_Charitable and Benevolent Societies--The Mary Washington
Hospital--Newspapers and Periodicals--Political Excitement--Strong
Resolutions Condemning the Administration of John Adams--An Address
Approving the President's Foreign Policy--The Names of Those who
Signed the Address, &c._
Next in importance to the churches in a community, dedicated to the
service of God, come the charitable and benevolent societies and
institutions. The former show the state of religion among the people, or
their relations to their Maker, while the latter is an evidence of that
fraternal feeling existing from one to another which binds all the members
in one common cause for humanity. And as Fredericksburg is not wanting in
her church privileges and accommodations, so she is not deficient in the
number of her charitable and benevolent societies. The oldest of these
societies is the Masonic institution.
Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, was
organized on the first day of September, 1752. Under what authority it was
organized is not positively known, and therefore three authorities are
suggested. The first source of authority claimed is that of Thomas Oxnard,
Grand Master of St. John's Lodge, of Massachusetts and "Provincial Grand
Master of all of North America." A second claim is made that the Masons in
the community organized themselves into a lodge and continued as a
self-constituted body until a charter was obtained from Scotland. This
could hardly have been true. The third claim is, and it is believed by the
best authorities to be the original source of authority, that a
dispensation was obtained from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and this was
the authority by which the lodge was held until it was regularly chartered
by said Grand Lodge. The lodge held its meetings under the authority of
this dispensation for six years, and made Masons, among others, of George
Washington, George Weedon, Hugh Mercer, Wm. Woodford, Thomas Posey,
Gustavus B. Wallace, all of whom became general officers and did
distinguished service in the Revolutionary war.
In the year 1758 Daniel Campbell, for several years master of the lodge,
visited Scotland, and, at the request of the lodge, applied for and
obtained a charter for the lodge from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, which
was dated July 21, 1758, and designated the organization "The Lodge at
Fredericks-Burg," Virginia. Possessed with this charter the lodge
concluded it had the authority to charter other lodges, and exercised that
authority in chartering one at Falmouth, Va., and one at Gloucester
Courthouse, Va. The latter soon obtained a charter from England and the
former from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. In 1775 the Fredericksburg Lodge
united with four other lodges in the State and organized the Grand Lodge
of Virginia, and received a charter from that Grand Body, dated January
30, 1787, under the name and title of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4. The
lodge is holding its authority now under the Virginia Grand Lodge charter,
but still has in its possession the old Scotch charter, which is well
preserved. The original dispensation has disappeared and was probably lost
more than a century ago.
In the years 1798 and 1799 the town was the seat of frequent and heated
political discussions, and the strong, not to say bitter, feeling was
shared in by the entire population of the town. It was during this
excitement, and because of the bad feeling it engendered, a number of
members of No. 4 Lodge withdrew their membership and organized
Fredericksburg American Lodge, for which a dispensation was granted in
1799 by Gov. Robert Brooke, the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. In the
following year the lodge was chartered and given the number 63. It
continued to flourish until the breaking out of the Civil war, when it
suspended its meetings and finally became extinct.
In the bombardment and subsequent sacking of Fredericksburg on the 11th,
12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of December, 1862, by straggling Federal
soldiers, all of the records of the Masonic Lodge were destroyed or
carried away except those from 1752 to 1771, which were taken to Danville,
Va., and preserved by Wm. Ware, Esq., a member of the lodge.
When No. 4 Lodge first organized its meetings were held in the market
house, or town hall, then on Main street near Market alley, but in 1756
the time for holding the meetings was changed to "the day before
Spotsylvania county court," which was then held at Germanna, on the
Rapidan river, and the place of meeting was fixed at Charles Julien's, who
lived between Fredericksburg and Germanna. The lodge continued there for
about six years, when it was moved back to the market house to "stay for
all time to come," and continued there from 1762 to 1813, when the
building was torn down preparatory to the erection of the present town
hall and market house.
