in its proper light. A11-
ger or resentment, certainly, much less personal re--
proach and invective, could not properly find place,
in a composition of such high dignity, and of such
lofty and permanent character.

A single reflection on the original ground of dis-

pute, betvveen England and the colonies, is sufli--

cient to remove any unfavorable impression, in this
respect.

The inhabitants of all the colonies, While colo-
nies, admitted themselves bound by their allegi-
ance tothe king; but they olisclainied, altogether,
the authority of parliament; holding themselves, in
this respect, to resemble the condition of Scotland
and Ireland, before the respective unions of those
kingdoms with England, when they acknowledged
allegiance to the same king, but each had its sepa-
rate legislature. The tie, therefore, which our re»

volution was to break, didinot subsist between us
and the British parliament, or betvveenjusand the



.British government, in the aggregate ;, but directly
between us and the king himself. The colonies
had never admitted themselves subject to parlia-
ment. That was precisely the point of theorigi-
nal controversy. They had unifbrrnly denied that
parliament had authority to make laws for them.
There was, therefore, no subjection to parliament
to be thrown off'.* But allegiance to the king did
exist, and had been uniformly ackriowledged ; and
down to 1775 the most solemn assurances had been
given that it was not intended to break that alIegi-
ance, or to throw it off’. Therefore, as the direct
object, and only effect of the declaration, according
to the principles on which the controversy had been
maintained, on our part, was to sever the tie of al-
legiance which bound us to the king, it was pro-
perly and necessarily founded on acts of the crown
itself, as its justifying causes. Parliament is not
so much as mentioned, in the whole instrument.
Wlxen odious and oppressive acts are referred to,
it is done by charging the king with conf'ederatin_g,

'* This question, of the power of parliament over the colonies, was discuss,-
ed with singular ability, by Gov. Hutchinson on the one side, and the house
of representatives of Massachusetts on the other, in 1773. The argument of
the House is in the form of an answerto the governors message, and was re-
ported by Mr. Sanmel Adams, Mr. lilanccck, Mr. I-Iawley, Mr. Bowers, l‘vC[r.
Hobson, Mr. Foster, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Thayer. As the power of the pan-
liament had been acknowledged, so far at least as to affect us by laws of
trade, it was not easy to settle the line of distinction. It was thought how-
ever to be very clear, that the charters of‘ the colonies had exempted them
from the general legislation of the British parliament. , See D/lassaclmsetts
‘State Papers, p. 351.

5

30

with others, ‘in pretended acts of legislation ;’ the
object being, constantly, to hold the king himself
directly responsible for those nfeasures which were
the grounds of separation. Even the precedent of
the English revolution was not overlooked, and in
this case, as well as in that, occasion was found to
say that theking had abdicated the government.
Consistency with the principles upon which resist-
ance began, and with all the previous state papers
issued by congress, required that the declaration
should bebottomed on the rnisgovernnient of the
king; andtherefore it was properly framed with
that aim and to that end. The king was known,
indeed, to have acted, as in other cases, by his
ministers, and with his parliament; but as our an-

cestors had neveradrnitted themselves subject A

either to ministers or to parliament, there were
no reasons to be given for now refusing obedience
to their authority. E This clear and obvious neces-
sity of founding the declaration on the misconduct
of the king himself, gives to that instrument its
personal application, and its character of direct and
pointed accusation. .

The declaration having been reported to con-9

gress, by the cornrnittee, the resolution itself was

taken up and debated on the first day of July,
and again on the second, on which last day it was
agreed to and adopted, in these words,

: Resolved, THAT THESE UNITED coLoN1Es ARE,
AND or RIGHT OUGI-IT TO BE, FREE AND INDEPENDENT

31

STATES; THAT THEY ARE ABSOLVED HAFROM ‘ALL AL‘-
LEG1ANcE"To THE BRITISH caown, AND THAT ALL
POLITICAL CONNEXION BETWEEN‘ THEM, AND THE
STATE or GREAT BRITAIN IS, AND ooor-TT To BE, To-
TALLY DISSOLVED. T A I A . *

Having thus passed the main resolution, Con-—
gress proceeded to consider the reported draft of
the declaration. It was discussed on the second,
and third, and FOURTH days of the month, in com»-
mittee of the Whole ; and on the last of those days,
being reported from that committee, it received the
final approbation and sanction of Congress. It
was ordered, at the same time,that copies be sent
to the several States, and that it be proclaimed at
the head of the army. The declaration thus pub-
lished, did not bear the names of the members, for
as yet it had not been signed by them. It was
autlienticated, like other papers of the Congress,
by the signatures of the President and Secretary.
On the 19th of July, as appears by the secret jour-
nal, Congress ‘Resoloed, that the declaration, pass-
ed on the fourth, be fairly engrossed on parcliment,
with the title and style of “ THE UNANIMOUS DECLA-
RATION or THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES or AME-

,R1cA;"’ and that the same, when engrossed, be

signed by every member of Congress.’ And on
the SECOND DAY or AUGUST, following, ‘ the decla-
ration, being engrossed and compared at the table,
was Signed by the members.’ So thattitihappens,

fellow-citizens, that We pay these honors to their

5332
memory, on the anniversary of that day, on which
these great men actually signed their names to the
declaration. The declaration was thus made,that is,
it passed, and was adopted, as an act of Congress,
on the fourth of July ; it was then signed and cert-
tified by the president and secretary, like other
acts. The FOURTH or JULY, therefore, is the ANNr—-
VERSARY on THE DECLARATION. But the signatures
of the members p1'ese11t were made to it, being
then engrossed on parchment, on the second day
of August. Absent members afterwards signed,
as they came in; and indeed it bears the names
of some Whovvere not chosen members of Con-
gress, until after the fourth of July. The interest

belonging to the subject, will be suflicient, I hope,

to justify these details.
The Congress of the Revolution, fellovv-«citizens,
sat with closed doors, and no report of its debates

was ever taken. The discussion, therefore, which

accompanied this great measure, has never been
preserved, except in nnemoiry, and by tradition.

[But it is, I believe, doing no injustice to others, to

say, that the general opinion Was, and uniformly
has been, that in debate, on the side of independ-—
ence, JOHN ADAMS had no equal. The great
author of the declaration himself has expressed
that opinion uniformly and strongly. ‘ Jo:-IN ADAMS,’
said he, in the hearing of him who has now the

honor to address you, ‘Joniv ADAMS was our Co- .
lossus on the floor. Not graceful, not elegant,

33

not always fluent, in his public addresses, he yet

came out with a power, both of thought and of’
expression, which moved us from ourseats.’

A For the part which he was herexto perform, Mr.
Adams doubtless was eminently fitted. He‘pos-
sessed a bold spirit, which disregarded danger,
and a sanguine reliance on the goodness of the
cause, and the virtues of the people, which led him
to overlook all obstacles. His cliaracter, too, had
been formecl in troubled times. He had been
roclszed in the early storms of the controversy, and

had acquired a decision and a hardihood,pro_por-~ l

tioned to the severity of the discipline which he
had undergone.

