American Aurora
Page 19
Abercrombie’s Sermon on fast day, May 9, was presented by him. Thanks voted.
Adjourned to this day week.400
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
To the citizens of Queen Anne’s County in … Maryland …
I cannot profess my attachment to the principles of the French Revolution … An anxiety for the establishment of a government in France on the basis of the equal rights of mankind … I feel in common with you …
JOHN ADAMS
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
LONDON [England] … [I]n consequence of the order issued by the House of Peers [Lords] for the apprehension of the proprietor and printer of the Morning Chronicle, Mr. Perry and Mr. Lambert … were … conveyed to Newgate [Prison] by two doorkeepers of the House of Lords. Take care Bache!—Take care, child of Old Franklin!
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
From the accounts brought by the packet, it appears that Ireland is in a very unsettled, distracted state; and declared in a state of rebellion.
SHIP NEWS.
PORT OF PHILADELPHIA
Cleared. Brig. Benjamin Franklin, Jones, Bourdeaux.
The ship Benjamin Franklin is preparing to take would-be Americans back to France.
Today, Abigail Adams writes her nephew, William Shaw:
France has Settled her plan of subjugating America. [H]er system is fully known … [S]he can pour in her armies upon us. [S]he can, as she has Done, Arm the Slave against his master, and continue by her Agents and emissaries whom … she boasts of having thickly Scattered through our Country, serving her principles, her depravity of manners, her Atheism, in every part of the United States. [B]y these means she will seduce the mind & sap the foundation of our strongest pillars, religion & Government. These are not visionary ideas of future events. They are now active. They have already proceeded to a most alarming height. It becomes every individual to rise and unite, to stop the progress, to resist the poison before it contaminates our vitals. [L]et not the question be asked what can I do? but what may I do? unite, unite
“As a band of Brothers joined,
peace and safety we shall find”
Form voluntary corps—let every citizen become a soldier and determine, as formerly, on Liberty or Death!401
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
DUPONT, the French consul, who came from Charleston to replace MONS[IEUR] LE TOMBE as [Philadelphia’s French] Consul General has been refused to be received by the President; and, I understand he is going off for France, having obtained a passport for that purpose …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The propriety of wearing some badge of distinction is suggested to the different volunteer corps now forming in this city … It has now become necessary to give a military appearance to the United States … Upon the bulk of mankind, parade and even ostentation most forcibly operate, and the sign of a feather or a uniform may give greater aid than could at first be imagined to motives of duty and patriotism … It is not sufficient for this purpose to wear only the [black] cockade, since it is worn by persons who neither are nor mean to become soldiers … Actuated by these opinions, the volunteer company of Philadelphia Grenadiers have entered into a resolution to wear at all times a black feather in their hats and to appear upon Sundays in full uniform …
John Fenno’s twenty-year-old son, John Ward (“Jack”) Fenno, helped to organize the Philadelphia Grenadiers,402 who are joined with the Macpherson’s Blues.403
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1798
Today, George Washington writes Judge Alexander Addison of the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania:
[M]uch good may, and I am persuaded will, result from the investigation of Political heresies when the propagation of them is intended evidently to mislead the multitude who … only require correct information to enable them to decide justly upon all National matters … not like the Demagogues that attempt to impose upon their understandings and … embarrass them more in the prosecution of their system of opposition to the Wheels of Government which they have adopted, and at all events, it would seem, are determined to adhere to …404
Today, James Madison writes Thomas Jefferson:
Whilst it was expected that the unrelenting temper of France would bring on war, the mask of peace was worn by the [Federalist] war party. Now that a contrary appearance on the side of France is intimated, the mask is dropped and the lye openly given to their own professions by [their] pressing measures which must force France into War.405
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
REPUBLICAN BLUES
Citizens desirous to attach themselves to this Company are requested to apply to a Committee of the Company who will sit at the house of Abraham Morrow, Chestnut-street on Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday; or at the sign of the Cock and Lion, corner of Coates’ and Second-streets, on Wednesday and Friday evenings, between the hours of 7 & 9 o’clock.
