A True Patriot

"Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superior to all private passions. " ~ John Adams

What do you know about John Adams? In studying his life, he was an amazingly sacrificial man.  He lived the majority of his life "serving" America. Here are a few facts...

1. As a lawyer, he represented the British soldiers that had shot men in the Boston Massacre. They were wrongly accused of murder, and he stood up for them simply because the truth needed heard - British or not!
2. He represented Massachusetts in the first and second continental congress, and nominated George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Contintental Army.
3. He was appointed to a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. Though Thomas Jefferson was responsible for the bulk of it, John Adams defended and protected it.
4. He represented America in Europe and Britain in many forms from 1777-1788. During which time his children were educated by tutors.
5. He never bought a slave nor did his family use slaves. Abigail employed (paid) free blacks to assist her at times
6. He was vice president for two terms.
7. He was president for one term. During this tumultous time, our nation teetered on the brink of war with France. The greatest achievement of his presidency was to keep America out of war, which he did at great cost. He left the white house to return home in a public carriage.
8. He was one of two presidents to see his son become president. (John Quincy Adams)
9. He died along with Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1826. The fiftieth anniversary of our nation.
10. He served one less day than any other one term president. The year 1800 did not happen to have a leap year day.

"The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families.... How is it possible that Children can have any just Sense of the sacred Obligations of Morality or Religion if, from their earliest Infancy, they learn their Mothers live in habitual Infidelity to their fathers, and their fathers in as constant Infidelity to their Mothers? "

"The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. "

"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it." ~ John Adams