A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documentsJudson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
History
A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documents
Judson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799; United States. Declaration of Independence -- Signers; Washington, George, 1732-1799
From 1789 to 1794 Mr. Adams was lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts,
and from that time to 1797 was governor of that state. He performed
the executive duties with great ability, and contributed largely in
raising his native domain to a flourishing condition and dignified
standing. He watched over all her interests with a parental care, and
viewed her rising greatness with an honest pride. He had seen her sons
writhing under the lash of oppression, and the bones of her daughters
bleaching in the wind. He now beheld the people independent and happy,
prosperous and virtuous. He could now depart in peace. His infirmities
and age admonished him to retire from the great theatre of public
action, on which he had so long been a prominent actor, and having
filled the gubernatorial chair for three years, he bid a final farewell
to political life, approved by his country, his conscience and his
God. His health continued to decrease gradually with each returning
autumn, and on the 3d of October, 1803, his immortal spirit left its
tenement of clay, and soared aloft, on wings of faith, to mansions of
bliss beyond the skies, where flow rivers of joy for evermore. He died,
rejoicing in the merits of his glorified Redeemer, who had triumphed
over death and the grave. He had fought the good fight of faith, as
well as that of LIBERTY; and felt a full assurance of receiving a crown
of glory at the hands of King Immanuel.
Amidst all the turmoils of political and revolutionary strife, Mr.
Adams never neglected religious duties. When at home, he was faithful
to the family altar, and uniformly attended public worship when
practicable. He was a consistent every-day Christian, free from bigotry
and fanaticism, not subject to sudden contractions and expansions of
mind, rather puritanical in his views, yet charitable in his feelings,
and not disposed to persecute any one for the sake of opinion. He
adorned his profession of Christianity by pure moral conduct, and
the most scrupulous honesty, during his whole life. As a public man
and a private citizen, he was highly esteemed, and richly earned a
place in the front rank of the fathers of the American revolution.
He placed a low value upon riches, and died poor, but not the less
esteemed because of his poverty. He placed a high value upon common
school education, and a _proper_ estimate upon the higher branches of
science. He was strongly in favour of teaching the great mass of the
people the rudiments of an English education, even should it be at the
expense of the classics. General intelligence, widely and thoroughly
disseminated, he considered one of the strongest bulwarks to preserve
the independence of a nation against the innovations of intriguing and
designing men, who regard _self_ more than the glory of their country.
He took a liberal, expansive, and philosophic view of every subject he
investigated, and formed his conclusions only from a close conviction
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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