“The Cossack Celebration”
The Poetic Legacy of Daniel Bedinger (7)
The Poetic Legacy of Daniel Bedinger (7)
The Cossack Celebration was first published in the August 4 and 11, 1814 editions of the Farmer's Repository, a newspaper of Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Daniel Bedinger is best remembered as the fifteen year old youth who ran away from home in 1776 to join his brothers and fight in the service of his country. He nearly perished in a British prison and though in poor health from his confinement, continued to serve until independence was achieved. He was successful in all aspects of his family and professional life and he maintained a passionate devotion to the founding democratic principles of liberty and freedom. His early academic education as a student under the tutelage of Robert Cockburn in Shepherdstown served him well and through life he continued his education aided by his assembly of an extensive library of classics and scientific journals of the day. He often wrote on political and national issues of the day for newspapers and journals; he seldom wrote a personal letter to a friend or relative without giving his views on politics or a matter of national importance. In 1846, Lyman Draper, historian, wrote to Honorable Henry Bedinger, inquiring about writings of his father, Daniel Bedinger. Henry Bedinger replied "I have none of the writings of my father except the 'Cossack Celebration'. I believe he destroyed them all before his death." “The Cossack Celebration” and the attendant prose which he wrote in a in a few short weeks comprise the major part of his literary writings that have been preserved. "The Cossack Celebration" was well-regarded nationally as a skillful and forceful work of political satire on a issue of national importance and the poem is still known in the Shepherdstown area. If more of his writings been preserved perhaps his genius for expression of his principles would be as well-known as his youthful patriotic zeal.
In 1814 the United States was embroiled in war with Britain, the War of 1812. In the summer of 1814 the war was going poorly for the United States and was derisively called “President Madison’s war” by opponents of the war. The largest national faction opposed to the war were Federalists who were especially strong in New England where they had been engaged in profitable trade with Britain. Whereas the war was supported and viewed as justified by many in the South, there was strong opposition to the war in Jefferson County and adjacent areas of Virginia and Maryland.
Daniel Bedinger’s writings parodied an event called “The Shepherd’s Town Celebration”, held July 28th, 1814. The event was organized by the Federalists ostensibly to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte's army by the Russians and their allies, the subsequent exile of Napoleon to Elba, and the return of the royal Bourbon regime to the rule of France.
Daniel Bedinger recognized that, in fact, the celebration, organized by Federalist opponents of “President Madison’s War”, the War of 1812, as an effort to embarrass the government, discredit President Madison and unseat him from office. Daniel Bedinger's writings satirizing the Federalists' celebration were first published in the Farmer's Repository of Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia) in July and August of 1814. In ridiculing the celebrators of Napoleon's defeat by the Russians, Daniel caricatured them as "Cossacks", a reference to the Cossack cavalrymen of southern Russia and Ukraine who played an instrumental part in the defeat and expulsion of Napoleon’s army from Russia.
|
‘Tis done—‘tis done—oh! well-a-day! Why should the Muse in simplest lay, Expose each fool—each knave deride, And lash hypocrisy and pride? Because her country’s greatly harmed, The task therefore, must be perform’d. from "The Cossack Celebration" by Daniel Bedinger |
Daniel Bedinger's characterization of the celebration was long-remembered, bitterly so by those who were poetically caricatured in "the Cossack Celebration".
The announcement of the Federalists' celebration at Shepherd's Town appeared in the Farmers Repository of Charles Town, Virginia June 30, 1814.
"Shepherd's Town is, at length to be honored with the presence of the advocates of oppressed humanity, and of the "Bulwark of our Religion," and the illiterate swinish multitude will be gratified (perhaps) with the sound of the voice, of he Russian Orator, who may be said to have exemplified the observation, that 'Eloquence is Power.' "
"Shepherd's Town is, at length to be honored with the presence of the advocates of oppressed humanity, and of the "Bulwark of our Religion," and the illiterate swinish multitude will be gratified (perhaps) with the sound of the voice, of he Russian Orator, who may be said to have exemplified the observation, that 'Eloquence is Power.' "
"CELEBRATION
OF THE WORLD’S DELIVERANCE,
By the Dethronement of Bonaparte, and
the Restoration of the Bourbon”
OF THE WORLD’S DELIVERANCE,
By the Dethronement of Bonaparte, and
the Restoration of the Bourbon”
"Piety, patriotism and policy equally dictate, that the unparalleled occurrences, which have redeemed the independence of nations ought not to pass unhonored, but ought to be glorified by the virtuous part of the American people, with obvious demonstrations of gratitude and rapturous delight."
