Today, Thomas Jefferson writes a friend,
The success of McKean’s election is a subject of real congratulation & hope ….1873
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Mr. M’Kean’s election has been announced in a very apt, emblematic stile, by a Bloody Feast and terrific Fire-Works; for, if I am not mistaken, such a fire has been lighted up in Pennsylvania as will consume the Federal Union …
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
This day, commencing the Second Year of the present Editor’s responsibility;—in the publication of this Paper, the only assurance he will make of his future exertions is that they shall not at least be inferior to the past—
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
A sagacious newsmonger to the Eastward says “the Election for Governor of Pennsylvania seems to excite very general sympathy.”
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
It is a painful and impressive truth … that those gazettes which the English here have established and many officers of the general government have contributed to support and employ even now perseveringly continue their “offensive alliance” against the Governor elect. Can Britain ever expect a favorable temper in this state, while printers, connected as Cobbett and Fenno are known to be, pursue, as a daily occupation, the vilest abuse of the man of our choice … If rash Englishmen will suffer a mad youth and un-principled emissary (like Fenno and Cobbett) to ruin their concerns, let their public agents here answer for the consequences beyond the Atlantic … Pennsylvania will … not suffer our elective constitutions to be wounded, through the sides of her Chief Magistrate, by the hired or emissary printers of a foreign monarchy.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
One of the public papers by the last mail says that the whispers which have been circulated of the president’s intention to resign at the next meeting of congress are unfounded.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The Gazette of the United States wantonly attacks the Pennsylvania government of our choice by publishing that Mr. M’Kean’s administration had commenced with a bloody feast and fiery acts because a number of citizens had roasted an ox, and others had displayed an elegant fire-work … In a paper of Cobbett’s since the election, he attempts to ridicule the man whom Pennsylvania has chosen … He treats the election of Mr. M’Kean as a great step towards anarchy, bloodshed and ruin …
Today, in New York, Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton writes the state’s attorney general, Josiah O. Hoffman:
SIR, [The New York Argus’s country edition] “Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser” of this morning contains a publication entitled “Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, dated September 20th,” which charges me with being at the “bottom” of an “Effort recently made to suppress the Aurora” (a newspaper of that city) by pecuniary means …
A bolder calumny; one more absolutely destitute of foundation was never propagated …
I therefore request that you will take immediate measures towards the prosecution of the persons who conduct the enclosed paper …
A. HAMILTON1874
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
From the Albany Centinel. The Philadelphia Aurora trumpets forth paeans on the election of M’Kean to the office of Chief Magistrate of Pennsylvania … [T]he electors of Pennsylvania will probably give again their suffrages for Jefferson … to mount the Presidential Chair.
The Circuit Court of the United States commenced their session in [Rutland, Vermont] on the Third inst. Tony [Haswell], the editor of the Bennington petty vehicle of sedition, and Judah P. Spooner, ci-devant printer to Lyon, were arrested on indictment found against them … [Haswell] appeared to contemplate a justification … by proving that he was paid for printing the libellous matter. That the seditious clause complained of was in fact no more than an advertisement for Lyon’s lottery [to pay Lyon’s sedition fine]. If receiving pay for printing sedition could be pleaded in justification, we fancy that not only little Tony but the Aurora man and many others, coadjutors and fellow labourers in the Gallic vineyard, might escape the pains and penalties of the law … I hope the time is fast approaching in which … the din of democracy no longer be heard in our land.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
REPUBLICAN FESTIVITY.
Friday last was kept as a day of jollity at Pottsgrove, Montgomery County, [Pennsylvania] to celebrate the election of THOMAS M’KEAN … The republicans had a feast on the occasion at George Phieger’s tavern, and after dinner several toasts were drank … After these toasts the following volunteers were given.
By Col. J. Heister. The liberty of the press … and the freedom of speech … [M]ay neither be abridged by despotism or unconstitutional laws …
By John Heister, Jr.—The memory of Dr. Franklin—the political Messiah of the western world.
By Major Hartman—The memory of Benjamin Franklin Bache, the man worthy of his name and his country, the modest man with a vast mind.
