History of Delaware : 1609-1888, Part 74

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. J. Richards
Number of Pages: 776

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When Russia offered her mediation between England and the United States, in the interest of peace. Mr. Bayard and Albert Gallatin were commis- sioned to proceed directly to St. Petersburg, and charged with authority to conelnde a peace upon the terms set forth in the declaration of war. The pro- digious change in European politics, which after- wards astonished the world, was not anticipated when the American envoys were commissioned and dispatched. France and England, though at tem- porary peace, still threatened war, and the rights and interests of Americaas were still menared with vio- lation. It was not for abstract principles, but for practical wrongs, that war had been declared ; hence, it was against the practice of impres-ment rather than against the claim of right to impress, which England held, that the Secretary of State, in his let- ter of instructions of April 15, 1818, instruets the envoys -- of "the right of the United States to be exempt from the degrading practice of impressment,"

with any nation ; it was never arquie-ced in by any, and a submission to it by the United States would be the abandonment in favor of Great Britain of all claim to neutral rights and all other right, on the ocean." The object of the mission of Mr. Bayard and Mr. Gallatin, so far as the subject of impre->- ment was concerned, was to effect a discontinuance of the practice, and that accomplished by any means, though not within the strict terms of the letter of in- struction, the end would have been satisfactorily at- tained. It is said an opposite position was after- wards taken, resulting from an obscurity in a subse- quent part of the instructions, where it is said : "Upon the whole subject I have to observe that your first duty will be to conclude a peace with Great Britain, and that you are authorized to do it in case you obtain a satisfactory stipulation against im- pres-ment, one which will secure, under our flag, protection to the crew. The manner in which it may be done has been already stated, with the reci- procal stipulations which you may enter into to se- cure Great Britain against the injury of which she complains. If this encroachment of Great Britain is not provided against, the United States have ap- pealed to arms in vain."

When these instructions were given, the conditions of the belligerents in Europe, as well as the state of the war in the United States, were very different from what they had become before Mr. Bayard and Mr. Gallatin arrived in St. Petersburg, on July 21, 1813. The absence of the Emperor Alexander, who was with the army, the retreat of the French and the refusal of England, communicated by Lord Cathcart, to accept the good offices of the Emperor, frus- trated the St. Petersburg mission in its effort to conelude a peace.

Lord Catheart having expressed the willingness of the Prince Regent to nominate plenipotentiarics to treat directly with the American envoys, the "Bram- ble" was dispatched to America to communicate the views of the British government. To meet this ad- vanee, Mr. Clay and Mr. Russell were dispatched to Gottenburg. the place first selected for the negotia- tions. While awaiting the arrival of his colleagues, Mr. Bayard visited England, from whence he wrote: " I arrived in London at a very inauspicious moment for an American. The Allies were at Paris, and news had just been received of the abdication of Bonaparte. The whole nation was delirious with joy, which was not indulged without bitter invee- tives against their remaining enemies, the Amer- icans. The time of declaring war stung them more than the act itself. They considered it as an aid given to their great enemy at a moment when his power was most gigantic, and most seriously threat- ened the subjugation of the Continent, as well as of themselves. They thuist for a great revenge, and the nation will not be satisfied without it. They

303

THE WAR OF 1812-15.

know little of our parties. It was America that fell of a treaty of peace with England was received in upon them at the crisis of their struggle, and it is Wilmington, and there was a general illumination. America now that is to be made to feel the weight of On February 17th the treaty was ratified by the their undivided power." United States Senate. It in no wise secured innmu- nity from the "search and impression claims ' of England; but it settled disputed boundaries, and acknowledged our exclusive right to navigate the Mississippi.

