Revolutionary Heroes, And Other Historical Papers

James Parton

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by James Parton

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Title: Revolutionary Heroes, And Other Historical Papers

Author: James Parton

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TIMES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN," ETC. ETC.

GEN. JOSEPH WARREN SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF

CAPT. NATHAN HALE INDEPENDENCE.

GEN. WASHINGTON'S SPIES. ROBERT MORRIS.

VALLEY FORGE. JOHN JAY.

JOHN ADAMS. FISHER AMES.

THE PINCKNEYS.

INTRODUCTION.

James Parton was born in Canterbury, England, February 9, 1822. When

five years old he was brought to America and given an education in the

interesting story could be made out of the life of Horace Greeley, and

he mentioned the idea to a New York publisher. Receiving the needed

encouragement, Mr. Parton set about collecting material from Greeley's

former neighbors in Vermont and New Hampshire, and in 1855 produced the

"Life of Horace Greeley," which he afterwards extended and completed in

1885. This venture was so profitable that he was encouraged to devote

himself to authorship. In 1856 he brought out a collection of Humorous

Poetry of the English Language from Chaucer to Saxe. Following this

appeared in 1857 the "Life of Aaron Burr," prepared from original

sources and intended to redeem Burr's reputation from the charges that

Webster, John C. Calhoun, John Randolph, and others (1867); "The

People's Book of Biography," containing eighty short lives (1868);

"Smoking and Drinking," an essay on the evils of those practices,

reprinted from the _Atlantic Monthly_ (1869); a pamphlet entitled

the Time," a collection of magazine articles, most of them treating of

Ingenuity, and Public Spirit" (1871); "The Words of Washington" (1872);

President of the United States" (1874); "Taxation of Church Property"

the Present Time" (1877); "Caricature and other Comic Art in All Times

several years' labor (1881); "Noted Women of Europe and America" (1883);

and "Captains of Industry, or Men of Business who did something besides

Making Money: a Book for Young Americans." In addition to his writing

pen. He made New York City his home until 1875, three years after the

death of his wife, when he went to Newburyport, where he now lives.

_The London Athenaeum_ well characterizes Mr. Parton as "a

painstaking, honest, and courageous historian, ardent with patriotism,

but unprejudiced; a writer, in short, of whom the people of the United

States have reason to be proud."

contributed from time to time by Mr. Parton, and are considered as

GENERAL JOSEPH WARREN.

A fiery, vehement, daring spirit was this Joseph Warren, who was a doctor

thirteen years, a major-general three days, and a soldier three hours.

In that part of Boston which is called Roxbury, there is a modern house

of stone, on the front of which a passer-by may read the following

inscription:

"John Warren, a distinguished Physician and Anatomist, was also born

here. The original mansion being in ruins, this house was built by John

C. Warren, M.D., in 1846, son of the last-named, as a permanent memorial

he styled the original edifice a mansion. It was a plain, roomy,

Roxbury, and the father of Warren who occupied it was an industrious,

vegetables for the Boston market. Warren's father was a beginner in that

neighborhood retains to this day the name which it bore in his lifetime,

the Warren Russet.

gathering season, about the time when the Warren Russet had attained all

she had, was indoors getting dinner ready for her husband, her four

boys, and the two laborers upon the farm. About noon she sent her

youngest son, John, mentioned in the above inscription, to call his

father to dinner. On the way to the orchard the lad met the two laborers

carrying towards the house his father's dead body. While standing upon a

ladder gathering apples from a high tree, Mr. Warren had fallen to the

ground and broken his neck. He died almost instantly.

The _Boston Newsletter_ of the following week bestowed a few lines

upon the occurrence; speaking of him as a man of good understanding,

generally respected among us, and whose death is universally lamented."

Fortunate is the family which in such circumstances has a mother wise

and strong. She carried on the farm with the assistance of one of her

sons so successfully that she was able to continue the education of her

assemble at the spacious old Roxbury house.

It was in the very year of his father's death, 1755, that Joseph Warren

entered Harvard College, a vigorous, handsome lad of fourteen, noted

even then for his spirit, courage and resolution. Several of his class

one day, in the course of a frolic, in order to exclude him from the

fun, barred the door so that he could not force it. Determined to join

them, he went to the roof of the house, slid down by the spout, and

sprang through the open window into the room. At that moment the spout

fell to the ground.

