New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-25
jealousy Of wealth or social prominence The popu.

moro influence with them than any other man. In
his writings, he reproaches the pride Of those who
would "destlse their neighbours happiness because
he wears q worsted cap or leathcrn apron" As
long as he lived, his sympathies were with the poor
and lowly. His voice and peh were constantly
employed for the common people. Hisrare temper.
ance and frugality gave him few wants, and his
powers of endurance fitted him for ceaseless indus
try. He seems 10 have been born for the times in
which he lived, the child of the age on which in
return he impressed the features of his own char
aeter.
In his mode of life, Samuel Adams preserved the
modest and frugal simplicity, which seemed to bea
part of his nature. His dwelling was large old
fashioned house, built early in the last century, but
already showing marks of the rayages of time. In
the rear of the residence was paved courtyard
and garden adorned With flowers and shrubbey.
The interior was model of neatness and Thrifty
housekeeping. The furniture was old but substan-
tal. He always walked with his family to and
from church, until his faiing strenth prevented.
He wore a tie-wig, cooked hat, buckled shoes,
knee-breeches and red cloak. His stature was
little above the medium hight. Hrs carriage was
very easy and erect. His address was that Of a
polished gentleman, though marked to some cx-
tent by the statelincss Of the old school His CON-
p!exon was norid, and his eyes dark blue. His
heavy eyebrows presented remarkable contrast TO
his clear forehead which at the age of seventy had
but few wrinkles. The face had q benignant
though careworn expression, with sngulary i'm
preseive native dignity. He kept frugal table,
but without parsimony. He cat little, and of the
simplest food. He was often satisfied with milk
and coarse brown bread. On public occasions,
where wine was used, no rarely went further than
to touch single glass to his lips. Grace preceded
every meal and the old Bible was read with morn
ing and evening prayer.
The political system of Samuel Adams was a rigid
development of the democratic principle, to which
he chung with inyincible tenacity throughout his
life. He never lost his faith in the capacity of the
people to govern themselves. The theory which
would place political power in the hands of select
few he considered as destructive TO liberty. After
the establishment of Independence, he sided with
Jefferson, and other statesmen, who feared the sub
sidence of the spirit of democracy, and the gradual
building up of military or aristocratic family
power The ideas of Hamilton, Gouverneur Nor
ris, John Adams, and Fisher Ames found in him
strenuous opponent, as at war with the true Repub-
lican doctrines from which the Revolution had pro-
ceeded in the Northern States. He believed that
the education Of the people under system Of pO-
ltical equality, would encourage O manly develop
ment Of character that they would never require
rulers from the privileged Glasses. lie was willing
to stake the success Of the republican experiment
upon the virtue and intelligence Of the masses,
under the influence of an enlightened and generous
education.
To secret societies and combinations, such as
Free Masonry, he was decidedly averse. He
dreaded their political effect in promoting the
growth of hereditary and family power, leading to
the establishment. Of arstocratic grades above the
people, and thus exerting an influence hostile to
republican liberty. He also dslikcd the desire
which had become common in certain families to
trace their descent to noble sources in England.
Orders, coats-of.arms, and all the distinctions OF
heraldry, he regarded as mere trumpery, barren OF
significance TO every American.
Mr.. Adams's doctrine Of State Rights elai,as an
unusual importance at this mopeIt, when Re-
belon founded on perversitn Of that doctupe,
has recently imperiled the existence of the Re-
public. In bis public addresses while governor of
Massachusetts,, he repeatedly enjoins obedience to
the Federal Constitution and the State Common
wealth as distinct but correlative authorities. But
while he was solicitous for tho preservation OF
State Sovereignty in, the administration OF local
government, he asserted with equal decision the
supremacy of the Federal power for all purposes OF
nationality. His views on this point give no
countensnce to the later assumption by the leaders
of the Rebellion, that State Sovereignty extended
TO general, as well as TO local affairs, and thus
established the right of destroying the Union at
Measure. Mr.. Adams viewed the Constitution as
a bond Of perpetual union and common projections
Mr.. Calhoun and his fiery disciples regarded it as
moro league of States to lie broken at the will OF
any member.
In preparing these volumes, Mr.. Wells, who is q
lineal descendant of Samuel Adams, has made
great use of the collection of papers, and other ma
teIials, which upon the death Of the compiler, Mr.
Samuel Adams Wells, passed into the hands Of Mr.
George Bancroft, to "whose genius, love Of truth
and discriminating judgment" the author remarks,
sis greatly due the increasing luster which time il
shedding on the name of Samuel Adams Other
sources of information have been diligently sought
in every quarter that could throw light on the po
hteal course of Adams, including town records,
files of old newspapers, contemporary pamphlets
and circulars, public archives in different States and
in the London State Paper Office, and the collee'
tons of historical and antiquarian societies.
The work attests on every page the thoroughnesa
and fidelity of research, the sound and discTiminat
ing Judgment, and the aptitude for literary compo-
stion which will give the author an honorable place
isAnr,cal xrters His mnihnd is IN the