John Adams nailed the US today
Learning about the US founders leads to finding great insight. I came across words from John Adams as President of the United States. I copy the whole letter below (it’s out of copyright), but call attention to a few notes.
The words some people know: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” He’s saying we have to know our values and act on them, not take things for granted.
What also caught my attention is a sentence in the wordiness of the time, but seemed to me to nail the US today, maybe not completely, but well enough to show how predictable our situation: “should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World.”
Simplifying, he’s saying that we’ll make ourselves miserable if we talk justice and moderation while practicing their opposites. Likewise if we claim to speak openly, frankly, and sincerely but plunder and insult.
It seems to me like he saw today coming. My point isn’t to criticize us but to show that our problems aren’t new or insoluble. The Constitution goes a long way to solving how to live together without hurting each other. I contend that we should enforce it, especially the parts that I see preventing pollution and depletion: that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, and property without due process of law.
From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia
11 October 1798
To the Officers of the first Brigade of the third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts
Quincy October 11, 1798
Gentlemen,
I have received from Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker your unanimous Address from Lexington, animated with a martial Spirit and expressed with a military Dignity, becoming your Characters and the memorable Plains, in which it was adopted.
While our Country remains untainted with the Principles and manners, which are now producing desolation in so many Parts of the World: while she continues Sincere and incapable of insidious and impious Policy: We shall have the Strongest Reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned Us by Providence. But should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World. Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other
An Address so unanimous and firm from the officers commanding two thousand Eight hundred Men, consisting of such substantial Citizens as are able and willing at their own Expence, compleatly to arm, And cloath themselves in handsome Uniforms does honor to that Division of the Militia which has done so much honor to their Country. Oaths, in this Country, are as yet universally considered as Sacred Obligations. That which you have taken and so solemnly repeated on that venerable Spot is an ample Pledge of your sincerity, and devotion to your Country and its Government.
John Adams
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