We find him at nineteen master of the Roxbury Grammar School, at a

salary of forty-four pounds and sixteen shillings per annum, payable to

his mother. A receipt for part of this amount, signed by his mother and

in her handwriting, is now among the archives of that ancient and famous

office of a Boston physician, under whom he pursued the usual medical

fire, was formed to succeed in such a community as that of Boston. His

reading in the Boston newspaper the following notice:

"Last Thursday evening was married Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the

physicians of this town, to Miss Elizabeth Hooton, only daughter of the

late Mr. Richard Hooton, merchant, deceased, an accomplished young lady

Thus launched in life and gifted as he was, it is not surprising that he

than he did. When he had been but a few months married, the Stamp Act

was passed, which began the long series of agitating events that ended

in severing the colonies from the mother country. The wealthy society of

Boston, from the earliest period down to the present hour, has always

been on what is called the conservative side in politics; and it was

eminently so during the troubles preceding the revolutionary war. The

whole story is told in a remark made by a Boston Tory doctor in those

times:

"If Warren were not a Whig," said he, "he might soon be independent and

of business, and he was for many years their favorite physician. He

attended the family of John Adams, and saved John Quincy, his son, from

losing one of his fore-fingers when it was very badly fractured. Samuel

decisive. At his house Colonel Putnam was a guest on an interesting

occasion, when he was only known for his exploits in the French war.

"The old hero, Putnam," says a Boston letter of 1774, "arrived in town

on Monday, bringing with him one hundred and thirty sheep from the

little parish of Brooklyn."

It was at Dr. Warren's house that the "old hero" staid, and thither

flocked crowds of people to see him, and talk over the thrilling events

of the time. The sheep which he brought with him were to feed the people

"These fellows say we will not fight. By heavens, I hope I shall die up

to my knees in their blood!"

Soon after, as he was passing the public gallows on the Neck, he

quietly:

"Which of you uttered those words."

They passed on without giving any reply. He had not long to wait for a

proof that his countrymen would fight. April nineteenth, 1775, word was

brought to him by a special messenger of the events which had occurred

scene of action.

begun it. _That_ either party can do. And we will end it.

_That_ only one can do."

Riding fast, he was soon in the thick of the melee, and kept so close to

the point of contact that a British musket ball struck a pin out of his

hair close to one of his ears. Wherever the danger was greatest there

was Warren, now a soldier joining in the fight, now a surgeon binding up

wounds, now a citizen cheering on his fellows. From this day he made up

his mind to perform his part in the coming contest as a soldier, not as

a physician, nor in any civil capacity; and accordingly on the

"second Major General of the Massachusetts army." Before he had received

passed the night previous in public service, for he was President of the

Provincial Congress, but, on the seventeenth, when the congress met at

Watertown, the president did not appear. Members knew where he was, for

on the field ready to serve.

"I am here," he said to General Putnam, "only as a volunteer. Tell me

where I can be most useful."

And to Colonel Prescott he said:

"I shall take no command here. I come as a volunteer, with my musket to

serve under you."

The enemy buried him where he fell. Nine months after, when the British

finally retreated from New England, his body, recognized by two false

teeth, was disinterred and honorably buried. He left four children, of

son. Among those who contributed most liberally toward the education and

dollars. A little psalm book found by a British soldier in Warren's

CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE, THE MARTYR-SPY.

deep East River flowed between the two hostile armies, and General

so much as at that crisis.

What would General Howe do next? If he crossed at Hell Gate, the

American army, too small in numbers, and defeated the week before, might

be caught on Manhattan Island as in a trap, and the issue of the contest

might be made to depend upon a single battle; for in such circumstances

defeat would involve the capture of the whole army. And yet General

Washington was compelled to confess:

"We cannot learn, nor have we been able to procure the least information

skillful, brave, to cross the East River to Long Island, enter the

enemy's camp, and get information as to his strength and intentions. He

went to Colonel Knowlton, commanding a remarkably efficient regiment

Captain Nathan Hale, a brilliant youth of twenty-one, recently graduated

from Yale College, was one of those who reflected upon the subject. He

soon reached a conclusion. He was of the very flower of the young men of

New England, and one of the best of the younger soldiers of the patriot

army. He had been educated for the ministry, and his motive in adopting

for a time the profession of arms was purely patriotic. This we know

from the familiar records of his life at the time when the call to arms

was first heard.

In addition to his other gifts and graces, he was handsome, vigorous,

soldier of former wars, and asked him to volunteer.

