SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
[C]all to mind the gloomy days of proscription when the republican citizen was menaced in the streets of the city with assassination.—When houses were entered by armed men and the solemnity of a fast day converted into a night of terror and burglary, when the swords of a gang led by Joe Thomas, who has since absconded loaded with dishonor, gleamed in the affrighted eyes of women and penetrated to the fire sides of families …
Men of great experience at the time disbelieved what we had published …
It is well known that, at the period alluded to, the unfortunate French, who had no choice but to remain here, were daily assaulted in the public streets. The French government (in order that those … who adhered to the republic should be distinguished from those who were hostile) had ordered a badge or cockade to be worn. Those who obeyed the impulse of feeling and obligation were insulted in these streets and in maritime places and [had] the cockades torn out of their hats at the very moment when our own administration was setting up a similar badge to distinguish the adherents of Britain from the friends of peace and republicanism … As a part of this system, alarming letters were sent to President Adams, to the Mayor, and the Governor, denouncing a design of the French to burn the city. The answer of Mr. Adams to the [infuriated] addresses of that day aggravated the alarm. And it was openly announced in the paper of FENNO, then patronized by Mr. Adams and printer to the Senate, that a Sicilian Vespers ought to take place in the city.
ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
Pennsylvanians of all Parties are very deeply interested to avoid the hardship and evils of being deprived of Presidential Electors …
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania …
An extraordinary Meeting of the Legislature having been called by the Governor’s proclamation to take place in November [on the 5th … w]e hope nothing will, by any means, occur to deprive Pennsylvania of her full share in electing the president …
The late elections for Congress have given a clear and certain indication of the Public Sentiment in this State …
This month’s Pennsylvania elections delivered a “clear and certain indication of the Public Sentiment” in Pennsylvania, because Republicans received three out of every four votes cast, winning ten of thirteen congressional seats, fifty-five of seventy-eight Pennsylvania state assembly seats, and six of seven Pennsylvania state senate seats.2023
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
HAIL! to the day, which joyous now appears,
To crown the toils of many, many years …
The Joys of office, gratify desire:
No more plain Mr. now! I strut Esquire.
Off, off gin twist; and brandy tody hence:
Draughts which are drank by men of “common sense” …
What! What, what’s the news! a wrong return?
Have I a second time defeat to mourn?
No, no dear sir, pray calm your raging mind,
We’ve long since left all virtue, truth behind …
Then hear me—all the gin send to Duane,
The brandy to his Highness T—[om] Mc—[Kean] …
The President of the United States passed thro’ N. York on Thursday on his way to the Seat of Government.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
ALEXANDER HAMILTON VERSUS JOHN ADAMS … EXTRACTS [from the New Vindication] … No. 2. “The letter which has just appeared in the public prints, written by [Mr. Adams] when Vice-President to Tench Coxe, is of itself conclusive evidence … This letter avows the suspicion that the appointment of Mr. Pinckney has been procured or promoted by British Influence …” No. 3. “But a more serious question remains—How will Mr. Adams answer to the government and country for having thus wantonly given the assertions … [which] the enemies of the administration have impudently thrown upon it? Can we be surprised that such a torrent of slander has poured out against it when a man, the second in official rank, the second in the favor of the friends of the government, stooped to become one of the calumniators?”
Alexander Hamilton’s public criticism of John Adams, published as a pamphlet, Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States,2024 demonstrates the chaotic condition of the Federalists.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
John Adams says these are bad times; perhaps he thinks the days of proscription, when Lyon languished in prison; when the black British cockade was mounted; when he sent back the Aurora because it was printed on a sabbath of his own making; when war and alarm echoed through every part of the continent; when the boys of 25 were extolling him into a demi-god—these were the good times. Yes! “these were the times Mr. Rigmarol,” but I hope we never shall see such times again.
