Thomas Paine Publicly Criticizes John Adams

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A complete and authentic issue of the Columbian Centinel, Massachusetts Federalist, Boston, December 4, 1802, 4pp., disbound, VG. From the front page, “Paine’s Second Epistle,” running two columns. In small part, “But John Adams is a man of paradoxical heresies, and consequently of a bewildered mind. He wrote a book entitled, "A Defense of the American Constitutions," and the principles of it are an attack upon them. ...During the time of the old Congress, and prior to the establishment of the Federal Government, the Continental belt was too loosely buckled. ...The condition the country was then in, was aptly described by Pelatiah Webster, when he said, "thirteen staves and ne'er a hoop will not make a barrel. ...When the plan of the Federal Government, formed by this convention, was proposed and submitted to the consideration of the several states, it was strongly objected to in each of them. But the objections were not on anti-federal grounds, but on constitutional points. Many were shocked at the idea of placing what is called executive power in the hands of a single individual. To them it had too much the form and appearance of a military government, or a despotic one. ...The executive part of the Federal Government was made for a man, and those who consented, against their judgment, to place executive power m the hands of a single individual, reposed more on the supposed moderation of the person they had in view, than on the wisdom of the measure itself. ...I have had doubts of John Adams ever since the year 1776. In a conversation with me at that time, concerning the pamphlet "Common Sense," he censured it because it attacked the English form of government. John was for independence because he expected to be made great by it; but it was not difficult to perceive, for the surliness of his temper makes him an awkward hypocrite, that his head was as full of kings, queens, and knaves, as a pack of cards. But John has lost deal. ...Thomas Paine. City of Washington, Lovett's Hotel, November 19,1802.

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