"No, no," said he. "I am ready to fight the British at any place and

time, but I do not feel willing to go among them to be hung up like a

famous general William Hull, then a captain in Washington's army, has

"I think," said Hale, "I owe to my country the accomplishment of an

object so important. I am fully sensible of the consequences of

receiving a compensation for which I make no return. I wish to be

He spoke, as General Hull remembered, with earnestness and decision, as

one who had considered the matter well, and had made up his mind.

Having received his instructions, he traveled fifty miles along the

Sound as far as Norwalk in Connecticut. One who saw him there made a

very wise remark upon him, to the effect that he was "too good-looking"

to go as a spy. He could not deceive. "Some scrubby fellow ought to have

gone." At Norwalk he assumed the disguise of a Dutch schoolmaster,

putting on a suit of plain brown clothes, and a round, broad-brimmed

from General Washington which placed at his disposal all the vessels

well with him, and there is reason to believe that he passed through the

entire British army without detection or even exciting suspicion.

suspecting or knowing that he was not the character he had assumed,

quietly left the room, communicated his suspicions to the captain of a

British ship anchored near, who dispatched a boat's crew to capture and

bring on board the agreeable stranger. His true character was

immediately revealed. Drawings of some of the British works, with notes

in Latin, were found hidden in the soles of his shoes. Nor did he

attempt to deceive his captors, and the English captain, lamenting, as

he said, that "so fine a fellow had fallen into his power," sent him to

New York in one of his boats, and with him the fatal proofs that he was

a spy.

corner of the present Fifty-first Street and First Avenue. It is a

strange coincidence that this house to which he was brought to be tried

as a spy was the very one from which Major Andre departed when he went

to West Point. Tradition says that Captain Hale was examined in a

artillerymen, who wished to see the ceremony of surrender. He rode up to

each side of him, got upon his feet, and presented his sword to the

to his general, and witnessed the surrender. Washington took him by the

is a glorious day for our country!"

In a moment, however, the unfortunate Rahl, who stood near, pale,

did all in his power to soothe the feelings of the dying soldier.

This action, reckoning from the first gun, lasted but thirty-five

minutes. On the American side two officers were wounded, two privates

were killed, four were wounded, and one was frozen to death. Four stands

of colors were captured, besides twelve drums, six brass field-pieces,

and twelve hundred muskets. The prisoners were nine hundred and forty-

six in number, of whom seventy-eight were wounded. Seventeen of the

Hessians were killed, of whom six were officers.

everywhere, as the news slowly made its way. They were in the depths of

gave up Philadelphia for lost, and it was from Philadelphia that he drew

his most essential supplies.

It was a priceless Christmas present which the general and his steadfast

band of patriots gave their country in 1776, and it was followed, a week

later, by a New Year's gift of similar purport--the capture of the

British post at Princeton.

JOHN ADAMS AND THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE.

The last great debate upon the subject took place on Monday, the first

of July, 1776. Fifty-one members were present that morning, a number

that must have pretty well filled the square, not very large, room in

Independence Hall, which many of our readers visited during the

Hancock was in the chairman's seat. In the room overhead the legislature

grounds adjacent, troops were drilling, as they had been every day for

Delaware below the city.

This day had been set apart for the final and decisive consideration of

Independence. The draft of the Declaration, as written by Mr. Jefferson,

had been handed in three days before, and lay upon the table--perhaps

The question had been discussed, and discussed again, and again

patience, to bring a representative body to the point of deciding

irrevocably a matter so momentous, involving their own and their

country's destiny.

_Ought_ we to sever the tie which binds us to the mother country?

That was not so very difficult to answer; but there was another

question: _Can_ we? Britain is mighty, and what are we? Thirteen

colonies of farmers, with little money, no allies, no saltpetre even,

and all the Indians open to British gold and British rum. Then there was

another question: Will the people at home sustain us?

At nine o'clock President Hancock rapped to order. The first business

since the adjournment on Saturday. One of these, from General Washington

in New York, contained news calculated to alarm all but the most

stalwart spirits: Canada quite lost to the cause; Arnold's army in full,

The whole fleet! As if these were not enough; and, in truth, the number

soon reached a hundred and twenty, with thousands of red-coats in them

abundantly supplied with every requisite. Washington's own army numbered

on that day seven thousand seven hundred and fifty-four men, of whom, as

he reported, eight hundred had no guns at all, fourteen hundred had bad

guns, and half the infantry no bayonets. Add to this fifty-three British

ships just arrived at Charleston, with General Clinton's expedition on

board.

was serious and the issue doubtful. As if to deepen this impression,

there soon rose to address the House John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a

good man and a patriot, an able speaker and better writer, but rich, not

of robust health, and conservative almost to timidity.