The announcement continued with the details of the celebration. Citizens in Jefferson and nearby counties in Virginia and Maryland and national figures were invited to attend. The Shepherdstown hero of the Revolution, Captain Shepherd, who was present at the last celebration at Annapolis, as well as the preceding one at Georgetown, was cited as a reason, among others, to hold the celebration in Shepherds Town. National figures played an important part in planning and orchestrating the event and would be invited to the celebration. The ardent Federalist, Gouverneur Morris [i] of New York, in addition to his vehement opposition to the War of 1812, was a champion of the return of the Bourbon Monarchies to France and Spain. Gouverneur Morris had given, in New York on July 9, 1814 an oration in which he celebrated “the recent deliverance of Europe from the yoke of military despotism” [ii]. Gouverneur Morris, though invited, did not Attend the Shepherds Town Celebration.
The announcement continued with the details of the celebration. Citizens in Jefferson and nearby counties in Virginia and Maryland and national figures were invited to attend. The Shepherdstown hero of the Revolution, Captain Shepherd, who was present at the last celebration at Annapolis, as well as the preceding one at Georgetown, was cited as a reason, among others, to hold the celebration in Shepherds Town. National figures played an important part in planning and orchestrating the event and would be invited to the celebration. The ardent Federalist, Gouverneur Morris [i] of New York, in addition to his vehement opposition to the War of 1812, was a champion of the return of the Bourbon Monarchies to France and Spain. Gouverneur Morris had given, in New York on July 9, 1814 an oration in which he celebrated “the recent deliverance of Europe from the yoke of military despotism” [ii]. Gouverneur Morris, though invited, did not Attend the Shepherds Town Celebration.
Daniel Bedinger's Response to the announcement of the Federalists' Shepherd's Town celebration was printed in the Farmers Repository June 30, 1814:
“To ‘the Citizens of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Frederick, and the contiguous Counties, Washington, and Frederick, in Maryland“. Daniel entreated the citizens to think seriously “before you sanction this measure. It could have originated only in the brain of some stupid or mischievous zealot, equally destitute of regard for his own and his country’s reputation. I beseech you all to shun this mad folly.”
Daniel Bedinger composed the following satiric “metamorphosis” of the patriotic song “Hail Liberty” as an acceptable present to the Musical Committee of the "United Celebration at Shepherd's Town." It was published in the Farmers Repository July 28th.
Daniel Bedinger composed the following satiric “metamorphosis” of the patriotic song “Hail Liberty” as an acceptable present to the Musical Committee of the "United Celebration at Shepherd's Town." It was published in the Farmers Repository July 28th.
HAIL ROYALTY
HAIL ROYALTY, supreme delight,
Thou idol of the good; O'er ev'ry clime ex'end thy might, And rule the "multitude." The well-born with the rich and great, Are nurs'd above by thee; Nature ne'er form'd a democrat, Her birth rights Royalty. Tho' "lowbom" wretches oft have tried, To crush thy spotless fame; Thy sacred banner's still our pride, Eternal be thy name! The "pious" and "leqitimate," Are found alone with thee They never own'd a democrat, The foe of Royalty. |
Then let us FEW, "Heroic band,
Of patriots" firm and free! Drive Democrats to Elba's land, Or die for Royalty. "Talents are ours" and wealth and state, As well as "Pi-e-ty;" They never graced a democrat, Their fav'rite Royalty. Columbia, accurs'd art thou, Beneath the people's sway; Like us, thy ancient Lords avow, And spurn Democracy. Philosophy's licentious brat, They call it Liberty, Is nothing but a democrat, The plague of Royalty. |
The Celebration at Shepherd’s Town was held July 28, 1814. The Farmers Repository, August 4, reported: "The early appearance
of the morning seemed to promise a propitious day; but after ten o’clock
a “Scotch mist” or “London drizzle” rendered the weather rather uncomfortable to
the celebrators, although the occurrence seemed so much in coincidence with the
nationality of their
proceedings. There was no rain,
however, to prevent the attendance of any person possessing thousandth part of
“that pure and exalted enthusiasm which induced the venerable Hero in the midst
of winter to undergo a journey of a hundred miles, to be present at the
last celebration at Annapolis,” nor do we believe that it kept away twenty
persons who had any desire to join in the “joyful jubilee.” The choice friends from a distance had
rendezvoused under the hospitable domes of congenial spirits in the vicinity,
on the preceding evening; and the influx of spectators, had ceased long before the rain began to wet
the ground; nor was it such at any time during the day as to render an umbrella
or great coat indispensable. We are
thus particular as to the weather because we have reasons to believe that the
part will be urged by feelings of mortification and chagrin to turn that
circumstance into a excuse for their pitiful exhibition."