When it was decided to remove the old market house the meetings of the
lodge were moved to the "Rising Sun Tavern," the old frame building still
standing on Main street between Fauquier and Hawke streets. In the year
1815 the present Masonic hall was completed, which stands on the corner of
Princess Ann and Hanover streets. The Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge has, at
various periods, embraced in its membership eminent men, including
soldiers, Statesmen, professional men and private citizens. Among the
first two classes mentioned--soldiers and Statesmen--was the father of his
country, George Washington, who, in this historic lodge, received the
first degree in Masonry on November 4, 1752, the second degree on March 3,
1753, and the third degree on August 4, 1753, and continued his membership
in the lodge to the day of his death. The Bible used in these interesting
ceremonies is now in possession of the lodge in a fine state of
preservation. It was printed by John Field, at Cambridge, in the year
1668. It is believed that John Paul Jones, the father of our infant navy,
was also a member of this lodge.
By an order of the lodge, and by funds to the amount of five thousand
dollars, raised by its exertions, a very beautiful and faithful statue of
Washington, in Masonic regalia, was wrought out of white marble by the
great Virginia artist, Hiram Powers, while he was in Rome, Italy. It was
safely transported to Fredericksburg, but before it could be erected the
war came on. For safe keeping it was sent to Richmond, and there perished
in the terrible conflagration of April 3, 1865. Fredericksburg Lodge, No.
4, has furnished six grand masters to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, as
follows: Judge James Mercer, in 1784; Governor Robert Brooke, in 1785;
Major Benjamin Day, from 1797 to 1800; Hon. Oscar M. Crutchfield, in 1841;
Judge Beverly R. Wellford, Jr., in 1877, and Capt. S. J. Quinn, in 1907.
Fredericksburg American Lodge, No. 63, furnished Hon. John S. Caldwell, in
1856.
In 1873 Fredericksburg Royal Arch Chapter, No. 23, was organized. This
chapter took the place of Fitzwilson Chapter, that flourished in town some
years before the Civil war, although it did not take the old name or
number.
In the year 1875 Fredericksburg Commandery, No. 1, of Knights Templar, was
instituted, and has continued to flourish to the present. Some years ago
the various bodies of the Scottish Rite branch of Masonry to the
thirty-second degree, were organized in town of the Cerneau division, but
as the question of legitimacy was raised as to that rite these
organizations were abandoned. The three Masonic bodies, however, that are
now in operation are in a flourishing condition and can confer all the
degrees in ancient York Masonry.
On the 22nd of December, 1753, a "Royal Arch Lodge" was held in connection
with the Fredericksburg Lodge, Simon Fraser, acting Grand Master. On that
occasion the Royal Arch degree was conferred on Daniel Campbell, Robert
Halkerson and Alexander Wodrow. The proceedings of this meeting were
recorded in the record book of the lodge and are preserved to this day;
and, strange as it may appear, the fact is well established and admitted
by the Masonic historians of England that this is the oldest record, by
nine years, of conferring this degree that has yet been discovered in any
country. The next oldest record is found in York, England, which was made
in 1762.
ODD FELLOWS LODGE.
The first lodge of Odd Fellows organized in Fredericksburg was in the year
1839, and was known as Rappahannock Lodge, No. 14. It continued a working
lodge only about three years. The last report it made to the Grand Lodge
showed a membership of thirty-nine. Its suspension seems to have been
brought about by some unruly, if not unworthy, members who had brought
strife and discord into the lodge. In the year 1847, on the petition of
five members of the old lodge--Wm. Baily, Wm. Smith, George Waite, Wm. T.
Lowery and A. B. Adams--a charter was granted for instituting Myrtle
Lodge, No. 50, and which has continued in active operation to the present.
It has a large membership, composed of our best citizens. The charter of
this lodge was signed by Major J. Harrison Kelly, who then lived in
Charlestown, now West Virginia, and who was Grand Master of the State. In
after years he became a citizen of Fredericksburg and ended his days in
this town.
The meetings of the lodge were at first held at private houses, and at one
time in Haydon's Hall, on Charlotte street, in rear of Wheeler's livery
stable. After the Civil war the meetings were held in the room immediately
under the Masonic lodge-room, and continued there until about 1892, when
the Odd Fellows, in connection with the Knights of Pythias, erected the
splendid hall on Main street, where they held their meetings for some
years, but, believing it to be to their interest to dispose of their stock
in the new hall, they did so and moved the lodge to the third story of the
Bradford Building.
