American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-18
DEATH OF John ADAMS.


nde pendence and With its parting rays the spirit OF
the elder ADAMS assembled 10 heaven That bold
and energetic spirit which inspired the councils oil
America with the determination TO become indepen
dent has assembled high, and that eloquent tongue
which urged its declaration on the fourth OF July,
1875, on the fourth OF July 1926, was palsied IN
death. Thus has terminated, and gorousy termi
mated the virtuous and patriotic lite OF JOHN
lADAMS-bessrd by his country. honored by the
world, and immortal as history. Amidst the bosom
oil his family, the patriarch oil the revolution has
closed his mortal career viewing. as patriarch OF
old, before his closing eyes, the expanding glories
of his country the fruits OF his exertions, and the
bic ssings purchased by him for posteriiy. The
| ideas which occupy our minds In contemplating his
character and the period allotted by heaven Tor
gathering him to his fathers, fill our hearts with
sue feelings disable Us from searching in books
for the record of The many memorable incidents OF
his life, and can only present such facts as are
| Pr esent TO our memory. His virtues and services
wili<mploy the most eloquent tongues IN the ma
tion and his history be written by its ablest hlstori
an. HIS life and history the history of liberty
and the rights Of man, triumphng over oppression,
and founding lasting empire on the broad founda
ton Of the peoples will, and the happiness Of the
governed.
| President Adams was educated at Cambridge,
| and to the profession of the law.-So eminent was
his standing in that profession, that at an early age
he was appointed Chief Justice OF the State but he
declined this office. Amid the force OF excitement
produced by the Boston massacre, he dared to IN
dertake the defence OF the British troops. His sue
cess in this trial complete 1t eyinced his tai
ents and his strong sense of justice and official duty
A less intrepid spirit would not have dared TO stem
the current oil popular indignation by engaging in
such cause. But it is not in his professional life
but his political, that we are to trace his glorious
career He soon sacrificed his profession and every
thing to the lberties Of his fellow citizens and the
independence Of his country. In 177o he was cleo
led representative from Boston, and in IVA q
member of the Council, but was negatived BY Gov.
Gage, from the part he took in politics From l770
and previous, and until l776, he was constantly en-
gagged, and took leading part in all the measures
which were adopted to defend the colonies from the
unjust attacks OF the British Parliament. He was
one of the earliest that contemplated the ndepen-
dence of the country, and her separation from the
mother country. No man in the Cong ess of 177G
did so much as he did TO procure the declaration of
Inde pendencc. 1t is believed that the motion was
made by member from Virginia at his suggestion
that he seconded the motion and sustained it by most
powerful and reslstless argument. BY his infuence
!: Also Mr.. Jefferson was placed at the head of the
committee who framed the declaration. His rea
son for procuring the motion 10 come from Vir
ginia and OF placing one OF her delegation at the
head oil the Committee, was TO engage the hearty
cooperation Of that great State in the work of in
, dependence BY the committee who were appoin
ted on the subject of separation from the mother
: country, Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Adams ap.
pointed sub committee to Frame Declaration Of
Q independence. The draft reported, was that of Mr..
Jefferson, and he has deservedly received great
$ credit for it. But those who consider how much
easier it is 10 draft report than to procure its pas
sage and adoption, and who reflect, that MIR. Jeffer
son never spoke in public, and that John Adams was
the bold and daring spirit of the Congress of 17-6
and the eloquent advocate Of its boldes measures
cannot fail to award him the highest honor which
the adoption of that declaration could confer From
the declaration of Independence until the peace
Mr.. Adams was employed in the same glorious
q cause Whilst Washington, a, the head of our
II armies was fighting the battles of Liberty and de-
= tending our country from the ravages OF the enemy
e Adams was employed in service less brilliant, bu
= scarcely less important Through the whole war
he was excrng his talents a, the various courts
10 Europe, to obtain loans and alliances, and every
snccor to sustain armies and The cause OF Libcr
$. iy and our Independence Nor did his abors CEASE
40 until he had accomplished every object for which hi
was sent abroad nor until he had sealed our indie
$. pendence by Treaty Of Peace, which lie signed
I'd with Great Britain.
c Immediately after the Treaty of Peace, he wa
e, appointed Ambassador to Great Britain Jon tn
adoption OF the Constitution he was elected frs
Vice President OF the United States. During tn
whole period of the Presidency OF Washington, NJ,
nc Adams was Vice President. He was as uniIorml
&c consulted by Washington as though he had been
III member OF his cabinet, all important question.
nd On the death of Washington, Mr.. Adams was elec
ID ted his successor.
Or, During the administration Of Mr.. Adams, part
1871 spirit ragged without restraint Too independer
himself to wear the trammels Of either party, he W.