|
|
Daniel Bedinger's writings published in the Farmers Repository satirizing the Federalists' celebration in Shepherd's Town was published first in the in the August 4 and 11 editions of the Farmer's Repository. Daniel's writings the the Farmers Repository received wide acclaim by the readers of the newspaper. To obtain a wider distribution of the writings, Daniel had them published as a book. Though not titled in the newspaper, for the book publication Daniel chose to the title his poetry and prose "The Cossack Celebration at Shepherd's Town Jefferson County, Virginia, July 28th 1814". The book was published October 1814. The image, at right, is the a copy of the title page of this book, which is now a very rare book.
The poetry and prose of the second edition, included some additions, revisions, edits, and polishing of the newspaper edition. Also, some introductory material was added and some explanatory notes were added in the margin of he book. The poem is written as a Hudibrastic satire, a poetic style in tetrameter couplets following that of Samuel Butler's "Hudibras" published in 1663-78. |
"The
Cossack Celebration
at
Shepherd's Town
Jefferson County, Virginia
July 28th 1814"
by Daniel Bedinger
Cossack Celebration
at
Shepherd's Town
Jefferson County, Virginia
July 28th 1814"
by Daniel Bedinger
The matter contained in the following pages, was hastily thrown together and first printed in a newspaper, on the spur of the occasion: It is therefore, in point of method and execution, very defective. But considered as an historical scrap, it bids defiance to contradiction, and may, perhaps be useful, as it exposes and reprobates the most scandalous proceedings which ever disgraced our country.
The fall of Napoleon Bonaparte was the pretext for getting up this “joyful jubilee”. But to embarrass the government of our own country, at the most gloomy period of the present war, and “drive James Madison from the helm of state”, was the real object of our Cossack instigators, whose contemptible doings (at a place selected and thought predisposed to favor the views of faction) had no other tendency than to expose their own moral and political depravity, and hold up to public scorn, the impotency of the advocates of Royalty amongst us.
The facts stated are all true: and none of characters are fictitious—those not mention by name will easily be recognized by almost every inhabitant of Jefferson and the adjacent counties.
The fall of Napoleon Bonaparte was the pretext for getting up this “joyful jubilee”. But to embarrass the government of our own country, at the most gloomy period of the present war, and “drive James Madison from the helm of state”, was the real object of our Cossack instigators, whose contemptible doings (at a place selected and thought predisposed to favor the views of faction) had no other tendency than to expose their own moral and political depravity, and hold up to public scorn, the impotency of the advocates of Royalty amongst us.
The facts stated are all true: and none of characters are fictitious—those not mention by name will easily be recognized by almost every inhabitant of Jefferson and the adjacent counties.