In 1903 a second Odd Fellows Lodge was organized under a charter from the
Grand Lodge, known as Acorn Lodge, No. 261. Although young, this lodge has
grown with great rapidity and has a large membership. It was organized in
the Masonic lodge-room, and afterward rented the hall under the said
Masonic lodge, where it now holds its meetings. Among the membership of
these Odd Fellows lodges may be found many of the most substantial and
progressive citizens of the town.
THE BENEVOLENT ORDER OF ELKS.
The Order of Elks now stands as the youngest of the three prominent secret
orders on this continent, and since it came into existence, in 1868, has
shown one of the most phenomenal growths that has ever been recorded for a
similar benevolent order. It has for its teaching Charity, Justice,
Brotherly Love and Fidelity, and for its motto "The faults of our brothers
we write in the sand, and their virtues upon the tablets of love and
memory." Five years ago a few progressive spirits of Fredericksburg,
catching the inspiration the order of Elks taught, met and organized a
lodge of Elks. A lodge was organized on the 23rd of June, 1903, under the
name Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 875, Mr. O. L. Harris being the first
presiding officer. The lodge now has ninety members, C. Ernest Layton
being the present exalted ruler.
There are also in Fredericksburg a number of other benevolent and
charitable fraternities, whose origin is of a more recent date than the
Masons, Odd Fellows and Elks, under the various names of Knights of
Pythias, Knights of Honor, Royal Arcanum, Senior and Junior Orders of
American Mechanics, Laboring Men's Union, Heptasophs, Maccabees, Sons of
Sobriety--a temperance order which originated in Fredericksburg and was
first organized as a moderate drinking society--Red Men, Knights of the
Golden Horseshoe, Good Samaritans and others, all of which are in a
flourishing condition and are doing a good work in dispensing charity, in
providing cheap life insurance and endeavoring to elevate their fellowmen.
THE MARY WASHINGTON HOSPITAL.[81]
The need of a hospital in Fredericksburg had long been felt, and in
January, 1897, a band of ladies, led by Mrs. W. Seymour White, invited the
physicians and ministers of the city to meet with them and consider the
feasibility of undertaking such a work. The medical fraternity pronounced
it a necessity and the ministers heartily concurred.
The late Hon. W. Seymour White, at that time Mayor of the city, was deeply
interested in the scheme from the beginning and drew up a charter,
constitution and by-laws. The formal organization was effected in
February, 1897, at a large, general meeting held in the courthouse. Mrs.
W. S. White was elected president; Miss Rebecca Smith, vice-president;
Miss Bertha Strasburger, secretary; Mrs. C. W. Edrington, treasurer.
[Illustration: Entrance to the Confederate Cemetery at Fredericksburg.
(See page 185)]
[Illustration: Lodge Room of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M.;
the Lodge that made Washington a Mason. (See page 217)]
Mrs. White served as president for three terms, when she resigned and her
place was filled by Mrs. Walter C. Stearns. The present officers are Mrs.
Judge John E. Mason, president; Miss Virginia Knox, vice-president; Mrs.
Maurice Hirsh, treasurer, and Mrs. D. C. Bowman, secretary. There is a
board of lady managers and an advisory board of seven gentlemen, of whom
the Mayor of the city is always one. The membership fee is one dollar per
year and there is a large number of names on the roll.
Immediately after the organization of the institution the city was
thoroughly canvassed and both money and furnishings were contributed
generally by our people, besides by a number of persons living at a
distance. As soon as the amount justified the action, a large and suitable
building lot, situated on the corner of Fauquier and Sophia streets, was
purchased. This lot has a beautiful river view and is directly opposite
Chatham, the old historic place, famous both in colonial and recent
history.
The one inflexible rule, laid down from the beginning of the work, was
that there should be no debt incurred, and the work of raising the
necessary funds was a tedious undertaking. Every lady appealed to her
friends, and the amount thus collected, together with that realized
through holding bazaars, ice cream festivals, entertainments and lectures,
was carefully deposited until the sum of fourteen hundred dollars was
accumulated, which the ladies thought sufficient to erect a small
building.
