USA > New Hampshire > History of New Hampshire, Volume II > Part 31
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the War of 1812 a block house or fort was built here, and soldiers guarded the frontier for a year or more.
In January, 1789, the legislature of New Hampshire granted to Dartmouth College a tract of land eight miles square, contain- ing about forty-two thousand acres, north of Stewartstown. In 1820 Benjamin Clark, from whom the town of Clarksville re- ceived its name, and one or two other students at Dartmouth purchased from the college ten thousand acres of this grant. The rest came into the possession of Gideon Tirrill and Josiah Young, who paid the taxes for several years and then sold the land to lumbermen. Among the early inhabitants were Gideon Tirrill, Joseph Wiswall, who was brother-in-law to Benjamin Clark and was Clark's agent for the sale of land, John Comstock, a soldier of the Revolution from Massachusetts, Ben- jamin Young, John Robie, Miles Hurlbert, Joseph Crawford, Alexander Smith and Josiah Bumford. The town was not in- corporated till 1854.
Of Pittsburg, the largest and most northerly town in the State something will be said in a subsequent chapter. The northern part of New Hampshire is mountainous and but little of it would repay the farmer. Here lumbermen and workers in wood thrive. Here are attractions for hunters, fishermen and summer tourists. The history of one town is essentially the same as the history of every other, with a change of names of the inhabitants. Each can tell a story of courage and priva- tions of the first settlers. Each has its narratives about Indians, bears and wolves. In each the first signs of civilization were a clearing and a log cabin here and there, followed by schools and a meeting house. In each all the arable land was soon cleared, including some that would not now pay for cultivation. Every- where they grew stock and made some maple sugar. The style of dress did not change from season to season. The garments were made of skins and cloth woven in the hand loom at home. Every man helped his neighbor, and there was equality of privilege, with little distinction as to riches. Now there are beautiful farms all through northern New Hampshire, scattered at long intervals. There are pleasant and prosperous villages, especially where the iron horse has come. A hardy race of mountaineers have peopled this region for over a century. Some of their descendants abide still in the place of their birth, but more may be found in the wide West.
Chapter XVI IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THIS PERIOD
Chapter XVI
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THIS PERIOD.
Visit of President Washington-Celebration at Portsmouth-Brief Stop at Exeter-Washington's Diary-The Nation Governed by a Common Pur- pose rather than by a Party-Rise of the Federalists and Anti-Federal- ists-Josiah Bartlett First Governor of New Hampshire-Trouble with England and France about Commerce-Jay's Treaty-Governor Gilman and the Legislature Approve the Treaty-New Hampshire Joins Virginia in Claiming State Rights-Envoys Sent to France-"Millions for De- fense, but not One Cent for Tribute"-Backshish Paid to the Dey of Algiers-First Steamboat in America Built by Samuel Morey of Orford -New Hampshire Bank at Portsmouth the Sixth Bank in America- New Hampshire Medical Society Incorporated-Census of 1790-Sum- mary of a Century's History.
A GREAT event in the history of Portsmouth and Exeter was the visit of President George Washington. He was inaugurated April 30, 1789. Very soon thereafter he started with two private secretaries and servants for a tour through Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He arrived at Portsmouth on the 3Ist of October. The town had appointed a committee of twelve to arrange for his reception. A stage was erected east of the State House, on the Parade.
His Excellency had been escorted to the State line by a troop of Massachusetts. There he was met by President John Sullivan and Council, several members of the House of Repre- sentatives, Senators John Langdon and Payne Wingate, Hon. Nicholas Gilman, the Marshal and Attorney of the district, the consul of France, the Secretary of State, and several general officers attended by Colonel Cogswell with his regiment of Light Horse in complete uniform, a respectable number of officers in the civil department and private gentlemen. Thence he proceeded to Greenland by carriage, where there was a brief reception.
"The president at Greenland left his carriage, in the occu- pancy of Col. Tobias Lear, and mounting his favorite white horse he was there met by Col. Wentworth's troop, and on
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Portsmouth Plains the president was saluted by Major General Cilley and other officers in attendance. From the west end of the State House, on both sides of Congress street, and into Middle street, the citizens were arranged in two lines in the alphabetical order of their occupations. And on the east side of the Parade ground the children of the schools, with diamond shaped cockades on their hats, from which a quill projected, were arranged near the State House. The different schools were designated by different colored cockades.
The President at his entrance received a federal salute from three companies of artillery under the command of Col. Hackett. The streets through which he passed were lined with citizens; the bells rang a joyful peal, and repeated shouts from grateful thousands hailed him welcome to the metropolis of New Hamp- shire.