The Cossack Celebration
at Shepherd's Town
Part the First
at Shepherd's Town
Part the First
'Tis done—the celebration’s o’er,
The like has never seen before-- No, never since LA MANCHA’S knight Bestrode his nag the mills to fight: Since “pulpit drew ecclesiastic, Was beat with fist, instead of a stick”, Or since those heads were filled with crochets Which generated lathing hatchets. ‘Tis done—‘tis done—oh! well-a-day! Why should the Muse in simplest lay, Expose each fool—each knave deride, And lash hypocrisy and pride? Because her country’s greatly harmed, The task therefore, must be perform’d. The time arrived—the plan displayed, In order all things ready made; Grave instigators—pious men, Resolve to go to church, and then, With solemn faces join in pray’r. To make the gaping vulgar stare; Turn God’s house to a den of thieves, And then go chuckle in their sleeves. A motley mixture crowds the place, “A Servile, mean, degenerate race: “Hirelings who valued naught but gold, “By the best bidder bought and sold: “Truants from honor’s sacred laws, “Betrayers of their country’s cause. “The dupes of party, tools of pow’r, “Slaves to the minions of an hour-- “Lackies who watched a leader’s nod, “And took a puppet for a god.” The prayer done—they pause, they smile, ISCARIOT like, and full of guile-- With joy each subtle head is full, Because they hope “the herd“ to gull. |
Next the ORATION--child
of promise,
Must be pronounced by JOHN H. THOMAS. Not being there, we cannot tell, If smoothly all his periods fell; Nor can we now say what was in’t, But hope to see it soon in print; And then, if health our Muse retain, From her, perhaps you’ll hear again. The humbug at the church now over, They wish to wallow next in clover; Their feelings freely to disclose, Away they march to Colonel JOE’S. The board was there with viands crown’d, “And plates and knives and forks resound. “They eat, they drink--the servants run. “As if a fire had just begun. “Now mourn ye geese—ye turkeys mourn, “Ye hens for chickens from you turn: “Ye beeves and sheep, your fate lament, “And groan ye hogs with one consent; “How bravely were limbs attacked, “And by the foe in pieces hacked! “Amid the busy work of death, “At first no mortal paused for breath; “So long indeed had been their fasting, “Their appetites seem’d everlasting. “At length when they had cram’d their fill “In order next, the wine they swill; “And many a toast prepared with zeal, “Was drank amidst a thundering peal “Of loud huzzas—less loud the noise, “When ravening lions raise their voice; Less loud the savage Indians yelling “Or stormy oceans boist’rous swelling, “Which beats upon the rocky shore-- “Less loud the drunken sailor’s roar, “Than did these Celebrators’ sound, “The cheers with which each toast was crown’d. “Now full of wine, our friends or order, “All left the table in disorder; “Nor need we tell how some were drunk, “Some pious men in kennel sunk; “How carefully the streets they scour, “Tho rainy was the evening hour, “How some with drinking not content, “To revel at a tavern went,” The truth however must come out, No matter who may wince or pout. |
While PEACE these men are celebrating,
A warfare of their own creating, Is rising fast among themselves-- As wolves will often snarl at wolves. At length it fairly comes to blows, Cossack with Cossack strives to close. The trump of Mars now rends the air, Muse tell us who the suff’rers were. First down came poor Col. JOHN MCPHERSON, As flat as tho’ he lay a hearse on : By EMBERSON"S rude hand he fell, But why or wherefore, could not tell. He curs’d the scrape that he was led in, ‘Twas something like an Irish Wedding: And now (sad tale) away he goes, With sable eye and bloody nose. O’erturn’d too, in the mud and mire, Lay wallowing a courtly squire-- A leader staunch, well known to fame, ALFRED or some such thing, his name. Alas! Could not his public station-- The place he holds in legislation,-- Exempt him from plebian blows, From battered ribs and dirty clothes? Ah no! ‘twas fate, decreed those thumps, Which sent him home in doleful dumps. With such dread scenes before our eyes Let’s pause awhile and moralize. |
Trust not, O man! To well laid schemes--
