Papers of John Adams, volume 20
d.1789
I was honoured with your favour of the 18th. of June1 for which I return
you my Thanks, and was happy to hear of the safe arival of Mrs Adams and family.
our Rulers continue as obstinately opposed to the Federal
Government as ever, and I have no Idea that they ever intend to call a Convention; they
are striving to alienate the minds of the people at large by exagerating the amount of
the Salleries allowed the Members of Congress, and take hold of every Topick that in any
measure answers their wicked purposes; I am still of opinion if Congress could send and
Enquire of the State in a pretty plain & firm Tone the Reason why they do not take
up the great Question of the Constitution in the mode Recommended by the Grand
Convention and the Resolve of Congress, that it would stagger their Mermadons; and occasion the people to look to the Minority to
get them out of the Dillemma they are now in.
In Establishing the Judiciary System; was in hopes to have seen some stroke that would have saved the publick & private Securities of the Inhabitants of this State that have been obliged to put them off in other States to save them. I see no remedy if the Bill pass as first proposed.
This will be Delivered you by the Rever’d Mr Hitchcock, who I Recommend to your particular Notice as a worthy Character in
the Clerical line.2 your noticing him
will be obligeing one who with every sentiment of Esteeme Remains your Excellencys Most
obedient and humb. Servant
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed by CA: “Govenor Bowen / July 22”; notation by CFA: “1789.”
Bowen likely meant JA’s letter of 26 June, above, for no letter of 18 June has been found.
Enos Hitchcock (1745–1803), Harvard 1767, of Springfield, Mass.,
had served as minister of the First Congregational Church in Providence, R.I., since 1
Oct. 1783. In his Fourth of July oration of 1788, Hitchcock urged Rhode Islanders to
ratify the Constitution and thereby join “an entire revolution in policy and
government, the most important that ever marked the progress of human society” (
Sibley’s
Harvard Graduates
, 16:475, 479, 480, 482, 483).
dJuly 1789
I have to acknowledge the honor of receiving your Letter dated the 14th July. as to the subject respecting an opposition to the constitution of the united states, there are no doubt men in every society whose desperate Fortunes render them alike Enemies to all Government, but the people with very few exceptions, and these by no means important consider the Government of the united states as the palladium of their Liberty and a System which at all events is to be supported. there are in it imperfections which we all wish to have cured and hope that Wisdom and Experience will point us to the remedy— That matter of Trial by Juries I must always repeat is a matter of consequence with me. but should the Executive Legislative and Judicial powers be properly balanced the security of trial by Jury would grow out of that balance naturally. if there is an objection against that balance of power in the minds of the people of this Country, it has arisen from the Exorbitant power of the Crown while we were a part of the british Empire. perhaps as we had no representative in Parliment the reasoning is wrong to conclude that an Executive power here possessing the same prerogatives as a King 104 there did would be dangerous to us, but will not Time and reasoning bring all right?
we are a young nation; and I conceive that the several separate powers will gain strength from time to Time as the Limbs in an animal gain strength and proportion by age, and that there will see a period (God give it Soon) when the Constitution of the united States will arrive at compleat perfection and will after in Time like that of other Countries decline: but in the mean time every aid will be given by the patriots which can be applied without convulsing the whole frame. perhaps in this moment when such an intire confidence is placed by the people in the men at the head of Government many Masterly and [Efficaous] strokes may be given to insert in some measure the equlibrium wanting
we have nothing new here all is peace quietness & patient Expectation for blessings which no form of Government can bestow.
I am Sir with sincere / friendship to you & your Lady / To
whom pray present my Compts. / Your most obedient Humble /
Servant
This Days paper is inclosed1 tomorrows I have ordered to be thrown into the mail
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency Mr Adams”; endorsed by CA: “Judge Sullivan / July 23d” and by JA: “ansd. sept. 21. 1789.”
The enclosure has not been found.