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Details
ADAMS, Samuel. Autograph letter signed ("S. Adams") TO ELBRIDGE GERRY (1744-1814), Boston, 9 September 1783. 2½ pages, 4to, traces of mounting along edges, recipient's docket.
"THE WELFARE & PERHAPS THE BEING OF THE UNITED STATES DEPENDS MUCH UPON CONGRESS POSSESSING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE"
"THE WAR IS NOW OVER, AND THE PEOPLE TURN THEIR EYES TO THE DISPOSITION OF THEIR MONEY." A candid and impassioned letter expressing his hopes for the Confederation Congress and his fears of a Treasury department corrupted by powerful money interests. "The Welfare, & perhaps the Being of the United States, in my opinion, depends much upon Congress possessing the confidence of the People at large," he tells Gerry. It is crucial that the people see "the administration of publick affairs being manifestly grounded upon principles of equality & justice" in order for Congress to "merit their confidence." The "Congress...is & must be the cement of the Union of the States." Adams realizes that an important change is coming: "The war is now over, and the People turn their eyes to the disposition of their money. A subject which I hope Congress will always have so clear a knowledge of, as to be able at any time to satisfy the rational inquiries of the People... Power will follow the possession of money even when it is known that it is not the possessors of property." The role of the nation's chief finance minister must be impeccable. "Should a suspicion prevail that our high Treasurer suffers men of bad principles, or of no principles to be about him & employed by him, the fidelity of Congress itself would be suspected and a total loss of confidence would follow...Were our Financier, I was going to say, even an Angel from Heaven, I hope he will never have so much influence as to gain the ascendancy over Congress which the first Lord of the Treasury has long had over the Parliament of Britain; long enough to effect the ruin of that nation." Fellow Congressmen assured Adams this would never happen. He is not so sure. "Whether these fears are the mere creatures of the imagination, you will judge."
"THE WELFARE & PERHAPS THE BEING OF THE UNITED STATES DEPENDS MUCH UPON CONGRESS POSSESSING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE"
"THE WAR IS NOW OVER, AND THE PEOPLE TURN THEIR EYES TO THE DISPOSITION OF THEIR MONEY." A candid and impassioned letter expressing his hopes for the Confederation Congress and his fears of a Treasury department corrupted by powerful money interests. "The Welfare, & perhaps the Being of the United States, in my opinion, depends much upon Congress possessing the confidence of the People at large," he tells Gerry. It is crucial that the people see "the administration of publick affairs being manifestly grounded upon principles of equality & justice" in order for Congress to "merit their confidence." The "Congress...is & must be the cement of the Union of the States." Adams realizes that an important change is coming: "The war is now over, and the People turn their eyes to the disposition of their money. A subject which I hope Congress will always have so clear a knowledge of, as to be able at any time to satisfy the rational inquiries of the People... Power will follow the possession of money even when it is known that it is not the possessors of property." The role of the nation's chief finance minister must be impeccable. "Should a suspicion prevail that our high Treasurer suffers men of bad principles, or of no principles to be about him & employed by him, the fidelity of Congress itself would be suspected and a total loss of confidence would follow...Were our Financier, I was going to say, even an Angel from Heaven, I hope he will never have so much influence as to gain the ascendancy over Congress which the first Lord of the Treasury has long had over the Parliament of Britain; long enough to effect the ruin of that nation." Fellow Congressmen assured Adams this would never happen. He is not so sure. "Whether these fears are the mere creatures of the imagination, you will judge."