THE NEW FEDERALIST

November 29, 1988

John Quincy Adams on Roman Law and American Law

Viewpoint by Denise Henderson

JOHN QUINCY ADA !" the si#th president o$ the United !tates% &or him the di$$erence 'etween the ancient Roman Repu'(ic and the United !tates" had to 'e understood" not mere(y as )i*in) e*ery American the ri)hts de(in+ eated in the Constitution, 'ut the Constitution imposed upon them the necessity o$ their participation -in pu'(ic meetin)s"- to set po(icy%

On Sund y, Nov! 2", 1988, # T$ n%s&ivin& '$ur'$ servi'e $e(d # #$e N #ion ( )i#y )$ur'$ in W s$in&#on, D!)!, 'ommemor #ive servi'e * s $e(d #o $onor +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms, si-#$ .residen# o/ #$e 0ni#ed S# #es, s one o/ #$e /ounders o/ #$e W s$in&#on )i#y 1ib(e so'ie#y! A# #$ # 'ommem2 or #ive servi'e, one o/ #$e invi#ed s3e %ers, Lyndon H! L Rou'$e, +r!, s#ressed +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms4 'ru'i ( ro(e in s$ 3in& Ameri' n /orei&n

3o(i'y, nd #$e need /or #$e $eri# &e o/ .residen# Ad ms #o be'ome (ivin& 'on#ribu#ion in #$is 'en#ury! L Rou'$e /o'used in 3 r#i'u( r on #$e ro(e *$i'$ +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms 3ro3osed #$e 0!S! 3( y, in /os#erin& 'ons#i#u2 #ion ( re3ub(i's round #$e *or(d! .ducation in Repu'(ican /rincip(es +us# s +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms 'on'erned $imse(/ *i#$ #$e / #e o/ re3ub(i's round #$e &(obe, $e (so 'on'erned $imse(/ *i#$ /os#erin& re3ub(i' n 'i#i5ens mon& #$e you#$ o/ #$e 0ni#ed S# #es, *$o 'ou(d ' rry ou# su'$ 3o(i'y! Ad ms *e(( %ne* #$e im3or# n'e o/ edu' #ion in #$e youn& re3ub(i', sin'e $e $imse(/ $ d been #r ined in #$e #r di#ion o/ #$e Win#$ro3s! W$i(e in Ho(( nd, $is / #$er, +o$n Ad ms, $ d $im re d $is no#es /rom Win#$ro34s H rv rd (e'#ures, #o / mi(i ri5e $imse(/ *i#$ #$e mos# 3ro/ound 3rin'i3(es *$i'$ #$e Ameri' n 'o(onies *ere /i&$#in& /or & ins# 6re # 1ri# in! 1y #$e #ime +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms $ d re '$ed #$e &e o/ 19, $e $ d be'ome ' 3 b(e o/ m %in& #$e mor ( dis#in'#ion, *$i'$ #$e &re # re3ub(i' n 3( y2 *ri&$# Friedri'$ S'$i((er $ d (so 33re$ended, be#*een *$ # * s %no*n s 7 n#i8ui#y79#$e &e o/ #$e 6ree% 'i#y2s# #es, /o((o*ed by #$e ever2more2 'orru3# Rom n Em3ire9 nd #rue re3ub(i' nism, s #$en e-3ressed by #$e 0ni#ed S# #es nd ( #er, *ri##en in #$e /orm o/ #$e 0ni#ed S# #es )ons#i#u#ion! W$en $e re#urned #o #$e 0ni#ed S# #es, +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms 'om3(e#ed $is 3re3 r #ions #o en#er H rv rd, *i#$ e-#ensive re din&s in 6ree% nd L #in (i#er #ure! On : r'$ 2, 1;8<, $e *ro#e= Finis$ed, #$e si-#$ boo% o/ Homer4s Iliad in #$e /orenoon, nd s$ (( &o no /ur#$er in i# $ere! I dmire #$is .oem, more, nd more, #$ou&$ i# mus# be 'on/essed #$e u#$or no* nd #$en nods! I# $ s $o*ever more, nd more 'on/irmed me, in #$e o3inion #$ # #$e *or(d $ s v s#(y im3roved, even s #o sen#i2 men#s sin'e #$ # #ime! In #$e ( s# boo%, n ins# n'e o''urs *$ere youn& * rrior en#re #s :ene( us #o s3 re $is (i/e, bu# A& memnon, %i((s $im immedi #e(y, nd o(d Nes#or, $i&$(y 33roves #$e 'rue(#y! W$enever #$e 6ree%s re e-$or#ed by #$eir '$ie/s, #$e r&umen#s m de use o/, re, #$ # i/ #$ey re 'on8uerors #$e *ives, d u&$#ers nd /or#unes o/ #$e Tro> ns, *i(( be # #$eir dis3osi#ion! No* I *i(( o*n, #$ # in modern #imes #$ere re e- m3(es o/ &re # 1 rb ri#y in W r! 1u# #$ere re (so m ny o/ $um ni#y *$i'$ mon& #$e n'ien#s * s