The plan was donated by Mr. George Washington Smith and proved acceptable.
The corner-stone was laid April 14, 1899, this day being chosen to
commemorate George Washington's latest visit to Fredericksburg and his
dying mother. The corner-stone itself is a portion of the old Mary
Washington monument, begun in 1833, and never completed, and was donated
by Mr. John H. Myer. It was laid with imposing Masonic ceremonies by
Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, A. F. and A. M., in which George Washington
was made a Mason, District Deputy Grand Master James P. Corbin presiding,
Rev. F. P. Ramsey, D. D., of Fredericksburg College, making an impressive
address on the occasion.
The hospital was completed the summer following, and all the money in the
treasury was expended. The house faces the east and is a modest structure,
with a porch in front and an extension on the west end. Two rooms open
upon the entrance hall, one of which is the operating room, the other the
especial room for a single patient. Back of this is a hall, running north
and south, beyond which is the kitchen, matron's room, bath-room and store
rooms; cellar beneath for wood and such articles as can be kept there. In
the extensions are respectively the two large, well-lighted and ventilated
rooms for the men's and women's wards.
The capacity of the hospital is small, but there is plenty of room for any
additions which the future may warrant being made. With the faith that
characterized the movement from the beginning, the ladies met on September
25, 1899, elected a matron, Miss Virginia Aldridge, and appointed
Wednesday, October 4th, "Donation Day." Their confidence was rewarded and
donations poured in from every one, rich and poor. Among so many it would
be invidious to mention names, but Mr. Spencer, of Snowden, a new comer to
Fredericksburg, liberally furnished the single room with every appliance
for comfort in illness, and the ladies gratefully named it, for him, the
Spencer room. From the druggists came a generous donation of accessories,
and everything--chairs and china, beds and other belongings--came in
abundantly.
On Sunday, October 8th, the building was formally dedicated, Rev. W. D.
Smith, rector of St. George's church, presiding, all the ministers having
been invited to participate in the ceremonies, which were simple, but
appropriate. The first patient was received in December, and since that
time there has been continued service in the hospital. There is no
endowment, and it is hoped that, seeing the work, some humanely-disposed
individual may be moved to undertake this noble charity.
By heroic efforts there have been no debts incurred, the citizens having
so far responded in every case of need; yet there is much lacking, both in
furniture and appliances. Donations of every kind are urgently desired.
The physicians are most liberal in their services and attentions and their
work is to their great honor, for, of the several difficult cases thus far
operated upon each has been successful, and the recipient has returned
home sounding the praises of the Mary Washington Hospital and its medical
service. May the good work grow and prosper. Since this article was
written the building has been greatly enlarged and improved, and the
hospital is regarded as a permanent institution with a noble mission.
NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS.
The first newspaper established in Fredericksburg was the semi-weekly
"Virginia Herald and Falmouth Advertiser," in 1786, by Timothy Green. It
was soon found that the name was too long and was no advantage to the
paper, and in a few months the Falmouth Advertiser part of the name was
dropped and the paper was continued as the Virginia Herald. Some years
after its establishment Mr. Green associated with him in the conduct of
the paper a Mr. Lacy and Mr. James D. Harrow, and the firm name was Green,
Lacy & Harrow. This firm was succeeded by Wm. F. Gray, and he by James D.
Harrow, a practical printer, who conducted the paper for many years, with
Jesse White, afterwards known as "the old practical printer," as foreman.
Mr. Harrow died in 1851, and the office, fixtures and good will were
purchased by Major J. Harrison Kelly, who conducted the Virginia Herald
successfully as a semi-weekly until the year 1875, when failing health
compelled him to discontinue its publication and it has never been
resumed.
A bound volume of this paper, running through the years 1796, 1797 and
1798, is now owned by this writer, who prizes it very highly. Its columns
have furnished accounts of incidents, dates and gatherings of the people
in public meetings, noted in this historical sketch of the town.
In the year 1795 another paper was started in Fredericksburg, known as the
"Genius of Liberty and Fredericksburg and Falmouth Advertiser." This name
was even larger, longer and less euphonious than the first name of its
competitor, the Virginia Herald, and, like its competitor, soon dropped
most of it. This paper came into existence at a time when party spirit ran
high and the political blood was at fever heat. It vigorously espoused the
cause of what was then known as the "Strict Constructionists" of the
Federal Constitution, while the "Virginia Herald" as vigorously supported
the "Loose Constructionists."
