Correspondence Between the Hon. John Adams, Late President of the United States, and the Late Wm; Cunningham, Esq.: Beginning in 1803, and Ending in 1812 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Correspondence Between the Hon. John Adams, Late President of the United States, and the Late Wm; Cunningham, Esq.: Beginning in 1803, and Ending in 1812

It cannot be doubted, that the fame of Mr. Adams would have gone into future times, with a brighter train, if his public labours had ceased, with the termination of the re volution. By retirement, he might have preserved a rank in that luminous galaxy of heroes and statesmen, who achieved our independence. But, every act of his, since that epoch, has removed him farther from the proud eleva tion, to which a fortuitous concurrence of circumstances and the unsuspecting gratitude of an emancipated people, had raised him. It was not, however, till he became chief ma gistrate of the nation, that his real character and designs were known. It was now, that his aristocratical principles and selfish policy, appeared in all their hideousness. The people saw his rapid strides towards despotism, and, that be aimed to wrest from them the sovereignty and secure it to himself and family. It is unnecessary to recount the ob noxious acts of his administration; for, they are fresh in the recollection of every citizen. It is in vein to attempt to charge the odium of this reign of terror upon his constitu tional counsellors; for, the maxim, that the king can do no wrong, is not recognised in our political creed. The Executive, possessed of the appointing power, and having a negative upon the legislature, is amenable to the nation, for the policy and practice of the government. The eyes of the people are directed to the Supreme Head; and, not withstanding its immense patronage and influence, which are calculated to dazzle and blind the million, Mr. Adams.

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