John Quincy Adams Writes That His Famous Discourse, “The Jubilee of the Constitution,” Given on the 50th Anniversary of Washington’s inauguration, Has Been Sent to a New York Publisher for Printing

In 1839, Adams wrote his discourse “The Jubilee of the Constitution,” and it was an immediate sensation. Publishers rushed forward to put it into print. Autograph Letter Signed as U.S. Congressman after his presidency, Quincy, Massachusetts, May 5, 1839 to Boston publisher John H. Eastburn, lamenting that the manuscript had already been sent to a publisher. “I would with much pleasure accept your proposal to publish the Discourse delivered on the 30th of April before the New York Historical Society, but that having furnished them at their request the copy for publication they have already made arrangements for that purpose in their own city.” Adams delivered the discourse in question entitled “The Jubilee of the Constitution” before the N.Y. Historical Society on April 30, 1839, the 50th Anniversary of Washington’s Inauguration.

The discourse ends, “So may your children’s children at the next return of this day of jubilee, after a full century of experience under your national Constitution, celebrate it again in the full enjoyment of all the blessings recognized by you in the commemoration of this day, and of all the blessings promised to the children of Israel upon Mount Gerizim, as the reward of obedience to the law of God.”