American Aurora
Page 93
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
ALIEN. I don’t trouble myself much about [the election]—
CITIZEN … ha’nt you been here fourteen years?
ALIEN. Yes, I have, but what of that ?
CITIZEN. What of that, … don’t you live among us?—You have a family, and you know what is good …
AL[IEN]. Yes, I know that, but as I am an alien, I have no right to speak of what I think good—If I do, you know, I may be suspected—and so informed against, and next sent out of the country to the ruin of my little family.
CIT[IZEN]. You need not be a morsel afraid—Our President (God bless him) is a very good and a very merciful man—You are safe enough.
ALIEN. I expect I am—for let me tell you, I wish so to act as never to put myself in the power of a man who could sign any law that abolishes the trial by jury.
CIT[IZEN]. Aye, aye, I see how the land lies, you are a democrat.
ALIEN … I don’t well understand the term.
CIT[IZEN]. A democrat is a leveller, a destroyer of all order, a lover of the French, who wish to overthrow all order sacred and human—A democrat delights in blood, murder, and rapine—& denies the being of both God and the devil.
ALIEN. God bless me—then I am no democrat; but in the name of common sense, who told you that a democrat is such a being?
CIT[IZEN]. Why Peter Porcupine—Fenno … [T]hese are men whom you will not find often mistaken. They are good federalists.
ALIEN. Yes, so I suppose—for you I think should know that Porcupine vilifies your constitution … and glories in being a British subject. Fenno says a republican government is the highest note in the gamut of nonsense …
CIT[IZEN]. Hoite-toite—what have I got here—I protest if any body should have told me—I would not have believed it—I find, by your way of talking, that Duane is your favourite and—you are a M’Keanite.
ALIEN. I told you before I don’t trouble myself about such matters …
CIT[IZEN] … James Ross is a good man …
ALIEN. No never—remember he advocated the British treaty … the Alien and Sedition laws which he also supported, call loudly on every foreigner to oppose his election … His warmness on the bill for a standing army …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
“THE AURORA,” a few days past, presented to its readers a calculation of the approaching election, rendering a majority of between 4000 and 5000 votes in favor of its patron M’Kean … Only change the state of the votes … from what Duane predicts to what it is well known … and the majority declares for Mr. Ross.
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
[E]very under-working engine is put in motion to prepossess the people of the United States against the … [British] government … [T]hey are employed by the Democratic faction, they come forth from the Aurora and other French presses; from the same vile, slanderous, and infamous presses which have frequently proposed to make Mr. Adams … vacate his seat as President and go home about his business.
It is said that the New Envoys to France are not to depart, as yet. Probably the late news from Europe has induced the President to give up the idea of sending them. It is very certain that he will do what he looks upon as most conducive to the interests of his country, and I think he must, by this time, be fully persuaded that interest is not to be advanced by sending these Envoys to France.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Mr. Holt, Editor and proprietor of the [New London] Bee, a republican paper in Connecticut, is summoned before the district court to answer for a publication upon the recruiting service. Sympathy for the unexperienced youths who were adventuring into war contrary to the inclination of parents and friends … dictated that production …
In a state where an aristocracy and clergy are confederated … Mr. Holt has held a post of danger and maintained it with honour … [M]odest, sensible, and unassuming, he has hitherto escaped the vengeance of advocates for war, for a limited monarchy, a separation of the State into two governments, a religious establishment, an army to subjugate Virginians and Kentuckyans and destroy republicans … [T]he Editor of the Bee has stood alone in the defence of his countrymen and neighbors …
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
Mr. M’Kean’s committee say … that in truth there does not exist a firmer advocate, a more successful supporter of law, of public tranquillity, of private property, and public credit. How far his conduct respecting the disturbance that took place on Sunday the tenth of February last, in the yard of St. Mary’s Church in Philadelphia, corresponds with these assertions of his committee we submit to the public … Mr. M’Kean would hearken to nothing from the Mayor … and charged the members of the Congregation with having committed an assault on the prisoners and said “that they and not the prisoners were the aggressors, that he would have dismissed the matter in quarter of an hour, for the prisoners had the right to take up their hats and go about their business.” …
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
GENERAL ELECTION.
WHEREAS the Governor of the Commonwealth has … deemed it expedient, on the representation of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, to change the place … for holding the election … [to] the Centre House Tavern, situated on the south side of High street, commonly called Market street … Public notice is therefore hereby given …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
FEDERALISTS! Attend to the disposal of your Tickets ! The Editor of the Aurora, being lately in company with a gentleman whom he supposed coincided with him in politics, began to boast of their success in electioneering and, clapping his hand on the gentleman’s knee, exultingly exclaimed “Damme we are tricking them.” The gentlemen enquired in what manner. Why, replied he, one of their committee had just sent me two quires of their tickets sealed up, which he informed me were at my disposal …
BOSTON [MASSACHUSETTS]—Russel’s Gazette. The electioneering business for Governor in Pennsylvania continues to be the principal subject of newspaper discussion. On the 8th of [this] month, the trial will be held whether the state [of Pennsylvania] is to be blessed with the solid talents and abilities of a rational Federalist or be cursed with the visionary and absurd politics of a Jacobin.