From the first, while opposing the arbitrary measures of the King, he

refreshed by the rest of Sunday, and feeling that it was now or never

was capable.

"I value," said he, "the love of my country as I ought, but I value my

integrity, if not the policy, of my conduct. The first campaign will be

decisive of the controversy.

outrages. Without some preliminary trials of our strength we ought not

In this strain he spoke long, urging all the reasons for delay which an

ingenious mind could devise, and clothing his argument with the charm of

a fine literary style.

He ceased. There was a pause. No one seemed willing to break the

silence, until it began to be embarrassing, and then painful.

Many eyes were turned toward John Adams, who for eighteen months had

been the chief spokesman of the party for independence. He had advocated

had not one influential friend in Philadelphia. Early in the previous

that he favored the Declaration of Independence, the solid men of

Philadelphia shunned him as if he had had the leprosy.

coast of Maine weaned New England from the mother country, and the

burning of Norfolk completed the same office for Virginia.

To-day he stood with a majority of the people behind him. To-day he

spoke the sentiments of his country. To-day he uttered the words which

every man on the floor but John Dickinson wished to hear uttered.

Yet he did not immediately rise; for he wished some one else, some one

less committed to Independence than he was, to take the lead in that

day's debate. At length, however, since every one else hung back, he got

of his country as only a question of time. During his professional life,

it had been the frequent theme of his reflections, and he was perfectly

familiar with every phase of it.

for the talents and eloquence of the ancient orators of Greece and Rome,

more importance to his country and to the world. They would, probably,

divinities for assistance.

"But the question before me appears so simple that I have confidence

me to believe that I can answer, to the satisfaction of the House, all

the arguments which have been produced, notwithstanding the abilities

which have been displayed and the eloquence with which they have been

Proceeding then to the discussion of the question, he dwelt strongly

Independence could not possibly make their condition worse, but would

give them some obvious and solid advantages.

Now, they were rebels against their king, and could not negotiate on

equal terms with a sovereign power. The moment they declared

Independence, they would be themselves a sovereignty. The measure, he

contended, would be as prudent as it was just. It would help them in

many ways and hinder them in no way.

We have no report of this celebrated oration, and can only gather its

who heard it. We know, however, that Mr. Adams dwelt forcibly upon this

allegiance, and having made unprovoked war upon them, the proposed

Declaration would be simply a proclamation to the world of a state of

things already existing.

Again there was an awkward silence. Again all eyes were turned upon John

Adams. Again he shrank from taking the floor. Mr. Edward Rutledge of

South Carolina came to him and said:

"Nobody will speak but you upon this subject. You have all the topics so

ready that you must satisfy the gentlemen from New Jersey."

Mr. Adams replied that he was ashamed to repeat what he had said twenty

times before. As the new members still insisted on hearing a

distended with the magnitude of the object."

Mr. Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, then rose, and asked as a favor

that the voting be deferred until the next morning, as he and his

members went to their homes.

The next morning members met in a cheerful mood, for it was well

When Mr. Adams reached the State House door, he had the pleasure of

night from Delaware to vote on the momentous question. Mr. Adams, it is

said, had sent an express at his own expense eighty miles to summon him,

and there he was to greet him at the State House door.

for declaring independence, and that State's adherence was delayed a few

What a happy man was John Adams, and what a triumphant letter was that

which he wrote to his noble wife on the 3d of July, telling her the

great news that Congress had passed a resolution, without one dissenting

colony, "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free

and independent States." Then he continued in the passage so often

quoted:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the

history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by

succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be

Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows,

this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."

But, no; not on July second. The transaction was not yet complete. As

OF JULY.

ANECDOTES OF JOHN ADAMS.

The first office ever held by President John Adams was that of Roadmaster

to his native town. The young barrister, as he himself confesses, was very

either as constable or surveyor of the highways, or to pay a fine."

"They might as well," said Mr. Adams, "have chosen any boy in school,

for I know nothing of the business; but since they have chosen me at a

can."

