Papers of John Adams, volume 20

From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 11 June 1789 Adams, John Bowdoin, James

To James Bowdoin

Dear Sir New York June 11. 1789

I have recieved the Letter you did me, the honour to write me, on the 30. of May: but have not yet had an opportunity to See Mr Boid.1

Whenever that Gentleman shall appear, it will be a pleasure to me to give him all the Attention and Assistance, in my Power, which may be due to public Justice, and to your Recommendation.

We proceed Slowly: but in digesting Plans so new, so extensive and so important, it is impossible to bring Bodies of Man to a clear Comprehension of Things and a mutual Satisfaction without long deliberation and debate.

I called on Sir John Temple last Saturday and tho I was sorry to find him in so ill health, I apprehend with Exercise and Care he will get the better of his Complaint.2

With great Respect I have the Honour / to be, Sir, your most obedient and / most humble servant

John Adams.

RC (MHi:Winthrop Family Papers); internal address: “Governor Bowdoin”; endorsed: “1789. / Letter from John Adams / Esqr. Vice President of / the United States. / dated New York June / 11th:—” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 115.

For American sympathizer James Boyd’s efforts to reclaim land near Passamaquoddy, Mass. (now Maine), see vol. 19:484–485.

John Temple served as British consul general to the United States from Feb. 1785 to his death in 1798. He was married to Bowdoin’s daughter, Elizabeth (vol. 17:16; AFC , 4:240).

From John Adams to William Tudor, 12 June 1789 Adams, John Tudor, William

To William Tudor

Dear sir New York June 12. 1789

Your Letters put me more and more out of Patience every Post.— Why, in that of the 6th. do you call our national Government a federal Republick? It is no more that, than it is Sphœrical Trigonometry. What is a federal Republic? It is an association of a Number of independent Sovereign States.— Are the Seperate States in our national Government, Sovereign and independent? If they are, We had all better go home. for Heavens Sake, let us analyze our Ideas and correct our Language.— Unanimity is essential to a fœderal Republick.— Is Unanimity necessary According to our national Constitution? Would it not ruin this Country to make it essential?— I ask again Where is the Soverignty of our Nation? Answer me, as a Lawyer and a Statesman, as a Philosopher and an Historian.

You need not be apprehensive of “any Faction attempting to lesson the Influence of the V. P.—[”] He has no dread of that upon his mind.— He will have as much Weight as he ought, and he would not have more if it were offered him. He flatters himself he knows his Stops, pretty well, at fifty three or four Years of Age.— He must contend for “the dignity and Energy of Goverment” because he knows, that without dignity and Energy there can be no Government at all.

I agree most cordially with you in all the rest of your excellent Letter and will take care of that inclosed.

I am dear sir yours

J.A.

RC (MHi:Tudor-Adams Correspondence); addressed: “William Tudor. Esquire / Barrister at Law / Boston—”; internal address: “William Tudor Esqr / Barrister at Law,”; endorsed: “12 June 1789”; notation by JA: “Free / John Adams.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 115. Tr (Adams Papers).