The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
ADAMS, JOHN / RELATIONSHIP WITH
Mr. Adams' friendship and mine began at an earlier date. It
accompanied us through long and important scenes. The different
conclusions we had drawn from our political reading and reflections,
were not permitted to lessen personal esteem; each party being
conscious they were the result of an honest conviction in the other.
Like differences of opinion existing among our fellow citizens,
attached them to one or the other of us, and produced a rivalship in
their minds which did not exist in ours. We never stood in one
another's way; for if either had been withdrawn at any time, his
favorers would not have gone over to the other, but would have sought
for some one of homogeneous opinions. This consideration was
sufficient to keep down all jealousy between us, and to guard our
friendship from any disturbance by sentiments of rivalship; and I can
say with truth, that one act of Mr. Adams' life, and one only, ever
gave me a moment's personal displeasure. I did consider his last
appointments to office as personally unkind. They were from among my
most ardent political enemies, from whom no faithful co-operation
could ever be expected; and laid me under the embarrassment of acting
through men whose views were to defeat mine, or to encounter the odium
of putting others in their places. It seems but common justice to
leave a successor free to act by instruments of his own choice. If my
respect for him did not permit me to ascribe the whole blame to the
influence of others, it left something for friendship to forgive, and
after brooding over it for some little time, and not always resisting
the expression of it, I forgave it cordially, and returned to the same
state of esteem and respect for him which had so long subsisted.
Having come into life a little later than Mr. Adams, his career has
preceded mine, as mine is followed by some other; and it will probably
be closed at the same distance after him which time originally placed
between us. I maintain for him, and shall carry into private life, an
uniform and high measure of respect and good will, and for yourself a
sincere attachment.
to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1804
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