Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-07-26
ADAMS AND JEFFERSON,
A Remarkable Historical Parallal,

It was noticed at the time and has
since remained one OF the most remark
able condolences of history, that Adams
and Jefferson should die on the same.
and such a day-the semi-centennial of
our nations birth, July 4, 1926. Both
were old men, Adams having been born
in Massachusetts in 1885, and Jefferson
in Virginia in 1743, each coming into
the world just after Washington, and
like him spending their boyhood in
those peculiarly preparative times which
Immediately preceded the revolution.
Both had the benefits of collegiate edu-
cation, Adams entering Harvard college
at l6 and graduating four years later,
and Jefferson entering William and
Mary College at II and remaining two
years when he went away with high
donors. Both first gave attention to the
law, and in it attained some distinction.
Both were early called to political Office,
Adams being sent as representative to
the provincial congress of his native
state in ITO, and Jefferson to the Vir-
einia house of burgesses the previous
year. In June l774 Adams was sent to
the general congress of the colonies,
where, one year later, he was joined by
Jefferson. It is easily remembered that
they thus represented the two chiefest
colonies.
Massachusetts may he said to have
led in the final separation of the colonies
from the mother country by her instruc-
tions to her delegates and by the re-
port of the committee of which Adams
was chairman, which report called on
the colonies to adopt such government
as would best oonduce to their individual
safety and happiness in particular and
of America in general. To this Virginia
promptly responded month later (June
z, 1776) by the direct proposition Of r.
II. Lee for separation, and under which
the committee to draft the declaration
OF independence was appointed. Ofthis
committee Of five Jefferson was made
chairman by the highest number of
votes. Adams received one less, and
was therefore second on the committee.
Adams and Jefferson we're made SUBJ
committee to draft the instrument. It
was written by Jefferson, but on Adams
devolved the extreme labor of carrying
the measure drought congress. 1t was
bitterly opposed. For three days, hot
July days, the discussion continued.
The vote carried July 4, l776.
Adams and Jefferson were afterwards
made committee to prepare articles of
war for the army. Adams wrote them.
Both became foreign ministers, Adams
being sent to France in 1777, made peace
commissioners to England the next year,
and minister to the court of st. James in
1885. In these and similar places of
trust he remained abroad ten years. JEFF
ferson was made minister plenipotentiary
to Europe to assist Adams and Franklin
in negotiating treaties of commerce in
1854, aud minister to France the year
following. Both we're vice presidents,
Adams under Washington eight years.
and Jefferson under Adams four years.
Each became president, Adams for one
term, succeeding Washington; Jefferson
for two terms, succeeding Adams. They
sympathized with each other in political
feeling and sentiment till 1889, when
Jefferson returned from France just as
the violence Of the French revolu-
ton began to appear. Although
Jefferson was from what is now
esteemed one Of the most aristo-
cratic states Of the Union, he was
in all respects a man OF the people with
whom he mingled freely and whose in
terests he always advocated. He was a
large Shareholder, but earnestly sought
to Danish the evil. In the house of bur
gesses in ITS, he procured the passage
of a bill forbidding the futu re importa-
ton Of slaves. Six years later, in the
continental congress, as chairman of a
committee to prepare plan for the tenn
porary government of the northwest ter
ritorv, he reported bill prohibiting any
slavery in it after 1900. On the other
hand, Adams was thorough aristocrat,
and in the matter of the French revolu-
ton favored the claims and measures of
royalty at the expense of those OF the
people. Adams initiated Washington in
maintaining certain relics of royalty in
the presidential Office; Jefferson dis
carded them and sent his first address to
congress by the hand of common mes
senger. Both were quite liberal in their
religious views, though they were far
from being irreligious men.