Massachusetts and the rest of the nation are watching the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election. Republicans view Pennsylvania as the keystone in the democratic arch.1857
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1799
Today, U.S. Attorney General Charles Lee offers some advice to John Adams:
Hoping it will not be deemed improper in me to give my opinion, before it is asked, relative to the suspension of the mission to France … Such a measure would exceedingly disappoint the general expectation of America, and, exciting the jealousy and suspicion of many concerning your sincerity in makng the nomination, would afford your enemies an opportunity of indulging their evil dispositions …1858
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Some complaints have been made that the Editor has not published enough of the later news from Europe …
The Pennsylvania Election has excited the liveliest interest in every part of the Union and in truth must decide materially on the sentiments of the people—whether they are willing to be a republic or become monarchists. We have therefore given a preference to what concerned the election …
Today, at the U.S. Circuit Court in Rutland, Vermont, a Sedition Act indictment is handed down against Anthony Haswell, publisher of Vermont’s leading Republican newspaper, the Vermont Gazette in Bennington, for reprinting part of a Philadelphia Aurora article on “British Influence” that charged President Adams with choosing government workers on the basis of their political ideology. The indictment also cites the Vermont Gazette for carrying a lottery advertisement in January to pa
y Vermont Republican Congressman Matthew Lyon’s fine. Anthony Haswell’s trial will likewise be held in April.1859
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
ELECTION.
TO THE ELECTORS OF PENNSYLVANIA …
Take Advice!
1. LOOK WELL TO YOUR TICKETS.
2. LOOK WELL TO YOUR BOXES.
3. LOOK WELL TO YOUR TALLIES.
4. LOOK WELL TO YOUR RETURNS.
Now or Never.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Mr. M’Kean’s committee endeavor to palliate his conduct at the Mayor’s after the disturbance in St. Mary’s church yard, by asserting “1st. That the city and its neighborhood has been much disturbed with the feuds and riots of intemperate party men. 2d. That the streets were crowded with people, and that the report was officially made to the chief justice that the prisoners were paraded hand-cuffed through the city.” …
Mr. M’Kean did not take the time fairly “to understand the facts,” for the moment he entered the Mayor’s house … he most violently attacked and insultingly abused that magistrate …
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
RETURN OF THE VOTES … GOVERNOR …
M’KEAN ROSS
Philadelphia City 1277 1708
Northern Liberties 999 292
Southwark 595 217
Germantown 518 278
Chester 153 216
Darby 155 229
Concord 69 315
Newtown 57 350
Oxford, &c. 259 304
4082 3910
The federal party are so much alarmed at the idea of M’Kean being chosen Governor that they are apprehensive of success … next year … It is meditated, in the event of any splitting of the eastern and southern federal interests on the candidate for the next presidency, to seduce General Washington to offer himself again—
What will John Adams think of this? He arrives at Trenton today.1860 The results are ominous for the Federalists, and the votes from the outlying counties (which protested Adams’ war-taxes and suffered his army’s retaliation) aren’t in yet!
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Jedediah Peck, of Burlington, Otsego co[unty], State of New York, an influential Jacobin has been arrested under the sedition law.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The Editor being under legal obligation to attend the federal district court to be held by adjournment at Norristown, Montgomery county, THIS DAY—it is hoped that a liberal indulgence will be made for any want that may possibly attend the usual quantity and quality of original matter, through the necessary engagements of the Editor with the Lawyers.
Since the passage of the sedition bill, a representative in congress has been fined and imprisoned in jail, where he was treated with the utmost indignity and tyranny, for animadverting on the conduct of the President … A number of prosecutions have also instituted against the republican printers … Another printer, in order to obtain presidential pardon, was obliged to transport himself from America …
Is the President the ne plus ultra of perfection ? can he never err, and will that office be always filled by infallible men ? Every person must answer no !
Today, I appear at the Pennsylvania Federal District Court which has convened at Norristown, Pennsylvania, to avoid Philadelphia’s yellow fever. Judge Richard Peters is present, but Justice Bushrod Washington (George Washington’s nephew) has yet to arrive. I must return on Monday.
Today, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
Nothing certain can be said as to the result of the election for Governor, but, as far as I can guess, from what I have heard, “THE DEMOCRATICK JUDGE” is destined to make Pennsylvanians feel all the abundant blessings resulting from the “Glorious Revolution” of 1775.
