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65. ADAMS (John), Declaration of Independence and.—[continued]

He supported the Declaration
with zeal and ability, fighting fearlessly
for every word of it. No man's confident
and fervent addresses, more than Mr.
Adams's encouraged and supported us
through the difficulties surrounding us, which,
like the ceaseless action of gravity, weighed
on us by night and by day. [8]
To James Madison. Washington ed. vii, 305. Ford ed., x, 268.
(M. 1823)

 
[8]

Daniel Webster visited Jefferson at Monticello
toward the close of 1824. He quoted Jefferson as
having then said in conversation: “John Adams
was our Colossus on the floor. He was not graceful,
nor elegant, nor remarkably fluent; but he came
out, occasionally, with a power of thought and expression
that moved us from our seats.” Webster
introduced the quotation in his speech on “Adams
and Jefferson,” August 2, 1826. The conversation
entire is printed in the Private Correspondence of
Webster
(i, 364), and in the Ford ed. of Jefferson's
Writings, x, 327.—Editor.