By Captain Townsend—The editor of the Aurora, the man found worthy to be the successor of Franklin and of Bache …
At a time [when] a whole people … had recognized and proclaimed as the basis and essence of all legislation a moral equality and [when] a democratic republic had been erected on the ruins of the aristocracy and the throne … a citizen … attempts … to revive the dying spark of royalty and bring into fashion the Gothic order …
The main drift of this work of Mr. Adams, entitled a defence, &c. &c [of the Constitutions of Government of the United States] … is to establish the superior beauty of a government of three branches affording a mutual balance and which should have an hereditary king and nobility … [T]he ruin of ancient commonwealths and Italian republics of the dark ages he boldly ascribes to the want of this balance …
It ought to be shewn that the tumults, seditions, insurrections, and wars which agitated and finally subverted all republics had their source in the ignorance of the great mass of mankind; in the insolence, intrigues, power, and tyranny of the Nobles; in the efforts of the people to acquire and share in the government, and in the absence of equality and adequate representation rather than in the want of Mr. Adams’ impracticable and visionary balance.AN AUTHOR
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
M’Kean’s election to chief magistrate may … convince the vain, indolent federalists of this state that they are not equal to their adversaries … [I]f they neglect the event … it will not be long before they and their country will be oppressed by a brutal democracy. The same votes that lifted M’Kean to the chair of first magistrate may raise a Duane … or any other vulgar demagogue to be inferior scourges. We may depend on it …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
THE REPUBLICAN TRIUMPH, A NEW SONG
Tune—“BALLINAMONA”
1.
Ye true sons of freedom, ye rude swinish throng,
Attend for a while, and I’ll give you a song,
It’s the triumph of freedom, we now celebrate,
A Republican Governor gain’d for the State.
Sing Ballinamona, &c.
No Governing Tories for me …
12.
Friends of Freedom now since we have gained our cause,
Let’s be firm in supporting our country and laws,
But not that curst law of Sedition so ill,
If I do then curse me with an Alien Bill.
Sing Ballinamona, &c.
No laws of Sedition for me.
13.
The day of election the Tories regret,
Five Thousand and odds a majority great,
So here’s to the health of Republicans Green,
And Republican Blues and old Thom
as M’Kean.
Sing Ballinamona, &c.
A Republican Governor for me.
Today, in the city of New York and by order of the New York state attorney general, widow Greenleaf’s foreman at the New York Argus, David Frothingham, is arrested for publishing the claim that Alexander Hamilton tried to buy the Philadelphia Aurora. Under New York’s law of libel, the truth of the claim does not matter. The only issue is whether the claim injures Mr. Hamilton’s reputation. David Frothingham is released on bail. His trial will take place on the 21st.1875
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The President of the United States arrived in town last evening from New Jersey. The 2d troop of Volunteer Cavalry met him a few miles from the city and escorted him to his house in Market street.
Where is the Porcupine’s Gazette? We hear that Cobbett has discontinued his paper!1876
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
ALEXANDER HAMILTON …
This distinguished man of gallantry … is once more before the public …
It is in the public recollection what villainy and slander—what violence and artifices have been set on foot to destroy “The Aurora,” before and since the death of the late editor.
It is a fact that, during last spring and summer, repeated efforts were made by several persons, some of whom are known to be hangers-on or dependants, or sycophants of certain political characters, to “alter the politics” or to suppress the Aurora altogether.
These efforts were treated exactly as they merited …
In an eastern paper, there lately appeared a letter, stating that a sum of 6000 dollars had been offered for part purchase of this paper, that it was probable that Alexander Hamilton was at “the bottom of it.”
That the sum was offered is a fact which cannot be denied … And … there is the strongest reason to believe that he did take an active part in certain transactions calculated to destroy this paper …
Alexander Hamilton has now commenced a prosecution against Mrs. Greenleaf [of the New York Argus] for publishing a suggestion [of this matter]—the heart of this man must be formed of peculiar stuff.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
A number of the Republicans of Lancaster, having subscribed toward an entertainment on the happy event of our late election … the entertainment was accordingly provided in front of Mr. Boyd’s house on Thursday, the 7th instant … An Orchestra was erected … The fare consisted of 780 lb of the best beef, two roasters weighing 35 lb, 4 hams weighing 63 lb … 125 loaves of bread … Two hogheads of excellent beer brewed in the borough, 12 gallons of the best French brandy and 24 gallons of excellent Madeira wine … The provisions were put on the table 300 feet in length at half after one o’clock … There were seated at the table, at one time, 412 persons … The following [17] toasts were drank … 1—The Republicans of Pennsylvania and their day of triumph—October 8. ‘99. 2—The sovereignty of the people … 3—Thomas M’Kean … 9 cheers … 9—Our envoys to the French Republic … VOLUNTEERS … By Captain Lefevre. The Aurora—And the Memory of its founder, Benjamin Franklin Bache.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The snarling Porcupine, it has been reported, intends making New-York the future scene of his venomous scurrility, in consequence of his ill-timed declaration that he would leave Pennsylvania should M’Kean be chosen governor. That assurance, and the hope that he would for once keep his word, very probably had an effect upon the election. To get rid of the monster was the wish of many who were in favor of Mr. Ross. But they considered the election of M’Kean a less[er] evil than the incumbrance with Porcupine. To these may be added those voters who read the papers to learn to estimate the candidates. Porcupine’s abuse benefited M’Kean more than Duane’s praise. And if this raving beast removes to New-York, busies himself equally at the next election for governor, and repeats there his wonderful “threat,” we may expect to find a Livingston in the chair of that state.MERCURY.
