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In the Year 1839, John Quincy Adams was invited by the New York Historical Association to speak. This major address was titled: "THE JUBILEE OF THE CONSTITUTION - A DISCOURSE"

"Delivered at the Request of THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, the 30th of April, 1839; Being the Fiftieth Anniversary of the INAUGURATION OF GEORGE WASHINGTON as PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, on Thursday, the 30th of April, 1789."

In that address, Adams traced the history of the ideas of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including a complete discussion of the reasons why the Confederation failed, as well as why the 1787 Constitution fulfilled the principles of liberty encapsulated in the Declaration of Independence. No better history exists of the ideas underlying our Constitution than this one.

This "Jubilee" address should have been included in every history book, inasmuch as John Q. Adams was 9 years old when his father's impassioned words helped to motivate the Declaration of Independence, and an accomplished young man eleven years later when the Constitution was written. He served in many posts, including Secretary of State, President, and Congressman until his death. See