Accordingly he went to plowing, ditching, and blowing rocks and built a

and employed the best workmen; "but," says he, "the next spring brought

fell upon the workmen, and all the town, he tells us, agreed that he had

Mr. Adams was an extremely passionate man. One evening, just before the

breaking out of the Revolution, while spending an evening in company

no justice left in Britain; that he wished for war, and that the whole

time of war, that "they might be brought to reason or to ruin." When he

went home he was exceedingly repentant for having lost his temper, and

wrote in his diary the following remarks:

"I cannot but reflect upon myself with severity for these rash,

inexperienced, boyish, wrong, and awkward expressions. A man who has no

better government of his tongue, no more command of his temper, is unfit

for anything but children's play, and the company of boys. A character

can never be supported, if it can be raised, without a good, a great

share of self-government. Such flights of passion, such starts of

inconsiderate, yet they sink a man with the wise. They expose him to

One of the most interesting events in the life of John Adams was his

nomination of George Washington to the command of the Revolutionary

"What shall we do?" asked Samuel Adams, at length.

His kinsman said: "You know I have taken great pains to get our

colleagues to agree upon _some_ plan that we might be unanimous

upon; but you know they will pledge themselves to nothing; but I am

determined to take a step which shall compel them, and all the other

members of Congress, to declare themselves for or against

_something_. I am determined this morning to make a direct motion

that Congress shall adopt the army before Boston, and appoint Colonel

Washington commander of it."

probability that the British army would take advantage of our delays,

march out of Boston, and spread desolation as far as they could go. He

concluded by moving that Congress adopt the army at Cambridge and

appoint a general.

"Although," he continued, "this is not the proper time to nominate a

greatest difficulty, I have no hesitation to declare that I have but one

from Virginia, who is among us, and is very well known to all of us; a

fortune, great talents, and excellent universal character will command

the colonies better than any other person in the Union."

When Mr. Adams began this speech, Colonel Washington was present; but as

seconded the motion which, as we all know, was, on a future day,

"While I was speaking," says John Adams, "on the state of the colonies,

he heard me with visible pleasure; but when I came to describe

Washington for the commander, I never remarked a more sudden and

striking change of countenance. Mortification and resentment were

expressed as forcibly as his face could exhibit them."

Hancock, in fact, who was somewhat noted as a militia officer in

Massachusetts, was vain enough to aspire to the command of the colonial

forces.

They had a fashion, during the Revolutionary war, John Adams tells us,

patriots. Adams copied into his diary some lines which were written

"under one of these topsey-turvey kings":

It is evident, from more than one passage in the diary of John Adams,

that he, too, in his heart, turned against Gen. Washington during the

gloomy hours of the Revolution. At least he thought him unfit for the

command. Just before the surrender of Burgoyne, Adams wrote in his diary

the following passage:

"Gates seems to be acting the same timorous, defensive part which has

involved us in so many disasters. Oh, Heaven grant us one great soul!

One leading mind would extricate the best cause from that ruin which

disasters threaten to succeed disasters, there is a general distrust of

the general in command, though at that very time he may be exhibiting

greater qualities and greater talents than ever before.

of five, was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence.

"Writings of his," says Mr. Adams, "were handed about, remarkable for

he was so frank, explicit and decisive upon committees and in

upon my heart; and upon this occasion I gave him my vote, and did all in

than any other, and that placed him at the head of the committee. I had

the next highest number, and that placed me the second. The committee

met, discussed the subject, and then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me to

When this sub-committee of two had their first meeting, Jefferson urged

"I will not," said Mr. Adams.

"You should do it," said Jefferson.

"Oh no," repeated Adams.

"Why will you not?" asked Jefferson. "You ought to do it."

"I will not," rejoined Adams.

"Why?" again asked Jefferson.

"Reasons enough," said Adams.

"What can be your reasons?" inquired Jefferson.

"Well," said Jefferson, "if you are decided, I will do as well as I

can."

"Very well," said Mr. Adams; "when you have drawn it up, we will have a

meeting."

Thus it was that Thomas Jefferson became the author of this celebrated

document. Mr. Adams informs us that the original draft contained "a

vehement philippic against negro slavery," which Congress ordered to be

stricken out.

had no chimney and but one small window. The window was open when the

two members went up to bed, which Mr. Adams seeing, and being afraid of

the night air, shut it close.

suffocated."

