l82 JOHN ADAMS. 



session were those for establishing a uniform militia system,, 

 increasing the army, and apportioning the Representatives. 



During the year 1792, Washington expressed a wish to 

 retire from the cares of government, and proposed to decline 

 a re-election. He had even prepared a farewell address to 

 the people, but he was, however, persuaded by Jefferson, 

 Hamilton, Randolph, and others, to relinquish his design, 

 and was a second time elected President of the United States 

 by the unanimous vote of the electors. John Adams was 

 nominated Vice-President. From 1792 to 1796, several wars 

 and rebellions took place, but by treaty or otherwise, peace 

 was restored, and in September, 1796, Washington announced 

 to the people of the United States his irrevocable decision of 

 retiring from public life, and spending the remainder of his 

 days in his peaceful and quiet retreat of Mount Vernon, 

 w r here he died on the 14th December, 1799, aged sixty-eight 

 years. Mount Vernon is situated- at about fifteen miles from 

 the capital, and is a place of pilgrimage to Americans and 

 others. No one pass there without saluting the mausoleum 

 containing the mortal remains of him who was called by the 

 people "The Father of the Country/' by which name 

 he is and will ever be known all over America. 



JOHN ADAMS, 1797—1801. 



John Adams, the candidate, of the Republicans, was 

 elected President of the United States at the election of 

 November, 1796, with Mr. JEFFERSON as Vice-President. 



They were installed, in the presence of Washington, on 

 the 4th day of March, 1797, and forthwith entered on the 

 duties of their respective offices. 



Ability of a very high order, an unsullied character, and 

 important services rendered during the progress of the 

 Revolution, entitled Mr. Adams to the dignified office to 

 which he was elected. He published in 1765 his Essay on 

 the Canon and Feudal Law, in which he expresses the boldest 

 and elevated sentiment, in language most vigorous and 

 animating, and says that America must be unoppressed or 

 must become independent. 



In June, 1774, he was elected Member of the Continental 

 Congress, of which body, from the first, he was a distinguished 

 leader. 



In June, 1775, when he could have secured for himself 

 the appointment of Chief Commander of the American armies,, 



