American Aurora Page 13
He that falls in love with himself will have no Rivals.299
Today, the President’s Lady, Abigail Adams, writes:
Their have been six different addresses presented from this city alone, all expressive of the Approbation of the measures of the Executive. Yet daringly do the vile incendiaries keep up in Bache’s paper the most wicked and base, violent & calumniating abuse—It was formerly considered as leveld against the Government, but now it is contrary to their declared sentiments daily manifested, so that it insults the Majesty of the Sovereign People. But nothing will have an Effect untill Congress pass a Sedition Bill which I presume they will do before they rise—Not a paper from Bache’s press issues … but what might have been prossecuted as libels upon the President and Congress. For a long time they seem as if they were now desperate—The wrath of the public ought to fall upon their devoted Heads.300
Today, Thomas Jefferson writes James Madison:
One of the war party, in a fit of unguarded passion, declared some time ago they would pass a citizen bill, an alien bill, & a sedition bill; accordingly, some days ago, Coit laid a motion on the table of the H.[ouse] of R.[epresentatives] for modifying the citizen law. Their threats point at Gallatin, & it is believed they will endeavor to reach him by this bill. Yesterday mr. Hillhouse laid on the table of the senate a motion for [an alien bill] giving power to send away suspected aliens. This is understood to be meant for Volney … But it will not stop there when it gets into a course of execution. There is now only wanting to accomplish the whole declaration before mentioned, a sedition bill which we shall certainly soon see proposed. The object of that is the suppression of the Whig presses. Bache’s had been particularly named … [I]f these papers fail, republicanism will be entirely brow beaten … At present, the war hawks talk of septembrizing [massacring], Deportation, and the examples for quelling sedition set by the French Executive. All the firmness of the human mind is now in a state of requisition.301
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
From rascal Bache’s Paper.
“Most good men look on the President’s late Proclamation for fasting, humiliation, and prayer, as one of those apparently humble, hypocritical and delusive methods tyrants have universally began the foundation of oppressing the people with …”
It is said that BACHE is absent, very likely to avoid importunate visitors …
CHAPTER THREE
BLACK COCKADES
Their rise [as a Federalist militia, the Macpherson’s Blues] was at a season of alarm and political ferment … [A]n advertisement calling upon the YOUTH of Philadelphia to meet at a public tavern … was couched in singular form, for the youth were explained to comprehend those between 16 and 23 years of age … [E]ffects not to be then foreseen arose from the example set by Philadelphia, for all the continent was taught, and the eulogy bestowed by the president on these youths of 23 gave our nether world a high opinion of this queer begotten association, and the example was followed as we have seen …
Never was l’esprit de corps more strongly manifested than in the first months of its institution by this body … [M]en of sound republican principles but weak minds were seen enrolling themselves in ranks under the apprehension of their growing power and the consequent danger; and men … were seen disgracing the memories of their fathers and the independence of their country by the elevation of the black British cockade!…
This corps, sanctioned by the President … gave a species of law to the public of this city.—Weak men feared them … The theatre—the public streets—and even the domestic sanctuary was infested with their folly or their violence …
WILLIAM DUANE. EDITOR,
AURORA GENERAL ADVERTISER, 1798–1822302
A great riot happened … and hints thrown out of a design to fire the city; the light-horse were out all night, and the militia and private citizens were on guard, patrolling also, but it was passed in quiet, but we are still suspicious that the evil spirit is not wholly at rest, only lulled asleep. “Young Lightning Rod” had his house guarded by armed men, within and without, being fearful of having it pulled down. I think I never saw so many people at one time in my life as on that evening. What a world we live in, and what tumultuous times!
MARGARET MORRIS OF PHILADELPHIA, MAY 11, 1798303
FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
For some days past, the Anglo Monarchical Tory party have appeared at the [New] Theatre in full triumph—and the President’s March and other aristocratical tunes have been … vehemently applauded.—
A few evenings ago, a drunken-Bravo with some valiant associates called upon the Democrats to [dare] hold up their hands, but he and his comrades were soon silenced by the spirited conduct of ONE gentleman in the Boxes, when they prudently retired. On Wednesday evening, however, the admirers of British tyranny again assembled in consequence of the managers having announced in the bills of the day that there would be given a Patriotic song to the tune of the President’s March. All the British merchants, British agents, and many of our congress tories attended to do honor to the occasion. When the wished-for song came—which contained, amidst the most ridiculous bombast, the vilest adulation to the Anglo Monarchical Party and the two Presidents, the extacy of the party knew no bounds; they encored, they shouted, they became
Mad as the Priests of the Delphic God,
And in the fury of their exultation threatened to throw over or otherwise ill treat every person who did not join heartily in the applause.
The rapture of the moment was as great as if … John Adams had been proclaimed king of America, and the loyalty was so impressive that even the excellent Lady of his Excellency (who was present) shed tears of sensibility and delight.