The negotiation- being transferred from Gotten- burg to Ghent, Mr. Bayard there proceeded, and arrived on the 27th of June. After the arrival of the other commissioners, a whole month passed in uncertainty, -uspeuse and expectation. On the 6th of August, Mr. Bayard wrote from Glient :

"Nothing favorable can be angured from the delay in sending their commissioners to the rendezvous agreed to at their instance as the seat of the negotia- tions. Onr commissioners have all been here more than a morth, and we have not yet heard that theirs are even preparing to quit London. We expect them daily ; but so we have done for twenty days past, and so we shall till they arrive, or till we learn that they do not mean to come at all. I assure you, between ourselves, my hopes of peace are very slen- der. The Government of England affect to despise us; but they know we are a growing and dangerous rival. If they could crush us at the present moment, they would not fail to do it, and I am inclined to think that they will not make peace till they have tried the effect of all their force against us. An united, firm and courageous resistance on our part, alone, in my opinion, ean furnish hopes of a safe and honorable peace to the United States. . . . What I doubt is, that if the olive branch be presented to us by one hand, a cup of humiliation and disgrace will be held out in the other; and although I should re- joice to carry the former to the United States, yet I never shall consent to be the bearer of the latter."

And, again, he writes: " No people are more easily elated or depressed by events than the English. We have nothing to hope but from vigorous and success- ful measures, so far as the war depends upon our- selves alone. The British force in America must be overcome or repelled, or the war must end in national disgrace."

At length, in August, the British commissioners arrived at Ghent, and the negotiations were con- one. The officer was held on his parole until ex- eluded on December 24, 1814, by the treaty of peace. Mr. Bayard procceded to Paris, where he received the appointment of envoy to St. Petersburg, which he declined, holding that he had no wish to serve the administration of his political opponents, except as his services were necessary for the good of his country. Nothing coubl induce him to accept an appointment that would identify him with the Republican administration. From Paris, Mr. Bayard had intended to proceed to England to co-operate in the formation of the commercial treaty, as he had been included in the commission for that purpose. But an alarming illness prevented, and he left Paris on May 18th for his home, where he arrived, but re- posed but a brief period in the affections of his family and friends.

Ou the 13th of February, 1815, news of the signing

The war, with its varied interests, reflected the highest honor upon the devotion of Delaware. she had contributed her full quota of men, her full pro- portion of money, and her sons had distinguished themselves on land and sea. After the war closed, the citizens of the State turned with renewed ener- gies to the development of their commercial and industrial interests.

John G. Watmough, prominent in the War of 1812, was born on the banks of the Brandywine, December 6, 1793, and served in the War of 1$12 as lieutenant of the Second Artillery. While on active duty on the frontier in 1813-14, he received three musket-balls in his body, the last of which was not extracted until 1:35. He was aid-de-camp to General Gaines, at New Orleans, and in the Creek Nation in 1814-15. He resigned his commission in 1816, and was elected a member of Congress from Pennsylvania in 1:31, serving for four years and being troubled constantly with his wounds. In 1835 he was high sheriff of Philadelphia, and surveyor of the port in 1841. In 1844 he published " Scribblings and Sketches," Svo. The latter part of his life he spent in retirement and died in Philadelphia November 29, 1861.

Elijah B. Register, who died January 10th, 1858, in Philadelphia, was one of the very few survivors of the War of 1812 and '15 who lived so long. He was born in Camden, Delaware, September 17, 1793, and when a boy about fourteen or fifteen years old participated in the defense of Lewistown. At the bombardment of Lewistown, when the enemy sent a boat ashore further up the bay, one of the officers who ventured to one of the cross road stores was taken prisoner by a party of which Mr. Register was changed for an American prisoner of equal rank. During those early days Camden, Delaware, was a town of greater importance than Dover. The people of the latter place had to go to Camden to get their drugs, as it had the only drug-store in the neighbor- hood.

Mr. Register subsequently removed to New Castle, Delaware, when that was a great centre for travel, as the New Castle & Frenchtown Railroad was the only way of communication between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Passengers had to take the stage from Philadelphia th New Castle, and thence by rail to Frenchtown, and from there by steamboat to Balti- more. The result was, the town of New Castle was the stopping-place for a great many people, and the hotel, then owned by Mr. Register's brother, was the most important place, not only in the State, but of

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301

HISTORY OF DELAWARE

as much consequence as any hotel in Philadelphia at that time. Mr. Register retained his good health and memory up to the moment of his death. and died in the ninetieth year of his age. At the time of his death he lived with his nephew, I. Layton Register, of Philadelphia. Another nephew, Dr. Henry C. Register, also resides in Philadelphia, and a third, Dr. John E. Register, in Dover, Delaware.

