John Adams, Thoughts on Government - Abridgment Series

Following is an abridged excerpt from Thoughts on Government , by John Adams (Apr. 1776 Papers 4:86-93). John Adams was a human catalyst for the formation of the United States, a Founding Father , the Second President of the United States.

This abridged excerpt provides insight into the mind of a great thinker. What becomes exposed—perhaps not so subtlety—is the lost fabric of studied philosophy in today's political leadership. Indeed, we can observe Adam's breadth and depth of free and comparative study of Eastern and Western philosophy, with theistic and atheistic sources. Adams has a full view of man existing within the scope of men, which requires an open mind embracing truth, and knowledge of human nature.

If a common theme may be suggested, Adam's framework is drawn much from the Republic of Plato , in the sense that the government of people is a larger metaphor for government of self, being the subject of whims, weaknesses, corruptions, disciplines, and purposes of each of us, as human beings: thusly, to allow freedom to achieve the best of us, while controlling freedom to prevent the worst of us.

We should also note that the Founder Fathers' usage of the word "happiness" is not flippant, such as it is used today; the word "happiness" is intended as a deeply powerful word, entwined with the very ultimate blessings or benefits of man on Earth.

Happiness is the applied perfection of humanity.

The excerpt below is abridged and edited for the purpose of this forum, and the complete text is linked above and here .

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Thoughts on Government , by John Adams

The divine science of politics is the science of social happiness. The blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of government, which are generally institutions that last for many generations.

There can be no employment more agreeable to a benevolent mind, than a research after the best. And, we ought to consider, what is the end of government, before we determine which is the best form.

Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all Divines and moral Philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man.

From this principle it will follow, that the form of government, which communicates ease, comfort, security, or in one word happiness to the greatest number of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best.

All sober inquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian , have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue. Confucius , Zoroaster , Socrates , Mohammed , not to mention authorities really sacred, have agreed in this.

If there is a form of government then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general happiness than any other form?

Fear is the foundation of most governments; but is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men, in whose breasts it predominates, so stupid, and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.

Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue.?Indeed the former is but a part of the latter, and consequently [honor alone] has not equal pretensions [to virtue] to support a frame of government productive of human happiness.

The foundation of every government is some principle or passion in the minds of the people. The noblest principles and most generous affections in our nature then, have the fairest chance to support the noblest and most generous models of government.

A man must be indifferent to the sneers of modern Englishmen to mention in their company the names of Sidney , Harrington , Locke , Milton , Nedham , Neville , Burnet , and Hoadly .

No small [defensive] fortitude is necessary to confess that one has read them [being new and free thinkers].?Yet, they will convince any candid mind, that there is no good government but what is [a constitutional republic], because the very definition of a Republic [being without royalty], is "an Empire of Laws, and not of men."

Of Republics as the best type of governments [based upon laws and not men], the particular form that is best contrived to secure an impartial and exact execution of the laws, is the best of Republics. Of Republics, there is an inexhaustable variety, because the possible combinations of the powers of society, are capable of innumerable variations.

As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made??

In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is impossible that the whole should assemble, to make laws: The first necessary step then, is, to depute power from the many, to a few of the most wise and good.?Great care should be taken to effect this, and to prevent unfair, partial, and corrupt elections.?

A representation of the people in one assembly being obtained, a question arises whether all the powers of government, legislative, executive, and judicial, shall be left in this body??

I think a people cannot be long free, nor ever happy, whose government is in one Assembly [without checks and balances].?My reasons for this opinion are as follow.

1. A single Assembly is liable to all the vices, follies and frailties of an individual. Subject to fits of mood, starts of passion, flights of enthusiasm, partialities of prejudice, and consequently productive of hasty results and absurd judgments: And all these errors ought to be corrected and defects supplied by some controlling power.
2. A single Assembly is apt to be avaricious, and in time will not be morally disciplined enough to exempt itself from burdens which it will lay, without compunction, on its constituents.
3. A single Assembly is apt to grow ambitious, and after a time will not hesitate to vote itself perpetual.?This was one fault of the long parliament, but more remarkably of Holland, whose Assembly first voted themselves from annual to septennial, then for life, and after a course of years, that all vacancies happening by death, or otherwise, should be filled by themselves, without any application to constituents at all.
4. A Representative Assembly, although extremely well qualified, and absolutely necessary as a branch of the legislature, is unfit to exercise the executive power, for want of two essential properties, secrecy and dispatch.
5. A Representative Assembly is still less qualified for the judicial power; because it is too numerous, too slow, and too little skilled in the laws.
6. Because a single Assembly, possessed of all the powers of government, would make arbitrary laws for their own interest, execute all laws arbitrarily for their own interest, and adjudge all controversies in their own favor.

