Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-02-19

no eye for science, no taste for it, except wher
stimulated by the presence of Franklin. AT tn,
age of 40, he was the ablcst lawyer in America
the most learned in historic lore, the mos
profound in the study of first principles lie
always went to the fountains of English law
and did otscruple to follow the stream through
all its many tributary channels. His first opin.
ion was often faulty but his final thought was
commonly deep, strong, and represented thu
true relations of things,-lIcnce, in spite of hi.
great defects, he had naturally instructive sagac-
ity, and always a sound judgment. In respect
to this, think he has not had justice done him,
either by friend or foe But in all the great act,
OF his lite-in his defence of Capt. Prcston-hi,
controversy with Gov. llutchinson,-his i'm.
peachment of the judgcs,-his appointment oil
Ministers to France when the nation said mo -
and the likc,-all these things indicate sound
practical judgment.
But he lacked method in his intellectual pro-
cesSes. He had not that genius which is It's
own method, not yet the sober, systematic habit
OF work, which, though seemingly Slow is found
at last so swift and sure. lie did things "hcl-
ter-shelter." In his administration as President
there was no rule for anything. lie had fair
Imagination above the average of the cducat-
ed men of that time but not equal to his un-
dcrstanding. Besides, he had small opportuni-
ty for cultiyating it in early life, or developing
1t in later. Yet he was rather fond of poetry,
had an ear for music, and was charmed with the
painting and sculpture and grand architecture
which so astonish the American in Europe
lie had great reason, though its culture was
defective, and his method caprcious and uncer-
tain. lie had not the calmnoss for philoso-
pher, yet he always ookcd for the causes Of
things, studied carefully and demanded proof.
His philosophical and metaphysical turn APP
pears in all his writings. lie was bold in alb
stract speculation; always bottomcd his work
on ultimate principles of nature. lie is often
profound in his remarks and think no Amer
lean politician has ever uttered more profound
truths than fell from the mighty mind of John
Adams. He certainly had not mind If the
highest class. If he was the first American of
that day after Franklin, he was second to him
by long interval, and he had several COMPETE
tors, not very far behind. lie was not quite
wen baanccdi he tipped this way now, then
that
thus constituted, he was an originator, but
not great one. lie was often in advance Of
his time, especially in planning his scheme for
universal religious liberation, and his scheme
for the government of the individual States
He ran before the torcmaSt of his time ia seeing
the neco ss;ty fur Navy and for Military
Academy. He sought the Military Academy in
l7S9 and founded it in 1899.
As an organizer he had to deal with political
ideas, and construct them into Il constitution.
but he had only the smallest talent for oreanz-
ing men. lie could plan government with
great skill, but he was never a practical politi-
clan, who understands the art Of organizing men
about his idea, to defend his measures and make
his thought their thing. Here thcrcwore many
before him. and hence the great failure of his
life. Constructing institutions he could not
organize men, nor manage them when organ
lied. lie was not good administrator, except
of his own private affairs, where, perhaps, his
thrifty wife was the presiding spirit. He had
no il',c'U. hut was governed by the heonihusiasm
" '',S 'i'o.''o'. III ',ie mus i H''''''.
II: I'ae. "'n' " To'N nuci!A WIN h'S,i' an"
M',Tu, ,-Sn buou nc'u; as I'll Iloll".'s'' I" ans
III 'oo' he I'n NloIe''i! Gown steep piaees'
t''o',sS WV Wv Nv 'H,' V, Ut y. against i" 80
no Ploiu'eu " "Si'.S'o Coh,N '',"'I MEL
n'NSi .ol's"i'nS nun pVloie el"i'"' AN n"U,
Np'"",uoI III U' ic,,'r oi iG" pusos "ou't
~ 49, al '.'O quH' 'V' N"'o" gre" ""t "'
tit' act lie ac'eu oiteh rom personal Nnln
a.'I C,Prlcei li ume oi great Poii,lc'I crisis
90 r iel' 'liy sc"' " soNer,ihcl't ana went
Ia ~ Nuenc!' Wnere ne s'"Hen months ioiR'
,ea' ,. iii's an'is 70 hiaho8e themselves OF ms
'ieIeeiouS cabinet toinahaSe 'neh against NM
ne was nor succvsSlui rs auiplomauSt ABROAD
", e, "Ae oo iesIIei.'' "
G so ms li!liess icr any ioreiSh position IN ms
MS "uI'is'ra',oh' ne was not great or prosper
Jus iie couiu MOI organize h"toh Nell' nor
in"h1se MS party. iel II must be confessed
@ Sllat nc won q great uiPi1nia,ic victory IN mol
1HnG' I NieIe nc was ea'ieu Inc ashlhStoh oi
Di'I4moey'
'onh -tdInnS ni h9e great moral virtues ana great
wees AolG-Dodied' compact ana vigorous
lnougn not Always heaithy' ne mad physical cour,
aSc-ii scnoiari! men, IL Is great virtue ana
Int tair. ne says ne meant 10 oe a Soluier' out
uono'cr n, whether ne shoulo DC nero or cow
aru' r ihere was no occasion Tor the DOUBT
mere was NOT crop oil the co"erdiy blood IN
those manly impetuous VEINS. lie inherited what
WE can ,SPa%, ana we an know he transmit
eu II. (Loua applause') lie had moral cour-
age IN Ia herolc degree lie could not only face
'nc DulictS oi abriuSh mah-oi-wer, put ne conla
CONFRONT ,he wrath OF MS own friends Tor de-
ichuihg preston IN lno, ana bear the lndlgna-
,ioh ana Jeers oIthe Federal party IN l'9'' tor
MS uuhGranee 10 What ne beileved to be the
IiSht' Let MN only be sure he was nght, and
1ohn Adams feared only to be false to his con-
sclence. "heh the Judges OF Massachusetts,
went uh1cr the goiden chsin oil britain III 1913,
ana the governor heid IT low, IN order to have
tneni i 500. s1oop more low before the people Adams