Harry A. Cushing

“ Very important as were all these contributions to the movement toward revolution, the most effective literary work of Adams was, undoubtedly, the great number of newspaper articles, under various pseudonyms, in the patriotic Boston Gazette. In these he made plain the cause of the colonists, exposed the impracticability of any reconciliation, converted the hesitating and inspired the Radicals, and exerted a very far-reaching influence in preparing the popular mind for revolution and in hastening the approach of the crisis. ”

“ He was elected vice-president at the first election under the new constitution and served for two terms, exercising, in the formative years of political parties and in the time of nearly equal division of the Senate between them, a power seldom possessed by a vice-president. Where matters of foreign policy raised the questions at issue, Adams sympathized with England, and thus was thrown into opposition to the friends of France, led by Jefferson. ”

“ In the politics of his native State he always took an active and effective interest. He was one of the committee which prepared the present constitution of the State, the only constitution of the revolutionary period still in force. He served on the executive council of the State, was for several years lieutenant-governor, and three times was elected governor. He was considered an opponent of the federal constitution in 1788, but on his finally giving his voice in favor of adoption, with the proposal of amendments, its ratification was assured. He died in Boston, October 2, 1803. ”