I was shocked by the results of today's Cheers and Jeers Poll. Samuel Adams got smoked by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. He even lost to Abigail Adams.
Does this community need an introduction to the Father of the American Revolution?
Among other things, he was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. We should all get to know him better, IMHO. Brewing beer was a business he inherited from his father, but business was not his specialty. Politics was what he lived for and American Independence was his idea. He was a close friend of Thomas Paine and one of the few founding fathers to call for independence before Lexington and Concord.
He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on September 22, 1722 into a family which had been amongst the first settlers. His 1743 Harvard Masters commencement speech posed the question: "Whether it be lawful to resist the supreme magistrate, if the commonwealth cannot otherwise be preserved?" I'll paraphrase his answer: Hell Yeah!
History hasn't been kind to Sam. He's been called a propagandist and a rabble rouser. Most people wouldn't know of his existence if it weren't for the beer that carries his name today. That would probably shock the people that looked up to him like: John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and pretty much all of our forefathers.
In 1763 the British Parliament decided to "tax the colonies, for the purpose of raising a revenue, which was to be placed at the disposal of the crown." Samuel Adams as the leader of a Boston committee, drafted a stern reply:
"If our trade may be taxed, why not our lands? Why not the produce of our lands, and every thing we possess, or use? This we conceive annihilates our charter rights to govern and tax ourselves. It strikes at our British privileges, which, as we have never forfeited, we hold in common with our fellow subjects, who are natives of Britain. If tastes are laid upon us in any shape, without our having a legal representation, where they are laid, we are reduced from the character of free subjects, to the state of tributary slaves. We, therefore, earnestly recommend it to you, to use your utmost endeavours to obtain from the general court, all necessary advice and instruction to our agent, at this most critical Juncture." "We also desire you to use your endeavours, that the other colonies, having the same interests and rights with us, may add their weight to that of this province; that by united application of all who areagreed, all may obtain redress!"
From 1765 through the Revolution he was a Representative to the General Court of Massachusetts from the City of Boston. He was appointed to almost every committee, assisted in drawing nearly every report, and influenced opinion on every issue regarding British rule. He was the first to suggest a Congress at New York ten years before the first Continental Congress.
When someone suggested bribing the financially challenged Adams, Governor Hutchinson replied, "Such is the obstinacy and inflexible disposition of the man, that he never can be conciliated by any office or gift whatever."
On March 6, 1770, the day after the Boston Massacre, Sam Adams and his committee petitioned Governor Hutchinson to remove the quartered troops from their town. It took them all day, but in the end they got what they wanted. Buh-bye, Redcoats!
In response to the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townsend Acts of 1767 Sam Adams held meetings and protests of the cargo of the East India Tea Company ship Dartmouth. On December 16th, 1773 8,000 citizens of Boston gathered to meet. At the end of the meeting Samuel Adams stated, "This meeting can do nothing to save the country." This inspired the Sons of Liberty to dress up as Narragansett Indians and raid the ship. This terrorist act has gone down in history as the Boston Tea Party.
In 1773 a new Royal appointee, Governor Gage, attempted to have Sam Adams arrested, sent to England, and tried for treason... To which Adams replied, "Go tell Governor Gage, that my peace has long since been made with the King of Kings, and that it is the advice of Samuel Adams to him, no longer to insult the feelings of an already exasperated people." Oh, Snap!
Governor Gage came back with a proclamation:
"I do herby, in His Majesty's name, offer and promise his most gracious pardon to all persons, who shall forthwith lay down their arms, and return to the duties of peaceable subjects: excepting only from the benefits of such pardon: Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offenses are of too flagitious a nature to admit of any other consideration but that of condign punishment."
What? Is that English? Hand me a dictionary...
From late 1774 until 1781 Samuel Adams was a member of the Continental Congress. He was the most outspoken member of that body and wrote in April 1776:
"I am perfectly satisfied of the necessity of a public and explicit declaration of independence. I cannot conceive what good reason can be assigned against it. Will it widen the breach? This would be a strange question, after we have raised armies, and fought battles with the British troops; set up an American navy; permitted the inhabitants of these colonies to fit out armed vessels, to capture the ships, &c. belonging to any of the inhabitants of Great Britain; declaring them the enemies of the United Colonies; and torn into shivers their acts of trade, by allowing commerce, subject to regulations to be made by ourselves, with the people of all countries, except such as are subject to the British king. It cannot surely, after all this, be imagined that we consider ourselves, or mean to be considered by others, in any other state, than that of independence."
In 1777 as some of his countrymen were having second thoughts he said:
"The chance is desperate... Indeed, indeed, it is desperate... if this be our language. If we wear long faces, others will do so too; if we despair, let us not expect that others will hope; or that they will persevere in a contest, from which their leaders shrink. But let not such feelings, let not such language, be ours."
In 1781 Samuel Adams retired from Congress. In 1789 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachuesetts. In 1794 he was chosen Governor after the death of his boss and friend John Hancock. He was reelected until his retirement in 1797. He died October 2, 1803 at the ripe old age of 82.
After Samuels death his 2nd cousin, John Adams, said:
"Without the character of Samuel Adams, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written. For fifty years his pen, his tongue, his activity, were constantly exerted for his country without fee or reward."
Here's my favorite quote from Sam Adams as a parting shot:
If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.
He's talking to you... Kossack to Kossack!
UPDATE: Thank you very much, grog, for the diary rescue!