1From John Adams to James Wood, 10 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address presented to me by Mr. Clopton your Representative in Congress. A free and equal Constitution of Government has rarely existed among Men. As almost all Mankind from the earliest accounts which remain, have deviated from the track, it is not surprizing that Foreigners in this age have not succeeded in the pursuit, especially as we knew they have all set out started...