Our information respecting the Envoys has been perfectly correct. They embarked [for France] on Sunday last from Newport in the frigate United States, of 44 guns, commodore Barry.
Alex. Hamilton has been much irritated at the very idea of his being at the bottom of an effort to purchase “The Aurora”—as if he never had any dealing with newspapers! …
Alexander Hamilton’s prosecution against the Argus … The gallant inspector possibly supposed that he could lug in the Argus by terror, as “money could not make the mare go.”
To judge Alexander Hamilton … it would seem as if he thought the public could forget his defence [of his wenching]—or … That he was the proposer of a monarchical form of government in the federal convention …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
A few evenings since, as Mr. Abel Humphreys was returning to his house in Second near Spruce-street, he was overtaken by certain ruffians at a short distance from his door. They called out to him “who are you for ?” and not receiving an answer, cried, “we are for M’Kean:” Mr. H. then said, “I am for Ross;” whereupon he was instantly beset by them all …
One of the M’Keanites who attacked Mr. Humphreys proves to be a member of Capt. William Duane’s cock necked troops, and the whole three are said to be United Irishmen …
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
“A feather shews how the wind blows,” said Doctor Franklin. Fenno, whose foreign friends are jealous of every American homespun thread, is very resentful that the Republican Greens use American game cocks feathers, dressed and wired here; instead of importing Ostrich feathers from Great Britain brought thither from the British West Indies and dyed, dressed, and wired in London. He seems to have a violent antipathy to the American Game Cock, merely because the Cock is also an emblem in France of the high spirit which that wonderful people exhibit.
War … Today, south of Martinique in the French West Indies, the U.S. Navy’s 220–man, twenty-eight-gun ship Adams, under Captain Richard V. Morris, captures the French privateer schooner Le Onze Vendémiaire, with four guns and sixty-seven men..1877
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
In the paper, published by the tender and infant heirs of Benjamin Franklin Bache, we find offered for sale at the Aurora office “A quantity of waste paper, fit for grocers and trunk-makers.” … [W]ith how much such graceful modesty the Aurora man, that “son of the morning,” impresses us with his consciousness of the destiny which awaits his diurnal pages. No one will deny that the paper of the Aurora is waste … and that, from the necessities of a young family and the wants of an editor, it is always for sale for any purpose and for any price.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1799
George Washington worries that I can document British influence in his administration. Today, from Mount Vernon, he writes Secretary of War James McHenry:
The charge of British influence … is a perfect enigma; my curiosity leads me to enquire on what ground it is built, and you would oblige in giving me an explanation … because I shall think myself b[oun]d to answer any interrogatories which may be dictated by insidious impertinence.1878
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Poor Fenno is much elated at the sale of the waste paper of “The Aurora” office—if exultation can console him on the occasion—we cannot envy or deny him all that solace which the mere efforts of imagination give him … and would not disturb him with a hint at the respective condition of our subscription lists.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
To those who call themselves the friends of good order—it will be allowed “The Aurora,” its late, or its present Editor, are under no species of obligation … after the attempts made upon the life and liberty of the late and present
editor and after the attempt to SUPPRESS BY PURCHASE this Press …
Today, in New York City, at the Court of Oyer and Terminer, New York Attorney General Josiah O. Hoffman begins the trial of David Frothingham, widow Greenleaf’s foreman at the New York Argus. From a trial report:
The substance of the indictment was that, with a design to injure the name and reputation of General Hamilton, … [t]o cause it to be believed that he was hostile and opposed to the Republican Government of the United States, the defendant had published a libel in which it was alleged that General Hamilton was at the bottom of the efforts to purchase the Aurora; that Mrs. Bache had refused to sell her paper in consequence of the said efforts because, in the hands of General Hamilton or his agents, it would be used to injure republicanism … and lastly that Mr. Liston, the British minister, and General Hamilton were united in an effort to purchase the Aurora—that for the execution of this design, General Hamilton received of the British minister secret service money of the king of Great Britain …
To prove the publishing of the paper charged as a libel, the assistant attorney-general was examined. He said that, in consequence of a letter he had received from General Hamilton and from a desire to avoid the prosecution against a woman, and a widow, he called on Mrs. Greenleaf … That Mrs. Greenleaf denied she was at all concerned in the management or direction of her press. That she introduced the defendant as the person who was accountable for whatever was printed under her name …
The court admitted Gen. Hamilton to explain the innuendoes, but declared that, the law not allowing the truth or falsehood of a libel to be controverted in a trial for that offence, they would exclude all testimony as to those points on either side … He was … asked if he considered the Aurora as hostile to the government of the United States ? And he replied in the affirmative ! This closed the testimony.
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