He not only loved the American cause devoutly, A

but had studied and understood it. It was all
familiar to him. He had tried his powers, on
the questions which it involved, often, and in va-
rious Ways ; and had brought to their consideration
whatever of argument or illustration the history
of his own country, the history of England, or the
stores of ancienfor of legal learning could furnish.‘
Every grievance, enumerated in the long catalogue
of the declaration, had been the subject of his dis-
cussion, and the object of his rernonstrance and
reprobation. From 1760, the colonies, the rights
of the colonies, the liberties of the colonies, and
the Wrongs inflicted on the colonies, had engaged
his constant attention ; and it has surprised those,
who have had the opportunity of observing, with

34

what “full remembrance, and with what prompt
recollection, he could refer, in his extreme old age,
to every act of Parliament affecting the colonies,
distinguishingand stating their respective titles,
sections, and provisions; and to all the colonial
memorials, remonstances, and petitions, With what-
ever else belonged to the intimate and exact histo-
ry of the times from 7 that year to 1775. It was in
his own judgment, between these years, that the
American people came to a full understanding and
thorough knowledge of their rights, and to a fixed
resolution of maintaining them; and hearing him-
self an active part in all important transactions, the
controversy with England being then, in effect, the
business of his life, facts, dates and particulars
made an impression which was never effaced. He
was prepared, therefore, by education and disci-
pline, as well as by natural talent and natural tem-
perament, for the part which he was now to act.
The eloquence of Mr. Adams resembled his
general character, and formed, indeed, a part of it.
It was bold, manly, and energetic ;and such the
crisis required. V/Vhen public bodies are to be
addressed on momentous occasions, when great
interests are at stake, and strong passions excited,
nothing is valuable, in speech, farther than it is
connected with high intellectual and moral endovv~—
ments. Clearness, force, and earnestness are the
qualities which produce conviction. a True elo-
quence,’ indeed, does not consist in speech. It

35

oannot be brought from far. Labor and learning i

may toil for it, but they will toil in vain. l ‘Words
and phrases may ‘be Inarshalled in every way, but
they cannot chrnpass it. It must exist in the man,

in the subject, and in the occasion. Afiected pas-M

sion, intense expression, the pomp of declarnation,
all may aspire after it---they cannot reach it. It
comes, if it come at all, like the outbreaking of a
fountain from the earth, or the bursting forth of vol-—
canic fires, with spontaneous, original, native force.
The graces taught in the schools, the costly orna~

4 ments, and studied contrivances of speech, shock

and disgust men, when their own lives, and the fate
of their wives, their children, and their country,
hang on the decision of the hour. Then Words have
lost their power, rhetoric is vain, and all elaborate
oratory contemptible. Even genius itself then
feels rebuked, and subdued, as in the presence of
higher qualities. Then, patriotism is eloquent;
then, self-devotion is eloquent. The clear con—-
ception, out—-running the deductions of logic, the
high purpose, the firm resolve, the dauntless spirit,
speaking on the tongue, beaming from the eye,
informing every feature, and urging the Whole man
onward, right onward to his object---this, this is
eloquence; or rather it is something greater and
higher than all eloquence, it is action, noble, sub»
lirne, godlike action.gmltr‘l” .  

In July 1776, the controversy had passed the
stage of argument. An appeal had been made to

36

force, and opposing armies were in the field. Con-
gress, then, was to decide whether the tie which
had so long bound us to the parent State, vvasto
be severed at once, and severed forever. All the
colonies had signified their resolution to abide by
this decision, and the people looked for it with the
most intense anxiety. , And surely, f'ellovv—-citizens,
never, never were men called to a more important
political deliberation. A If we contemplate ilt.fl‘O,l1'1

the point where they then stood, no question could A

be more full of interest; if we look at it now, and

judge of its importance by its effects, it appears in
still greater magnitude. »

 Let us, then, bring before us the assembly,which
was about to decide a question thus big with the
fate, of empire. Let us open their doors, and look
in upon their deliberations. at Letiyus survey the
anxious and care-worn countenances, let us hear
the firm-toned voices, of this band of patriots.

. HANCOCK presides over the solemn sitting; and
one of , those not yet prepared to pronounce for
absolute independence, is on the fioor,«and is
urging his reasons for dissenting, from the decla-
1'atio_n. A M  A   A   
,w*iLet us pause! “This step, once taken,,can11ot
be retraced. This resolut.ion,, once passed,vvill
cutofl'al1l hope of reconciliation. If success attend
the arms of England, we shall thenfbe no longer
colonies, with charters, and with privileges these
will all be forfeited by this act; and Welslrallbe

37

A in the condition of other conqueredpeople, at the

mercy of the conquerors. For ourselves, we may
be ready to run the hazard; but are We ready to
carry the country to that length P ls success so
probable as to justify it? Wl1e1'e is the military,
Where the naval power, by which We are to resist
the Whole strength of the arm of England, for
she will exert that strength to theutmost? Can
We rely on the constancy and perseverance of the
people P or will they not act, as the people of other
countries have acted, and Wearied with along war,
subrnit, in theend, to a Worse oppression P While
we stand on our old ground, and insist on redress
of grievances, we know we" are right, and are
not answerable for consequences; Nothing’, then,

can be imputable to us. But if We now change i

our object, carry our pretensions further, and set
up for absolute independence, We shall lose the

sympathy of mankind. 'We shall no longer be

defending What we possess, but struggling for
something which we never did possess, and which
We have solemnly and uniformly disclainied all in—-
tention of pursuing, from the very outset of the
troubles. Abandoning thus our old ground, of
resistance only to arbitrary acts of oppression, the
nations will believe the Whole to have been more
pretence, and they will look on us, not as injured,
but as ambitious, subjects. l shudder, before this
responsibility. It will be 9WIi;Mus,l if relinquishing
the ground we have stood on so long, and stood
6

V -lid‘
on so safely, we now proclaim independence, and
carry on the War for that object, while these cities
burn, these pleasantfields whiten and bleach with
the bones of their owners, and these streams run
blood, It vyill beupon us, it will be upon us, if fail-
ing to lllaiilillirlin this unseasonable and ill?-judged
declaration, a sterner despotism,in1aintained by
military power, shall be established over, our pos-
terity,When we ourselves, given up by ‘an exhaust»
ed, a hai*rassed, a misled people, shall haveeXpi-‘-
ated our rashness and atoned for our presurnption,
on the scaffold,’  l V

' It was for hilt. Adams to reply tor argunients like

these. Vile laznovv his opinions, and We know his

character. He would commence with his accus-'
tonied directness and earnestness, A w

‘ s;“%ii‘il§ or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I
give my hand, and my heart, to this vote. It is
true, iindeed, that in the beginning, We aimed not
atcindependence. , But there’s a Divinity which
shapes our ends. a The injustice of England has
driven us to arms ; and, ‘blinded to her own inter-
est for our good, she has obstinately persisted, till
independence is now Within our grasp. We have
but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Wliy then
should We defer the declaration? Is anyinan so
Weak; as now to hope for a reconciliation vvith”En-—
gland, which i shall leave either safety «to the coun-
try and its liberties, or safety to his own life, and
his own honor? Are not you, sir, vvhosit in that

39

ehair, is not he‘, our venerable colleague near you,
are you not both already the proscribed and pre-
destined objects ofrpunishment and of Vengeance?

