The Litchfield County post., 1826-07-18

were not signcFs of this instrument. M the letter addressed to Mr. ADAMS there was slight variation tletshOrtncss of the time, and the distance of his residence from the Seat of Government, making ii necessary for the Committee of Arrange ments to depute gentleman to escort him without waiting his answer. Col. House, of the army, most promptly and checrfully undertook this honorable mission, at the request and on behalf of the committee.
 QUINCY, June 22d, 1926.
 L. c. WeigAtman, Esq. Chairman, 8cc,
 Sir: Col. House, of the U. S. army, now stationed at Fort Independence, in my neighbourhood, has favored me with q call, and communicated your very polite letter, desiring him to offer me an escort to Washington, in order to celebrate with you the approaching Fiftieth Anniversary of our National Independence.
 I feel very grateful for this mark of dis tinguished and respectful attention on the part of the citizens of the City of Wash ington, which the present state of my health forbids me to indulgethe hope of partici- pating, only with my best wishes for the increasing prosperity of your city, and the constant health of its inhabitants.
 I am, Sir, with much respect, your friend and humble servant, J. ADAMS.
 MoNr1cELLo, June24, 1926. 1
 RESPECTED SfR: The klnd invitation Ireceived from you, on the part of the citizens of the City of Washington, to be present with them attheir celebration off the Fiftieth Anniversary of American In dependence.sas, one of the surviving sign CTS of an Instrument, pregnant with our own and the fate of the world, is most flat tering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such journey. 1t adds sensi- bly to the sufferings of sickness, to be de- prived by it of personal participation in the reioicings of that day: but acquies- cence is a duty under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to| control. I should, indeed, with peculiar delight. have met and exchanged there con- gratulations, personally with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies who joined with us, on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make, for our country, between submission and the sword;l and to have enjoyed with them the consol- atory fact that our fellow-citizens, after half century of experience and prosperi- 4y, continue to approve the choice weMade. May it be to the world, what I. believe itt will be, (to some parts sooner, to others la ter, but finally to all, the signal of arous- ing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded tiiem to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self government. The form which we have substituted restores the free right to the nnbounded exercise of reason and freed0m of opinion. All eyes arc opened, or open ing to the rights of man. The general spread of the lights of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor fa- vored few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimatcly, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others, torl ourselves, let the annual return of this day. forever refresh our recoilections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.
 will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which should have met my ancient neighbours of the City of Wash ington and its vicinities, with whom pas- sed so many years of a pleasing social in- tercourse-an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as never to be forgotten. With my regret that i'll health forbids me the qualification of an acceptance, be plea- sed to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my high est respect and friendly attachments.
 TH. JEFFERSON.
 DouGHoRAGEN MANOR, June IT, 1926.
 SIR: was this day favored with your letter of the 14th inst. am much obliged to the committee for their invitation to at tend, on the 4th of next month, the cele- bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of A. merican Independence, in the Metropolis of the United States. Having received al similar invitation from the City of New- York, and having declined it, cannot with propriety attend the celebration at Washington.
 Accept, Sir, my thanks for the senti- rneuts YOU have expressed to me in your