emperament, being
better fitted for debate; but one in which the close division in the
senate, often resulting in a tie between the supporters and opponents of
the new system, many times gave him a controlling voice. In the first
congress, he gave no fewer than twenty deciding votes, always upon
important organic laws, and always in support of Washington's policy.

Down to this time Adams had sympathized with Jefferson politically,
with whom he had served both in congress and abroad. On the subject of
the French revolution, which now burst upon the world, a difference of
opinion arose between them. From the very beginning Adams, then almost
alone, had argued that no good could come from that movement,--as the
revolution went on and began to break out in excesses, others began to
be of this opinion.

Adams then gave public expression to some of his ideas by the
publication of his 'Discourses on Davila,' furnished to a Philadelphia
paper, and afterward collected and published in one volume,--taking the
history of nations, particularly Davila's account of the French civil
wars, and the general aspects of human society as his texts.

Adams pointed out as the great springs of human activity,--at least in
all that related to politics,--the love of superiority, the desire of
distinction, admiration and applause; nor, in his opinion could any
government be permanent or secure which did not provide as well for the
reasonable gratification, as for the due restraint of this powerful
passion. Repudiating that democracy, pure and simple, then coming into
vogue, and of which Jefferson was the advocate; he insisted that a
certain mixture of aristocracy and monarchy was necessary to that
balance of interests and sentiments without which, as he believed, free
governments should not exist. This work, which reproduced more at length
and in a more obnoxious form the fundamental ideas of his 'Defence of
the American Constitution,' made Adams a great bugbear to the
ultra-democratic supporters of the principles and policy of the French
revolutionists; and at the second presidential election in 1792, they
set up as a candidate against him George Clinton, of New York, but Mr.
Adams was re-elected by a decided vote.

The wise policy of neutrality adopted by Washington received the hearty
concurrence of Adams. While Jefferson left the cabinet to become in
nominal retirement the leader of the opposition. Adams continued, as
vice-president, to