A Cut off‘ from all hope of r royal clemency, whatare

you, what can you be, while the power of England
remains, but outlaws? If we» postpone independ-
ence, do we mean to carry on, or to give up, the
war? Do we mean to submit to the measures of
parliament, Boston port-hill and all ? Do we mean

. ' to submit, and consent that we ourselves shall be

ground to powder, and our country and its rights
trodden down in the dust? I know we do not
mean to submit. we never shall submit. Dowe
intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever
entered into by men, that plighting, before God,of
our sacred honor to ‘Washington, when putting him
forth to incur the dangers of war, as well as the
political hazards of the times, we promised to ad-
here to him, in every extremity, with our fortunes
and our lives 5’ I know thereiis not aman here, who
would not rather see a general conflagration sweep
over the land, or an earthquake sink it, than one
jot or tittle of that plighted faith fall to the ground.
For myself, having, twelve Wmonths ago, in this
place, moved you, that George Wasliington be ap-
pointed commander of the forces, raised or to be
raised, for defence of American liberty, may my
riglit hand i forget her cunning, and my tongue
cleave to the roof of my mouth, if l hesitate or Wa-

.ver, in the support l give him. The war, then,

40

must go if on- We must figl1titthrou~gh.~ Andtif 
the war must go on, Why  off" longer the rDe-  
claration of Independence? i That “measure will V
strengthen us. i It will give us character abroad. 4
The nationsfwill then treat with U3, ~Whic.h they  
never can do While We acknowledge ourselves sub» in
jects, in arms against our sovereign_., ‘. Nay I umain- *

tain that Englapnd,yherself', will sooner treatfor

peace with us on the footing of Independence,ithan c 
consent,by repealing heracts, to acknowledge that
her whole conducttovvards us has been acourse of

injustice and oppression. Her pride will be less

Wounded, by submitting to that courseof things a
which ‘now’ predestinates our independence, than *

by yielding the points in controversy to her rebel-c

lious subjects. The former she would regard as l
the result of fortune; the latter she would feel as s
her own deep disgrace. Wliy then, why the1i,lsir,i s
dowenot as soon as possible, change this from a

civil to anational War P And since we must fight

it through, Why not put ourselves in [a state tout:
enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the ~

victory P v

If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we
shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies;
the cause will create navies. The people, the peo-
ple, if We are: true to them, will carry us, and will
carry themselves, gloriously, through this struggle.
I care not how fickleother people have been found.
I know the people of these colonies, and I know

41 i‘

that cresistance to ‘Britishi aggression is deep and
settled theirlfihearts and cannot be eradicated;
Every c0lony,5indeed, has expressed its willingness
to follow, if we but take the lead. * Sir, the decla-—
ration will inspire the people with increased court-4%
age. Instead of a long and bloody War for resto-
ration of privileges, for redress of grievances, for
chartered immunities, heldunder a British king,
set before them the glorious object of entire inde-
pendence, and it will breatheinto themanew the
breath of life. ‘Read this declaration at the head
of the army; every sword will be drawn ifroini its

scabbard, and. the solemn vow uttered, to maintain‘

it, or to perishon the bed of honor. Publishiit
from the pulpit ; religion will approve it, and the

love of religious liberty willcling round it,resolved A

to “standtwith it, or fall with it. i Senditi to the pub-‘

lic halls; proclaim it there; let them A he‘a1'it, who  

heard the first roarof the enemy’s cannon ; let them
seexit, iwho*sa‘wi?their brothers and their sons fall on
thefield? of Bunkerhill, and in the streets of Lex-

ington and Concorcl, and the very Walls WillCi:1'yt'i‘

out in its support. ,

Sir, Iknow the uncertainty of human affairs, but
I see,“ I ‘see i clearly, through this is dayi’sbusiness.
You and it I, indeed,‘ may rue it. We may not live
to tl1e;time,wl1en this declaration shallbe made
good. We may die ; die, colonists; die, slaves;
die, it niay able, ignominiouslytand on the scafi”o‘ld.
Be it so. . it*‘so=. If it be the pleasure of Hea-

-12

ven that my country shall “require the poor ofi’ering
of my ‘life, the victim shall be ready, atthe appoint-
ed hour of sacrifice, come when that hour may.
But while I do live,‘ let me have a country, or at
least the hope ofa country, and that afree country.

But whatevermay be our fate, be assured, be as»
sured, that this declaration will stand. i It may cost
t1*easu1‘ie, and it may cost blood; but it will stand,
and "it will richly cornpensate for both. A 'I‘hrough
thethicl~: gloom or the present, 1 see the brightness
of t the future, as the sun in Heaven. We shall
make this a glorious, an immortal day. Wlien We
are in our graves, our children will honor it. They
will celebrate it, with thahlrsgiving, with festivity,
with bonfires, and illuminations. On its annual
return ...«tl‘i”'eiy will shed tears,copious, gushing tears,
not of subjectioii and “slavery, not of agony and
distress, but of exultation, of gratitude, and of joy.
Sir, before God, I believe the hour is come. ~My
judgment approves this measure, and  Whole
heart is in it. All that Ihave, and all that I am, and
all thatlt hope, in this life, I amnovv ready here to
stake upon it; andl leave ofl‘, as I begun, that
live or die, survive or perish, I am for the declara-
tion. ‘ ltis myliving sentiment, and by the blessing
of God it shall be my dying sentiment; independ-
ence, A now ; “ and INDEPENDENCE 

And soithat day “shall be l'1onored,i illustrious
prophet and patriot! so that dayshall be honoured,

and as often E as it returns, thy renown shallicome it

~13

alongwith it, and the glory of" thy life, like the day
of thy death, shall not failfrornl the rememizarance
of men. ‘W i y n V A  

It would be unjust, fellow-citizens, on ,this.occa-
sion, while We express our veneration for himwho
is the immediate subject of these remarks, were we
to omit a most respectful, affectionate, and grateful
mention of those other great men, his colleagues,
who stood with him, and with the same spirit,
the same devotion, took part in the interesting
transaction. HANCOCK, the proscribed, HANCOCK,
exiled from his home by a militarygovernor, cut
elf, by proclamation, from the mercy of the crown,
heaven reserved, for him,the distinguished honor
of putting this great question to the vote, and of
writing his own name first, and most conspicuously,
on that parchmentwhich spoke defiance to the
power of the crown of England. There, too, is
the name of that other proscribed patriot, SAMUEL

ADAMS ;« a man whohungered and thirsted for the ”

independence of his country ; who thought the de--
claration lialted and lingered, being himself a not
only ready, but eager, for it, long before it was
proposed; a man of the deepest sagacity, the

clearest foresight, and the p1fOf()Lll'ld€Sl',. judgment ”

in men. And: there is Genny, himself among the
earliest and the foremost of the patriots, found,
when the battle of Lexington snmn1one<,l them to
common councils, by the side of NV_aannN ; a man
who lived to serve his country at home and abroad,

£14

and to diein thesecsoned }~3laee‘%fhe¥gov‘eern1Iieri£.
’1‘l1e1-e, too; is*t11eetiniflexii:>le;7§the+upfiight, theeSp<ar~
ten characdce1~,e777;Rom:~nT TeEAm~aPA:NE; ’I+Ie,7a1so,Iived
to serve‘his:‘coune~y*throuighe  str5u*g?g1e; and than
mritI1d1~ew?fro«in liar cedtxexieilsg ‘only‘Ttha€»hefxhightgive
his lebor%se‘ai1iihfiS l:if'e“?%«*t0 7hiSe«V~»enati"ve¥TSiE1té,~ein%~e another

erelfatieon. i  These; e1ia¥nf1ese,e 7‘7»felI0WlieiVtize-ns7, » me the
7treasureVs01‘37tl71e7ef e‘0mmo”nWeaI7t‘h  and "they =a13‘e u-ea-

sures Whie‘117‘grow~briglitefby 5tirne.‘¥-    7  

 It is*'neWe‘ne“cessa1‘y to 1*eesi1m%e,77‘a114d%$741:07

with A great 77b1~evi‘ty, the notice of-the A 1‘i’yes  of th ose,

whose .viiz*tues ‘andfse1'v~ices we<‘ha.v?ee ‘1net57to"777.7c0*IdIi~

1nem01'a"te7.l<%r~ E  A I‘ A A
  Mr; fiD‘AMs77~ire1i1éZi1'1?edV in c0n’g1*esS"‘fr0n1 its fiirst

