Delete comment from: Boston 1775
John Quincy Adams writes:
"Today was the day of reception of the President of the United States, by the city of Boston. Tyler comes with his Cabinet to attend the celebration of the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument—a costly pageant got up by the most respectable Webster supporters. The cornerstone was laid by LaFayette in 1825 on which occasion Webster delivered an eloquent discourse. Today, he is to deliver another. The object now is to glorify him. This invitation to the president and his Cabinet is a political device of Webster’s. The reception of the President had all the appearances of cordiality, not-with-standing a drenching rain to cool it. His Accidency is lodged at the Tremont House, at enormous expense. He was entertained with a sumptuous dinner by the city council. I was invited but sent an excuse.
What a name in the annals of mankind is Bunker Hill! What a day was the 17th of June 1775! I shall never forget it! And what a burlesque upon them both is an oration upon them by Daniel Webster, and a pilgrimage by John Tyler and his Cabinet of slave-drivers to desecrate the solemnity.
I have throughout my life had an utter aversion to all pageants and public dinners, and never attend one when I can decently avoid it. Now, with the ideal association of the thundering cannon, which I heard, and the smoke of burning Charlestown, which I saw with my mother from the top of Penn’s Hill on that awful day. Now: Combined with this pyramid of Quincy granite, and Daniel Webster spouting, and John Tyler’s nose, with a shadow outstretching that of the monumental column—how could I have witnessed all this without an unbecoming burst of indignation, or of laughter? Daniel Webster is a heartless traitor to the cause of human freedom: John Tyler is a slave-monger! What have these to do with the Quincy granite pyramid on the brow of Bunker Hill? What have these to do with a dinner at Faneuil Hall, but to swill like swine, and grunt about the rights of man?"
Quincy, June 16, 1843
"John Quincy Adams: A Spirit Unconquerable!"
Feb 4, 2010, 9:08:23 AM
Posted to Myth, Memory, and What Really Happened at Bunker Hill