Captain John Gallagher, a prominent America: naval officer in the War of 1812, died in Wilmington, November 1, 1842, aged fifty-eight years. He was a native of Maryland. He was appointe ! lieutenant in July, 1812, and served in that capacity of the ing- ate " United States, " in her engagement with the Eng- lish frigate " Macedonian," ou October 25th of that year. On March 2, 1825, he was promoted master and ten years later was made a captain.

CHAPTER XVII.

FROM THE TREATY OF GHENT TO 1860.

THE growth of manufactures on the Delaware had been very great during the War with Great Britain ; and the protection and encouragement of the high duties, incident to the expenses of the war, had enabled them to grow and expand beyond all precedent up to that time. Isaac Briggs, writing to the Hon. William Lowndes, chairman of the Commit- tee of Ways and Means of the House of Representa- tives, from " Rokeby Cotton Works, on Brandywine, near Wilmington, Delaware, 11 mo: 30, 1815," and again from " Washington, D. C., 3 mo: 12, 1816," ex- plains how the comparison of American and British cotton goods

"as founded on equality of fabrics, does not give the correct and practical view of the subject. It is rather what should be than what is. It is the practice of the British Manufacturer, from a dexterity and skill acquired by long experience and division of labor, to make a fabric very beautiful and imposing to the eye of yarn No. 24, every pound of which juodures 4 yds, at least, which will cost him, clear of duty, but 17 cents per yard in Philadelphia, when the price of cotton is 20 cents per lb. iu Savan- nab.

"It is the practice of the American Manufacturer to make a substantial and durable fabric of yarn No. 20, producing no more than 60 yards from 17 lbs., which cost bim 25 cts. per yard in Philadelphia, when the price of cotton is 20 cents per lb. in Savannah."

"The cost to the American manufacturer of a substantial and useful cloth is per yard 21 rts. ; the cust to the British manufacturer of a bean- tiful and highly-polished cloth is per yard 17 cents ; the difference is per yard 8 cts. Unless there be imposed on their foreign lalegge as much duty As will make it cost the importer 2) cents per yard, the American miauu- facturer will not be effectually protected."

In 1815 a State tax was levied which caused con- siderable bad feeling. It was found that New Castle County, which was only valued at about one-third of the other counties, was made to pay about three-fifths of all the taxes of the State. The valuation and tax was as follows :

VALUATION.

TAX LEVIED,

New Castle.

$2,509,747

$ 4,771.11

Kent ...

3,-40,007

3.304.73

Sussex.

1,930,4;1

3,593.65

Total,

88,036,985

$10,929.29

The elections in October, 1315, for members of the Genecal A-sembly, resulted in the choice of fourteen Federalists Rod seven Republicans for the House and a pain of a Federalist Senator from the Republican county of New Castle, where there was a division in the pany.

In the campaign of isi6 the Federalist convention ("cancua" i was called then) rejected their oll members bermiss they " voted in favor of the com- pensation law, " and placed in nomination for Gover- nor, John Clarke, and for Representatives in Congress, Louis MeLane andI Caleb Rodney. Me-srs. Clayton and Cooper can as independent Federalists for Con- gress. In his address to the Federal electors of the State, dated at Dover, on the 12th of July, 1816, Mr. Clayton appe ded from the decision of the conven- tion, and solicited the votes of his fellow-citizens. He said, at the earnest solicitation of his party, he was induced to abandon a lucrative profession to serve it, and that he had been "rudely rejected from the place he made so great sacrifices to himself and his family to accept."

The Republican or (Democratie) nominees were Mansen Bull for Governor, and C. A. Rodney and Willard Hall for Congress.

At the election in October Mr. Clarke 1 was elected Governor by a majority of 491. He received 4008 votes and Mr. Bull 3517. For Congress Mr. MeLane, Federalist, and Mr. Hall, Republican, were elected. The former received 3580 votes and the latter 3531, being elected by a majority of one vote over C. A. Rodney. C. Rodney, the Federal candidate, received 3433 votes. At the previous election the Federal majority in the State for Congressmen was about 1000, but owing to the defection caused by the failure to renominate Messrs. Clayton and Cooper, C. Rod- ney, one of the Federal candidates for Congress, was defeated. Mr. Clayton received 486 votes and Mr. Cooper 301.