A :n&eeti~neg,~M 77111-7:Novem7be1~e1 777; w1mn11e77wasappoint.-
edeminiieter77to*Fi‘anee. A He proceeded on:hat7se1--

Vice, in the’ e1:srua:+y following, emb”arkieng"iI1 the
Boston ‘ frigate, on the shore eof - his*i1a{tiVe 'town, at

‘the efootof Mount WoIlaeto11; Theyear following,

he was appointed commissioner to treat ’-70f*p”eace

7 ~Wi“th 1Eng‘1Vand’.“~ % Returningto  Utliteeid State s, % he
7W'as ‘a delegate f'1*orxf1"B?r'aiI'1t1’eeeir1 the cO*nVveV11tTi0n for
=rframiVng the 7%A;c011‘etitutib’n of this A ’C0V1nmo7nWea1th, in

177780. * A%t%thee*lAatte1* etldtofthe san%1e4yea1*4, he again

14 went abroad7,*“it1%the‘”dip1%on1efie7‘se1'vic5e; bfethe coun---
9try; and W348”  e‘mpI0yec1  at Vafidetis itsourtsg and %M7%0cc4L1~
~pied7777ewitH~various negetiationsge until 7* V1788;   The
e"§V7peri;iciilars4‘0f  if1te‘1'esti11g'%ya11d4‘fimpo1*teIit 47se:~—

7ices1;his}Oce‘asi0j11 dC)$e7s %nOt'4al10Weti1ne to“ 1'e1ate,%: ' In

17'87??.»he 7¢onc171ae~aeou:~efirst tmy men Holland.

45

His ,nre,g0ltiatio,nsr, . vvith that   republic, his , etforrtssa to
persuade the States-Gpeneralhto recognize our inde-
penden,ce, his incessant and indefatigable, exertions

to represent the ,»American » cause f.'aVorab_ly, on. the
Continent,,and to counteract, the desigs of, its
enemies, open and secret ;; and his successful u<n<-i-:

dertaking, to obtain loans, on the credit of la, nation
yet new and unknown, are , pamolngtinhisli most ardu-
ous, most useful, most honorabletservices. 4 It was

his fortune to_,. hear as part   the negotiation v for:
peacerrrwith England, sandinslomethirng mhorlelthan s

nofwthe country. ,

six Yearslfrom the ldecla«rationrWhic11 ,  had, so
strenuously supported, he had the slatisfactigonprnptol
see the minister plenipotentiarypof the crowniasubi—
scribe to the instrumentwhich declared,_that his
‘ Britanic Majesty acknowledged the United Strates
to be free, sovereign, and independeritflw A  thetse
important , trantsactions, Mr; Adams’ conduct re-
ceived the prmrarkped approbation of Congress, and

I

  abroadi, inl he publishedrhis Defence
of the,An1erican Constitutions; a work of pmerit,

and , abilit:y,, ithoupgih composed with haste, on the

spur of a particular occasion, in themidst of other

occupations,andi under circumstances not admitt?
ingof, careful revision. The lirnmediatel object of

.the work was to counteract the weight of opinions

advanced by several popular European writers of

that day, Mr. T‘urgot, the Abibéi de Mably, and Dr.

Price, at at time when the people of the United

416

$tates were employed in for1ni"ngandp revising itheiif
systems of government-lanai        ; i t :

ti Returning ._to the United Statelssi in _1788,y he
found the new igoVe1'nmyent about goliypnginptoiopelraep
tion, and y “"f41St.:11A_l1IliS;3‘lf_ electe,di “the, first Vice-—Pre-5
sident, yea situpation, which he filled with reputation
for eight years, at tlieiexpiratiponTof'p which he was
raised to the Presidential chair,.as immediate suc-
cessor tothe immortal Wasliinigton. In, thisghigh
station he was succeeded by. l\/£1°-Jeff'erson,:iafte1t
a memorable controversy, between their respective
friends, in 1801 p;i and from that period his manner,
of life has been lmowntofipallwho hear..pme.oiiHe
has lived, for five and twentyntyears, within every

enjoyment thatcould, render  age happy. _Not. i

iriattentive to the occurrences of the _times,politicaly
cares have yet not materially, or for any long tim;e,y
disturbed his repose; e Ine1820 he acted as elector:
of President and yVice-President, ansdin the same,
yeai we saw him, then at tlieiagei of eiglzty-«five,
a member. ofeiptheconveiition of 3 this iC=om1non_-,4
wealth, called to revise the ;Constitution._. Foiity
years before,’l1e had been one ofthose, Vvvhotformed
that Constitution; and heghade now thetpleasure

of Witnessing that there was little which the people

desiredto change. Possessingall his facultiesto.

the end of his longilifea with can unabated love

of reading andpcontemplation, in the   centresof
interesting circlestypof friendship and af_i'ection,i
he was blessed,  his retirement, with whatever

  47

of repose lands‘ felicity, Vthe"ctohditionis of I man la];
lows- He had, also othe1f~p~ienjoylme?nts. He saw
around him‘ tliat*pirosper’ity and general happi-
ness; t whicli  hadi sateen itihetit object?: of his public

cares and labo1~s.‘sl  No r1*1a1l17* etietthiehellhdi ino1*eelear- '

ly, aild for ad tlo11g‘er;t’imei, the°great a*‘lned‘l”beneficial
effects of the servicesli l1*e‘nde1*«ed bylhitmself to his
country; i That ltibertyg which*l1e”so3ea1‘ly defend-
ed, ’tl1*at independence of which he Was‘ so able an
advocate a and supporter, he  sawgli We‘ trust, sfirmlyi
and itséciurelyVestablished. i The‘ population “of i the
eo‘”tm"t1'y“ thivckeneide‘ around laind faster,teandiiexterided
Wider, than’ his own sanguine predictionshhadlantb
cipated; andlllthe wealth,‘ respectability, and power
of'*l:he*natilonisp1"ang up to atmagnitude,Which it
is quite 3 impossible he couldi have expected to wit—-

ness,i in ihlisi day.” it He lived, ialso, to behold those‘

prirlciples  civil A freedomp, which‘pthadl ‘been A deve-
loped, establisihecl , iaind practically applied iIi“An1e’—
1='i~cta,‘eattra:ct attention, t‘lcommand respect, and awak-

ell ‘77i1fiiitaltiton*;i lint otl1e1* 7regi’onse of the globe  sari d‘ well

might, a1'1d"Viveill“di'di het,leX‘clai‘m, ‘°VVhere will the
conseqpuenices oif the Ame1'ica1*1 Revolution encl !’

