Stormin Norman
4th July 2002, 11:31
A Timeless American Hero
"Samuel Adams, brewer, patriot”. In this age where patriotism can be defined as beer, football and paying taxes it is no surprise that a beer label best identifies this true American hero. His biographer says, when abuses of power were to be resisted, he would have been one of the reformers.” If Samuel Adams were alive today rest assure he would be a proponent for individual liberties because he was a man of impeccable character and would fight to end government oppression in any era.
One of twelve children, Sam was born (1722) to a prominent family in Quincy, Mass.. At age 21 he was well on his way to revolutionary action when he proposed the following thesis, as a student at Harvard University, ”Whether it be lawful to resist the supreme magistrate, if the commonwealth cannot be otherwise preserved?” Sam’s father was in the brewery business as well as an active participant in Boston politics. When he inherited the brewery he ran it into the ground, obsessed with politics, which he had learned while a member of a back room political group known as the Caucus.
Samuel remained an influential player in 18th Century politics for a variety of reasons including his excellent writing style, his emotional rhetoric, and his ability to resort to action. In 1722 he created the committee of correspondence to suay the public towards
his “radical” beliefs. At this time he drafted the infamous report entitled The Rights of the Colonists, which stated that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies with their proposed methods. This is controversial document helped unify colonial actions during this trying period in U.S. history. Samuel Adams claimed, ”If tastes are laid upon us in any shape, without our having a legal representation, where they are laid, we are reduced from the character of free subjects, to the state of tributary slaves.” It was a source of ongoing debate whether the Declaration of Independence was a recapitulation of The Rights of the Colonists. In 1773 Adams gave the go ahead for the Boston Tea Party further exemplifying his leadership role in the American Revolution. One of the more vocal representatives in the Continental Congress from 1774-1781, it is no surprise that he was heavily in favor of the military retaliation and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. In his home state Sam help to supply arms to the militia involved in the early skirmishes at Lexington and Concord. After his run in Congress Sam served as a state senator, and was elected lieutenant governor from 1789-1794. When John Hancock died he was elected governor until he retired in 1797. Samuel Adams died a distinguished
man in 1803 at age 82.
Mr. Adams often times put his political importance before his financial well-being. When Sam visited Philadelphia for the first time his friend gave him money, and appropriate attire for an elected official. Citizens of Boston also rallied to build him a barn and repair his house. His financial instability often became a target for British bribes which were attempted by Governor Hutchinson. Though, Hutchinson warned the royal officials, ”Such is the obstinacy and inflexible disposition of the man, that he never can be conciliated by any office or gift whatever.” The stand up nature Hutchinson referred to remained true as the temptations of power and money were rejected. After many failed attempts of bribery, Governor Gage tried to threaten him with incarceration and a trial in England for treason. Again these measures were in vain.
Samuel Adams lived during a time when British intrusion and taxes were mild in comparison to today’s current government in America. Nevertheless, they were
considered intolerable to many like-minded American colonists. If Samuel Adams were alive today what would he think of the current tax system that requires 25-40% of everyone’s income? How would he feel about a government that has unlimited powers of confiscation over people’s private property? Were Samuel Adams alive today he would remain outraged by the current workings of the system. Possibly toting another revolution through violent means as he did over 200 years ago.
"Samuel Adams, brewer, patriot”. In this age where patriotism can be defined as beer, football and paying taxes it is no surprise that a beer label best identifies this true American hero. His biographer says, when abuses of power were to be resisted, he would have been one of the reformers.” If Samuel Adams were alive today rest assure he would be a proponent for individual liberties because he was a man of impeccable character and would fight to end government oppression in any era.
One of twelve children, Sam was born (1722) to a prominent family in Quincy, Mass.. At age 21 he was well on his way to revolutionary action when he proposed the following thesis, as a student at Harvard University, ”Whether it be lawful to resist the supreme magistrate, if the commonwealth cannot be otherwise preserved?” Sam’s father was in the brewery business as well as an active participant in Boston politics. When he inherited the brewery he ran it into the ground, obsessed with politics, which he had learned while a member of a back room political group known as the Caucus.
Samuel remained an influential player in 18th Century politics for a variety of reasons including his excellent writing style, his emotional rhetoric, and his ability to resort to action. In 1722 he created the committee of correspondence to suay the public towards
his “radical” beliefs. At this time he drafted the infamous report entitled The Rights of the Colonists, which stated that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies with their proposed methods. This is controversial document helped unify colonial actions during this trying period in U.S. history. Samuel Adams claimed, ”If tastes are laid upon us in any shape, without our having a legal representation, where they are laid, we are reduced from the character of free subjects, to the state of tributary slaves.” It was a source of ongoing debate whether the Declaration of Independence was a recapitulation of The Rights of the Colonists. In 1773 Adams gave the go ahead for the Boston Tea Party further exemplifying his leadership role in the American Revolution. One of the more vocal representatives in the Continental Congress from 1774-1781, it is no surprise that he was heavily in favor of the military retaliation and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. In his home state Sam help to supply arms to the militia involved in the early skirmishes at Lexington and Concord. After his run in Congress Sam served as a state senator, and was elected lieutenant governor from 1789-1794. When John Hancock died he was elected governor until he retired in 1797. Samuel Adams died a distinguished
man in 1803 at age 82.
Mr. Adams often times put his political importance before his financial well-being. When Sam visited Philadelphia for the first time his friend gave him money, and appropriate attire for an elected official. Citizens of Boston also rallied to build him a barn and repair his house. His financial instability often became a target for British bribes which were attempted by Governor Hutchinson. Though, Hutchinson warned the royal officials, ”Such is the obstinacy and inflexible disposition of the man, that he never can be conciliated by any office or gift whatever.” The stand up nature Hutchinson referred to remained true as the temptations of power and money were rejected. After many failed attempts of bribery, Governor Gage tried to threaten him with incarceration and a trial in England for treason. Again these measures were in vain.
Samuel Adams lived during a time when British intrusion and taxes were mild in comparison to today’s current government in America. Nevertheless, they were
considered intolerable to many like-minded American colonists. If Samuel Adams were alive today what would he think of the current tax system that requires 25-40% of everyone’s income? How would he feel about a government that has unlimited powers of confiscation over people’s private property? Were Samuel Adams alive today he would remain outraged by the current workings of the system. Possibly toting another revolution through violent means as he did over 200 years ago.