John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. XVII 
and justice, for their attendants. Whilst maintaining the sovereign- 
ty of the people, we protested against change for light and tran- 
sient causes. We never said that revolutions were trifles; nor 
that liberty might not be hurried, and those called to rule, who 
were fit only to obey. 
Mr. Adams interested himself greatly from the first in the 
manner of distributing power in the constitutions of this country ; 
and he insisted on the importance of a division of the legis- 
lature into two branches, and of an independent executive. 
Dr. Franklin, M. Turgot, Abbé Mably, and Dr. Price thought 
little of this attempt at a balance of powers and interests. Some 
of the states established governments upon the principle of one 
assembly ; and the first legislative body of France was constituted 
in like manner. The former opinions of Mr. Jefferson seem to 
have coincided mainly with those of the author of the “ Defence.” 
Expressions of views somewhat different have appeared in some 
of his late compositions. 
We all agreed in the doctrine of religious freedom. We 
never thought of compulsive faith, piety, and charity. The 
essence of virtue is will. But it was supposed possible to recon- 
cile with the exercise of this freedom a legal support of religious 
instruction. Practically, however, our religious establishment in 
this commonwealth has been nearly done away, and probably does 
not accord with the spirit of the times. The opinions on slavery, 
respecting which Mr. Jefferson used such vehement language, we 
trust are now nearly alike throughout our country. We all 
consider, with Adams and Jefferson, that it is a great evil; but it 
must be left to be mitigated or removed, as views of duty or 
interest shall suggest to those immediately concerned. 
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