Today, the Philadelphia Infirmary dismisses not only my Irish friend Dr. Jimmy Reynolds,406 but also Benny’s brother, William, and the other four doctors who wrote in Jimmy Reynolds’ defense.407
Fearing Federalist militias, friends of the Aurora are forming their own private militia, the “Republican Blues,” which Benny’s brother, William, will lead.408
Today, Thomas Jefferson writes a letter of introduction for Quaker George Logan, who is getting ready to leave for France:
I, Thomas Jefferson, do hereby certify that George Logan … is a citizen of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and of the United States, of one of the most ancient and respectable families of the said commonwealth, of independent fortune, good morals, irreproachable conduct, and true civism …409
Today, French philosopher Constantin-François Volney announces his plans to leave:
Determined to leave this country immediately, I inform the public that the translation of my book, the RUINS, announced two years ago, and which I was to direct, is stopped and cannot take place …410
Today, in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Annals report:
SEDITIOUS PRACTICES
MR. SEWALL [Federalist, Massachusetts], from the Committee for the Protection of Commerce and the Defence of the Country reported a bill … that any alien resident … who shall be a notorious fugitive from justice upon the charge of treasonable practices in any foreign State or country or whose continuance within the United States shall be, in the opinion of the President, injurious to the public peace … may be required to depart from the country …
And if any person, whether alien or citizen … discourage any person … under the Government … from undertaking his trust … by any writing, printing, or advised speaking … [such person] may be punished … by imprisonment …411
Today, Jimmy Callender, a “notorious fugitive” from Scottish “justice,” who arrived in America just five years and one week ago, rushes to take his citizenship oath at Pennsylvania’s Court of Common Pleas.412
Tonight, the Gazette of the United States reveals that Thomas Jefferson is helping the Aurora:
HELP! OH! HELP! …
We have it from good authority that a certain gentleman of high station in our Government has written on to Virginia “earnestly soliciting his partizans and all their influential men in his part of the country to exert themselves to procure subscriptions to the A U R O R A, or the paper must fall, many Subscribers having lately withdrawn.” Strange Revolution!
Aurora about to set, to rise no more!
Aurora, that rose to profit all, should fail to profit herself!
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Mr. Fenno, in last evening’s paper, states that a certain gentleman of high station in our government has written to Virginia, recommending to his friends to exert themselves in procuring subscriptions to the Aurora, or the paper must fall, many subscriptions having lately withdra
wn. We can readily believe that there are persons high in office, even in the federal government, friendly to the cause of liberty and equal rights, & to the genuine principles of the constitution … who would, therefore, be ready to promote the circulation of the Aurora. But the inference therefrom that the paper must fall without additional support or that many subscribers have lately withdrawn is FALSE. The paper never brought in more money than it does now. It had never a more extensive circulation than at present, and its circulation is as extensive, at least, as that of the Gazette of the United States. It is true, nevertheless, that it has never been a very lucrative establishment; but it may become so, and, in the meantime it is reasonable to support itself and the proprietor of it without “benefactions” from any individual whatever.
As Poor Richard advised,
Let thy Discontents be Secrets.413
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
OF REPUBLICAN MODESTY
Take the following sample from the dying lips of the Jacobin Aurora. “We can readily believe that there are persons high in office … ready to promote the circulation of the Aurora.”
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette, Peter Porcupine writes:
In order to avoid the operation of the … law with respect to fugitive ALIENS, the CAITIFF CALLENDER went yesterday and offered himself as a Citizen of the United States and was admitted.
Tonight, a bad omen … Benjamin Jones, a tailor in Fromberger’s court, dies a horrible death. A report:
Mr. Jones had been but six or seven weeks resident in Philadelphia. About seven or eight months previous, he had been bit by a dog supposed to be mad. He was delirious and attempted to bite his attendants. These circumstances produced suspicion that he had the hydrophobia; but his physician, Dr. Physick, who opened his body after death, asserted it to be the yellow fever.414
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
TEXT
“Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of Speech or of the press …”
COMMENTARY
A BILL
For the prevention and restraint of dangerous and seditious persons …
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, … if any person … shall, by any writing, printing or advised speaking, threaten [a public official] … with any damage to his character … shall and may be punished …
The above Bill is to be debated in committee of the whole house [of representatives] this day.
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
A few days ago, a committee of the House of Representatives reported a bill [that] … proposes that “any alien resident … who shall be a notorious fugitive from justice … in any foreign state or country … may be required to depart the country …” The miscreant CALLENDER saw that this bill would very soon send him back to Britain … [T]o avoid this long and disagreeable journey, he flew to the shelter of citizenship. He went on Monday last into the court of Nisi Prius … Here Thomas Leiper, a snuff-grinder [tobacconist], swore that he had known Callender for upwards of four years; that during that time he had been … attached to the constitution of the United States … [T]his we have it in our power to prove to be false … In his [Callender’s] History of the United States for 1796, he says … “the Federal Constitution was framed in darkness.” He represents the proceedings of the [FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL] CONVENTION as “clandestine” … In his Sketches of the History of America, … on the power which the constitution gives to the President and the Senate, he concludes thus: “This may be called REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, but is evidently the dregs of Monarchy and Aristocracy.”
