A fitting examination for July 4th: a brief foray into the final correspondence between Adams and Jefferson

 Much has been made of the correspondence that occurred between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in the last years of their lives.  This body of letters leaves us with keen and poignant insights on the nature of government and revolution, as well as the human condition.  While these men corresponded for years, there was a distinct rift that occurred between them after the presidential election of 1800, in which Jefferson beat Adams.  Believe me, there was a hell of a lot of skullduggery from each camp in that contest, leaving some very hurt feelings on the part of both men.  But, with the intervention of men like Dr. Benjamin Rush, a rapprochement was reached between the two men in 1812, and their correspondence gradually resumed.

I think that it is right and proper we consider some of these letters today of all days (July 4th).

From John Adams to Jefferson Feb. 3rd, 1812:

"...your Memoranda of the past, your Sense of the present and Prospect for the Future Seem to be well founded, as far as I See. But the Latter, i.e the Prospect of the Future, will depend on the Union: and how is that Union to be preserved. Concordiâ Res parve crescunt, Discordiâ Maximæ dilabuntur (this last is a quote from Sallust. Roughly translated: By concord even small states are increased, but by discord, even the greatest fall to nothing)...."

Adams was always far more optimistic that the strength of the central government would prevail over so-called "state's rights."  Hence the quote from Sallust, eh, Dear Reader? I've always found both Adams and Jefferson to be insightful as to the future destiny of this country.

Quincy July 16. 1814

Government has never been much Studied by Mankind. But their Attention has been drawn to it, in the latter part of the last Century and the beginning of this, more than at any former Period: and the vast Variety of experiments that have been made of Constitutions, in America in France, in Holland, in Geneva in Switzerland, and even in Spain and South America, can never be forgotten. They will be Studied, and their immediate and remote Effects, and final Catastrophys noted. The result in time will be Improvements, And I have no doubt thatt the horrors We have experienced for the last forty years, will ultimately terminate in the Advancement of civil and religious Liberty, and Ameliorations, in the condition of Mankind."

This is the letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to Adams after learning of Abigail's death:  11/13/1818:

Monticello Nov. 13. 18.

The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of Oct. 20. had given me ominous foreboding. tried myself, in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connection which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure. the same trials have taught me that, for ills so immeasurable, time and silence are the only medecines. I will not therefore, by useless condolances, open afresh the sluices of your grief nor, altho’ mingling sincerely my tears with yours, will I say a word more, where words are vain, but that it is of some comfort to us both that the term is not very distant at which we are to deposit, in the same cerement, our sorrows and suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved & lost and whom we shall still love and never lose again. God bless you and support you under your heavy affliction.

Th: Jefferson

I'd like to think that Thomas remembered his earlier affection for Abigail, and truly mourned her, although he'd lost her good opinion after he won that fateful presidential election.  Oh, the seduction of power....

I shall leave you with this short discourse. More next week!