For what reason the managers presume to offend a great body of the citizens of Philadelphia by devoting their theatre to party purposes we are at a loss to determine; or why the orchestra who had so readily gratified one party, should refuse to play Ca Ira when repeatedly called for, unless the managers wish to drive from the Theatre every friend to plain republican principles and depend alone upon the tories for support … The Republican party would do well therefore to absent themselves from the Theatre, unless they wish to have their noses pulled by the Tories and it is even possible their ears will be offended … If however any should be rash enough to enter that Temple of Aristocracy called the New Theatre, let them at least go in a party sufficiently strong to protect themselves from outrage, from insult, and degradation.
The aspect of affairs in America is … mysterious and alarming … [I]t would be ludicrous to suppose that the querulous and cankered murmurs of blind, bald, crippled, toothless Adams … can have any other effect than to afford additional and experimental proof of the folly of trusting such men with power.
Later today, the President’s Lady, Abigail Adams, writes her sister:
I inclose to you a National Song composed by this same Mr. Hopkinson. French tunes have for a long time usurped an uncontrould sway. Since the Change in the publick opinion respecting France, the people begin to lose their relish for them, and what had been harmony now becomes discord. Accordingly their had been for several Evenings at the Theatre something like disorder, one party crying out for the Presidents March and Yankee Doodle, while Ciera [“Ça Ira”] was vociferated from the other. It was hisst off repeatedly. The managers were blamed. Their excuse was that they had not any words for the Presidents March—Mr. Hopkinson accordingly composed these to the tune. Last Eve’ng they were sung for the first time …
Bache says this morning among other impudence that the excellent Lady of the Excellent President was present and shed Tears of sensibility upon the occasion. That was a lie. However I should not have been ashamed if it had been so. I laughed at one scene which was playd [to] be sure, untill the tears ran down, I believe. But the song, by the manner in which it is received, is death to their Party. The House was really crowded and by the most respectable people in the c
ity.304
War measures … Today, John Adams approves and signs into law:
AN ACT
To provide an additional armament for the further protection of the trade of the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted, &c. That the President of the United States shall be, and is hereby, authorized and empowered to cause to be built, purchased or hired a number of vessels, not exceeding twelve, not carrying more than twenty-two guns each, to be armed, fitted out, and manned under his direction.”305
President Adams also approves and signs into law,
AN ACT
To provide an additional regiment of
artillerists and Engineers.
Be it enacted, &c., That an additional regiment of artillerists and engineers shall and may be engaged by voluntary enlistments [and] … shall be considered as part of the Military Establishment of the United States …306
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
EXTRACT OF LYING
“Firm—united—let us be,” &c.
Bache, finding this sentiment of union and patriotism spreading rapidly throughout the United States … attacks it with wickedness and virulence wherever he finds it. The song, sung with the enthusiastic applause of every American at the Theatre on Wednesday last, has excited his keenest resentment and called for an exertion of his Lying faculty … The song is now before the public, and they will see there is not throughout a single allusion to any party or any party principle or question … But the two Presidents are spoken of with respect, and this offends the delicacy of Bache. And if I shall ever see the day when my countrymen shall forget the services of a WASHINGTON or an ADAMS … I shall see the day when American virtue and gratitude are buried and extinct …
AN AMERICAN
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
BACHE is said to be—not at home; so that it is probable that everything … ought to be attributed immediately to CALLENDER, a wretch who boasted of having fled hither to escape the hands of justice … a runaway and incendiary, a vagabond, and a pauper.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
SUMMER CIRCUS
Corner of Market and Thirteenth street.
WILL open on TUESDAY next, the FIRST of MAY—The details of the Performance of the Evening, which are very ENTERTAINING, will be given in a New Advertisement.
Today, another anonymous letter warns President Adams that his Fast Day will be a day of murder and mayhem:
Much respected Sir,
To warn a worthy people of impending danger is surely laudable. Permit me therefore to warn you against the Ninth of May. Be prepared, be courageous, for you will then stand in need of all your fortitude to repel the insidious attacks of domestic enemies. There is a vile plot laid. The prime movers of it are Frenchmen. They imagine themselves secure in their villainy, and thus will (on that day which is fixed on for fasting & prayer) perpetrate such [deeds] as all good men will shudder at. They will [murder] man, woman & Child, set fire to all your [offices] &c. &c. unless timely steps are taken to prevent it. Do not sleep in fearless security. The hour of danger is near …
A Friend to America & Truth307
Poor Richard wrote,
Happy that nation, fortunate that age,
whose history is not diverting.308
This is not that nation. This is not that age.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Although Bache called his myrmidons to arms and requested the republican party (as he called it) to go to the Theatre in a strong body for the purpose of exciting riot and tumult, yet the PATRIOTIC SONG was received last evening with more enthusiastic applause than before. It was again encored and sung four times, and called for oftener …
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
THE THEATRE was very full last night … [W]hat gave life to everything was the SONG … At every repetition it was received with additional enthusiasm, till towards the last, [the] great part of the audience, pit, box, and gallery, actually joined in the chorus.—It was very pleasing to observe that the last stanza received particular marks of approbation. Every one was closed with long and loud clapping and huzzas, but no sooner were the words,
“BEHOLD THE CHIEF WHO NOW COMMANDS”
pronounced than the house shook to its very center; the song and the whole were drowned in the enthusiastic peals of applause, and were obliged to stop and begin again and again in order to gain a hearing.
