Saturday, October 30, 2010

Jefferson & Liberty


"Let foes to freedom dread the name;
But should they touch the sacred tree,
Twice fifty thousands swords would flame
For Jefferson and liberty."
--campaign song from the election of 1800.

In America's first two presidential elections, George Washington was the unanimous choice, both by popular vote and by the new, cumbersome Electoral College system.  But come 1796, when Washington politely but firmly stepped aside, the election wasn't quite so easy.  Thirteen men received electoral votes, including two for Washington.  The winner was John Adams with 71.  Thomas Jefferson came in a mere 3 votes behind Adams, with 68.  At the  time, the runner-up became Vice President, so Jefferson served in that office.

In 1798, the Adams administration passed four controversial acts:

1.  The Naturalization Act.  Aliens had been required to live in the United States 5 years before they could become citizens.  This act extended the period to 14 years.

2.  The Alien Friends Act gave the president the power to deport any alien considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States."

3.  The Alien Enemies Act gave the president power to apprehend and deport any aliens whose home countries were at war with the United States.  (This act is still in force today.)

4.  The Sedition Act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials.  (Freedom of Speech?  Who needs it?)

Vice President Jefferson and his followers argued that the acts violated the Constitution.  In November 1798, a group in Dedham, Massachusetts set up a liberty pole with the words, "No Stamp Act, No Sedition Act, No Alien Bills, No Land Tax, downfall to the Tyrants of America; peace and retirement to the President; Long Live the Vice President."  The group's leader, David Brown was arrested and tried in 1799.  When the judge wanted Brown to name everyone who'd helped him or subscribed to his writings, Brown refused.  He was sentenced to 18 months in prison (and prisons were pretty horrendous back then).

In the 1800 election, Adams' Federalist party used the Sedition Act to try to stifle the opposition, but Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans continued to publish and voice their criticisms, such as the campaign song "Jefferson & Liberty."  Here are two verses:

"The gloomy night before us flies,
The reign of terror now is o'er;
It's gags, inquisitors and spies,
It's herds of harpies are no more.
 
"Let strangers from a thousand shores
Compelled by tyranny to roam
Shall find amidst abundant stores
A nobler and a happier home."

For an idea of the mud-slinging and name-calling, watch this video, courtesy of ReasonTV:


The 1800 election was one of the hardest fought in American history.  The results?

Thomas Jefferson: 73 electoral votes
John Adams: 65
Aaron Burr (another Democrat-Republican):  73
Charles C. Pinckney (a Federalist): 64
John Jay: 1

Because Jefferson and Burr were tied for the lead, the House decided the election, giving Jefferson the presidency and Burr the vice-presidency.

"Rejoice, Columbia's sons, rejoice!
To tyrants never bend the knee,
But join with heart and soul and voice,
For Jefferson and liberty!"

Please vote on November 2nd.

Your humble servants,
HH

Friday, October 15, 2010

Colonial Revelers November Events

Now some with feasts do crown the day,
Whilst others loose their coyn in play...
--from an American almanac, 1714

Friday, November 5, 2010


Phoenixville First Friday
Bridge Street,

Phoenixville, PA
Evening
Colonial Revelers will be performing at Phoenixville's First Friday cultural event.  We'll be the ones dressed like refugees from Valley Forge, 1777.  We'll also be the ones singing the best drinking songs of the evening.

For more information and a map of the street, go to their website.
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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Greenbank Mills Tavern Night Fundraiser
500 Greenbank Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
                               
Time: 7 to 10 pm - Adults only

 $35 for Members reserved before October 23
 $50 for Non-members before October 23
 $60 - All Tickets after October 23

Proceeds benefit Greenbank Mill's Operations Fund.

Colonial Revelers will provide tavern music for this night of 18th century food, drink, dancing and games.  Participation will be encouraged in all the amusements of the evening.

For information on the menu and planned activities, download the Tavern Night event brochure.

The current gristmill at Greenbank was built in the 1760s as a merchant mill, to export flour.  In 1777, when Washington arrayed his troops across Delaware in an effort to stop the British from invading Philadelphia, it's said that the general posted a guard at Greenbank to protect the provisions.  Improvements to the mill in the 19th century kept production flourishing until the 1960s, when an arson fire devastated the business.  The  non-profit Greenbank Mill Associates formed and began restoration in 1987.  The site is now open to the public as a living history museum.

For more information about Greenbank Mill and its history, click here  or call 302-999-9001.
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Saturday, November 27, 2010


Brandywine Battlefield Patriots Day
1491 Baltimore Pike
Chadds Ford, Pa 19317

                               
Time: 10am to 4 pm

                               
Adults: $6, Seniors: $4, Youth/Student: $3, Under 5: Free
10% holiday discount in the Museum Shop
Colonial Revelers will sing and stroll the grounds for this all-day event.  Living history regiments will present firing and medical demonstrations, 18th century sutlers will sell all sorts of goods and baked items, plus you can tour the historic buildings and museum.  Chadds Ford Rotary will provide food and refreshments.

Check out the battlefield calendar for more info.

On September 11, 1777 at Brandywine, Washington's troops met the British and Hessians under General Howe for the largest battle of the Revolution.  For more information about the battle and the park, go to the Friends of Brandywine Battlefield website,  call 610-459-3342 x3001, or check them out on Facebook.

Your humble servants,
HH

Friday, October 1, 2010

Hymns for the American Patriot

There have been as great Souls unknown to fame
as any of the most famous.
Poor Richard, 1734

Dear Reader,

For this year's celebration of our Independence, we offered a short biography of Mr. William Billings.  We  told of his talent at musical composition, his prolific body of work, and his ability to eke a living from his craft, despite being self-taught and physically impaired.  Yet in addition, Mr. Billings ought be remembered for siring the American patriotic hymn.

One of his first musical works was titled America.  Indeed, many hymn tunes were named for places, but this composition paid tribute to the country as well.  Mr. Billings had decided to set the poem The New England Hymn by Rev. Dr. Mather Byles, Sr. (1706-1788) of South Boston.  Here is the first verse:

To Thee the tuneful Anthem Soars.
To thee, our Father's God, and ours;
This wilderness we chose our Seat:
To Rights Secured by Equal Laws
From Persecution's Iron Claws,
We here have sought our calm Retreat.

Mr. Billings chose an old melody, popular since the 1640s when the Puritans were warring with the Anglican church.  He wrote a new version of the tune, to fit Dr. Byles lyrics, and set the song for four-part harmony.  The result was a blend of patriotic sentiment and sacred praise.  America was published in October of 1770, the first full hymn in Billings's The New-England Psalm-Singer.

In that same volume was a hymn called Chester (likely named for Chester, MA) with Billings's own lyrics:

Let tyrants shake their Iron rod
And slavery Clank her galling Chains
We fear them not, we trust in god
New England's god forever reigns.

When New England militias marched into battle five years later, Chester became their rallying cry.  As the Revolution progressed, other American soldiers adopted Chester as a marching song.  In 1778, Billings modified the original and added more verses, such as

When God inspired us for the fight
Their ranks were broke, their lines were forced
Their ships were shattered in our sight
Or swiftly driven from our shores.

The song quickly grew in popularity, rivaling only Yankee Doodle among the troops.  Chester has been called America's first national anthem. With these first patriotic hymns, Billings began a tradition that came to include The Battle Hymn of the  Republic, America The Beautiful, and God Bless America.

Chester can be heard on Colonial Revelers' CD Revelry, Reflection & Revolution. To hear a sample, watch the video.

As always, your servants,
HH

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