But shall the whole power of legislation rest in one Assembly??

Most of the foregoing reasons apply equally to prove that the legislative power ought to be more complex—to which we may add, that if the legislative power is wholly in one Assembly, and the executive in another, or in a single person, these two powers will oppose and enervate upon each other, until the contest shall end in war, and the whole power, legislative and executive, be usurped by the strongest.

The judicial power, in such case, could not mediate, or hold the balance between the two contending powers, because the legislative would undermine it. And this shows the necessity too, of giving the executive power a negative upon the legislative, otherwise this will be continually encroaching upon that.

To avoid these dangers let a [distinct] Assembly be constituted, as a mediator between the two extreme branches of the legislature, that which represents the people and that which is vested with the executive power. And these and all other elections, especially of Representatives, and Councillors, should be annual, there not being in the whole circle of the sciences, a maxim more infallible than this, "Where annual elections end, there slavery begins." These great men, in this respect, should be, once a year "Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne, They rise, they break, and to that sea return."

This will teach them the great political virtues of humility, patience, and moderation, without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey.

This mode of constituting the great offices of state will answer very well for the present, but if, by experiment, it should be found inconvenient, the legislature may at its leisure devise other methods of creating them, or make any other alterations which the society shall find productive of its ease, its safety, its freedom, or in one word, its happiness.

The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people and every blessing of society, depends so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.?The Judges therefore should always be men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness and attention.?Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man or body of men.?To these ends they should hold estates for life in their offices, or in other words their commissions should be during good behavior, and their salaries ascertained and established by law.?For misbehavior, they should have time and opportunity to make their defense, but if convicted should be removed from their offices, and subjected to such other punishment as shall be thought proper.

A Militia Law requiring all men, or with very few exceptions, besides cases of conscience, to be provided with arms and ammunition, to be trained at certain seasons, and requiring certain districts to be provided with field-pieces, companies of matrosses and perhaps some regiments of light horse, is always a wise institution, and in the present circumstances of our country indispensable.

Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially of the lower class of people, are so extremely wise and useful, that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant.

The very mention of consumption limitation laws will excite a smile.?Whether our countrymen have wisdom and virtue enough to submit to them I know not.?But the happiness of the people might be greatly promoted by them, and a revenue saved sufficient to carry on this war forever.?Frugality is a great revenue, besides curing us of vanities, levities and fopperies which are real antidotes to all great, manly and warlike virtues.

A Constitution, founded on these principles, introduces knowledge among the People, and inspires them with a conscious dignity, becoming Freemen.?A general emulation takes place, which causes good mood, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general.?

That elevation of sentiment, inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising.?That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious and frugal.?You will find among them some elegance, perhaps, but more solidity; a little pleasure, but a great deal of business—some politeness, but more civility.?

If you compare such a country with the regions of domination, whether Monarchial or Aristocratical , you will fancy yourself in Arcadia or Elisium . These Colonies, under such forms of government, and in such a union, would be unconquerable by all the Monarchies of Europe.

You and I, my dear Friend, have been sent into life, at a time when the greatest law-givers of antiquity would have wished to have lived. How few of the human race have ever enjoyed an opportunity of making an election of government more than of air, soil, or climate, for themselves or their children.?When!

When before the present epocha, had three millions of people full power and a fair opportunity to form and establish the wisest and happiest government that human wisdom can contrive??I hope you will avail yourself of that extensive learning and indefatigable industry which you possess, to assist her in the formations of the happiest governments, and the best character of a great People.?

For myself, I must beg you to keep my name out of sight, for this feeble attempt, if it should be known to be mine, would oblige me to apply to myself those lines of the immortal John Milton, in one of his sonnets:

I did but teach the age to quit their cloggs , By the plain rules of ancient Liberty. When lo! a barbarous noise surrounded me, Of owls and cuckoos, asses, apes and dogs.

John Adams

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Gregg Zegarelli is Managing Shareholder of Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC .?Gregg is nationally rated as "superb" and has more than 25 years of experience working with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes, including startups, INC. 500, and publicly traded companies.?He is Adjunct Professor in the Duquesne University Master of Leadership graduate degree program, currently teaching,?Developing Leadership Character Through Adversity.?He is author of One: The Unified Gospel of Jesus , and The Business of Aesop ? article series, and co-author with his father,?Arnold Zegarelli , of The Essential Aesop: For Business, Managers, Writers and Professional Speakers .?Gregg is a frequent lecturer, speaker and faculty for a variety of educational and other institutions.?Abridgment ? 2018 Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. ?Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn .

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/john-adams-thoughts-government-abridged-gregg-zegarelli-esq-/

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