David Brown appears to be between 40 and 50 years of age … and audaciously predicts that the people will “finally break out like the burning mountains of Etna.”
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
MARTIAL LAW
[I]f the people cannot see, in the outrages committed on all occasions in various parts of these States by persons holding military authority under the United States, the danger to which the public liberties are exposed, they deserve to be dragooned into military subjection— …
Last Saturday night about 11 o’clock, a number of officers of the United States Frigate … were walking down South street, committing every act of outrage upon the citizens they met with—they began with upsetting a cart, then to upset a chair before James Carr, the coach-maker’s door—from thence they proceeded on a little farther where they attacked Three Women, who were sitting before their doors, by pulling up their clothes and laying hold of them—(decency forbids any further remarks here) They took with them a chair and went a little further, when one of them cried out—“a sail ! a sail !” and immediately crossed the street to two women and committed like indecencies … Mr. Durnell, a constable, who lives in the neighborhood, hearing a noise came out … [H]e was immediately attacked in a furious manner and stabbed with a dirk …
Today, George Washington writes the Governor of Connecticut:
No well informed and unprejudiced man, who has viewed with attention the conduct of the French Government since the Revolution in that Country, can mistake its objects or the tendency of the ambitious plans it is pursuing. Yet strange as it may seem, a party, and a powerful one too … affect to believe that the measures of it are dictated by a principle of self-preservation … War with France they say is the wish of this Government; that on the Militia we should rest our Security …
With these and such like ideas attempted to be inculcated upon the public mind (and prejudices not yet eradicated) with all the arts of sophistry and no regard to truth, decency, or respect to characters, public or private, who happen to differ from themselves in Politics, I leave you to decide on the probability of carrying … an extensive plan of defence … into operation …1827
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
THE Aurora thinks it right, and to be desired, that the French should … subvert the independence of other nations … [H]e is now raising cock-necked troops …
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
[Adv.] CENTRE HOUSE TAVERN AND GARDENS …
FOURTH OF JULY
A full CONCERT will be presented to the public gratis …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
There is a boldness of sinning … in the editor of the Aurora which surpasses, in bare faced devotion to the French cause, almost any thing that has yet appeared. In the capital of one of the most important states in the union, this man has the unparalleled effrontery to attempt to organize a company of armed men and to proscribe insignia for them, altogether Gallick. As the American soldiers wear black hats, he directs his company to wear white hats; as a Cock is an emblem of the French, he orders them to wear cocks neck feathers; as a small triangle on a large black ground is the American cockade, he requires a large silver eagle to be mounted on a very small black ground, to shew as much as possible, by his regulations, a contempt for the national military insignia.
THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The present struggle on the subject of government, between the hereditary despotic kings and the people, is waged no less with the pen and with the press than with the sword. This country has not taken any part in the contest with the sword … We cannot however say that we have taken no part with the pen nor with the press.
The American newspapers, sermons, magazines, and pamphlets [published by the Federalists] have
1. Held republicanism in contempt. 2. Ridiculed democracy. 3. Violently counterargued equal liberty. 4. Roundly condemned resistance to the unlawful and unconstitutional acts of power. 5. Openly advocated an established church. 6. Offered extenuations for even the doctrine of the divine right of kings. 7. Persuaded to a chief magistracy to be constitutionally unimpeachable …
In short, the far greater part of the American presses have entered into an alliance, offensive and defensive, with the monarchical and despotic combined powers against the republican states.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
REPUBLICAN GREENS.
YOU are requested to attend at your Parade on Saturday Evening at Six o’Clock—to form arrangements for the celebration of the Anniversary of American Independence—and transact other business.
WM. DUANE, Commanding Officer.
Poor corporal Fenno raves grievously about the new republican company—when he hears that there is another republican company besides the greens nearly completed—the bile must discolour the delicate crimson of his smock visage …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
MR. FENNO, Duane … publish[es] the following account [from the Richmond Examiner] of himself:
“Duane prints every day paragraphs an hundred times more obnoxious than those for which Abidjah Adams [of Boston’s Independent Chronicle] was dressed in a stone jacket …” …
How long are we to be insulted by wretches who can thus boast of their obnoxious qualities …?