Six years ago, Mr. Adams, being Vice President, declared … America could not be happy without an hereditary magistrate and an hereditary senate. Alexander Hamilton, holding an office … under President Washington, avowed his wish for a monarchy in the United States seven years ago. Mr. Adams and Mr. Hamilton … knew the monarchical opinions of the other. Hamilton, knowing the monarchical dispositions of Mr. Adams, yet supported him for the Presidency. Adams, knowing Hamilton’s opinions, submitted to appoint him acting head of the army.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
TO THE PUBLIC …
In the month of April 1794, I, being then commissioner of revenue in the Department of the Treasury of the United States, was sitting in one of my office chambers in the Treasury at Philadelphia, treating on business with a person there. Mr. Langdon, then of the Senate of the United States, of New Hampshire and sometime Chief Magistrate of New Hampshire, came in. He was apparently very grave and in pain of mind … As soon as we were private, I asked Mr. Langdon what was the matter … He said he was conferring in the Senate Chamber with the Vice President Mr. Adams and Mr. Taylor of the Senate, and that Mr. Adams had said much about republican government and finally expressed himself in favor of an hereditary President of the United States …
TENCH COXE
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Never was there a greater mistake committed by Federalists than was evinced at the late [Pennsylvania] Election … [A] great number of men, professedly Federal, voted for the Democratic Candidate … What has been the consequence of this cowardly conduct?—The answer will be found by observing something very like a French Cockade already exhibited in the hats of the exulting Jacobins …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Let Mr. Adams remember the language in which he has opposed the living and reprobated the departed venerable Franklin …
TENCH COXE
Today, James Madison writes Thomas Jefferson,
What an important Denoument has lately been made! Hamilton’s attack upon Mr. Adams [for complaining about British influence] is a perfect Confirmation of all that that arch and very clever Fellow Duane has been so long hinting at, or rather affirming. It will be a Thunderbolt to both. I rejoice with you that Republicanism is likely to be so completely triumphant …2025
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1800
Tonight, from the new President’s House in Washington, John Adams writes Abigail,
We arrived here last night, or rather yesterday at one o’clock, and here we dined and slept. The building is in a State to be habitable. And now we wish for your Company …
Before I end my Letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.2026
A praiseworthy wish, except for the word “rule”!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
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Fellow Citizens ! attend ! watch well the proceedings of your [Pennsylvania] Legislature! Set a mark on the men who may persist in the usurpation which goes to disenfranchise the state of the all important right of choice in the election of President and Vice President of the United States.
When the constitution of the United States was under discussion, every man who dared to doubt of its excellence … was stigmatized as a friend of disorder and anarchy. Yet behold … It is almost in the power of two or three abandoned individuals, by disenfranchising our state, to impose a President on the Union, contrary to the strongest wishes of the people …
It certainly would be much the best that the people should vote; but there is not time. It is impossible. The assembly did not make a law last session …
All New England has ordered Elections by the ballots of their Legislatures … They have 39 votes which they secure, in this manner, for Mr. Adams …
The Federal Constitution says, “each State SHALL appoint Electors of a president, &c.” Monarchy, ill disguised under the assumed name of Federalism, says Pennsylvania shall not!…
In Pennsylvania’s state elections this October, citizens had the chance to vote for their entire state assembly (elected annually à la Franklin) and thus awarded 70 percent of their state assembly’s seats to Republicans. Because, however, Pennsylvania’s state senators hold longer, four-year “aristocratical” terms of office (à la Adams), seventeen of twenty-four senators did not have to face this “annual gust of folly.” For this reason alone, the Federalists retain a slim majority of two (13-11) in the Pennsylvania state senate. The people’s preference is clear, yet “it is almost in the power of two or three abandoned individuals, by disenfranchising our state, to impose a President on the Union, contrary to the strongest wishes of the people.”2027
Today, in a Richmond, Virginia prison cell where he is serving a nine-month prison sentence for criticizing the President of the United States, Jimmy Callender completes his second volume (152 pages) of The Prospect Before Us, including:
The public officers have rushed to public plunder … [C]onsult the editor of the Aurora. Intelligent, intrepid, indefatigable, this gentleman, like his predecessor, Mr. Bache, deserves, if any man can deserve it, the perpetual gratitude of the United States. The faction did well understand their interest when they made an effort to murder him. Beside Mr. Duane, the majority of American newsprinters appear like petty figures around the pedestal of a statue.2028
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
NEW YORK, Nov. 3. At a select meeting of the citizens, at Lovett’s Hotel, on Thursday evening … the following [13] toasts were drank, viz. 1. The triumph of Republicanism … 3. The speedy arrival of the republican millennium … 10. The republican printers … VOLUNTEERS … William Duane—the Cicero of Anglo-Federal conspiracies.