“OUR ENVOYS” … we have the pleasure to know … are still in this country.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Summary of returns for Governor.
PHILADELPHIA CITY AND COUNTY.
Ross. M’Kean.
City District 1708 1277
N. Liberties do. 292 999
Southwark do. 217 397
Germantown do. 278 513
Busseltown do. 305 259
2800 3649
Maj. in Philadelphia City and County for M’Kean 849.
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Ross. M’Kean.
Chester District. 261 150
Darby do. 229 155
Concord do. 315 69
Newton do. 350 57
1155 431
Maj. in Delaware County for Mr. Ross, 734
Maj. in the City and the above 3 counties for Mr. M’Kean 125.
We are informed that Mr. M’Kean has a majority in the county of Berks of 3436 and in Montgomery County of 435. It is said that Mr. Ross has a majority in the county of Bucks of 117, and that in every other case, the Republican ticket has succeeded.
The disconsolate appearance of the Rossites on Wednesday induced a republican barber at a village in Bucks to set up a sign immediately on the close of the pole for Governor, with the following inscription:
Whigs shaved as usual for three cents.
Tories, owing to the encreased length of their faces, double price.
Men MAY be conquered—But Principles CANNOT.
BE it remembered that Luther Baldwin has been prosecuted and fined 150 dollars costs and expences, 250 for speaking seditious words, in the whole 400 dols …
Sometime in June 1798, President Adams was passing through this town … Luther, a little merry, [said] he did not care if they fired [a shot] through his a— … For this he has fallen a sacrifice …
In the election which has elevated Thomas McKean to the governorship of Pennsylvania, twice as many Pennsylvanians voted as in any previous Pennsylvania gubernatorial election. Republicans won 38,036 of 70,706 votes cast, a margin of 5,393. Majorities of 2,602 in Northampton County (where John Fries led the war tax protest) and of 3,363 in Berks County (where the federal army abused Reading’s citizens and whipped Reading Eagle publisher Jacob Schnyder) gave Thomas McKean his winning margin.1861 It is clear to everyone that John Adams’ French war has put his political future at risk.1862
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The Federal District Court held by adjournment at Norristown was opened on Friday by Judge Peters; the absence of Judge Washington prevented the Court from proceeding to business …
Today, the Federal District Court at Norristown doesn’t open until three and then adjourns till tomorrow morning. I must come back again tomorrow.1863
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The Establishment of the Aurora will be removed to Philadelphia on Saturday evening next, and the paper published there on the Monday following as usual.
[I]t is a general complaint now with the friends of high and harsh measures that the contest [for governor] has been decided by a coalition of the German and Irish interests … Those who applaud the acts by which hatred and disaffection have been fomented by the religion of Christ in Ireland for 200 years past, do not disagree with themselves in deploring that two numerous descriptions of the American population [the Germans and the Irish] should … discard prejudices which have been fostered to their common injury and common discredit.
Today, I return to Norristown, Pennsylvania, where Alexander James Dallas (my lawyer) and I face Judge Richard Peters and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Bushrod Washington (who has finally arrived) in a crowded courtroom. Though I won’t publish the story for more than a year, I record (for future publication) what occurs:
[T]he Editor was compelled, at an heavy expence, to travel back and forward to attend the federal court at Norristown on an indictment laid and found for asserting [he had p
roof in the form of a letter] that Mr. Adams had asserted that British influence had been employed. [T]he Court expressed doubts as to the existence of such a letter. The Editor offered to go instantly to trial upon that issue, and an authenticated copy of the letter was at hand. The Court and the District Attorney were, for a moment, struck with astonishment, and a large concourse of people, assembled to see the Editor of the Aurora hauled over the coals of the sedition ordeal, expressed their feelings by a sudden but impressive emotion of surprize and conviction. Judge Washington relieved the District Attorney from his embarrassment by stating a legal difficulty in the form of a doubt whether Mr. Adams’s letter, though produced, would be legal evidence; that if it were procured in evidence against Mr. Adams himself, it might possibly be admitted. Mr. Dallas, on the part of the Editor, [observed] that, as the sedition law admitted truth as a justification, the letter could not be refused. That all the Editor had asserted was that “Mr. Adams had asserted that British influence had been exercised,” and the authentication of the letter and the expression in it was the proof of the truth.
Some of that strange finesse which derogates so much from the dignity of the bench of justice was then played off, and the trial was postponed as a matter of great favor to the Editor. Judge Peters who sat with Judge Washington on that occasion, learning from a person in court that the Editor meant to publish the indictment and proceedings, called upon the Editor in open court and recommended to him not to publish it, or he should be obliged to take notice of it. This proceeding, unprecedented in the annals of jurisprudence, impressed the Editor more deeply with the seriousness of the case. Soon afterwards he learnt that the indictment was withdrawn altogether.1864