 If any tlmirigyet remain itoiifill thisciupof happi-L

r1ess,”.letit be added‘, that it he llivedtito] see a great
and” intelligent people ibestow the higl1est e honor in
theit1"gi‘ft,ewl1ere he had pbestoxived his own kindest

pa1'et1talafl'ections,iand lodgedhisfondest hopes}
Thus honoreld‘ in life, thus liappyat death, he saw
tl1‘e'JUBILEE,'andsl1e died ;‘and with thelast prayers



v{+hiitc.1iAn»exnb1ed on pthis lips, iwasithef'ervent"supp1i~
caltidni fmé his country. ‘ indepenclence forever;’“<   r 

 Jeff'e:_rson,t'haVingi been occupied in’5t7hes»eyears“
"1778 and 1c7i‘79i; {the important iseiviceof ‘revising
thee laws tofviwass electedi ei iGrovernoriof that
State, asitiisuépcestsor ‘”tioI“*Pati*i'ck‘ H‘enryg3 ‘andi held the
sitnatiioinfiiwhenttthei State  was titinvadedii by the Brié

tis1ititia1fn1s.t '4 In 1781? he*fpub1ishedi* his Notes on

V;i1*‘giiinia; ‘at Widrkiiwhiich attracted attention "in Euv-i
rope ‘as "Well: as America, dispelled many» a 
conceptiions iriespecting this Continent, and gave
itscitauthopr 2; he place among men distinguished itttfoi‘
s&5i¢”né.e.st In i tNovembe1f’1i78t3,~ he again « tookithis
sedated the Continental Congreissgibut in the May
followiing was appointed’ Minister Plenipotentiary,
toi"actiab1'oad, ‘inti‘the~ negotiatiionofn commercial
t1'eaties,‘Wiit11 Dpr.‘Frank1in and Mr.iiAdams..* He
“piroceededt to Fi'ance,in execution of this i mission,
einhaikihgatt Boston; and that was the only *occa-
isioii’o‘tiiwhich**heieve1'tvisited thisplace. 11141785

"he '3 was appioi11t‘ed7 minister to France; the dutie‘s

of ivliich situation ‘he continued to perfo1*m,~untili

“Octioheirp1789,*when"he ‘obtained leave to retire,
tijinsiititiiotnt the iteveiiiof“ that tremendous “Rievolution
i *t=iz‘1iicthp"I1as” ‘so much“? agitated the wor1d,fin? ou1~ times.
” iMi".;'Jiefferso11?si idischatge t of his diplomatic duties
 inarkietdt by great iazbi-lity, diligence, and patriot-'
iii:srini;aand‘" ivhiite he ?reside'd*iatiPVarits“, in one soft the
fnostii intereiisting peri‘otds~,fhis‘t° character a for ‘ intellie pm A
gence, histiove ofpiksnowleidge, and ofnzhect society M

49a

ofllearnted: ttdistinguifihed him innthe highest
circles ;.of athe Fxench‘3aPit€11t- N9 cqurttin Europe
h'a;d7.""arW”ith‘at nttimedn Pariahtta%;reptresentative com-

T;1571_*1t171n: iItn1:‘:’§”Q01'n t:enj0yingt«11tite‘h¢r et68ard» for i,p91iti¢a1

kino‘wledage, or, tfor:tgeneral%.Vattainment, than the

minister 0_[fA-¢thi%sa then infant srepubliic; A a Immediately A

on h,is1fietu1*nf to‘ his native co_un;t1*y, at the organizaé
titan  the governmentnnder the present Constitu-an
tion, his talents tandt expeifience.reco111mended him to
PresidentWashingwlia forthetfirstivfiicet in his gift-
 :.Wa?Si1‘t.P1aQ§’d".iat‘:..the nt11€=tad. Pf FheintDéPartfi1efitt Of
'S.I?at¢f-  thisn;situati0n» ta1Sn<?$~t he in1anifested¢9nspi-
:pu;0uS"abi1itYd ,, Irlis correisptolidenceiitwith thenwmintisgé
t4e1‘”s“0f't,othe1' p o;we.1fsresiding,hei?e, and his insttuce
tiens to teihqettoiwn diplomatic agents i  abroad, are
among our ablest State Papers. '1 A ‘I thorough

.:k%now1edge m.iDf,.¢11‘e ltatwis  lltsflgesOfnatinvrlsxpert

,acquai11ta11ceawithn hath? irmnediate ‘ subject 

   and still. gfeat€rntfaci1ity»in
  themelzvesti int »vha:everttt effo1't his

A    tttnwlled    llimntt  make-,   It 2 is
“‘n‘be1ievte:tdyttbywmpaetenth judgaes. tllat the diplomatic
,iIIt€.{l7(3OIl1"S8fe'dftilé.:g0V81f11IIl~BI1ttpf the Unite cl States,

ttiifromtt the yfirsta meeting‘ of W the Contin ental Congress
¢in~1‘774 itothe present ti111e,ien taken together, would
:n0t~t;sufl’er,; in ";"].).:¢‘mSp|ewCt~:'i to the talent with   which it

 

has: ..been condiueted, by ecowmpaxison flwithi anything
which Other, aiuiolder Statyes can pifoduce ; and to
thtayaettainmeetnetof this respectability and distinction:

tM1f¢Jefi'erson ctontributeid hi-3 full P«‘i1‘t-   A

- 50

M ,  On the re;t‘ii1fen1e11t of General : VVashington;;fron1
the presidency,» and the e1»eeti0n ‘ «of Mn Ad:arn§»;tc

»tha.t office,n in t1n79;7,,he ‘W331ChOS“B'Ilr:.:'ViC.e?BreSid;eflt.4

hWphi1e_ presiding, inc, this‘tcapacitty, _;oV§er:thet delibeif-i~
atioiis voftlC1te.:SeI1~at6s»:ill_6 cornpiled andiipublishedta,

‘Manual of jP§l1’liiamen{ary ‘}IB1+actice ,t a ccW0i1‘ln§:0f mere

i1ab0ri and more 111e17it,tnthan. is indicated. by size;
 is‘ new received, as the general tstar1.d*artd,t 
.,wl1ich p1'occeedings  are re gulatecl, nenotin only in 1301211

V I’”;IO1IS€.S of Congress, but in most of   the iiniother. legisa:

lativefibodiestiicn the country.t nI,I1>l80“1, chexiwas
elected Piesident, in opposition to; M1f.ccAda1ns,.tand.:
1‘e-elected in 1805, by a vote approaching towards

.\ ¥O‘ ""t1’1  itiinep of A ~h_lS;‘.flflEll:_i1'etl17~6IIleI1t— from pub?
liclife, in 1807, efi'ers0n~i:'1iVe~d,,;as be‘cam~e‘iiix,§‘“aal_

 

wise imam. A V Sn1'r_ounded bye affectionatteig f'1'iendsi,‘«;hi3s.
ardor in the pursuit «of kiiowledget \111’1l(I‘llII1ll'll.‘.‘slf~1*:6‘ECl;’:
with ,un cpodtnpmon health, ; and punbrcketn sptiritts;  hexi

. w«‘:1nsp_ab1e A to, enjoy largely the I‘€:1tl,Ol1a.l*pleaS11reS.;0¥f>

life, and to .pa»1*taket: in; that public‘ prosperity»,\whicl1i
he hadso ;lTI1UCl1";COIllIl'l;l.3lll3€Cll to pr0duce.i HiS~kincli-;~;
ness pandp hoepimlity, the charm; of A his conve rsattiiongv
tl1BpGE1SGMOfl1lS-1Tl‘&flI1B1‘S, the extent: of hisvacquire:-A
ments, and especially the full store cincftrevo«lutliona1*y»
incidenpts, which he possalessed, and .Wl]i,,:(3»l1—"ll€t' knew

wvhendcptaiid how» to icidiscpense, - l'\*(A3I1Lln&;}:-‘G(:C-l sliis abtode in

3;; ;1iigl‘i cl,eng1'e,e itiattractlive‘ ‘ to »il1lS? yadtnirinig c0untry:-“- 
,l1f1Q;I_1, ,-W_l,1llV6‘i_l1lS. l1lg"l1,« public and scientific c~l1e1-accteere