#$ou&$# in'onsis#en# *i#$ * r! ?+o$n ,uin'y Ad ms4 Di ry, @o(ume I, : r'$ 2, 1;8<A T$is %erne( o/ #$ou&$#, sim3(y e-3ressed, be' me #$e 'ru- o/ +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms4 18"<218"9 Le'#ures on R$e#ori' nd Or #ory, &iven # H rv rd, *$en Ne* En&( nd * s ##em3#in& #o se'ede /rom #$e 0ni#ed S# #es! His (e'#ures *ere 3reven#ed /rom bein& *ide(y 'ir'u( #ed by #$e se'essionis# 3o(i#i' ( / '#ion %no*n s #$e Ne*bury3or# 3(o##ers! Responsi'i(ity o$ 0he Indi*idua( Citi1en A(#$ou&$ #$e Le'#ures re ri'$ in ide s, +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms dre* ou# one 'en#r ( #$eme, r#i'u( #ed in $is In u&ur ( Or #ion= 0nder &overnmen#s 3ure(y re3ub(i' n, *$ere every 'i#i5en $ s dee3 in#eres# in #$e // irs o/ #$e n #ion, nd, in some /orm o/ 3ub(i' ssemb(y or o#$er, $ s #$e me ns nd o33or#uni#y o/ de(iverin& $is o3inions, nd o/ 'ommuni' #in& $is sen#imen#s by s3ee'$B *$ere &overnmen# i#se(/ $ s no rms bu# #$ose o/ 3ersu sionB *$ere 3re>udi'e $ s no# '8uired n un'on#ro((ed s'end n'y, nd / '#ion is ye# 'on/ined *i#$in #$e b rriers o/ 3e 'e, #$e voi'e o/ e(o8uen'e *i(( no# be $e rd in v in! : r'$ #$en *i#$ /irm, *i#$ s#e dy, *i#$ undevi #in& s#e3, #o #$e 3ri5e o/ your $i&$ ' ((in&! ! ! ! )onse'r #e, bove ((, #$e / 'u(#ies o/ your (i/e #o #$e ' use o/ #ru#$, o/ /reedom, nd o/ $um ni#y! So s$ (( your 'oun#ry ever &( dden # #$e sound o/ your voi'e, nd every # (en#, dded #o your ''om3(is$men#s, be'ome no#$er b(essin& #o m n%ind! For +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms, #$e di//eren'e be#*een #$e n'ien# s# #es, nd #$e ne*(y2'ons#i#u#ed 0ni#ed S# #es, $ d #o be unders#ood, no# mere(y s &ivin& every Ameri' n #$e ri&$#s de(ine #ed in #$e )ons#i#u#ionB bu# #$e )ons#i#u2 #ion im3osed u3on #$em #$e ne'essi#y o/ #$eir 3 r#i'i3 #ion 7in 3ub(i' mee#in&s,7 #o se# 3o(i'y! As *e((2#r ve(ed s $e $ d be'ome by 18"<, +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms 'ou(d u#$ori# #ive(y #e(( $is s#uden#s= ?In re(i&ion (oneA $ ve #$e modern Euro3e ns 'u(#iv #ed #$e r# ?o/ or #oryA *i#$ mu'$ su''ess! In v in s$ou(d *e en#er #$e $ ((s o/ >us#i'e, in v in s$ou(d *e (is#en #o #$e deb #es o/ ?Euro3e nA sen #es /or s#r ins o/ or #ory, *or#$y o/ remem2 br n'e, beyond #$e dur #ion o/ #$e o'' sion, *$i'$ ' ((ed #$em /or#$! T$e r# o/ emb (min& #$ou&$# by or #ory, (i%e #$ # o/