Today, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania state legislature convenes in special session to decide whether and how Pennsylvania will appoint presidential electors. In less than a month, on December 3rd, the nation’s presidential electors must cast their votes.2029
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
From the multitude of hints and allusions thrown out in the Aurora respecting our [Pennsylvania] state senate, it is easily seen that the Jacobins are extremely restless on the subject of [Pennsylvania’s] appointing electors of President …
This is the all important day for the meeting of the [Pennsylvania] Assembly. The senate is understood to have a majority of two on the Federal side … [T]heir conduct will confirm the good opinion of every friend to consistency, except Billy Duane.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
SUBSCRIBERS
THE Subscribers to the AURORA, living in and near the City of Baltimore, will please to pay their subscriptions to BONSALL & NILES Booksellers of that City—Those of New-York to Mr. HENRY HERFORD No. 251, Water Street.—And those of Easton, Maryland, to Mr. THOMAS MOORE, Merchant of that town …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
HALLOA Messmates! What’s to pay in the hold? There’s a devilish racket below! “Rats, rats, rats”—Is the ship among the breakers? Has she sprung a leak, or are we got on the lee shore? The state-room is all in an uproar—same of the lubbers jump out of the cabin …
“Rats, rats, rats”—curse such vermin, they now begin to take to the shore …
The old pilot, who drew up the articles for the frigate “Independence” is ready to step on board, and if we give him “the long pull, the strong pull, and the pull altogether,” he will take his station, and, we hope … restore harmony and good humor among the whole crew.
Today, in Washington, Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott (one of the “rats”) writes John Adams:
Sir,—I have, after due reflection, considered it a duty which I owe to myself and family to retire from the office of Secretary of the Treasury … at the close of the present year.2030
Tonight, in Washington, the building which houses government accounting and war department records bursts into flame. Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott seems to be at the scene before anyone else. New Secretary of War Samuel Dexter (James McHenry’s replacement) is also at the fire. All war department records are destroyed.2031
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
WAR OFFICE BURNT …
Extract of a letter from Washington City dated November 8.
About 7 o’clock this evening, I was alarmed by fire in this city. We all ran as usual, and behold it proved to be the War Office. Before I got there all was involved in uncontrollable flames … The accountant’s department was in the same building, but he had the good fortune to save the greatest part of his papers—the books and papers in the war-office were entirely consumed. How it originated nobody knows … We had but two small engines, ill proved with water, and about 30 house-buckets.
Brown.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
BALTIMORE, Nov. 10. By a gentleman direct from the city of Washington … [O]n Saturday evening last, about 7 o’clock, P.M. a fire broke out in the building occupied by the war-office, supposed to have been commenced in the chamber of the secretary himself … Mr. Wolcott, with one of the clerks who first discovered the smoke issuing from the secretary’s chamber, burst open the door, but they were instantly repelled, almost suffocated … Mr. Dexter himself arrived at the unhappy moment of conflagration, very much injured by a fall from his carriage, which overset in that city.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
It appears from papers by the Southern mail of yesterday that the fire at Washington originated in the apartment of Mr. Dexter, secretary of war, which had been locked up for the last two weeks. This wants some explanation …
As all the inhabitants ran to assist in quenching the fire at the war-office, and as Oliver got there first—he certainly must know, if any body does know, how it commenced.
The President, since his residence at Washington, has been severely afflicted with fever and ague.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Duane … is now at Lancaster [Pennsylvania] … to obtain … the proceedings of our Legislature …
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Extract of a letter from John Langdon, Esq. Senator in Congress from New Hampshire to Samuel Ringgold, Esq …
“Portsmouth, October 19, 1800.
DEAR SIR … I am now packing my baggage, shall set out in a stage tomorrow morning for the city of Washington …
In the conversation held between Mr. Adams, Mr, Taylor, and myself, Mr. Adams certainly expressed himself (as far as my memory serves me) in the very words … That he hoped or expected to see the day when Mr. Taylor and his friend Mr. Giles would be co
nvinced that, the people of America would not be happy without an hereditary Chief Magistrate and Senate—or at least during life …
[U.S. Senator] JOHN LANGDON …”
OMENS
Mr. Adams is sick at Washington.
Oliver Wolcott has been almost suffocated.
Mr. Dexter has been threwn out of his carriage and much bruised.
And Parson Abercrombie is so ill with a cold that it is with difficulty he can breathe.
The [first], we fear, has taken too great a dose of Hamilton’s Lozenges.
The [last] has been ill since the account of the New York election was received …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The fire caught in a room on the second floor and raged with such violence as to render it impracticable to extinguish it. The papers in the lower story only were saved.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1800
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
FROM LANCASTER … “The fire at Washington appears to have taken place exactly as was foretold in the Aurora some weeks ago, pray refer to the article and republish it with the most particular account of the fire that appears in the papers …
“It would be useful to enquire & discover, whether Mr. Pickering’s papers, as Secretary of War, and Mr. Hamilton’s correspondence, while Inspector General, with Mr. McHenry have been preserved in this accidental conflagration. I regret that I cannot go to the spot to peep into this scene of … desolation. I admire the ardor of Mr. Wolcott and commiserate his danger—O there are … such Villains!”
American Aurora Page 115