The Genius of Liberty was conducted by Robert Mercer and George Carter as
a weekly paper until 1798, when it was changed to a semi-weekly, at
"twenty shillings per annum, ten shillings to be paid on subscribing and
the remainder at the end of the year." In 1800 the paper was purchased by
James Walker, who changed its name to "The Courier." Mr. Walker was both
editor and proprietor, and under his management it was enlarged to "nearly
double the size of the Virginia Herald." We have not been able to learn at
what period its publication ceased.
A volume of this publication, from November, 1800, to November, 1801,
substantially bound, is now in possession of Mrs. James L. Green, of this
place. It is valuable and interesting because of its hoary age and because
of the fact it was published in Fredericksburg.
"The Fredericksburg News," a semi-weekly paper, was published by Robert
Baylor Semple for several years. At his death, in 1853, the paper was
purchased by A. Alexander Little, who conducted it, except during the War
Between the States, to the time of his death in 1877. When its publication
was resumed after the war, when old things had passed away and many things
had become new, it bore the name of "The Fredericksburg New Era," but
neither the times nor the name suited the editor, so he changed the name
back to the News and made the best he could of the times in which he
lived.
After Mr. Little's death the publication of the News was continued for a
few years by his sister, Miss Bella Little, who assisted him very much in
the editorial management of the paper during his ownership of it, but
finding it unremunerative its publication was finally suspended.
Several other publications of a less permanent nature have been started
and conducted in Fredericksburg, but they were short lived and but little
is known of their history, therefore they can be only mentioned as having
existed.
"The Political Arena" was commenced in the year 1830 by Wm. M. Blackford
and lived for about fifteen years. In 1845 Mr. Blackford moved to
Lynchburg and the publication of the paper was discontinued.
In 1848 Rev. James W. Hunnicutt established the "Christian Banner," which
continued to exist until 1862, when Mr. Hunnicutt, being a Union man and
opposed to the Civil war, went North, and it has been stated that the
Banner office was destroyed by Southern soldiers. This statement, however,
is thought not to be true.
"The Virginia Baptist" made its appearance in Fredericksburg about the
year 1857. It was edited and conducted by Rev. W. R. Powell, Rev. John C.
Willis and Rev. Joseph A. Billingsly as a temperance advocate. Its
publication was suspended in 1860 and never resumed.
"The Democratic Recorder," established in 1842, was owned by James M.
Campbell, but in 1850 he removed to Manchester, N. H., and the office was
purchased and the publication of the Recorder was continued by Robert B.
Alexander, S. Greenhow Daniel and James B. Sener, in the order named. Its
publication was suspended during the Civil war, but upon the return of
peace in 1865 it was resumed by James B. Sener, the name being changed to
"The Fredericksburg Ledger." In 1872 Judge Sener was elected to Congress
and the publication of the Ledger ceased.
The office and fixtures were sold by Judge Sener in 1873, and for twelve
or fifteen years it changed hands often and several publications were
started, only to cease after a struggle of a year or two. After the
publication of the Ledger was discontinued the first paper sent out from
the office was the "Independent," by Berry & Tierney. One year marked the
life of the Independent and then came the "Bulletin," by Quinn & Tierney;
"The True Standard," by a joint stock company, and "The Recorder," by the
Mander Brothers. None of these publications lived more than two or three
years at most.
In May, 1887, the office was purchased by Col. John W. Woltz and Wm. E.
Bradley, who established the "Free Lance," which they conducted until the
death of Col. Woltz in 1893, when it was soon purchased by a joint stock
company and its publication continued to the present. Under its first
management the "Free Lance" was issued as a semi-weekly, but as its
circulation increased it was changed to a tri-weekly, and was the first
and only tri-weekly publication the town ever had. Another innovation the
"Free Lance" made in the newspaper history of Fredericksburg was the
introduction of a power press. Prior to this all the newspapers were
printed on Hoe hand presses, but the "Free Lance," under Woltz & Bradley,
boasted of a power press of a capacity of twelve hundred papers an hour,
which was soon exchanged for one of sixteen hundred an hour. A third
innovation made by the "Free Lance" was the purchase and use of a folding
machine. This was a new machine in town and was observed by those who had
never before seen one with much curiosity. It can fold papers as fast as
they are printed, and is quite an improvement on the old way of hand
folding.
