THOUGHTS

ΟΝ

GOVERNMENT:

APPLICABLE TO

THE PRESENT STATE

OF THE

AMERICAN COLONIES.

la a LETTER from a GENTLEMAN To his FRIEND.

PHILADELPHIA,

PRINTED BY JOHN DUNLAP.

M, DCC, LXXV.

JOHN ADAMS' TRACT

From the Ford collection in the New York Public Library

The Time was very short. However the Gentleman thinking it an opportunity providentially thrown in his Way, of communicating Some Hints upon a subject which seems not to have been sufficiently considered in the Southern Colonies, and so of turning the Thoughts of Gentlemen that Way, concluded to borrow a little Time from his Sleep and accordingly wrote with his own Hand, a Sketch, which he copied, giving the original to Mr. Hooper and the Copy to Mr. Penn, which they carried with them to Carolina. Mr. Wythe getting a sight of it, desired a Copy which the Gentleman made out from his Memory as nearly as he could. Afterwards Mr. Serjeant of New Jersey requested another, which the Gentleman made out again from Memory, and in this he enlarged and amplified a good deal, and sent it to Princetown. After this Coll. Lee, requested the same Favour, but the Gentleman having written amidst all his Engagements five Copies, or rather five sketches, for no one of them was a Copy of the other, which amounted to Ten Sheets of Paper, pretty full and in a fine Hand, was quite weary of the office. To avoid the Trouble of writing any more he borrowed Mr. Wythe's Copy and lent it to Coll. Lee, who has put it under Types and thrown it into the shape you see.1 It is a Pity it had not been Mr. Serjeant's Copy, for that is larger and more compleat, perhaps more correct. This is very incorrect, and not truly printed. The Design however is to mark out a Path, and putt Men upon thinking. I would not have this Matter communicated.

I think by all the Intelligence We have that North Carolina Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey will erect Governments, before the Month of June expires. And, if New York should do so too, Pennsylvania, will not neglect it at least I think so.

There is a particular Circumstance relative to Maryland, which you will learn e'er long, but am not at Liberty to mention at present, but will produce important Consequences in our favour, I think.

But, after Governments shall be assumed, and a confederation formed, We shall have a long obstinate and bloody War to go. 1 Thoughts on Government: applicable to the present State of the American Colonies. Phila., 1776, and reprinted in Boston.

through and all the Arts, and Intrigues of our Enemies as well as the Weakness and Credulity of our Friends to guard against.

A Mind as vast as the Ocean or Atmosphere is necessary to penetrate and comprehend all the intricate and complicated Interests which compose the Machine of the Confederate Colonies. It requires all the Philosophy I am Master of, and more than all, at Times to preserve that Serenity of Mind and Steadiness of Heart which is necessary to watch the Motions of Friends and Enemies, of the Violent and the Timid, the Credulous and the dull, as well as the Wicked.

But if I can contribute ever so little towards preserving the Principles of Virtue and Freedom in the World my Time and Life will be not ill spent.

A Man must have a wider Expansion of Genius than has fallen to my share to see to the End of these great Commotions. But on such a full Sea are We now afloat that We must be content to trust to Winds and Currents with the best Skill We have under a kind Providence to land us in a Port of Peace, Liberty and Safety. [No signature.]

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

April 22, 1776

The Management of so complicated and mighty a Machine, as the United Colonies, requires the Meekness of Moses, the Patience. of Job and the Wisdom of Solomon, added to the Valour of David.

They are advancing by slow but sure Steps, to that mighty Revolution, which You and I have expected for Some Time. Forced Attempts to accellerate their Motions, would have been attended with Discontent and perhaps Convulsions.

The News from South Carolina has aroused and animated all the Continent. It has Spread a visible Joy, and if North Carolina and Virginia should follow the Example, it will spread through all the rest of the Colonies like Electric Fire.

The Royal Proclamation, and the late Act of Parliament have convinced the doubting and confirmed the timorous and wavering.

The two Proprietary Colonies only are still cool, But I hope a few Weeks will alter their Temper.

I think, it is now the precise Point of Time for our Council and House of Representatives either to proceed to make such Alterations in our Constitution as they may judge proper, or to Send a Petition to Philadelphia for the Consent of Congress to do it. It will be considered as fresh Evidence of our Spirit and Vigour, and will give Life and Activity and Energy to all the other Colonies. Four Months ago, or indeed at any Time since you assumed a Government, it might have been disagreeable and perhaps dangerous; but it is quite otherwise now. Another Thing, if you are so unanimous in the Measure of Independency and wish for a Declaration of it, now is the proper Time for you to instruct your Delegates to that Effect. It would have been productive of Jealousies, perhaps, and Animosities a few Months ago, but would have a contrary Tendency now. The Colonies are all at this Moment turning their Eyes that Way. Vast Majorities in all the Colonies now see the Propriety and Necessity of taking the decisive Steps, and those who are averse to it are afraid to Say much against it, and therefore Such an Instruction at this Time would comfort and cheer the Spirits of your Friends, and would discourage and dishearten your Enemies.

Coll. Whipple's Letters from New Hampshire are nearly in the Same Strain with yours to me, vizt. that all are now united in the great Question. His Letters inform him that even of the Protesters there is now but one left, who is not zealous for Independency.

I lament the Loss of Governor Ward exceedingly, because he had many Correspondents in Rhode Island, whose Letters were of service to Us, an Advantage which is now entirely lost.1

After all, my Friend, I do not att all Wonder, that so much Reluctance has been shewn to the Measure of Independency. All· great Changes are irksome to the human Mind, especially those. which are attended with great Dangers and uncertain Effects. No Man living can foresee the Consequences of such a Measure, and therefore I think it ought not to have been undertaken untill

1 Samuel Ward, a delegate from Rhode Island, died March 25, 1776. Journals of the Continental Congress, IV. 236.