emb (min& bodies by rom #i's, *ou(d $ ve 3eris$ed, bu# /or #$e e-er'ises o/ re(i&ion! In $is se'ond Le'#ure, Ad ms s#ressed, T$e on(y bir#$3( 'e o/ e(o8uen'e #$ere/ore mus# be /ree s# #e ! ! ! #$e s me s3iri# o/ (iber#y, *$i'$ m r%s #$e re( #ions be#*een #$e individu (s o/ #$e s me 'ommuni#y, is di//used over #$ose more 'om3(i' #ed nd im3or# n# re( #ions be#*een di//eren# 'ommuni#ies! ! ! ! No*, (e# #$e severe nd $ones# mor (is# $imse(/ 3ronoun'e in #$e dre m o/ bs#r '#ion, #$ # #ru#$ nd vir#ue need no# #$e id o/ /orei&n orn men#! Ans*erB si(en'e #$em ((! Ans*erB si(en'e #$em /orever, by re'urrin& #o #$is &re # nd over3o*erin& #ru#$! S y, #$ # by #$e e#ern ( 'ons#i#u#ion o/ #$in&s i# * s ord ined, #$ # (iber#y s$ou(d be #$e 3 ren# o/ e(o8uen'e! &reedom" 0ruth and Law In #$ese (e'#ures, Ad ms $e(d u3 #o $is s#uden#s #$e n'ien# -ioms o/ r$e#ori' nd or #ory, im3(i'i# in #$e s3ee'$es nd *ri#in&s o/ Aris#o#(e, )i'ero, nd ,uin#i(i n! T$rou&$ou#, $e demo(is$ed #$ese &re # or #ors, on #$eir o*n &rounds= no# even #$e Rom n $e 3ro/essed #o dmire #$e mos#, )i'ero, be(ieved in usin& e(o8uen'e #o serve #$e ' use o/ #ru#$! T$e en#ire se'ond $ (/ o/ Ad ms4 'ourse * s dedi' #ed #o demons#r #in& #$e su3eriori#y o/ #$e 3rin'i3(es on *$i'$ #$e re3ub(i' * s /ounded, in'(udin& #$e 3rin'i3(es o/ e-3 nsion o/ 3o3u( #ion, e-3 nsion o/ indus#ry nd &ri'u(#ure, nd #$e ' re/u( edu' #ion o/ Ameri' 4s you#$, in #$ose Ameri' n 3rin'i3(es, nd no o#$ers! Fin ((y, s #$e eyes o/ (( 3 #rio#s %ee3 vi&i( over #$e #ri ( o/ Lyndon H! L Rou'$e, +r!, in #$e E s#ern Dis#ri'# o/ @ir&ini , (so %no*n s #$e 7ro'%e# do'%e#,7 i# is *or#$ no#in&, #$ # +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms devo#ed #*o o/ $is (e'#ures, #o >udi'i ( or #ory, nd >udi'i ( 3ro'edures! Ad ms ' re/u((y 3oin#ed ou# #o $is body o/ b(ue2b(ooded s#uden#s, #$ # Ameri' n 'rimin ( ( *, * s mos# em3$ #i' ((y no# b sed on e8ui#y, #$ # is, #$e ide #$ # every 'rimin ( or 'ivi( '#ion, 'ou(d be re3resen#ed s n 7eye /or n eye,7 or 7#oo#$ /or #oo#$7 issueB #$ # #$ere * s di//eren# s# nd rd in #$e Ameri' n 'our# sys#em, *$i'$ e-3( ined *$y, /or e- m3(e, deb#ors4 3risons $ d been bo(is$ed in #$e ne* re3ub(i'! T$e Foundin& F #$ers %ne*, #$ # in n e'onomi' sys#em *$i'$ de3ended u3on #$e 3rodu'#ivi#y o/

every individu (, #$e s# #e *ou(d sim3(y des#roy i#s mos# 3re'ious sse#9#$e /ree ( bor o/ i#s 'i#i5ens9by es# b(is$in& n e8ui#y sys#em! In ddi#ion, Ad ms (so '(e r(y dis#in&uis$ed be#*een #$e 'our#room 3ro'edures o/ Rom n ( *, in *$i'$, T$us, i/ m n * s ''used o/ murder, $is 3rose'u#or * s #o ( bor in #$e /irs# ins# n'e #o es# b(is$ #$e be(ie/, #$ # $is 3erson ( '$ r '#er * s bo(d, r s$, vio(en# 'rue(B #$ # $e * s ddi'#ed #o #urbu(en# nd n&ry 3 ssionsB or #$ # $is in#eres# * s (i b(e #o be 3romo#ed by #$e resu(# o/ #$is '#, nd 'om3 red #$ # #o #$e uni8ue sys#em o/ >udi'i ( 3ro'edures in #$e 0ni#ed S# #es= T$e $um ne m -im o/ #$e 'ommon ( * 'onsiders every m n s inno'en#, un#i( $e is 3roved &ui(#y! ! ! ! T$e mer'ies o/ #$e 'ommon ( * re no# en#rus#ed #o #$e dis're#ion, nor #o #$e 3 ssions o/ individu ( >ud&esB #$ey re 'onver#ed in#o /i-ed nd uni/orm 3rin'i3(es! In our 'rimin ( >uris3ruden'e >us#i'e $erse(/ $o(ds n uneven b ( n'e! S$e never (i/#s $er s' (es *i#$ou# #$ro*in& #$e *ei&$# o/ mer'y in#o #$ # o/ #$e ''used! S$e ( ys no '( im #o im3 r#i (i#y! S$e vo*s /ree(y $er 3re/eren'e, #$ # #en &ui(#y s$ou(d es' 3e, r #$er #$ n #$ # one inno'en# s$ou(d su//er! S$e no# on(y 3ermi#s, bu# 'omm nds $er >ud&es #o be o/ 'ounse( /or #$e 3risoners! CLe'#ure DIIIE In our d y, *$en #$e (ine be#*een >udi'i ( 3ro'edure nd 73o(i#i' ( *i#'$2 $un#7 $ s been b(urred beyond re'o&ni#ion, our ( * s'$oo(s *ou(d do *e(( #o m %e #$e s#udy o/ +o$n ,uin'y Ad ms m nd #ory /or #$ose *$o *ou(d 3r '#i'e Rom n ( * in #$e Ameri' n 'ons#i#u#ion ( re3ub(i'!