To fairy fields—to golden dreams; Mishaps alas! May lurk below, And bring forth plenteous crops of woe. This moment we may laugh and sing; But who knows what the next may bring? The Bird that’s in the morning gay, Ere night the cat may snatch away. So----at a Kalmuck celebration, Joy may be changed to tribulation, As happened here beyond dispute, To two great men of fair repute, Who got (besides their feelings hurt) Black eyes and coats bedaub’d with dirt. O sad reverse! enough to make The stoutest heart to quail and quake. Then trust not man, to well laid schemes-- To fairy fields—to golden dreams. The ORATOR was next in danger, To many, an obtruding stranger; Yet Prudence ever at his beck, His martial spirit kept in check. Of Valour, he had learn’d by heart, Discretion was the better part; And therefore prudently withdrew, To where he might with safety view, The fury of the raging storm: His person thus secured from harm; His mind by sage reflection led, Remember’d what he once had read: How he who skulks or runs away, “May live to fight another day; “But he who is in battle slain, “Will never, never fight again.” These maxims long have been his guide, For when his dearest friends had tried, To bring him on to help them out, With their untoward mobbing bout, Where friends in need, were friends indeed, His letters only, came good speed! His person could not budge an inch-- "Mary was sick—he scorn’d to flinch-- "But then he hop’d to be excused; "As he their foe had just abused; "Leonidas came from his pen, "He wish’d them well—would write again-- "His absence made but little odds"-- And thus he left them in the sudds’! With speed, let us again survey, The mob which had this very day, Profaned, as we must needs declare, With mockeries the house of prayer. All order now had left the ground, Of tongues was heard a Babel sound: Some roared for throws legitimate, For whiskey some vociferate. Some raised, for church and State a breeze, Some gave their loaded stomachs ease; Some gave their loaded stomachs ease; Some would not stay, yet could not go: And many stagger’d to and fro. But others made of stuff more stern, Whose intellects could now discern, Affront in every look or word; For battle fierce, themselves prepar’d. Whilst thus increas’d the gen’ral bustle, None bluster’d more than ARTHUR RUSSEL; But on the near approach of fight, He fairly took himself to flight. Accused of cowardice by Trail, Full well he knew his warp was frail; And dreading evils dire to come, An effort made to stagger home. Behold the embattled ranks, With pond’rous fist stood CLEMENT BANKS; Boldly his foe upon him sprung, Like Bulldogs as they together clung, Or—as we’re told in ancient story, Sometimes a Greek, a Greek would worry, These Bruins grappled one another, ‘Twas AJAX this--ULYSSES t'other: Fortune awhile would play her pranks, But victory declar’d for BANKS. Now chaos howl’d and shook the crowd, Wild anarchy responded loud; Confusion stalk'd from front to rear; Wings, right and left, were flanked by Fear. Pale Horror chilled the vital blood, On tiptoe Expectation stood; Whilst Conscience rais’d chimeras dine, Gluttony sour’d in in filth and mire. Hypocrisy her mask had lost, And sad Dismay, with brow o’ercast, Saw Terror ride the howling blast. Thus matters stood—when in the route, Sprained was the leg of DANIEL KRAUT. This incident with chymic pow’r, Made sour Kraut—aye, made Kraut sour. Sweetness it could not be for him, To limp with dislocated limb. Louder than Stenton’s was his roar-- He yelled—blasphem’d, cursed and swore. His wrath, he knew not what to fix on. But bellow’d forth Gots donder un blixen. Night now enshrouded what was done, Yet reeling came a hopeful son Of Calvin’s kirk—a pious elder-- Whom Bacchus now must needs bewilder, So that he scarce can find his way, To where JAKE HAINS'S pavement lay. Thrice he essayed the sill to gain-- Thrice hem’d –took snuff, then hem’d again; And being well with wine supplied, “Supported and confirm’d by pride, “Poor JACOB’S terrors to beguile, “Grin’d horribly a ghastly smile: “Features so horrid, were it light, “Would put the devil himself to flight.” Here all who list, may plainly see, The works of rank hypocrisy. The Cossack’s present state compare, With his church look and morning pray’r, And then, we think, that candour must, Be almost poisoned with disgust. |
In face of all this rioting, fighting, shouting, gluttony, and drunkenness, witnessed by the whole town and neighborhood, the editor of the Winchester Gazette (who was himself in the midst of the revel) had the modesty to say that “The utmost order was observed by the company throughout–and perhaps, on no occasion where the same number of people were assembled, was a day spent in more perfect harmony and good humor! But it is sufficient to say it was a FEDERAL celebration: Good order is ever the concomitant of FEDERALISM.” Nevertheless we should be glad to know, how the pretty pain of black eyes, which his friend Col. McPherson carried with him from the “joyful jubilee”, may have squinted at this good humored and orderly paragraph?