The Legislature in November appointed Nicholas Ridgely, Thomas Robinson, Andrew Barratt and Isaac Tunnel, all Federalists, as electors of President and Vice-President. Nicholas Van Dyke was elected at this session a United States Senator.

Governor Clarke, on January 21, 1817, addressed to the members of the General Assembly his inaugural message, in which he inculcated the highest rever- ence and affection for the Federal Constitution, as containing all the

" greit essentials of a free government, and on it depends in a very particular manner the independence of this State, and the freedom and happiness of its citizens. . . . It is our duty, gentlemen, at the same time that we protect und guard with the greatest care and circum-pection the sovereignty aund rights of this State, to cultivate harmony and good understanding with the government of the I'mited States. As a mem- bet of the Union it is incumbent on us faithfully to perform all our duits to the general government, and our sister States, and to contrib- tite as far as h Pih our power to the strength, prosperity and glory of the American empdire. In the queform iny of these duties and the ad- vautrement of these objects, the people of Delaware will add to the respectability of their State and increase their own prosperity and hp- pinces ; for as we it resse the strength, prosperity and glory of our own State, so do we contribute to the strength, prosperity and glory of the

1 Governor John Clarke died in Smyrna in August, 1821.

305

FROM THE TREATY OF GHIENT TO 1860.

I .cat states Let us all, both as public and private citizens then, .. extremely cautions not to radite the spirit of party. It has been the destroying angel of republics."

That exceedingly intelligent and indefatigable man, Isaac Briggs, who understood perhaps better than any other man in the State the true operation of Jouwstic manufactures on the welfare of the country, continued his efforts in that direction, and, as aids to his purpose, succeeded in establishing " Societies for Promoting American Manufacture -. " These societies were intended to awaken from that "drowsy indo- !ence and stupid lethargy into which we are apt to fall after commencing an enterprise with some degree of spirit." At a regular meeting of " The Society of the State of Delaware for the Promotion of American Manufactures," E. I. Du Pont, vice-president, pre- siding, with Sellick Osborn, secretary, held in Wil- mington ou the 5th of April, 1817, Isaac Briggs offered the following resolutions, which, being considered, were unanimously adopted :

" Resolved, As the opinion of this society, that the surpins produce of the unlustry of any nation, beyond the necessary wants of its own pop- ulation, is the only sute fontriation of its independence and wealth : and the only means of supporting the expenses of its own government. That no nation can sell more of its surplus proince than other' nations have an interest in buying. - tbis interest will always be the measure of value, -a greater or less quantity may be exported, but the ru'me ie- ceived in return will be regulated by the interest of the buying na- tion.

" Resolved, That, although the maxim be off and familiar, it is true, that a nation which import- a greater etne than it can export must soon become poor, distressed, in debt and finally despicable. The stotter is generally, in a certain measure, the slave of luis creditor, and this ty true of nationsas well as of individuals, Labor is the foundation of wealth, and the nation which is wise enough to extend and multiply the objects of Inbor and to apply it properly, so that every condition in so- ciety may find the most suitable occupation, will have the smallest por - tion of ille population, and, of course, will, in its trade with other n.L. tions, insurea balance in its favor, and plenty of specie, which is the conventional measure of value between nations, the basis of confidence in every other circulating medium, and the oil which enables the grand political macbine to perform its functions with an easy, regular and prosperous motion.

" Resolred,. That, in our opinion, no maxim is more true than, ' Let Labor alone, and it will best regulate itself,' but it is true only when its application is complete atd niversal ; when partially and imperfe tly applied it is not true. If all nations would faithfully adhere to this maxim in their international concerns, euch nation might not only site- ly do it, but would be unwise not to do it. internally. When the regn- lations of other nations affect partially and derange our industry, it is a duty we owe to our ølves, by counter selling regulations, to restore harmony, health and vizor to our own system. Whenever our govetn- ment protects us against foreign interference and foreign competition, we will petition them to 'let our labor alone."

" Resolved, That as we believe the preceding propositions to be founded in truth, and that the U'uite I statesof America is ou the verge of arrisis, in which, if wod . not avai ourselves of a prudent fotoright, we shall be taught through extensive suffering that we must so tir siggdy our own wants from our own internal labor, as to need no more from for- eign nations than they need from us. If we need less, we shall have opened for ourselves a mine of wealth richer than those of Mexico and Pern.