Mr. Adams answered that he was afraid of the evening air; to which

that without doors. Come, open the window and come to bed, and I will

Mr. Adams complied with both these requests. He tells us that when he

was in bed, the Doctor began to harangue upon air, and cold, and

from their breathing during the night the pure air of heaven.

THE WRITING AND SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

We happen to know what kind of weather it was in Philadelphia on

Thursday, the Fourth of July, 1776. Mr. Jefferson was in the habit, all

his life, of recording the temperature three times a day, and not

unfrequently four times. He made four entries in his weather record on

this birthday of the nation, as if anticipating that posterity would be

that morning the mercury marked sixty-eight degrees. At nine, just

he recorded seventy-two and a half degrees. At one, while he was at home

during the recess for dinner, he found the mercury at seventy-six. At

nine in the evening, when the great deed had been done, the instrument

"Paid Sparhawk for a thermometer...................L3 15s.

Pd. for 7 pr. women's gloves....................... 27s.

Gave in charity.................................... 1s. 6d."

The price that he paid for his thermometer was equivalent to about

twenty dollars in gold; and as Mr. Jefferson was not likely to spend his

money for an elaborately decorated thermometer, we may infer that

instruments of that nature were at least ten times as costly then as

they are now. An excellent standard thermometer at the present time can

be bought for five dollars, and the sum which Mr. Jefferson paid in 1776

to designate the exact spot, though he was always under the impression

that it was a corner house, either on the corner of Seventh street or

very near it. The owner of the house, named Graaf, was a young man, the

son of a German, and then newly married. Soon after coming to

furnished; and as the floor consisted of but two rooms--a parlor and a

in that parlor that he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

The writing-desk upon which he wrote it exists in Boston, and is still

whom he gave it. The note which the author of the Declaration wrote when

has a particular interest for us at this present time. It was written in

1825, nearly fifty years after the Declaration was signed, about midway

between that glorious period and the Centennial. It is as follows:

memorial of affection. It was made from a drawing of his own by Benj.

which he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Politics as well as

religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may

one day give imaginary value to this relic for its associations with the

birth of the Great charter of our Independence."

The note given above, although penned when Mr. Jefferson was eighty-two

years of age, is written in a small, firm hand, and is quite as legible

as the type which the reader is now perusing. There is no indication of

old age in the writing; but I observe that he has spelt the most

important word of the note French fashion, thus: "_Independance_."

Independence should have made a mistake in spelling the word. Nor can it

word occurs twice in the note, and both times the last syllable is spelt

with an _a_. Mr. Jefferson was a very exact man, and yet, like most

men of that day, he used capitals and omitted them with an apparent

preparation. Seldom has a peaceful city, a city of Quakers and brotherly

love, undergone such a transformation as Philadelphia did in a few

months. As Mr. Jefferson sat at his little desk composing the

Declaration, with the windows open at that warm season, he must have

heard the troops drilling in Independence Square. Twice a day they were

out drilling, to the number of two thousand men, and more. Perhaps he

was looking out of the window on the eleventh of June, the very day

after the appointment of the committee to draw up the Declaration, when

the question of independence was voted upon by the whole body of

Philadelphia volunteers, and they all voted for independence except

Besides this morning and afternoon drill in the public squares of the

town, preparations were going forward to close the river against the

ascent of a hostile fleet. Dr. Franklin, as I have related, had twenty

or thirty row galleys in readiness, which were out on the river

where he spent the remainder of his life. He lived to the year 1829,

who have sustained his high character, illustrated his memory, and

FISHER AMES,

THE ORATOR OF THE FOURTH CONGRESS.

And who was Fisher Ames, that his "Speeches" should be gathered and re-

It was April 28, 1796, at Philadelphia, in the Hall of the House of

Representatives, of which Fisher Ames was a member. The House and

country were highly excited respecting the terms of the treaty which

John Jay had negotiated with the British government. To a large number

of the people this treaty was inexpressibly odious; as, indeed,

_any_ treaty would have been with a power so abhorred by them as

England then was. Some of the conditions of the treaty, we cannot deny,

were hard, unwise, unjust; but, in all probability, it was the best that

could then have been obtained, and Mr. Jay had only the alternative of

point, at least, the British government had yielded. After the

the great annoyance of settlers, and the indignation of the whole

country. These posts were now to be surrendered, provided the treaty was

accepted and its conditions fulfilled.

from even seeming to approve it. There had been riotous meetings in all

the large cities to denounce it. In New York, Alexander Hamilton, while

attempting to address a meeting in support of it, was pelted with

stones, and the people then marched to the residence of Mr. Jay, and

burned a copy of the treaty before his door.