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
MILITARY RESENTMENT …
[BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, June 7.] To oppose with all the little energy I possess the establishment of a mercenary Standing Army is one of the many pledges I have made to the public … Exercising only that independent spirit which … should actuate the conduct of the Editor of an American newspaper, I discharged that duty incumbent on my situation by decrying an establishment more to be dreaded … than the exertions of … the “FIVE HEADED MONSTER” [the French Directory] … [s]ince which I have received all the private persecution, calumny, and back-biting in the power of the most inveterate malice to invent …
[Y]esterday, finding the danger of attempting to shew their superiority over the people by open violence, these brave and spirited officers—after whipping a poor, unfortunate devil … marched him with more than savage triumph from Fort M’HENRY to my office, where they gave orders to their Jannissaries to play the officers march before my door …
After the mercenaries had left my office, I waited on the sergeant, and asked him why, with fixed bayonets, he drew up his men and ordered his musicians to play that insulting air, the Officer’s march, at my office door. He declared it was by the order of his superior officers!! …
ALEX MARTIN,
Editor of the Baltimore American.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The Aurora, a paper which is not only free to but invites every calumny against the government of the United States and whatever else is calculated to incite the people to oppose the laws has recently (see the Aurora of the 27th instant) enumerated … cases in which, it is asserted, the American news-papers (or far the greater part of them), sermons, magazines and pamphlets have directly attacked or waged war, with the pen, upon republican states … that the American news-papers … have held republicanism in contempt … They have ridiculed Democracy.
It is answered that sound American patriots consider pure Democracy as one of those Plagues which have been suffered occasionally to afflict mankind. It is everything that can be dictated by the most turbulent, wicked, and ambitious men, carried into effect by an inflamed and ignorant multitude. It is a mob-government; a government without branches, where every individual has a right to oppose every individual; where laws are made in the same way … as Town resolves in public squares or State-house yards … The existing government of the United States is a well poised and balanced machine. It is equally distant f
rom a democratic, aristocratic, or monarchical government, while it partakes of the principles of each. It will be the endeavor of the Federalists to perpetuate this government, and they will take up arms to prevent mad Democrats, at the nod of their demagogues, from changing it for a pure Democracy … Americans of sound principles have argued against every kind of liberty which would disturb the social order …
When it pleases Heaven to deprive a banditti of their leader, the devil not uncommonly infuses a greater portion than ordinary of his infernal spirit into some menial villain of the gang by the assistance of which he is soon enabled to usurp the command …
Thus has it been with the ex-shoe black of the late Aurora-man; but his progress has been rarely paralleled in rapidity or its constant tendency towards the highest point of baseness.
He began by calling General Washington a fool, a coward, and a murderer—he called Mr. Adams a blind, bald, toothless, crippled old dotard—he justified and defended the Northampton insurgents—and maligned the general and the army who quelled them …
That a fellow thus lost to every sense of shame, thus brazen and bold in his opposition at and ridicule of the friends and defenders of the government and country in which he lives and fattens, should devote himself to the interests of the enemies of America is by no means extraordinary.
MONDAY, JULY 1, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
More military discipline.—Last Tuesday, at Reading, three officers of the standing army, one of whom was disguised in coloured clothes, went to the house of Mr. Schnyder printer (who was so barbarously treated by Montgomery’s horse of Lancaster) and seized a young man who acts as translator of English and German to Mr. Schnyder. They were in the act of beating him, when Mr. Heister the younger rushed from the adjoining house to the aid of the injured man. Mr. Heister had suddenly snatched up a gun barrel with which he struck the officer in disguise and obliged the others to decamp precipitately—though the whole three were armed.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The Aurora says that the safety of all republican governments depends on the success and exertions of the French. This same lying vehicle is daily sounding the alarm of danger to this republic; and this assertion is only an additional proof (which indeed was not wanting) of the traitorous views of the Irish and native rebels amongst ourselves !
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
[NEW YORK] John D. [aly] Burke has left the United States. It is hardly necessary to say that this is the same Burke who printed the Time-Piece in our city in connexion with the learned doctor Smith. Having a number of prosecutions on him for libels against the United States, he made application to the President who, on Burke’s promising immediately to depart from the United States, ordered the suspension of said prosecutions.
I have ever been of the opinion that Infidelity is generally the fruit of ignorance … [T]here is no more blasphemy in [Thomas Paine’s] Age of Reason than in Common Sense and the Rights of Man … [T]he same holy scripture which enjoins us to fear God also enjoins us to honour the king … [I]t was such works as Common Sense and the Rights of Man which prepared the minds of the ignorant in this country for the reception of that blasphemous publication …
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
This day being the Anniversary of American Independence, the citizens engaged in the publication of the Aurora, will have to suspend their labours for the day and join in the general festival—the next number of this paper therefore will appear on Saturday morning next.
REPUBLICAN GREENS.
The impossibility of obtaining uniforms and equipment for more than one fourth of the corps (between the 15th of June and 4th of July) renders it necessary … that you should not exercise with the legion in this imperfect state. The whole corps in and out of uniform will assemble in their own parade at 6 o’clock in the morning of the 4th of July … It is expected that all members will dine together, along with the Republican Blues, where the declaration of Independence will be read & an oration delivered, &c.
WILLIAM DUANE, Captain.
FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1799
[As announced, there is no edition of the Aurora today.]
