John Adams actually said...

"It was not considered a conclusive reason for declining this invitation that the proposal for assembling such a Congress had not first been made by ourselves."

"I would have sent ministers to the meeting had it been merely to give them such advice as they might have desired, even with reference to their own interests, not involving ours."

"But objects of the highest importance, not only to the future welfare of the whole human race, but bearing directly upon the special interests of this Union, will engage the deliberations of the congr..."

"To meet the temper with which this proposal was made with a cold repulse was not thought congenial to that warm interest in their welfare with which the people and Government of the Union had hitherto..."