Today, Abigail Adams delights in the public response:
[W]herever I past, I received a marked notice of Bows … & the Friends [Quakers] in the Street in their way noticed me. I thought nothing of it untill my attention was caught by a Bunch of Tradesmen, they lookt like, who at the corners of the Street saluted me as I past with their Hats—
In short, we are now wonderfully popular except with Bache & Co who in his paper calls the President old, querilous, Bald, blind, cripled, Toothless Adams. Thus in scripture was the Prophet mocked, and tho no Bears may devour the wretch, the wrath of an insulted people will by & by break upon him.309
Tonight, in Philadelphia’s Southwark district, Samuel Relf (who is recruiting for the private Federalist militia, the Macpherson’s Blues) presides over a boisterous meeting of “Young Men” at James Cameron’s Tavern on Shippen-street. The meeting chooses a committee to draft an address to the President and agrees to reconvene on Monday to approve the address. Before adjourning, all sing Joseph Hopkinson’s new song, “Hail Columbia.”310
MONDAY, APRIL 30, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Some days ago, it was noticed in the Aurora that the friends of order in this city were beginning to threaten the disorganizers, that is to say, such people as do not wish to get into war in defence of two presidential speeches, with a trial of your own guillotine. We expected to see this menace denied in the anglo presidential gazette of Chestnut street [the Gazette of the United States]. Instead of that, how great was our surprize to see the threatening repeated …
Mr. Fenno, in some late numbers, has reproached Callender as the author of several pieces printed in the Aurora which the latter had never seen or heard of … [N]othing shall be said but simply that he knew nothing about them; that he writes but little for the Aurora, and that he neither has nor ever had any concern whatever in the editorship of the paper.
Jimmy Callender can’t write for the Aurora unless Benny pays him more. The issue is distancing them, and Benny wants me to give up my paltry salary to keep Jimmy on the payroll.311
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
CALLENDER TURN’D OFF
Bache begins to be ashamed or rather tired of his scald-headed associate—In the Aurora of this morning, we find Callender disavowed as a contributor to the elegancies of that repository or as having any participation in its editorship—It is possible that the scald-headed Pauper has been asking for some of those broken victuals which his employer is not so well able to spare as when his employers were on the spot.
Tonight, at seven o’clock, almost a thousand “Young Men of Philadelphia” cram into James Cameron’s Tavern in Southwark to approve, paragraph by paragraph and by acclamation, an address to be presented next Monday to the President of the United States.312
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
THE THEATRE is tomorrow Evening to be honored with the company of THE PRESIDENT and his LADY, and also of the OFFICERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
It is difficult to give a distinct account of the proceedings of the meeting held [at Cameron’s] on Saturday evening by the half-fledged friends of order… [F]rom beginning to end, the whole (according to a correspondent) exhibited a scene of puerile hurly-burly confusion … The young gentlemen wished to do something, but they could not express what … The laws require the full age of 21 before a citizen shall h
ave the right of voting; is it not absurd that young men under that age should attempt to instruct representatives on their own …
Certain unknown incendiaries intend to set fire to this city on the ninth of May, and in order to facilitate the execution of this infernal design, they thought fit to inform his excellency the President Adams by three successive letters of the exact day and time they intend to attempt it … These incendiaries, it would appear, express great confidence in the President, and if the scheme for setting fire is not a mere silly fiction, they must have looked upon him as a faithful accomplice in setting not only the city but the whole country on fire.
We are requested to say the President attends the Theatre this evening.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Bache’s account of the meeting [of Philadelphia’s “Young Men”] at Cameron’s is totally false … This contemptible foreign tool goes on to say that young men between eighteen and twenty-one are not entitled to the rights of citizens and that therefore it is improper in them to give instructions to the government …
The young men between the age of eighteen and twenty-one are liable to be called into actual service; there can be no impropriety in declaring their determination not to shrink from the task in the eyes of any other than an infamous miscreant who wishes the destruction of his country in order that France may rise on the ruins of its greatness.
ONE OF THE MEETING
THE YOUNG MEN
of this city and suburbs … will not feel themselves debased or suffer their ardor to be abated by the low abuse and affected contempt of such a thing as Bache. This poor creature whose register of infamy and falsehood is rapidly sinking to its dissolution: who is himself as deep in ruin as he is in dishonor, and will shortly exhibit an awful picture of the contempt and misery into which that man must fall who devotes himself to the interests of a foreign country, to the destruction of his own; whose disgrace and sufferings will furnish a memento of the indignation which Americans feel against those who dare to vilify their country, and express a wish to prostrate her at the feet of foreign insolence, ought not to excite any resentment even in the ardent breasts of youthful patriots—Let them pursue their course of honor and independence and pass this harmless, hissing snake in contempt.