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The Editor of the Aurora, to keep his readers in the dark as much as possible … omits the publication of the [laudatory] addresses to the government from almost every part of the Union …
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1798
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The Tories are … determined on war; they know that the conduct and language of the Executive make war unavoidable; they are therefore resolved to be … the first to strike a blow … The present is really a crisis in our affairs. Those members of the legislature who are absent should instantly repair to their posts, & the People, as they value the blessings of peace and their liberties (for their rights will always be more or less endangered in the turmoil of war), should meet and, by firm and manly remonstrances to their Representatives, avert the evils that threaten.
Regrettably, Republicans won’t return.
War … This morning, by report, the second of the navy’s new warships is at sea against France:
[T]he frigate United States, John Barry Esq. commander, weighed anchor and sailed down river. She reached the fort and came to about noon.415
Today, Thomas Jefferson writes James Madison:
[T]hey have brought into the lower house a sedition bill which, among other enormities, undertakes to make printing certain matters criminal, though one of the amendments to the Constitution has so expressly taken religion, printing presses, &c. out of their coercion. Indeed this bill and the alien bill both are so palpably in the teeth of the Constitution as to show they mean to pay no respect to it. The citizen bill passed by the lower house sleeps in a Committee of the Senate. In the meantime, Callender, a principal object of it, has eluded it by getting himself made a citizen. Volney is gone. So is Dupont, the rejected consul …416
Today, the brig Benjamin Franklin departs Philadelphia for France. Chartered by Frenchmen who now seek refuge from America and cleared for departure by U.S. Secretary of State Pickering, the Benjamin Franklin carries, among others, Constantin-François Volney (the great literary figure of the Enlightenment) and Victor Marie Dupont (the new consul general from France that John Adams has refused to receive).417 Fifteen such shiploads will flee America this year.418
Today, Federalist party leader Alexander Hamilton urges Secretary of State Pickering to expel French nationals:
If an alien Bill passes I should like to know what policy on exequaturs is likely to govern the Executive. My opinion is that while the mass ought to be obliged to leave the Country, the provisions in our Treaties in favor of Merchants ought to be observed & there ought to be guarded exceptions of characters whose situations would expose them too much if sent away … There are a few such.419
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette, Peter Porcupine writes:
THE [MOST RECENT] DISPATCHES from our envoys at Paris … present us nothing new. They only place all the propositions of X, Y, Z to the account of the [French] minister of Foreign Affairs. Infamous BACHE can therefore no longer impute the insolent demands to “unauthorized agents.” Talleyrand … is no unauthorized agent.
How [Dr. James Reynolds] ever came to be admitted as a Physician to so respectable an institution as the Philadelphia Dispensary, I know not; but I know that several of the most liberal contributors lately expressed their determination to withdraw their aid from it if he was suffered to remain. In consequence of which, he was, last Monday, turned out by the Managers. His colleagues (amongst whom was Bache the printer’s Brother) had the impertinence to resent the measure, in consequence of which the Managers very politely informed them that their services also were dispensed with!!!
This is worthy … [of] imitation, not only of every institution of this kind, but of every department of government. It is time that the foes of the nation should feel its resentment—If they love France, to France let them go. It is mere nonsense to say that the politics of a man ought to be no exception to him in the common concerns of life. A man’s politics, at this time, are every thing. I would sooner have my wounds dressed by a dog than a democrat.
A personal note … Today, my rent is one week overdue, so my landlady, an unconscionable foul mouthed Dutch woman, seized on my goods, notwithstanding that my wife, Catherine, is very ill and I have to ransom my possessions that I may go to business. Yet I know Benny can’t pay me more.420
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
TO HIS SERENE HIGHNESS JOHN ADAMS—PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES—SIRE
… As the present moment is the rage for Addresses, … I have … yielded …
In common with those who detest mob government, I beheld your election … with inexpressible rapture … [T]he people would enjoy the happy tranquillity of being “well governed” without the trouble of governing themselves.—Every reasonable man must admit the truth of your opinion that governments of the people are governments of disorder and anarchy and that checks and balances of monarchy and aristocracy ought to be engrafted on every well regulated constitution … Away, sir, with those Frenchified doctrines that teach men to believe they are all created equal and that God has dispensed to all the same rights—they are atheistical …
The factions and “unprincipled mercenaries” who opposed your election compose no part of the American citizens … Sir, the very attempt to keep you from the presidency is proof of their alliance with a foreign nation and of their love of faction!!! What, could men who had their country’s good at heart have aided in opposition to you! To you, who are the oracle of all wisdom and the fountain of all patriotism! …
DEMOCRITUS
War measures … Today, the U.S. Senate passes the alien bill.
Today, Benny Bache writes an Aurora subscriber who wants to cancel his subscription:
Dear Sir … [Y]ou are backed in your determination to withdraw your support by no less a man than the President of the United States who has also lately decided my paper is no longer to be sent him, and if he should be able to discover—-from the clue given by this letter—your name, it may probably recommend you to his good graces.