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The Anniversary of Independence was yesterday celebrated in this city with the usual demonstrations of joy and festivity. The First and Second troops of Volunteer Cavalry … the Volunteer Grenadiers and Macpherson’s Blues paraded at 10 o’clock in the morning in High-street, when a salute was fired by the Artillery … At two o’clock, they repaired to Mr. Weed’s ferry on Schuylkill [River] to dinner, where they were honored with the presence of Brigadier General Macpherson … At six, they again took up their line of march …
In the course of the day, a thief-looking vagabond, with a white hat and feather, was observed strutting about the streets like a turkey-cock in a barnyard: This was Jasper Dwight, captain of the cock-necked troops.
SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL
THURSDAY was kept in this city as a day of general Jubilee …
The Republican volunteer militia legion under Col. [John] Shee paraded in the morning on the north side of the centre square, and the legion of Federal Volunteers, under General Macpherson, on the south side of Market-street …
After the military exercises were concluded, the corps marched severally to their places of entertainment …
The Republican Blues, commanded by Captain Summers, and the Republican Greens, by Capt. Duane, at their meeting, after reading the Declaration of Independence, drank the following [16] Toasts: 1. The day we celebrate, that gave birth to a nation and the great example now followed by mankind.—Yankee Doodle, a volley. 2. The sovereign people of the United States … 3. Dr. Franklin, the great patriarch of American liberty—may republicanism like the electric principle pervade the universe. 9 cheers. He’s gone to the blessed abodes. 4. The Republics of Europe.—More of them.—Ça ira. 5. The freedom of the Press—devoted to truth, fear[ful] only of falsehood … 8. The author of the Declaration of Independence—who prefers the activity of republicanism to the calm of despotism.—3 volleys … 14. Thomas M’Kean …
VOLUNTEERS …
B. F. Bache—the man who preferred honorable competency and domestic virtue to public distinction & fortune at the expence of principle.—How sweet’s the love that meets return.
The female democrat that would not marry a coach …
General Washington—May the glories of his youth never be obliterated by the mistakes of his age.
TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
There will be a vast deal of tautology in the names of our naval vessels. We had an Adams [a U.S. frigate] lately launched in the east river [of New York]—another U.S. ship of war, the [John] Adams is mentioned in the Charleston papers to have been a few days ago brought forth near that city; and report states that another of that blessed name is now on the stocks in this city. The name will be certainly a host of strength in itself and completely protect our commerce. Is this flattery or not? Surely, we outstrip the British in this instance. In the navy of England, there is only one Royal George … The name of Washington honours but one small vessel …
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
Jasper, the Gallic Irish Aurora man, is about establishing a life guard for his own carcass. It is said the French republic are to pay for the uniform which is to be green, with the French Cock feather in their cap. They have called themselves the French Irish Blues, or the Aurora Life Guard; it is added that three recruits have already inlisted!!
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
[E]very day [we] experience the benefit of a navy and army. Our citizens can no longer walk the streets in safety … A government cannot long remain popular when its hirelings tyranniz
e with impunity over the people and are despised by them. Military establishments are fruitful sources of despotism, and we fear that the public have seen only a small part of the many evils which we are yet to feel.
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette, Peter Porcupine writes:
COMMUNICATION …
In an Oration delivered by Mr. How, at Trenton, on the 4th of July, … [s]peaking of the revolutionary war [and] … the conduct of France during the negociations in 1783 … [h]e fairly states the Claims of Gratitude which have been lately urged by the partizans of France from Jefferson to Duane … Mr. H., by reference to authentic documents contained in the appendix to Mr. Morse’s sermon of 29 Nov. 1798, will find, 1st, “that one of the negociators (viz. Doctor Franklin) joined the Count de Vergennes and his secretary [Rayvenal] in opinion that the independence of America should be … not acknowledged as a preliminary to negociation.” 2d, That “Mr. Adams had not yet arrived from Holland, and Dr. Franklin was so much in the French interest, THAT HE WAS NOT CONSULTED [by Mr. Jay] …” 3d, That “Dr. Franklin was with the French generally in opinion …” … 4thly, That “French influence procured Dr. Franklin to be appointed sole minister at the court of France.” …
And to conclude, it was “the virtue and firmness of Messrs. Adams and Jay that defeated the views of the French, and though fettered with one colleague (Franklin) … THEY, notwithstanding all these embarrassments, gained by the treaty every important point for America …” …
How unjust, is it not then, in an American to encircle the brow of Franklin with any part of the laurels gained by Adams and Jay in opposing him … To these two men, and to the candor and honesty of the British court and their envoys, are we indebted for our Independence … Ever honored and respected be their names, and may the searing iron of infamy ever brand the name of the cowardly Frenchified hypocrite, the prototype of Gallo-Americans !
American Aurora Page 87