t£l1‘E3;W towards him ievery intelligent and educated

51

itriavellerejiifrom T,:‘£ibI'Ofl:d.    B oth  Aéfdiamisi an d”? Mr.
<Jfefi'ersbnii  the pleasiure rife kcrloifwing ;thet i.rth7e *”!re11-
ti sieyifse largely received,iigiWas:‘J::n‘bt 
       
great A  Iofiibei ; but great me11,7 oniwhoim theiicbuiii
try. for1»itsW‘.own ibeniiefitiihiad  cioniferredi“oiffiee. 9 ¢iTh‘ei‘e
was that ii in" ‘i~t*I1’eIi13  rwhich A oflicei ?~I'«;‘iiedi not i give ,‘ and
which«theWrelinqtiiishmient ‘of iofliceii “did not, ‘and
Gould *  o»t‘,~take J ‘away; 7  ‘=3  theirifii 1f>eit~i19e11r1i"e*:m;, in ’ the
midst éiofkcheirii fe.l1w«citizensi, i:4theme%e1vési“»“private
citizenwis, they enjioyed» as "i11igh‘5i*egai'ci‘i¢<aIid ‘esteem;
'iétsi:iWhi‘en*!fiil]fing  - meet iiimpiortantieiplaeeé ofpub:
lie    N ; ,      f    
There remained to Mr. Jefferson yet oneiotliier
work of: patriotism and beneficence, 1thei1estiabi1ié11~
ment of aiuniversity Iiin“his‘inativ'egstafei. 43*T‘0this
object xhe vfiiidevoted years» of eiincessant«g and*~‘ainXi0ius
atteniziom and  the“enlightier1ede"’li‘be relity  ‘of vthe
legislature; of .irVirginia,  and» «the ic*o=epierationi’ “of
other «ablieé and» izealoiuei fiielids,“  lived t07'see it
accompliehredi. x ‘I ‘May all siu‘”ccesss» =atte1'id ?thise~i:t1fantg
seminaryi; an<:igrnay those who eiijiolyiitsiadvantages;“

&

 

asioftenias - theiri eyes s‘ha”1l rest on 1;he neighboring 

height, V’ recollect ,»what they oweiito itheiri A dJisir"1te1*eé‘t#i

ed and indefatigable ~.ben;efaict01*; A gandivmay Ie‘ttere*
l101nO1~‘i11i?n.1 who-1:hus lab0red“i11=”theicause=‘oflieitte1's;i '
Thus.usefi11,ru1d thus ireispected,‘ passed the bid“
age» of.Tl*i0imasiiJefl"ers0n.   But’ ?tiirn%e~'vvasii on itsii
ever-cieasiele=ss' wing, ianrd was A inowii bringing the last
hfioura; of this xillustriouis nian;  A-He saw its fapp‘1~‘oach, A

5?

lvith-rlllldisturblfiaS91"91'1il3Y - “H3” mounted the mo»
:ilet;cs,,as, they passed, and beheld that his 1,35;
sands,were falling.   That day, too,was,a,t_
which he had helped to make,immrta1. ,0ng
wish,one_, hope----if‘ it were not presumptefigusg
beat in his fainting, breast. A Could it be so-e--might
iteplease Good--e--L-he A would desire—-once_ morewstg
see the shun---once more to look abroadlon 
scene around him, on V the _ great day of libertjft
Heaven, in its mercy, fulfilled thateipr-ayer.  He
saw, {that sun---~he enjoyed its sacred 1igiht—---held
tha11kediGod,, for this mercy, s and bowed his aged

T head itothe grave. or i‘Felria:, mm rmltae taqztumclagg

ritatc, sad, etiam opportumltate m0Ttz's.’_

it  ,Thelast puhliclabor of Mr, Jefferson naturally
suggests the expression of the high praise which is
due, ibothf to him and to Mr, Adams, for etheitreunie
form and zealous attachment to learning, and to

cause of general knowledge. Off the advantaé?

of learning, indeed, and of literary accomplish}-
Inents, their own characters were striking recomi-;‘
mendations, and illustrations. They were sicholars,
ripe and good scholars; widely acquainted!

ancient,as well as rnodern literature, and Iiotaltio-,ij

gether uninstructed in the deeper sciences, Hi Their

accguirements, doubtless: were difi'erent,,i and so

wiereithe particular objects of _ their literaryspurg
suits;   as their tastes and characters, in these_ire-g

sP€<:tiS»,,dif1"érei1 likethoset of   other men- Beirnigi
alsoramen iofbuesy lives» with e1‘eat 0l>jects:,irequi1<ine

J.-

53

  % 
     

‘ k}.

   

  

  wnomtmactea, shc5u1dAfind',4  am¢n‘g  .

Iéast, Vthe:e%;-My :3icq"i1i&%sitior1’in literature; we re.-

sources  it‘Af‘urnish<§dV, * the“ ppomp:i~cuAde 51;“;
fa‘éi1‘itjr w1iic11%ii; communicated,   wide
       +   
      V    

AVMLitera,tu4re%‘  éQVmetimesg,,  ‘fifid 2 %Aprét1eiF1sit0ns  
Jmuch  i5ftenéry,% disgusAtfs, by  _a‘ppVea1'ihg% to  h‘ang
1oosély on the character, like s¢mething¢fo%rei4gfi

or  extV1*ane0us',%  not a   ‘part, t % an  A’ }ll¥“a{iju‘sf”éd

appenaagé 3  by seerrfingk toi4 $°ver1°a¢1   
wa:1;1%    its unsi3F%f’5’ like the
 bad taste  in   architecture» where
tlfiété  ' cumbrou[s"ornament, Withomz
spre;:g,&th%  ”°so1idity' of‘col1zmi:.V ;  h as exposed
"Iiearning, A %a:;'1d A especfijiwally A classical lééirningflo 
preach} ‘have seen that it 
0iIt"m«enta1‘ _VsupAeiri0rity; fiwithout Vigor, %‘WitI1Qmut” gbod;
taSté,and% With0¢ut uti¢1ify. But, in suchcases, class-"

ica1IVlearnin¢gi hason1y ncithispired nmuraltalent ; 01;
at most, it hasi%I5i1‘tV"¢A‘%made original reeb1enesg %of%i%nt<e%1§

1ect,a'I1d natt1ral'blunt1"1%e%ss‘%0f pe%fc:epti01riiV, 
more c0nspici1OVfis‘.‘ ’ V The’ qtiestioh, after ¢a1%lA,i“f' it 
8

54

a“~question, 1is,*whether literature,‘ ancient ; as — welltas
modern,i does not assist atlgoodrunderstanding, im-
prove “naturalfigood taste, add polished armour to
native strength, and render its possessor, notonly
more capable: of deriving ~ private happiness from
contemplation and reflection, but more accomplish-
ed, also, for action, in the affairs of life, and espe;
cially for public faction. rThose whose} memories

, We nowthonior, were learned men ; but their learn-

ingwas kept in its proper place,and made subsets
vientvtothe uses and objects of ; life. They were
scholars not common, nor superficial ; but their
scholarship was so in keeping with their charac-in-:
ter, S’.O‘l)le11Cl,Bd and inwrought, that careless observ-
ers, or bad judges,,n_ot seeing an ostentati‘ous**dis<-

playof it, might infer that it did not exist; forget-

ting, ornot knowing, that classical learning, in men
who act in conspicuous public stations,‘ « perform
duties which exercisethe faculty of writing,»o1',ad—

dress popu1ar,.? deliberati~ve,? or judiicial:-bodies, is

often felt, where it is little seen, and sometimes
feltvmorepefi"ectua1ly,because it is not seen at _all.r=* 1°
.lBut*the cause: ’ of , knowledge, in a more enlarge
sense, the cause of general knowledgevfandt of pop:—-
ular education, he had no warmer friends, normore

powerful advocates, than Adamsand Mr. J def-'~_

ferson} 2 -On this foundation, . they knew,«.the whole
rinaputblicansystem lrestedi; and this great: and all-
important truth or they   strove to timpress, by all the
n1eansiillin;::, theirvpower.  In the of early publication,
already ‘referred to, Mr. Adams expresses the