On his arrival at the State House he was conducted through the west door to the senate chamber, by the president and council of this State and took his station in the balcony on the east side. Here the town address to the President was deliv- ered by Judge Pickering. In it, after giving Washington a most cordial welcome to New Hampshire and congratulating him on his election, he expressed the deep gratitude of the public to him, "who with a magnanimity peculiar to himself under the smiles of heaven defended the rights and gave birth to the empire of America." The address further says, "Permit me to add, the grateful sense we entertain of our obligations to you, sir, as a town, for our security from that devastation which was the fate of so many other seaports in the Union, and would probably have been ours, had not the enemy, by your wise and prudent exertions, been driven from the capital of a neighboring State, and compelled to seek an asylum for a while within their own dominions." The address closes with a reference to the depression of our commercial interests by the war, from which we were rapidly recovering, and by an expression of gratitude to a kind providence for the restoration of the President's health." The President made the following reply :
Gentlemen: I am forcibly impressed with your friendly welcome to the metropolis of New Hampshire, and have a grateful heart for your kind and flattering congratulations on my election to the presidency of these United States.
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I fear the fond partiality of my countrymen has too highly appreciated my past exertions and formed too sanguine anticipations of my future serv- ices. If the former have been successful, much of the success should be ascribed to those who have labored with me in the common cause, and the glory of the event should be given to the great Disposer of events. If an unremitting attention to the duties of my office and the zeal of an honest heart can promote the public good, my fellow citizens may be assured that these will not be wanting in my present station.
I can claim no particular merit, gentlemen, for the preservation of your town from the devastation of the enemy. I am happy, if by any event of the war your property has been preserved from that destruction which fell but too heavily on your neighbors; and I sincerely condole with you for the loss you have sustained in navigation and commerce, but I trust that industry and economy, those fruitful and never-failing sources of private and public opulence, will under our present system of government, restore you to your former flourishing state.
The interest which you take in my personal happiness and the kind felici- tations which you express on the recovery of my healthh are peculiarly grateful to me; and I earnestly pray that the Great Ruler of the Universe may smile upon your honest exertions here and reward your well doings with future happiness.
On the stage opposite the balcony was an amateur choir, which sung three appropriate odes, composed by Jonathan M. Sewall, the man that framed New Hampshire's Bill of Rights. The flattery of these odes is rather too profuse. Washington is called "matchless," "nature's boast," "godlike hero," "the pride and wonder of mankind."
"Then the whole of the troops, under the command of Major General Cilley, passed him in the review, horse, foot, and artillery, and the line of officers, every officer saluting as he passed." Washington lodged at Colonel Brewster's hotel, whither he was conducted by the president and council of the State. In the evening the State House was beautifully illum- inated, and rockets were let off from the balcony.
On Sunday Washington, accompanied by President Sulli- van, Hon. John Langdon, and his two secretaries, attended divine service in the morning at Queen's chapel, and in the after- noon at the North Church the President was conducted to his pew, attended by the marshal of the district and two church wardens, with their staffs. On this occasion both houses of worship were crowded with spectators. At Queen's chapel several pieces of music, suitable to the occasion, were well
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performed by the choir. The Rev. Messrs. Ogden and Buck- minster, in well adapted discourses, paid just and beautiful eulogiums on the numerous virtues of this distinguished per- sonage. Dr. Buckminster's sermon was immediately published in pamphlet form. It was preceded by an address to the people, congratulating them on the safe arrival of the President of the United States and filled with patriotism and compliments to the President, who sat in the pew of the Hon. William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
On the following Monday the President went on an excur- sion down the harbor, rowed by seamen dressed in white frocks, and the coxswain was Capt. Hopley Yeaton. Another barge accompanied him, rowed by seamen clothed in blue jackets and carrying the amateur band. A short stop was made at Kittery and then the President called on Michael Wentworth, at the old Wentworth mansion at Little Harbor, whence he returned to Portsmouth by carriage.
On Tuesday President Washington was entertained by President Sullivan and Council. There were present most of the principal officers of government, as well as representatives of the bar and clergy, all to the number of about one hundred. The number of toasts drunk would indicate a high degree of festivity. They were: I. The President of the United States. 2. Louis the XVIth the defender of freedom. 3. The 4th of July, 1776. 4. Our friends and allies throughout the world. 5. The Vice-President of the United States. 6. May the illus- trious author of our liberties long remain the protector. 7. The band of heroes who fought and bled in the service of freedom. 8. May the posterity of those patriots who laid the foundation of our liberties long support its glorious fabric. 9. May the wisdom of our cabinet preserve the fruits of our contest in the field. 10. May the commerce of America travel with the sun, but only go down with the skies. II. From the sources of American Independence may freedom be diffused through the earth.
After the first toast the President arose and very politely gave, The State of New Hampshire.