"Blush," said a Democratic editor, "to think that America should degrade

herself so much as to enter into any kind of treaty with a power now

tottering on the brink of ruin, whose principles are directly contrary

to the spirit of Republicanism!"

It was in these circumstances that Fisher Ames rose to address the House

of Representatives, in favor of the treaty. There was supposed to be a

majority of ten against it in the House, and the debate had been for

some days in progress. Madison and all the leading Democrats had spoken

of the Administration, was suffering from the pulmonary disease from

speak a word in the House. Inaction at such a time became insupportable

spiked, or the trunnions knocked off, and yet am carted off, not for the

life is ended, and I am the survivor of myself; or, rather, a troubled

ghost of a politician that am condemned to haunt the field where he

fell."

He determined to speak, if he never spoke again; and the announcement of

chamber to hear him, among other persons of note. The orator rose from

his seat pale, feeble, scarcely able to stand, or to make himself heard;

but as he proceeded he gathered strength, and was able to speak for

nearly two hours in a strain of eloquence, the tradition of which fills

a great place in the memoirs of the time. The report of it which we

possess is imperfect, and the reading of it is somewhat disappointing;

but here and there there is a passage in the report which gives us some

notion of the orator's power. One of his points was, that the faith of

the country had been pledged by the ratification of the treaty, and that

consequently a refusal of the House to appropriate the money would be a

national honor.

"In Algiers," said he, "a truce may be bought for money; but when

ratified, even Algiers is too wise or too just to disown and annul its

obligation.... If there could be a resurrection from the foot of the

he endeavored to show that, if the posts were not surrendered and not

garrisoned by American troops, the Indians could not be kept in check,

and would fill the frontier with massacre and fire.

"On this theme," the orator exclaimed, "my emotions are unutterable. If

I could find words for them, if my powers bore any proportion to my

zeal, I would swell my voice to such a note of remonstrance, it should

reach every log-house beyond the mountains. I would say to the

inhabitants, Wake from your false security! Your cruel dangers, your

more cruel apprehensions, are soon to be renewed; the wounds yet

He continued in this strain for some time, occasionally blazing into a

simile that delighted every hearer with its brilliancy, while flashing a

vivid light upon the subject; and I only wish the space at my command

permitted further extracts. The conclusion of the speech recalled

his speech might have made his hearers forget.

"I have, perhaps," said he, "as little personal interest in the event as

chance to be a witness of the consequences greater than mine. If,

it will, with the public disorders, to make confusion worse confounded,

the government and constitution of my country."

With these words the orator resumed his seat. The great assembly seemed

sit next to him, as if looking for sympathy in his own intense

"My God!" exclaimed the Judge, "how great he is--how great he has been!"

"Noble!" said the Vice-President.

"Bless my stars!" resumed Judge Iredell, "I never heard anything so

great since I was born."

"Divine!" exclaimed Adams.

And thus they went on with their interjections, while tears glistened in

occasion.

"Not a dry eye in the house," he says, "except some of the jackasses who

had occasioned the oratory.... The ladies wished his soul had a better

body."

delivered eloquent addresses in commemoration of both.

The great misfortune of his life was that very ill-health to which he

alluded in his speech. This tinged his mind with gloom, and caused him

to anticipate the future of his country with morbid apprehension. When

Jefferson was elected President in 1800, he thought the ruin of his

country was sure, and spoke of the "chains" which Jefferson had forged

for the people. When Hamilton died, in 1804, he declared that his "soul

stiffened with despair," and he compared the fallen statesman to

"Hercules treacherously slain in the midst of his unfinished labors,

physician of that place for many years--a man of great skill in his

profession, and gifted with a vigorous mind. Doctor Ames died when his

son was only six years of age, and it cost the boy a severe and long

struggle to work his way through college to the profession of the law,

have been one of the greatest men New England ever produced.

In the political writings of Washington's day, we frequently meet with

the name of Pinckney; and, as there were several persons of that name in

public life, readers of history are often at a loss to distinguish

family likeness.

to South Carolina in the year 1692. He possessed a large fortune, and

built in Charleston a stately mansion, which is still standing, unless

it was demolished during the late war. A curious anecdote is related of

this original Pinckney, which is about all that is now known of him.