|
The Cossack Celebration
at Shepherd's Town Part the Second |
‘Tis hard--‘tis passing hard forsooth, To be obliged the naked truth To tell just as the measure flows, “In halting rhyme, half verse, half prose,” But then again--no one can doubt it (Though awkwardly we go about it) That in fair FREEDOM’S vindication, We’re bound to sing this celebration To give our mite in times like these, A most imperious duty is. Our country’s almost overpower’d By her own sons: almost devour’d, By vermin which herself has bred, And British scoundrels by her fed: Villains who wish old Guelph to reign, And give the King “his own again.” Yet some pretend to side with those, Who would the factious feast oppose; But whether they are quite sincere, A matter is, that’s not so clear: For still they go—they join the host, And gulp each lathing hatchet toast. “An open foe may prove a curse, But a pretended friend is worse.” While Justice sanctions all our hate, She bids us to discriminate, Between the foul and fair intent-- The guilty and the innocent. The sacred law then let is keep, And separate from goats the sheep. Some honest Federalists we know, Who scorned to join the BLUELIGHT show: They knew it sprung from evil root, And clearly saw the cloven foot. They saw the British tyrant’s train, By myriads wafted o’er the main: They felt the hostile preparation, For murder, theft and conflagration: They felt as men must ever feel, Who have at heart the public weal-- Who, like their neighbors interested, Well knew the danger must be breasted; And willing were their blood should flow, Or drive far hence the brutal foe. |
Not so the lathing hatchet crew,
Who took of things a different view: All love of country lost in hate, With spite prepense they meditate, How disaffection to foment, How thwart the acts of government. The law on treason—how evade, Yet give the foe substantial aid. With hearts carved from the flinty rock, They say the uplifted tomahawk, Nor mollified , tho’ well aware The foe, nor age , nor sex would spare. Without emotion too, could gaze on, The murd’rous scenes at river Raisin-- Could (dead to manly feelings) see At MIM’S fort the massacre, And what was worse—could paliate Deeds which the damn’d must execrate: Deeds not by us to be narrated, But deeds at HAMPTON perpetrated. Infernal projects could devise, The public arm to paralyze: Then calmly view the land’s distress, And celebrate the foe’s success!!! It is no wonder then at all, That we should dip our pen in gall, Or that the classic course we take And solemn invocation make. Genius of CHURCHILL! condescend To grant thy aid—thy vigour end: On this occasion we require A spark of thy peculiar fire. O lend us SATIRES keenest scourge, And thy Herculean arm to urge Corrections have, without delay, In order that just vengeance may Upon their naked backs be hurl’d And “lash the scoundrels thro’ the world”. The object of our home bred foe, Is not a secret—well we know, That many of your celebrators, Are nothing else but moral traitors. They love the British, but in fact, Dare not commit the overt act. Democracy they cannot bear, Because the PEOPLE masters are: Our laws and institutions mild, Are ever by these knaves revil’d-- Besides all this, their guile they summons, To welcome back king, lords and commons. Among such characters stands one, Dear Monarchy’s devoted son: Who cross’d the seas an orphan boy, (From Britain’s Isle) “his mother’s joy.” Without or principles or merit, He came a fortune to inherit; But Citizen, would never be, For he abhor’d Democracy: And very often did declare, That when his views accomplish’d were To England quickly back he’d hie, And British Subject live and die. But then, for mere convenience sake, He scrupled not to the oath to take, Of a grand juror--what a blot! Tho’ Citizen he then was not!! Thus wicked men will often sport, With sacred things in open court-- “And in the day’s broad searching eye,” Make Heaven witness to a lie: For which their forfeit ears should pay, If JUSTICE could but have her way. Now by impunity made bold, To faction he is wholly sold-- Presumption, insolence and pride, (To upstart fortunes ever tied) Propel him on to aid such things, As favour most the cause of kings: A forward, busy, meddling fool, Who makes it still a constant rule, To be at ev’ry public place, With mighty nothings in his face. Where –to hatch treason, has the will, But not the pow’r to do much ill. Nature (his malice to restrain) Gave him a muddled wat’ry brain; She gave him leave to brood on spite-- To show his teeth, but not to bite: And being drilled in faction’s school, He’s now a paltry party tool. |
Whilst thus of Celebrators writing,