The publication of the "Virginia Star" was commenced in the year 1869 by
Rufus B. Merchant as a semi-weekly, and was so conducted until 1895.
During that year Mr. Merchant added another edition and sent out the
"Daily Evening Star." This was something "new under the sun" in
Fredericksburg, and its advent and probable success were freely discussed
by the public and various opinions were expressed. The prevailing opinion,
however, seemed to be that its publication was a mistake on the part of
the proprietor and the scheme would end in financial loss. Others thought
it would flourish for a short time and receive support because it was a
home enterprise, but that it would eventually be crowded out by the big
dailies of neighboring cities and would disappear. But such was not the
case. It is yet making its daily evening visits, improves as the days go
by, and has evidently come to stay.
In 1896 the Star office, with its entire outfit, was purchased by W.
Seymour White and Alvin T. Embrey, who continued to publish both editions
of the paper, and upon the death of Mr. White, in the early part of the
year 1898, his interest was purchased by Mr. Embrey, who became the sole
editor and proprietor of the Star. In 1900 Judge Embrey sold out to a
joint stock company, and under its management both editions of the paper
made their regular visits to the homes of subscribers. This paper has been
purchased by the Free Lance Company, which sends out both the Free Lance
and Daily Star.
On the 2nd day of January, 1837, the first issue of the "Masonic Olive
Branch and Literary Portfolio" was published by James D. McCabe and John
M. Ball. It was a semi-monthly publication, at two dollars per annum in
advance, and was devoted principally to Masonry and Odd Fellowship. A
bound volume of this publication is now in possession of Fredericksburg
Masonic Lodge, and, from its typographical appearance, one would suppose
it to have been printed by Jesse White, the practical printer, on his old
Ramage hand press. By Mr. Ball's retirement a few months after the
appearance of the paper, Mr. McCabe became the sole editor and proprietor.
We have no information as to how long the Portfolio was published.
In 1868 "The Little Gleaner," a thirty-two page periodical, was published
by Miss L. Fauntleroy. It was a monthly publication, devoted to general
subjects, and intended especially to interest and instruct the young
folks. After two years' labor, toil and sacrifice, not meeting with the
success she had hoped for, the proprietress discontinued its publication.
In the year 1900 a number of the progressive business men of the town,
feeling that Fredericksburg was not moving along in public improvements as
rapidly as it should, and that the City Council was too slow in passing
the necessary measures for such improvements, organized a joint stock
company and commenced the publication of "The Fredericksburg Journal." The
Journal, different from the other papers of the town, was at first a
weekly issue, its subscription price being twenty-five cents per annum. It
has informed the public in strong language that it has come to stay and
progress is its watch word. In a short time it was sold to Mr. R. L.
Biscoe, when he in turn sold it to the Fredericksburg Journal Company, who
put more life and vim into it, and now its customers are served with both
a semi-weekly and daily, which give the general news from the surrounding
country and stand for improvement of the town, honesty in city affairs,
and justice to all with special favors to none.
POLITICAL DIVISIONS.
Elsewhere we have referred to party divisions in Fredericksburg about the
close of the eighteenth century. This division showed itself, prior to the
Revolutionary war, because many of the people of the town were strongly
opposed to separation from the mother country, deeming the grievances
complained of insufficient for such a radical movement. But even the war
and its result did not allay the bitter feeling. It was still kept up
after peace was declared on all public questions, and became more intense,
even to boiling over at times. This ebullition arose with the question of
the adoption or rejection of the Constitution of the United States, and
after its adoption it continued with increasing intensity over the
construction of that instrument and the authority it conferred upon the
President. New fuel was added to the flame when Congress passed the act
known as the Alien and Sedition law, which conferred extraordinary power
on the President in times of peace.
