The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-06-27

tinental Congress, and they had
right to their grave faces, for Lexington and CO
cord had just been fought, and all of them kne
the disgusting details of the old British law
treason
Among those men were two whose fates fro
that time forward were to be linked in stran
fashion One of them rode down from the mort
the other up from the south The northern
was a somewhat sour-visaged man, nearing t
age of forty, whose big wig and the legalistic
turn of his talk betrayed the fact that he was
disciple Of the then living Blackstone. Some
what inclined to be irascible, censorious and
vain. he was yet man Of high public charac
ter and pure private morals-a diluted Puritan
viewing the world through the Puritan's sus-
picious and somewhat jaundiced vision 1t was
the second time that he had ridden down to
Philadelphia, for he had been a member OF the
First Continental Congress- in which his
knowledge Of affairs. patriotic convictions
high courage and keen legal mind had given
him an honorable place
The man who rode up from the south was
younger by seven years, slender of frame, with
freckled skin, curly red hair and hazel gray
eyes that betrayed kindly yet wthal de-
termined spirit. Though Virginia gentleman
Of large means, he displayed a disposition to-
ward what in later days was called demo
cratic simplicity" He brought with him a
reputation for science, literature and happy
talent for composition. 1t was whispered that,
in addition to the classics, he understood
Spanish, French, Italian, was learning German
and contemplated studying Gaelic; that he
knew how to calculate an eclipse plan build
Ing set broken bone try lawsuit, and
dance the minuet. Those Of his fellow-mem-
bers who came to know him intimately dis
covered that he was, in addition, most agree
able and considerable companion, that he
passionatey fond Of playing the violin, and
that occasionally he wrote poetry.
These men were John Adams and Thomas
Jefferson. They speedily became friends
Adams wrote of his fellow-member HE was
80 prompt. frank, explicit and decisive upon
committees and in conversation that he soon
won my heart"
year passed and the revolt that was be-
gun to preserve our rights as Englishmen
rpened into revolution. The time came when
a separation that already existed in fact must
be formally recognized in name also. And
upon the roll of the committee of five named
to prepare the declaration Of that fact to the
world stood the names of Thomas Jefferson
and John Adams.
Jefferson wrote the immortal document but
the task of defending it before the Congress
fell chiefly upon the doughty Adams. And we'll
did he perform It, "He was our Colossus on
the floor" wrote Jefferson in grateful acknowl-
edgement.
Unlike as Jefferson and Adams were in tenn
permanent training, and political ideals, those
anxious days Of association in noble work
created bond of sympathy that time nor all
the bitterness of party strife could not de-
Btroy.
For some years, however, their paths lay
in different places It was not until they rep
resented their infant country at two European
courts that they were again thrown into close
association When the ,Adamses visited Paris
in 1885 they were frequently entertained by
Jefferson and the relations between the two
families were SO friendly that Abigail Adams
wrote: II shall really regret to leave Mr..
Jefferson; he is one of the choice ones OF
earth" Subsequently, in describing the diff
culties of her husbands position at an I'M
friendly court, she said: in Mr.. Jefferson he
has a firm and faithful friend with whom he
can consult and advise They have un
limited confidence in each other"
Our twain were next brought into close
association in the administration of Washing
ton-Adams as president and Jefferson as
secretary of state. And then began an unfor-
tunate "rift within the Lutte"
Adams, though of rather plebeian birth, In
clined to aristocracy; he believed that the
rich, the wel1-born and the able" ought to
rule Shabbily as he had been treated while
minister at the court of st. James, he sympa-
thized with monarchical Britain in her strug
gle with republican France. Jefferson, though
Of aristocratic lineage, not aristocrat.
Equal rights to all, special privileges for
none'-a longer name for "the square deal
was his political creed. Not for the sake Of