Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-11-01
LETTER FROM JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

LETTER FROM JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
The following letter was addressed to MIR. e.
EDWARDS LESTER the translator of CEBA's Citizen
| q hepu6hc The book is good one, but Mr.,
Adams 2 letter superexcellent IL will be read by
old and young with undivided interest. We copy
II from the Miror,-INe,o York Express.
QUlNcr, (MAss) ocroBIn III, Is45.
Dean SIN IndisPosidon has delayed the answer which
should have been Immediately returned to your letter of
23d Of last month"; which received together with the CHI
zen of Republic" by Ansado Ceba for both Offer YOU
my cordial thanks, and particularly the dedication Of the
book.
II is remark believe Of Burke, " That liberty inheres
sensible object and that every nation has formed
itself avoe point which, by way Of emnence becomes
the criterion their happiness That the great contests for
freedom England were, from the earliest times, chiefly up
on the question of taxing That of the the
ancient commonwealth turned primarily the right Of the
election of magistrate the balance among the several
ders Of the The question Of money not with them
SO Immediate"
And pursuing the dea he shows that the question Of
our Revolution of liberty according to English
IDEAS and English principles and that the champions of
liberty England of ages had taken infinite
pains to ncucate fundamental principle, that in all mon
arches the people must in effect themselves medatey or
Immediately possess the power of granting their money,
adds "drew from England with their ife-bIood, these
ideas and principles Their love Of liberty with the Eng
sb fixed and attached this specific point of taxing, liberty
nhg'n ~ Of. 's@. W endangered in twenty other pari
culas without being much pleased alarmed here they
felt its pulse and they found that beat they thought them
| selves sick sound
The of the American Revolution, far as il was
contest between Great Britain and her colonies was thus
question Of property limitation merely of the power of Go
a..
principle, John Hanpdens question of shpmoney When
the progress Of the Revolution changed the principle of the
controversy for independence and the colonies
called to form constitutions of and federative
union for themselves the question OF taxation became but
of many other principles in the organization Of government
involving the whole theory of human rights, and all the oun
daos Of liberty aked upon the fabric Of the social compact
Perhaps the circumstances alluded TO by Burke that
controversy with Great Britain had originated in those ideas
liberty which fathers had brought with them from Eng
land and which concentrated upon the simple point OF
axaiion has retained undue proportion Of influence in our
estimate of liberty down to the present time
The Italian Republics of tia middle ages founded also
upon principles of liberty differently modified and indssolubly
with the right Of ration Oustatesmen patriots,
legislators and people, still confined by the ties OF Ian
guage great degree TO the literature Of England An
Italian writer Of preceding that of the civil wars IN Eng
land the seventeenth century, writing the duties of
Citzen of Republic with the history Of Italy added to
that of Greece and Rome before him. must have embraced
wider scope the consideration Of liberty and Of human rights
than be found in the contracted sphere of the conflicting
principle of freedom and Of power in the English writers OF
| the seventeenth century.
SHALL therefore, make il point to read with attention the
work of Cebs and should my of health hereafter permit
will freely give you my opinion concerning it. Liberty u sil
country vital question of politics. morals and religion
question upon which have yet much to learn, and our
postey much The days Of my participation in
passed. hut the prayer for its progress and universal prevalence
! remains TO the last moment Of my life.
am, dear sir very respectfully, your eow-citzen and
i friend, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.