Standing at the window of his house one day, with his wife at his side,

he noticed a stream of passengers walking up the street, who had just

landed from a vessel that day arrived from the West Indies. As they

walked along the street, he noticed particularly a handsome man who was

very gayly dressed; and turning to his wife he said:

her heart, and ruin her children."

Strange to relate, the widow whom this handsome West Indian married was

no other than Mrs. Pinckney herself; for Thomas Pinckney soon after

died, and his widow married the West Indian. He did not break her heart,

Pinckney, who embraced the legal profession, and rose to be Chief

Justice of the Province of South Carolina, and hence he is usually

spoken of and distinguished from the rest of the family as "Chief

Justice Pinckney." He was educated in England, and was married there.

Returning to Charleston, he acquired a large fortune by the practice of

his profession. A strange anecdote is related of his wife also. After he

had been married many years without having children, there came to

Charleston from England, on a visit of pleasure a young lady named Eliza

Lucas, daughter of an officer in the English army. She was an

exceedingly lovely and brilliant girl, and made a great stir in the

Within a few months after uttering these words she died, and soon after

her death the Chief Justice actually married Miss Lucas. This lady was

one of the greatest benefactors South Carolina ever had; for, besides

being an example of all the virtues and graces which adorn the female

of rice. In addition to the other services which she rendered her

most note in the general history of the country. The elder of these was

born in 1750.

When these two boys were old enough to begin their education, their

to England, accompanied by all his family, and there resided for many

years, while they were at school; for at that day there were no means of

education in South Carolina. The boys were placed at Westminster school

and were pursuing their studies there, or just beginning practice, when

years, and were much gratified on reaching Charleston to witness its

prosperity and unexpected growth. The elder of these brothers could

remember when the first planter's wagon was driven into Charleston. This

was about the year 1753. Pointing to this wagon one day, his father said

to him:

"Charles, by the time you are a man, I don't doubt there will be at

least twenty wagons coming to town."

Often in after life, when he would meet a long string of wagons in the

his childhood, and add:

"How happy my father would have been in the growth and prosperity of

Carolina!"

"Our friend, Philip Neyle was killed by a cannon-ball coming through one

of the embrasures; but I do not pity him, for he has died nobly in the

defense of his country; but I pity his aged father, now unhappily

bereaved of his beloved and only child."

To one of his young friends he wrote soon after:

"If I had a vein that did not beat with love for my country, I myself

would open it. If I had a drop of blood that could flow dishonorably, I

officer who had known him at college recognized his features, and cried

out in the nick of time:

"Save Tom Pinckney!"

The uplifted bayonet was withheld, and the wounded man was borne from

which framed our Constitution. During the Presidency of General

Court, and twice declined entering the cabinet. During the last year of

France, and it was while residing in Paris, that he uttered a few words

which will probably render his name immortal. He was associated with

Chief Justice Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, and their great object was to

Talleyrand, the Minister of War, gave them to understand that nothing

Americans objecting to this proposal, Talleyrand intimated to them that

they must either give the money or accept the alternative of war. Then

it was that the honest and gallant Charles Cotesworth Pinckney uttered

the words which Americans will never forget till they have ceased to be

worthy of their ancestors:

"War be it, then!" exclaimed General Pinckney, "Millions for defense,

sir; but not a cent for tribute!"

On his return to the United States, war being imminent with France, he

candidate for the Presidency. He lived to the year 1825, when he died at

His brother Thomas was the Governor of South Carolina in 1789, and in

1792 was appointed by General Washington Minister to Great Britain.

the power of the Creek Indians was broken forever.

He died at Charleston in 1828, aged seventy-eight years.

Besides these Pinckneys there was a noted Charles Pinckney, a nephew of

Chief Justice Pinckney, who was also captured when Charleston

surrendered, remained a prisoner until near the close of the war, and

afterwards bore a distinguished part in public life. He may be

distinguished from others of his name from his being a democrat, an

active adherent of Thomas Jefferson. He served as Minister to Spain

editor and proprietor of the Charleston _Mercury_, a champion of

State rights, and afterwards of nullification. During the nullification

period, he was Mayor of Charleston, an office to which he was three

times re-elected.

Thus the Pinckneys may be distinguished as follows: Thomas Pinckney, the

Pinckney, the Ambassador and candidate for the Presidency; Thomas

and Henry Laurens Pinckney, editor and author.

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