55

strong and ~ just sentiment, that .the>~educatio11ofthe
poor ismore «important, even to , the rich; themselves,
than all their  Own; riches. On n this great truth, jinn;
deed,:is foundedthat unrivalled, that invaluablefpo—

litical and moral institution, our own blessing,~and

the glory of our fathers, the New ‘England system
of‘freesc11ools«   : . at t it - it “    
  As the promotion of knowledge had been thegob-e
ject of their regard through life,*so~thes7e great men
made it the asubject of their testamentary rrbounty.
 Jtteff(31,‘{°_,SOn_. is .understood to or have bequ,eathed; his
liibrary to the: university, and that of Mr. A TA-d?a.n3'S3 r is
bestovveid on the inhabitants of Quincy.’ it    

Adams, and Mr. .lefi'erson, fellow-citizens,

were successively Presidents of the United States.
The comparative merits of their respective adinie
nistrations for a long time agitated andrdivi.ded.puh-
lic opinion- They were rivals, each supported ‘by
numerousand powerfulportions of the people, for

the highest office. This contest, partly the cause,

and partly the consequence, of the long existence of
two great political parties in the country, is now
part of the history of your government. txW:e. may
naturally regret, that anything should have occur-

red to create difference and discord, rbetvveen those
who had acted liarmorniouslyvandeflicientlyintthe

great concerns of the revolution. But this isnot

the time,=~.nor, this the occasion, for entering into
ttheigrounds of that difi'erenc*e,- ., or for attempting

to I discuss the amerits of the questions a which it im-

  so

volves; "As practical questions, thee)? Werel tcanvass-

bed, when the measures which they regardedowere .

actedwon and adopted ; and as belongingrto history,
the time has not come for their consideratiomll e 
t It is, perhaps, not Wonderful, that when the Con;

stitution of the United States Went‘ first into opelrae
cation, idifferent opinions shouild be entertainedgvas

to the extent of the powers conferred by it. i Here

-was a natural source of diversity of‘ sentiment;  It

is still less Wonderful, that that event, about“con¥-
temporary with our government, tunderc the pre-
sent Coinstitutiton, which so entirely shocked all

’ELirope,i and disturbed our relations withher lead»
ing: a poWers,tatshould be thouglit," by diflerentl men,

to have difliertent bearings on our ownosprossperityft

and that the early .n1easures,A adopted by «our gov-
tt"ebr.nrnent,sinconsequence of this new state of things,
should be seen in opposite lights. Ins for the

future historian, when what now remains of ..prej1i-

 dice. and i rnisconception shall have rp"assed iiiaway; to
. state: these ‘ i 1. i1t opinions, and pr0110'uI‘1Ce"‘C‘i-irlrfvli
« partialor judgment. ” In the meantime; all good n§1'e7n
..rejoic‘e,,ancl well may rejoicet, that then a sharipest
 differences-sprung out of measures, which, Whether

right or wrong, have f(3e3.SBCl,:Wlth the:i:iexi~genc.iies

3“ ;that. gave them births; and have ;lef'tnopermanent
. l ejffect,». Leither on it the Constitution,  or on the tigeneral

prosperityei otf.at~hec at country. This 1-emark,"I.» am

i. ,aWlare,r.may-bie tsupposed to lhiiave its; exception, in.

one lme.asure,h»ll:rthoett alteration- of the Ctontstitutiong as

to the~mode:~of ilchoosingM'*PrreSide11tt";‘*'1_but‘~§it is*=:tr;ue,
in r its general application. ; . Thus the  a course i 
olicys  pursued towards  France,  17985;. on» x the
one hand, : and the «measures» of t:commercialto -FQSt1li:f3r
«trion; commenced ‘in?1*8~O7,ron the other, both Shh-
jects of warm land: severe opposition, have passe

away, and left nothinghehind them. They were

temporary, and whether wise or unWise,»their 6-‘ofihf
sequences were limited to theirs respective occa-
sions. It is equally: clear, atthee,same»time,and

.ri,t~«:is equally gratifying, thatrethose tmeasuresof; broth
rltéaadministuationst, whic‘h_t were of dursatlteyrimportancte,
 Which drew after them tinterestintgl. and long;
remaining consequences,- have , received: general
approbation. t Such was the organization, orsrather

the creation, of the navy, in the admlinistration; of‘

sMr. Adamsgt such the acquisition of s*Lcouisiana,;irn
rsthat of Mr; Jefferson.  ~The;»co*untry, tit may;safel:y

be added, is not likely to lbelwillingeitheer to ap-

: “prove, or totreprobate, indiscriminatelyx, t“ and in the
taggregate,’ all the measures ofweither,torn.;‘of7r*any,
»~ad:ministratiton.~  '1‘he-dictatecltlof' reason and of jus-
tice is, thatg holding each one his own serrtiments
on the points in »difi'erence,‘ we imitate the: great
f_JH18.Il‘~ themselves, in the forbearance and modera-
t‘:tlOnl'tWl1iOll they have cherished, s and in the mutual
:1'BSp;8fCl'.T and kindness which they have been* so
,much inclined to feel 3Ild‘~.tO.1'eClp’l‘OC3.l§3}'- 5 "xi   f
.  :    .N'()~I1'Il6I'l3 fellow-citizens; » ever served; their:“ tcloun-t
tryawith mortetitentirres exemption from levery‘ simputa-

58

tiongof selfish and inercenary motive thani,those:te
vvhose n’;1,e1noryi we are paying ~rithes;e proofs of
respect. A suspicion of any dispositionto enrich
themselves, or toprofit by their public employa
ments, never rested on either. No sordid motive
approached them. The inheritance which they
have it left totheir, children, is of their character and
th6i,t1'1’ame-t     t         r     e

i,Fellow-citizens,«I Will detain you no longer by
this faint and feeble tribute to thememory of the
illustrious . dead. 7 Even in other hands, adequate]
justicecould not be perfbrmed, within the limits
of this occasion. ‘. Theirhighest,their best praise,

r is your deep, conviction of their merits, your iafi”ec-

tionate... gratitude for their labors and servicecs,
Itpisinotivmy: voiice, it is this cessation of r ordinary
pursuits, this arresting of all attention, trheseesol—
emn ~ ceremonies, and this crowded house, which
spieakttheir eulogy. Their fame, vindeed, issafe.
That, is novvlirtreasured ’ up, beyond the reach of ac-
cident. ; tAlthough»no sculptured. marble: should rise
to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record
Of , their deeds, yet will theirlrernembrance betas
lastingtas the land they honored. tMarble columns
1nay,indeed, moulder into dust, time may erase all
impress from the .crumb1ing stone, but theirfame
remains; for with AME,RICAN.LIBE.RTYi it rose,»and
with? ‘ALMER1.C.AN LIBERTY Jv0NLiY< can it perish, It
was, the last swellirigi peal ofyonder choir, .‘ THEIR
BODIES MARE BURIED IN ration, Bur. '1‘HEIR..#NAME

