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Quotation from A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America by John Adams
“Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.”
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Preface (Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, vol. 4 (1851))
Adams praises the state constitutions as built by study and reason rather than by claims of divine appointment or hereditary right.
Citation: "Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind." — John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Preface (Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, vol. 4 (1851)). (id a-defence-of-the-constitutions-q4)
Portrait: John Adams, Gilbert Stuart, Public domain.