" Resolved, That as the natural effect of free government, there is so much good sense in the people of the Hinted States, that they will not long remain ignorant of their true interest ; that the pre judices fabri- cated and circulated by self-interested men, - such as that we wish to fix the great ness of our citizens employed in agriculture, to place in a hot- bed and make the fortunes of these engaged in manufactures, -will be dissipated like morning mu-ts before the stttt. Vit the hoblest barth re- quires and and infancy requires f -tering vare. Therefore,

" Resolved, That this society will unite its efforts with flure of similar Box"jeties, who may coneur in the measure to collect and embeds a statis- tiral account of our mamitartines and our industry generally, with such remiks and observations in padded economy as will bring the sofort fully and effectually before Congress at their next session, a compared by the emphatic roce of the jungle, -a vier which, in our country, hover -pecky in vain ; and that this wenty will appoint one of mota del- «gates to meet in convention at the city of Washington, during the next session of Congress, or at any other time or place, such delegates as may be appointed by other einular societies.

"Resdet, That the Prosent son the det ine attested by the Secretaries, and thit the . irrespon bus falouopry be mit they are hereby requested and expanded to base print LAG. hundred copies, to communwate them to all sumilit serfiet, of the h they may have knowledge, and otherwise dissonante ar de- de of the same m sh h mantar as they may deres must conducive to the de tout thiss wenty ' '

Signal)

"E. J. De Povr, Jae-Reader,

In communicating these resolutions Me. Briggs, a- chairman of the corresponding committee, wrote that

" the subject of internal economy has become very interesting to the people of the Center States, Ont embarrassment already mike feel, and we shall feel more and more 'This feeling, while it awakens attention, should excite iquy into the cause of our distress until we are impertied to seek remedies for pad, and taught by experience, to establish preventive guards agunst future errors No ches of people in our country is more deeply concerned in these inquirie- than the cultivators of the soil ; and though the wall may reach them later than less-favored brethnon-the manufacturers-yet the calimity will finally be felt pressing on them with a crit un and destructive wright, and crushing down their energies There existe already in the United States A vast and increasing amount of fragments of opinion and cor- lect knowledge. Light is widely -preat, amt still spreading, through every part of our land, and through evety occupation. It appears to us very important that theantes should be taken without de- lay, to concentrate thisopinion and this knowledge into one clear, dis- tibet, fond emphatic expression of the publi will, addressed to Congress at their next session, accompatned with a body of frete and remarks, 50 complete and so lucully arranged as to dissipate doubts and enforce con- viction. We apprehend that, as the rause is common to every put of the nation, the measures pr posed would receive their best form and di- rection in a convention ot delegates from the several societies. should you coneur in the measure, and such a convention be formul, how soon wonhi it be practicable for it to meet at New York or Philolelphia ? If anything is to be done, in this way, that it ought to be commenced quickly we think very obvious."

The impetus thus given by Mr. Briggs to the en- couragement of maunfactures was felt in the Legisla- ture of Pennsylvania, in which Mr. Laurie reported at length upon the condition of manufactures in that State ; from the Pittsfield Committee on Agriculture and Domestie Manufactures; from the Pittsburg Me- morialists to the Congress, accompanied by a report on the condition of the manufactures in that city ; and from the Philadelphia Society; and from the Legislatures of New York and Connecticut.

At the election in October, 1819,' Mr. Molleston, Federalist, was elected Governor by a majority of about six hundred, but died before he entered upon the duties of his office. The Constitution of the State made no provision for the deeease of a governor-elect ; but Jacob Stout, Speaker of the Senate, assumed the duties of the office.

The Missouri question was at this time begin- ning to excite all quarters of the country, and to cast its lurid light over every State. In the Delaware Legislature the question of the power of Congress to prohibit slavery in the Territories was referred to a committee, which, in a very able report, recognized the power of Congress as complete over the Territories and extending to the total exclusion of slavery there- from. Upon this report the Legislature transmitted to Congress the following resolution :

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History of Delaware : 1609-1888, Part 74

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : L. J. Richards Number of Pages: 776

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. J. Richards
Number of Pages: 776