131John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 May 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
As Holly is a Diamond of a Superiour Water, it would be crushed to pouder by mountainous oppression in any other Country. Even in this, he is a light Shining in a dark place. His System is founded in the hopes of Mankind: but they delight more in their Fears. When will Men have juster Notions of the Universal eternal Cause? Then will rational Christianity prevail. I regrett Hollys Misfortune...
132From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 1 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
No Man could have written from Memory Mr Otis’s Argument of four or five hours against The Acts of Trade as Revenue Laws Writts of Assistants, as a tyrannical Engine to execute them the next day after it was spoken. How awkward then would be an attempt to do it after a lapse of fifty seven years? Nevertheless, Some of the heads of his discourse are So indellibly imprinted on my Mind, that I...
133From John Adams to Daniel Putnam, 5 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday your kind Letter of the 23d of May with a Copy of your Letter to President Monroe of the 21. of May. Neither myself, nor my Family have been able to read either with dry Eyes. They are Letters that would do honour to the pen of Pliny. I had before been indebted to the Politeness of Mr Brinley for the Pamphlet. You ask “Whether any dissatisfaction existed in the public mind...
134From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 7 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
No man could have written from memory Mr Otis’s Agument of four or five hours in length, against The Acts of Trade, considered as Revenue Laws, and against Writts of Assistance, as tyrannical Engines to carry them into execution, the next day after it was Spoken. How awkward then, is an Attempt to do it, after a Lapse of fifty Seven Years? Nevertheless, Some of the heads of his discourse, are...
135From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 9 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have promised you, hints, of the heads of Mr Otis’s Oration, Argument Speech, call it which you please, again the Acts of Trade as Revennue Laws, and against Writts of Assistants as Tyrannical Instruments to carry them into Execution.— But I enter on the performance of my promise to you not without fear and trembling; because I am in the Situation of a Lady, Whom you know first as my Client,...
136From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 17 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
The next Statute produced & commented by Mr Otis was the 15th. of Charles the Second, i.e. 1663, Chapter 7. “An Act for the Encouragement of Trade.” Section 5. “And in regard his Majesty’s Plantations beyond the Seas are inhabited and peopled by his Subjects of this his Kingdom of England.” for the maintaining a greater Correspondence and Kindness between them, and keeping them in a firmer...
137From John Adams to George Brinley, 19 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 16th. My letter to Col Daniel Putnam of the 5th. is at his and your disposal. You may publish any part of it, or the whole at your discretion. I wish the young Gentleman of the Age would undertake an analytical Investigation of the Constitution of the Army at Cambridge and of the detachment from it at Bunkers Hill and Breeds Hill on the 16 and 17th of June....
138From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 24 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr Otis Said Such a “Writt of Assistance” might become the Reign of Charles the Second in England, and he would not dispute the Taste of the Parliament of England, in passing Such an Act, nor of the People of England in submitting to it; but it was not calculated for the Meridian of America. The Court of Exchequer had no Jurisdiction here. Her Warrant, and her, Writts never were Seen here. Or...
139From John Adams to Henry Colman, 9 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for giving me an Opportunity to read a Discourse which I greatly regretted that the feeble State of my health would not allow me to hear. Your Text is the Sublimest Expression of Patriotism, that ever was penned as far as I know.—Your Simple Scrutiny into the physical and moral Motives to Patriotism, proves that a Man who does not love his Country Native Country is a Monster, an...
140From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 9 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
In the Search for Something, in the History and Statutes of England, in any degree resembling this Monstrum horrondum ingens the Writt of Assistance, the following Examples were found. In the Statute of the first Year of King James the Second Chapter third “An Act for granting to his Majesty an imposition upon all Wines and Vinegar &c ” ; Section 8, it is enacted “That the Officers of his...