Why should we overlook dwarf WHITING? A dwarf in mind--"a hoddy doddy,” However huge may be his body This Cossack “form’d on doubtful plan, “Not quite a beast, nor quite a man,” Was that day on the grand parade (Or rather in the Cavalcade) And next in order was espied, The very pink of upstart pride; And open votary of kings, Whose soul aspires at noblest things. Tho’ on a dung hill born and bred, His mind by gaudy visions fed; And therefore we may well suppose, He spurns the dirt from which he rose. When he was poor, he was content, (Nay, took it for a compliment) That Mister did precede his name; But now he snuffs up other game. (Such changes pelf will oft afford A lackey’s almost made a lord!) This mushroom gentleman, I trow Must be COLONEL Hopkins now-- And thus his vanity be sooth’d, Whilst common sense may be abus’d. A man of parts he is ‘tis true, As well as sense--for long we knew, His interest he could twist and turn well; But who the devil made him Colonel? “As mastiff dogs in modern phrase are, “Call’d Pompey, Scipio and Caesar,” So pride and meanness oft presume, A lofty title to assume. Well then, this tinsel’d man of might, Was fairly seen, before ‘twas night, Linked arm in arm with STOPHELVERNER, And then again with HARRY TURNER!! Now here upon thus apt connection, Let’s introduce a grave reflection. Birds of a feather flock together, As well in foul as fairest weather. If this lie be true, then tell us pray, Where was old LINTHCOMB that day? Why did he not, the good old soul, March with his fellows, cheek by jowl? This knotty point should be unravel’d, Was he alone by conscience gravel’d? Did inward quilt his face o’er spread, For human blood his hands had shed; Whilst others who had done the same, Were there, without remorse or shame? And tho’ their consciences appear’d, Yet did they strive with thin disguise, To hide the worm that never dies? Alas! dame TRUTH when most profound, Upon the surface can’t be found, But sometimes doth, as Sages tell Lie in the bottom of a WELL. The best way then, would be no doubt, To let these cronies draw her out; And then she may each knot disjoint, And clear up ev’ry doubtful point. Here we could tell, had we the skill-- For true it is, we have the will, But not the art, not yet the time, To class and to arrange in rhyme-- Such things, as once exposed to light, Your detestation would excite. Here we could tell of men grown old, Toothless and bald, in search of gold, Who still (engrossed by self alone) No other God , but Mammon own, Who never for their country fought, Or deemed her worth a single thought, Yet here could shout, with hearts elate, For principles legitimate. To such the adage closely sticks-- Ye cannot learn old dogs new tricks. Here we could tell of hypocrites, Who regulate their shallow wits, By outward forms, in which we trace Their morals, piety and grace. To Godliness they seem inclined; Yet with the Judas’s we find. A solemn oath, is but a joke-- Religion, a convenient cloak: For when on fraud or mischief bent, They go and take the sacrament; Then think that white wash’d thus they can Impose on God, as well as man. Here we conspirators could name, Who hot from various quarters came, To stimulate the ignorant, To acts of treason—But intent Most cautiously, such means to use, As to accomplish their own views; Yet run no hazard (as they hope) Of laughing at the end of rope. Here public agents we could trace, Who on the land reflect disgrace: Members of Congress—one at least, Came on to share the guilty feast. Has-beens and would-bees too, were there, And in the throng , behold George Bean! Quacks too, appear’d—some three or four, And pettifoggers half a score. Hungry and gaunt, they sniff the breeze, For horse flesh rare, or legal fees; Appearing ready to be sold, For anything like British gold. Here we could name a bloated ape-- An odious brute in human shape, Who when he heard that PIKE had fell, Exclaimed “I hope he is in hell-- He had no business—and no right In such a cause to go and fight.” Heroic shade! Immortal PIKE! Here satire would, but cannot strike: She knows thy gen’rous soul must smile, To see this viper bite a file. She knows when this poor wretch is rotten, His follies and his name forgotten-- When party rancour lies becalm'd, Thy memory will be embalm’d Thy virtues and thy fame shall live, Thy grateful country freely give, The tribute of her just applause, To him who died in such a cause. Now all this while (‘twas unexpected) The HERO has been quite neglected! He who would shuffle, cut and quirk-- Could do a world of dirty work! He who could dash through thick and thin, And wade in filth up to his chin, Whose zeal with Blue light ardor burn’d; To bring about this “joyful” farce, And pat his Kingly hobby horse, Like “MIDAS now, neglected stands, “With asses’ ears and dirty hands.” Stop Muse--His character’s well known, So let the poor old dev’l alone. |
As the Cossacks had procured a band of music, and had moreover, among themselves, several adepts in the art of Psalm singing, the following paraphrase of Gouverneur Morris's [i] notions*, presented as if he had set his oration to music, was prepared for them by a Democrat, and published in a contemporary print. But we have not heard that it was actually chanted, either in, or out of he Church, during "the ceremonies of he day."
