Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-10-20

army, and for a more coercive power. than was
compatible with the principles of republic.
There were four other fetlions or proviioos IN
that fyfem, which were objections in his opid.
ion, and four out Of the whole number. includ-
ing the mott material one the liability ct the
States, have hnce been altered TO his wilhcs.
The peculiar 6tGation Of the States at that
time, rendered National Government indif-
penible and this gave fom- men hope, that
more than mere republic would be procured,
and at the fame time. gave the voices of "trip
lings, triumph over the grave expeficaec OF
learned patriot.
In the year 1904, on the death Of Cover.
nor Hancock. Mr.. Adams was, by general
vote removed from the Office OF Lcurenznt Gov
ernor of the Commonwealth, to that sf Cover
nor. In that Office he had critical, and eau
tious regard to the contribution of the State, for
the principles of il were perfectly coneenial TO
his fentiments of government. He had been
one OF rhe convention which produced IT.. and
one of the committee which digeacd andrc,m-
piled il. The feperate fovereignty OF the
States, 70 far as it was guaranteed by the fed
eral contribution. continued to be an objed of
his clofe attention. For this be received abuie
from time to time, in fome infances from ola
ccs whence he expected il, and in others from
places whence abuic never ought TO come.--His
executive conduct, and his appointments were
fully az refpedable as thofe OF any other Gov
ernor OF the commonwealth. In the Office OF
Governor, he was continued by his fellow citi-
zens, without any refpcet,bIe oppo6tion, until
the year 1897. when the indications Of three
fcore and fourteen yean, pointed him to vol
untary fate of retirement.
The fpeechc, and addrcGcs Of MIR. Adams
while he was in the chair, are on the records
of the commonwealth he competed
thcfe he was in an advanced age, yet he fpurn-
ed at the idea of alJifance. When thoic pro-
duttions are compared with his fpcechcs in
former times and his writings in the vigour of
his life, il mun he conieGed that the preiioe OF
years ard the anxious, and eventful Icenes ne
had been loaded with, had dininiihed the
| vigorous energy Of his mind. Yet theie pro-
| doetions evnce him TO have been man, who
had. with great induffTy, made himfelf mater
of the mott uicful ientiments in free govern
Inent. The ideas they contain, appear 10 have
been drawn from repo6tory richly flied with
learning, proper for the fupport Of free recub-
lie.
In the advanced age ofhis life, Mr.. Adams
delighted in recapitulation Of the fcenes Of the
revolution in this, az in other eircumeances, he
rcfembled the late Earl of Chatham, who, while
he was in sdvsaced age, became impatient of all
topics which did no, relate to the French war. in
| which his administration had added gems 10 the
crown of his nation. A recollection Of the dang
erous, aad difficult circumstances Of the war,
which had been encountered BY the courage, and
overcome by the scnius Of his country, fell like
sba oh L. shA col oS
Mr.. Adams. To the advantages of education,
trials. and victories. Mr.. Adams added the de-
portmept Of gentleman he was we'll bred
polite man. Among itrsngen, and in mixed
companies, nc was reierved and fient. bat among
his friends he was cheerful and compan;onablc.
wss a lover of chaec wit, and remarkably fond
of anecdcte.
There wss never charge aganf his moral
character, even with his enemies. excepting the
charge of his conceal;ng his views ia the dawn
ings Of the revolution; which they faw Et. az
they were enemies TO fuch mcaiurc. TO demo-
inmate addrcfs. and hypocrify. But 10 this he
was iuftiaable for, unlefs he could believe,
thar the whole body Of the people could disccfn
and trace political effects from their deep caufe.,
il would have been folly in him 20 have expo
fed his views. He lived in world. where
one man had been burned for sIeuins the mo-
tion Of the planets which Is now known to eve
ry one. and where the originators Of new the
cries have faffcred difgrace for cxpofing fyf-
tem,, which after ages have refpeeled and hon.
ored.
Mr.. Adams, through the whole eourie Of
his life, wa, jealous profeiIor, and an cxem-
plary performer Of the daties cojoined by the
chriaian religion. Hs did not view il merely
az fyaem Of morals. but as myAerious plan,
TO exhibit the bevvolepce of the Almighty to
his ratonal offspring on this earth a. the wife &
benignant method to prcfervc an insercourfe
between earth and heaven. On this fy}em, he
coh6ded in the mercy of bis Creator, and 10
this he had confolation while he faw his dilolu-
tion apptosching.
There Is no character 70 persea 40 not to
need an apology. Perhaps the frid regard
which Mr.. Adams paid to the chriaisn fsbba,h
~ holy time. and the facred light in which he
held the chriRian ordinances. wcre of:nGve to
many, who delighted in the free thoughts of the
preient age. And there can be no doubt, bat
that the jealoufy OF power, which ne cultivated
ia more early lie, rs the facul,c, Of his mind
grew weaker. afumed, in fome degree the form
OF an oppoGtion to government but thofe Who
III y G,.., q r. -