John Adams: Party Divisions in America

John Adams: Party Divisions in America

▪ Primary Source
      John Adams's astute comments on the origin and growth of political parties were prompted by a pamphlet, Crisis, which had been sent to him by its author, William Keteltas. Adams, who had followed Washington in the presidency, had been out of office for 11 years when he wrote this letter to Keteltas on November 25, 1812.

      I have received your polite letter of the 6th of the month and your present of the Crisis. You will excuse a question or two. In page first, you say, "Our administrations, with the exception of Washington's, have been party administrations." On what ground do you except Washington's? If by party you mean majority, his majority was the smallest of the four in all his legislative and executive acts, though not in his election.

      You say, "our divisions began with Federalism and anti-Federalism." Alas! they began with human nature; they have existed in America from its first plantation. In every colony, divisions always prevailed. In New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, and all the rest, a court and country party have always contended. Whig and Tory disputed very sharply before the Revolution, and in every step during the Revolution. Every measure of Congress, from 1774 to 1787, inclusively, was disputed with acrimony, and decided by as small majorities as any question is decided in these days. We lost Canada then, as we are like to lose it now, by a similar opposition. Away, then, with your false, though popular, distinctions in favor of Washington.

      In page eleventh, you recommend a "constitutional rotation, to destroy the snake in the grass"; but the snake will elude your snare. Suppose your president in rotation is to be chosen for Rhode Island. There will be a Federal and a Republican candidate in that state. Every Federalist in the nation will vote for the former, and every Republican for the latter. The light troops on both sides will skirmish; the same Northern and Southern distinctions will still prevail; the same running and riding; the same railing and reviling; the same lying and libeling, cursing and swearing will still continue. The same caucusing, assemblaging, and conventioning.

      In the same page eleventh, you speak of a "portion of our own people who palsy the arm of the nation." There is too much truth in this. When I was exerting every nerve to vindicate the honor, and demand a redress of the wrongs, of the nation against the tyranny of France, the arm of the nation was palsied by one party. Now, Mr. Madison is acting the same part, for the same ends, against Great Britain, the arm of the nation is palsied by the opposite party. And so it will always be while we feel like colonists, dependent for protection on France or England; while we have so little national public opinion, so little national principle, national feeling, national patriotism; while we have no sentiment of our own strength, power, and resources.

Source: The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, with a Life of the Author, Charles Francis Adams, ed., 1850-1856, 10 vols.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Adams, John — born Oct. 30, 1735, Braintree, Mass. died July 4, 1826, Quincy, Mass., U.S. U.S. politician, first vice president (1789–97) and second president (1797–1801) of the U.S. After graduating from Harvard College in 1755, he practiced law in Boston. In …   Universalium

  • Adams George Archibald — Sir Adams George Archibald, KCMG , PC (May 3, 1814 ndash; December 14, 1892) was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as Lieutenant Governor of… …   Wikipedia

  • Democratic-Republican Party — This article is about the American political party. For the South Korean political party, see Democratic Republican Party (South Korea). Democratic Republican Party or Republican Party …   Wikipedia

  • The United States of America —     The United States of America     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► The United States of America     BOUNDARIES AND AREA     On the east the boundary is formed by the St. Croix River and an arbitrary line to the St. John, and on the north by the… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • History of the United States Democratic Party — The History of the United States Democratic Party is an account of the oldest political party in the United States and arguably the oldest democratic party in the world. [citation | last=Witcover | first=Jules | year=2003 | chapter=1 | page=3.… …   Wikipedia

  • presidency of the United States of America — ▪ United States government Introduction  chief executive office of the United States. In contrast to many countries with parliamentary forms of government, where the office of president, or head of state, is mainly ceremonial, in the United… …   Universalium

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, country in N. America. This article is arranged according to the following outline: introduction Colonial Era, 1654–1776 Early National Period, 1776–1820 German Jewish Period, 1820–1880 East European Jewish Period,… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • North Adams, Massachusetts —   City   Bird s eye view of North Adams, 1905 …   Wikipedia

  • Canadian Senate divisions — Canada This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Canada   …   Wikipedia

  • Labour Party (UK) — Labour Party …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”