* Note- Morris's Oration is preserved in Niles' Register, vol. 6, page 310, to which the curious reader is referred. [ii] A New Song Ye who are promoters of war—ye vile clowns Who wantonly slaver out venomous things, Against all who wear legitimate crowns, Come hither, and see those CHRISTIAN KINGS. You tell us that sovereigns are just like wild beasts, For whose destruction all means are most fair. With blood thirsty tempers you lie to your feast: Approach now and see--tho’ you burst with despair. And thou too, Democracy, savage and wild, Who gladly wouldst humble the virtuous and wise; Of envy and squinting, thou splenetic child, Behold how legitimate MONARCHS arise! See! Tho’ it thine eye balls to atoms should blast-- See, objects which call forth thine own deadly hate-- See, princes right lawful surrounded at last, By subjects most loyal, well pleased with their fate. And thou my dear country, self-murder’d indeed-- Rejoice, since ‘tis done—the Bourbons now reign: Retrace thy false foot-steps—redouble thy speed: Join chorus with Britain, with France and with Spain. Restor’d are the Bourbons—restor’d is that line, Of Monarchs who govern by GEORGE’S permission-- The turn to your KING who with mercy divine, Will pardon you crimes and receive your SUBMISSION [End] |
Note:
[i] National figures played an important part in planning and orchestrating the event and would have been invited to the Shepherd's Town celebration. We haven't the names of such figures that attended the celebration, but Daniel Bedinger in "The Cossack Celebration" makes pointed reference to Gouverneur Morris, an ardent Federalist of New York. In addition to his vehement opposition to the War of 1812, Morris was a champion of the return of the Bourbon Monarchies to France and Spain. Gouverneur Morris gave a widely circulated oration in New York on July 9, 1814 in which he celebrated “the recent deliverance of Europe from the yoke of military despotism”. In addition to the Russian who was to give an oration, it would seem appropriate that a national figure, a person of Gouverneur Morris’s stature would have been invited to be a principal orator. His philosophy and leadership of the Federalists' political thought of the day undoubtedly played a large role in guiding the organizers of the Shepherdstown celebration. Daniel Bedinger found the beliefs and principles espoused by Morris and others of his ilk to be abhorrent, such that they "... could only have originated in the brain of some stupid or mischievous zealot, equally destitute of regard for his own and his country's reputation". Daniel directed due measure of his biting satire at the political philosophy expressed in Gouverneur Morris's speeches and writings.
Because Daniel Bedinger singles out Gouverneur Morris for special ridicule in the poem, it would seem appropriate to provide a brief sketch of Morris' background and political philosophy. Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816) was an America statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory of the Articles of Confederation and wrote large sections of the Constitution of the United States. His first name came from his French mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Gouverneur. An aristocrat to the core, he believed that there never was a civilized society without an Aristocracy. And, it is alleged, he thought that common people were incapable of self-government and thought only property owners should be allowed to vote. He went to France in 1789 and served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France from 1792 to 1794. Morris was critical of the French Revolution and sympathetic to the deposed Queen consort, Marie Antoinette. He returned to the United States and was elected in 1800 as a Federalist to the United States Senate.
Theodore Roosevelt in his candid biography of Morris, "American Statesman, Gouverneur Morris", states that he found it painful to record that in his declining years Morris’ career compared ill with what went before. “He [Morris] was too unstable and erratic to leave a profound mark upon our political developments...he distrusted the mass of the people, and especially the mass of the people in other sections of the country than his own, who had not the habits and refinement and the ways of looking at life which he and his associates possessed…”. Roosevelt continues, that even though President Madison, unable to grapple himself with dangers and difficulties, was forced by southerners and westerners into a war for which the country was totally unprepared, these faults were mild compared to those committed by Morris and the other ultra-Federalists of New York and New England. “Morris’s opposition to the war [War of 1812] led him the most extravagant lengths. In his hatred of the opposite party he lost all loyalty to the nation. He championed the British view of their right to impress seamen from our ships; he approved of peace on the terms they offered, which included a curtailment of our western frontier, and at the erection along it of independent Indian sovereignties under British protection….He sneered at the words union and constitution, as being meaningless.” Roosevelt concludes, “In fact throughout the war of 1812 he appeared as the open champion of treason to the nation, of dishonesty to the nation’s creditors, and of cringing subserviency to a foreign power. It is as impossible to reconcile his course with his previous career and teachings as it is to try to make it square with the rules of statesmanship and morality.”
[ii] An Oration "Delivered on Wednesday, June 29th, 1814, at the request of a number of citizens of New York, in celebration of the recent deliverance of Europe from the yoke of military despotism. By the honorable Gouverneur Morris, esq." Published in Niles Weekly Register -- Saturday, July 9, 1814.