Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/25

Rh than ordinary arts and ciences, only as of more importance. Called without expectation, and compelled without previous inclination, though undoubtedly at the bell period of time both for England and America, to erect uddenly new ytems of laws for their future government, they adopted the method of a wife architect, in erecting a new palace for the reidence of his overeign. They determined to conult Vitruvius, Palladio, and all other writers of reputation in the art; to examine the mot celebrated buildings, whether they remain entire or in ruins; compare thee with the principles of writers; and enquire how far both the theories and models were founded in nature, or created by fancy: and, when this hould be done, as far as their circumtances would allow, to adopt the advantages, and reject the inconveniences, of all. Unembarraed by attachments to noble families, hereditary lines and ucceions, or any coniderations of royal blood, even the pious mytery of holy oil had no more influence than that other of holy water: the people univerally were too enlightened to be impoed on by artifice; and their leaders, or more properly followers, were men of too much honour to attempt it. Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mytery, which are detined to pread over the northern part of that whole