59w

’LIV“E'TI—Il  EV~E’RM0RE.’7  I" eiateh; that  ’solhernntl *=song,tr II
—.eCl10~1'°‘lJEtli lofty ‘strainf of f'nneral t1'iL1mpl’h,“ ‘»r‘HhIh;
NAME LIVIETH» sEv1:RMloRE:.’  * ‘ i      

  tOf'*theillustriousisigt1ei'st of the ec1ax~htioh‘c;f  

Independence there now i~ remains only = CH«AitRlf;ESll
~CARRO'LL; He seems an aged oak, standing alone‘
on the plain,Which time haslsparedt at little longer;
after all itseontemporaries have been levelled with
the dust. Venerablehvobjectsl we delight togather
round‘ itstrunk, while yet it standst,tand ritovélwell
bene ath:ritsts>-sat  ~'adi%OW.W i Sole survivor of  assembly
of : as  then" as it?! we world  has .Wiét=n»essed;é<  ‘la
transta_ictiron*', one of l the ' most: important that history
records, awhat thoughts, What interesting reflections
must fill his :elevatedand devout soulli If he ‘dwell
on the past, how-touching its recollections»; if’ he
survey: the present, how happy, l1ohw~joyous,'hovv
A full of the fmition   of that 7 hope, which his iardent
patriotism indulged ; if heglance at the future;
how” does: the prospect of his to ~country’s; . advance-
mentthsalrnlostir bewilclerhis weakened conception!
Fortunate, » distinguished - patriot 1 Interesting relic
of therpast .lK Let; him knows that while We honor
the dead, We do not forget the: living; and that
there isinot a heart here Wthichidoes not it fervently
pray, that Heaven: may -:keep him = «yet back from
" tliegsociety of his "companions.  p — i t it  

L

 ,wAndll~norW, fellow—-citizens, let us not retire from
.i«*“”il;ihis.  oecasioni-, without a a deep A and solemn convic-
tih0nlh.0fhthehs duties Whlcll have develved upon 

60

W  ii lovely land, this glorious liberty, these benign

E5;

rt‘:

*1

institutions, the clear purchase of “our fathers, are
ours ; ours to enjoy, ours to preserve, ours to<t1'ans-
mit. it Generations past, and generations to come,
hold us responsible for this sacred trust. Our
fathers, from behind, admonish us, with their
anxious paternal voicesfga posterity calls out to us,
from the bosom of the future; the World turns
hither its solicitous ieyesf;-—all, all conjure us to act
wisely, and faithfully, in the relation which We
sustain. We can never, indeed, pay the debt
which is upon us; but by virtue, byymorality, by

religion, by the cultivation of every good principle A
and every good habit, we may hope to enjoy the V
blessing, through our day, and to leave it unimpair- A
ed to our childrenfl, Let us feel deeply how much, V

of What We are and “of what We possess, We owe to
this liberty, and these institutions of government.

Nature has, indeed, given us a soil, which yields,
bounteously to the hands of industry; the mighty A
and fruitful ocean is before us, and the skies over  

our heads shed‘ health and vigor. But what are
lands, and seas,,and skies, to civilized man, Without
society, without knowledge, WithoutlnioraIs,'Wisth-
out religious culture ; and hovvlcan these be enjoy-
ed, in all their extent, and all their excellence, but

under the protection of wise institutions and a free i

 

government "  Ans, there is  one of

us, there is not one of us there Mpresent, who does it
not, at this moment, and at every moment, expe—- ,

 I

1'ienc<<>»,in,ihis ownyicenditicnar aridir! 11?? C91?C1iti0I1»0if' 
those  nearand Clear  him,,thet influenctetstandt
iibéiiéfitsyof trthiettirlibertra and  thefsfle'.'":i7nIS1:i'tutiiQ'1;1S~i
let iusrther1,r acknétwledeé that .b1essine»,i1,¢tnusfeel
it dmeepily and npowerfully, let usytcherisht a strong,
affection for it,a.ndryes,o1v,e to Inaintainend perptette
uaiteiit, The blood ofyour fetyhersiigiet it not have
bfeeni shed in vain ; the great; hope iof ,poste_rity:i";iet

itignbty the blaSted- , s

The strikingattitude, too, inwhich We standrto,

the, World i around r as r  5*  
      ‘3an.I.1013:t
be taltoeéther omitted hares   Néifiirerr individuals
nor nationsoan_ performyttheir part.ywell,runti1'ir
they understand and feel its importance, and
ioomprehend and justly appreciate all the duties be»-

-<

       
 

  

longing 130 it. M It is not to inflate ynationatl Vanity, V

nortofswell alight and empty feelingryoyf self—impor-.» ,
fiance? but  is that 4W6  may judge justly ofour

siiuatiofla and of 4 our own ,t.d,uties,;that I earnestly ,
‘urge this ioonsideration of our position,, annd; our
charecte r, among thenations of the 

not he denied, but by those who would

era is distinguished by Free Retpresentative Gov--

, ernrnents, by entire rreligious ,1iberty,_by, improved r ,
 systerns of national interoourse,_by a newly awaken- 
edgwand an,un,oonquera.ble spirit of freeiyinquiryrrandr

bsiisidriiffusion.0fkn0W1edse ‘h17°“,£h,»ihe comfllunitrg
   ,9,       ,

,A.‘@:‘J:

(IS
<t.""' ,..*
gr ,.'; .,


I
K 
4, .
7‘ re“

*1 ,,~ 

‘Li':x.‘.”,§ri'~"""‘w

4,.“ M w-
‘M/'1‘

. M y , 4 Vi _ r , pute‘ii%§§,;’:ii;'i , to
,.,f’i‘~a;ga1nst the sun, that with America, and 1n,Ame-  ”“'" ‘ i
rica,a new era commences infihuinanaffairs. This 

, FL.
,,.‘_ M
r ,. H \»w‘’'

4*’ ‘

‘ 4

‘''“-~—. u >ar-- v I’
J

;:
v
ls.

T ,,,.,.,..........» 
V. “\~,w.ua~uvI-‘*““"""

J .
4 ,. . ,
-, ,._,cr 
.4" , ,,~_ '. ~ ..
‘.‘\‘ I ,
5. W‘ .

62»?

such as has been before altogether unknown and un==~
heard of. America, America, our country, fellow-tr**~

eitinens, our own dear and native land, is insepara-
bly connected, fast bound up, in fortune and by fate,
with these great interests. If they fall, We fall with
them; if they stand, it will be, because wehhave.

upholden them. us contemplate, then, this 

connexion, which binds the prosperity of others to
our own; and let us manfully discharge all the
duties which it imposes. If we cherish the virtues

A and the principles of our fathers, Heaven will assist

us to carry on the work of human liberty and hu-
man happiness. Auspicious omens cheer us. Great
examples are before us. Our own firmament now
shines brightly upon our path. WASHINGTON is in
the clear upper sky. These other stars have now

joined the American constellation; it they circle

round their centre, and the heavens beam with new
light. Beneath this illumination, let us walk the
course of life, and“, at its closefldevoutly commend
our beloved country, the coninion parent of us all,
to the Divine Benignity. M

,n
y

,. A.,,».,,.._ ,
.,,,,.,,. J» . n

«V
/‘.1
,4-,-‘nu 5}; v
nor

,4"

lk r.-~M;'.wn-n«;\,,m.,,,"_., _‘,,..,, LN ‘,W.M‘,_ ,1.‘ W, M A

‘..¥“45,,b_~'
W

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