It was a drama of five grand acts, each of which filled a considerable period, and called upon the stage actors of peculiar powers and distinguished virtues.

Those acts were, colonization, preparation, revolution, organization, consolidation.
Two of these acts were closed before John Quincy Adams was born.

The third, the revolution, the shortest of them all, dazzles the contemplation by the rapidity and the martial character of its incidents.

The fourth, the organization of the Government, by the splendors of genius elicited, and the felicity of the new form of government presented, satisfies the superficial inquirer that, when the Constitution had been adopted, nothing remained to perfect the great achievement.

But other nations have had successful revolutions, and have set up free constitutions, and have yet sunk again under reinvigorated despotism.