These questions were the theme of spirited, and even angry, discussions at
all gatherings of the people on court greens, market places and elsewhere,
but the climax of feeling was reached when the foreign policy of President
John Adams was developed, especially with reference to our attitude
towards France. Mr. Monroe, a citizen of this town, who for some time had
been our foreign minister to France, had been recalled by Mr. Adams and
another more in accord with the administration was sent in his stead, and
it appeared that war with our former friend and ally could not be averted.
Many of the leading citizens of the town endorsed the policy of the
President, while a decided majority strongly opposed it. The bitter
feeling continued to increase. Not only was Fredericksburg in a state of
ebullition, but such was the case with the people throughout the entire
country. Fredericksburg was the first to speak her views publicly, which
has always been characteristic of her people when questions affecting the
public good were to be considered.
A public meeting of the people was called at the courthouse by the friends
of the administration to consider and adopt an address to the President,
which was then the prevailing mode of communicating popular approval of
the conduct of high officials. The meeting was extensively advertised and
efforts were made to have it largely attended. This brought on a lively
contest. The anti-administrationists of the town determined to try their
strength with their opponents by attending the meeting, vote down their
address and adopt resolutions setting forth their views and condemning the
policy of the administration. To accomplish this the town was thoroughly
canvassed by them, which had already been done by the other party, and the
courthouse was filled to its utmost capacity.
The meeting was held on the 14th day of May, 1798, and the "Virginia
Herald," the presidential organ of the town, gave the proceedings in full,
which will show the temper of the people and their defiant condemnation of
the foreign policy of President Adams. The Herald said:
"On Monday the citizens of this corporation met, agreeably to
notification published in the public papers, to express their
sentiments on the present important and critical situation of this
country. The meeting was called by the friends of the Executive, whose
object was to address the President of the United States and to
express their entire approbation of his conduct with respect to our
foreign relations.
"An address to this effect was prepared and presented by Thomas R.
Rootes, Esq., which he supported by very lengthy arguments. He was
followed by Capt. John Mercer, Col. John Minor and Col. John F.
Mercer, who successfully combatted the various arguments adduced by
Mr. Rootes in support of his address. And the following resolutions
then, prepared by Dr. David C. Ker, were approved and adopted. A
division was called for on the address and resolutions and tellers
appointed to take the number of votes, who reported that two-thirds of
the citizens present were in favor of the resolutions. The meeting was
more numerous than any we have ever seen in this place. During the
whole of the discussion the most perfect order and decorum prevailed."
The resolutions, adopted in place of the address, will be interesting
reading to our people, even in this day. They are as follows:
1. _Resolved_, As the opinion of this meeting that the administration
of these States received the government of a happy and united people,
in peace abroad and prosperity at home; that under their guidance, we
have been led, oppressed with public, heavy debts, enormous taxes, a
ruined commerce and depreciated produce, into hostility with a nation
who aided to secure our independence by their own blood and treasure,
with a republic the most powerful and successful that has appeared on
earth for eighteen centuries, armed with every weapon to injure us,
but whom we can in no wise injure; with a republic united with a
confederacy so extensive as to separate us from all the civilized
world but Britain, and her dependencies; that they have done this, not
through ignorance and folly only, for they were at all times warned of
the certain consequence of their measures; not through constraint, for
although opposed, they always carried their measures; but men who have
proved themselves by their own works, so unfit to govern us, even with
every advantage, can never without madness be trusted in times of real
difficulty and extreme danger; and that it is equally absurd to found
confidence in our disasters, or to pursue that line, or to support
those men who have already brought us to the verge of destruction.
2nd. Resolved, That the speech of the President of the United States
to the ordinary session of Congress, was, in the opinion of this
meeting, calculated to rouse the resentment of the French government
and destroy any reasonable hope of successful negotiations between
that republic and agents appointed by him.
3rd. Resolved, That the instructions to our envoys, so contrary to the
spirit of that speech and the whole conduct of our administration,
authorize this conclusion:--that they were rather intended to inflame
the American mind than to produce good in France, under the well
grounded expectation, that the negotiations would, from those and
other causes, fail.
