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Samuel
Adams to Noah Webster
30 Apr. 1784Writings 4:305--6
I hope it will not be in the Power of any designing Men, by imposing
upon credulous tho' well meaning Persons long to keep this Country, who
may be happy if they will, long in a State of Discord & Animosity.
We may see, from the present State of Great Britain, how rapidly such a
Spirit will drive a Nation to destruction. It is prudent for the People
to keep a watchful Eye over the Conduct of all those who are entrusted
with Publick Affairs. Such Attention is the Peoples great Security. But
there is Decency & Respect due to Constitutional Authority, and
those Men, who under any Pretence or by any Means whatever, would lessen
the Weight of Government lawfully exercised, must be Enemies to our
happy Revolution & the Common Liberty. County Conventions &
popular Committees servd an excellent Purpose when they were first in
Practice. No one therefore needs to regret the Share he may then have
had in them. But I candidly own it is my Opinion, with Deference to the
Opinions of other Men, that as we now have constitutional & regular
Governments and all our Men in Authority depend upon the annual &
free Elections of the People, we are safe without them. To say the
least, they are become useless. Bodies of Men, under any Denomination
whatever, who convene themselves for the Purpose of deliberating upon
& adopting Measures which are cognizable by Legislatures only will,
if continued, bring Legislatures to Contempt & Dissolution. If the
publick Affairs are illy conducted, if dishonest or incapable Men have
crept unawares into Government, it is happy for us, that under our
American Constitutions the Remedy is at hand, & in the Power of the
great Body of the People. Due Circumspection & Wisdom at the next
Elections will set all right, without the Aid of any self Created
Conventions or Societies of Men whatever. While we retain those simple
Democracies in all our Towns which are the Basis of our State
Constitutions, and make a good Use of them, it appears to me we cannot
be enslaved or materially injured. It must however be confessed, that
Imperfection attends all human affairs.
The Writings of Samuel Adams. Edited by Harry Alonzo Cushing. 4 vols.
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1904--8.
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