4th. Resolved, That the late negotiations with unauthorized swindlers
in Paris, are so unexampled as to afford no justifiable ground for
public measures, and that their publication, so far as they tend to
excite the sensibility of our citizens, is unjustifiable, as they may
commit the safety of the envoys highly imprudent.
5th. Resolved, That the militia are the only safe and constitutional
defence of these States; that they alone are adequate to this object,
and that they will ever prove so, if guided by good government.
6th. Resolved, That we hold it to be our bounden duty, and we do
solemnly pledge ourselves, firmly, to support our National rights and
independence whenever assailed by foreign invasion or domestic
usurpation.
[Illustration: The "Charity School," started by Benj. Day and others in
the latter part of the eighteenth century. (See page 194)]
[Illustration: The Fire Department. (See page 144)]
Fontaine Maury was chairman of this large gathering of the people and
signed the resolutions adopted by the meeting. They were then sent to Hon.
John Dawson, representative in Congress from this district, who laid them
before the extra session of Congress for the consideration of that body.
These resolutions, adopted on the 14th of May, 1798, setting forth the
principles upon which their authors believed the Union was founded, and
upon which the government should be administered, were the basis for the
famous resolutions drawn by Mr. Madison and passed by the Virginia
Legislature on the 2nd of December of the same year, which have since been
the theme of Virginia Statesmen of that school when they would "revert to
first principles."
The address, which was presented to the meeting and voted down by such a
large majority, was directed to the President of the United States, and
was as follows:
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town and corporation of
Fredericksburg, in the State of Virginia, assembled at our town house,
this 14th day of May, 1798, by a public notice, for the purpose of
expressing our sense of the conduct of our government, in regard to
its foreign relations, do communicate to you, as the sense of the
subscribers, that your several attempts to restore that harmony
between the United States and the French republic, which has been so
unfortunately impaired, and to reinstate that good understanding
between the two nations so desirous to the lovers of peace, have been
wise and prudent, and entitle you to the highest evidence of our
esteem; and that whatever may be the opinion of foreign nations, with
respect to divisions among ourselves, should it be the misfortune of
our country to be involved in a war with any nation, you will always
find us ready with our lives and fortunes to support and defend the
Constitution and laws of our country.
After the address had been voted down as not reflecting the sentiments of
a majority of the citizens of the town, not to be foiled in their desire
to let the President know that they approved his policy, the friends of
the administration determined to make three copies of the address and
leave it at three places in town for the signatures of those who approved
it. The three places named were Wm. Taylor's, George W. B. Spooner's and
the Herald office. The following gentlemen signed the address:
George W. B. Spooner, Wm. Drummond, Elisha Hall, Wm. Jones, Anthony Buck,
Richard Richards, Robert Patton, Wm. Glassell, Tho. Southcomb, Andrew
Parks, Tho. Rootes, Peter Gordon, Wm. Taylor, George Murray, James
Pettigrew, Timothy Green, Wm. Payne, James Carmichael, Law. Bowes, Thos.
Hodge, George French, Richard Johnston, Jr., John Anderson, John Coakley,
Wm. Fitzhugh, of Chatham, Charles Croughton, David Henderson, Roger
Coltart, David Blair, Jeff. Wright, Charles Yates, Wm. Lovell, Alexander
Duncan, Wm. Wilson, Rob. Lilly, Thos. Cochran, James Stevenson, John
Brownlow, Jos. Thornton, Benj. Day, Wm. Wiatt, Zack. Mayfield, John
Newton, David Simons, Philip Lipscomb, Daniel Grinnan, James Vanshell,
Daniel Stark, Samuel Stevens, Godlove Heiskell, Thos. P. Basye, John
Harris, Thomas Seddon, Jr., Robert Wellford, Philip Glover, John Legg,
Edward McDermot, John Alcock, Jacob Grotz, John Moore, Adam Darby, Tho.
Miller, James Blair, Wm. Hamilton, R. Dykes, David Williamson, Wm. Acres,
Wm. Talbot, James Ross, John Bogan, Robert Walker, John Kirck, Sam. M.
Douglas, Wm. Welsh, Alexander S. Roe, John Dare, James Slater, Charles
Stewart, Christian Helmstetter, Wm. Smith, Benj. Sabastian, James Adams.