At the ball in the evening seventy ladies were presented to the President. It is not recorded that he danced the minuet
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with them all. The next morning he left Portsmouth at half past seven.
He arrived at Exeter before ten o'clock, riding on horse- back, accompanied by his secretaries, Colonel Tobias Lear and Major William Jackson, who rode in an open carriage, and by a single servant. He wore a drab surtout and a military hat. Captain Simon Wiggin, in command of an artillery company, gave him a salute of thirteen guns. He partook of a collation at the public house of Colonel Samuel Folsom, where he was waited on by Colonel Nicholas Gilman, who had been a staff officer under Washington at Yorktown. Soon he resumed his journey, escorted outside the village by a cavalcade of gentle- men, and taking his way to Haverhill, Massachusetts, by way of Kingston, was entertained at the inn which stood where the City Hall now is. Washington Square in that city is named in honor of the President's visit.1
It will be interesting for the reader to compare with the foregoing narrative the account of his journey into new Hamp- shire as found in Washington's private diary :
Saturday 31st Oct.
Left Newburyport a little after eight o'clock (first breakfasting with Mr. Dalton) and to avoid a wider ferry, more inconvenient boats and piece of heavy sand, we crossed the river at Salisbury, two miles above, and near that further about; and in three miles came to the line which dividies the State of Massachusetts from that of New Hampshire. Here I took leave of Mr. Dalton and many other private gentlemen,-also of Gen. Titcomb, who had met me on the line between Middlesex and Essex counties, corps of light horse, and many officers of militia; was received by the President of the State of New Hampshire, the Vice President, some of the Council, Messrs. Langdon and Wingate of the Senate, Col. Parker, Marshal of the State, and many other respectable characters; besides several troops of well clothed horse, in handsome uniforms, and many officers of the militia, also in handsome (white and red) uniforms, of the manufacture of the State. With this cavalcade we proceeded and arrived about three o'clock at Ports- mouth, where we were received with every token of respect and appearance of cordiality under a discharge of artillery. The streets doors and windows were crowded there, as at all other places; and, alighting at the Town House, odes were sung and played in honor of the President. The same happened yesterday at my entrance into Newburyport, being stopped at my entrance to
1 The above account is taken from the Portsmouth Gazett of that time, Adams Annals of Portsmouth, Brewster's Rambles about Portsmouth, and Bell's History of Exeter.
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hear it. From the Town House I went to Col. Brewster's tavern, the place provided for my residence, and asked the President, Vice President, the two Senators, Marshal and Major Gilman to dine with me which they did; after which I drank tea at Mr. Langdon's
November Ist.
Attended by the President of the State, (General Sullivan), Mr. Lang- don and the Marshal, I went in the forenoon to the Episcopal church, under the incumbency of Mr. Ogden; and in the afternoon to one of the Presbyter- ian or Congregational churches, in which a Mr. Buckminster preached. Dined at home with the Marshal, and spent the afternoon in my own room writ- ing letters.
Monday, 2d.
Having made previous preparations for it, about eight o'clock, attended by the President, Mr. Langdon and some other gentlemen, I went in a boat to visit the harbor of Portsmouth, which is well secured against all winds, and perfectly guarded against any approach by water. The anchorage is good, and the shipping may lay close to the docks, etc., when at the town. In my way to the mouth of the harbor, I stopped at a place called Kittery, in the Province of Maine, the river Piscataqua being the boundary between New Hampshire and it. From hence I went by the old Fort (formerly built while under the English government) on an island which is at the entrance of the harbor, and where the lighthouse stands. As we passed this fort we were saluted by thirteen guns. Having lines, we proceeded to the fishing banks, little without the harbor, and fished for cod,-but it not being of proper time of tide, we only caught two,-with which, about ten o'clock, we we returned to town. Dined at Col. Langdon's and drank tea there with a large circle of ladies, and retired a little after seven o'clock. Before dinner I received an address from the town, presented by the Vice President; and returned an answer in the evening to one I had received from Marblehead, and another from the Presbyterian clergy of the State of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, delivered at Newburyport,-both of which I had been un- able to answer before.
Tuesday, 3d.
Sat two hours in the forenoon for a Mr. - , painter, of Boston, at the request of Mr. Brick of that place, who wrote Major Jackson that it was an earnest desire of many of the inhabitants of that town that he might be indulged After this sitting I called upon President Sullivan and the mother of Mr. Lear; and, having walked through most parts of the town, returned by twelve o'clock, when I was visited by a clergyman of the name of Haven, who presented me with an ear and part of the stock of the dyeing corn, and several small pieces of cloth which had been dyed with it, equal to any colors I had ever seen, and of various colors. This corn was blood red, and the rind of the stock deeply tinged of the same color. About two o'clock I received an address from the Executive of the State of New Hampshire, and in half an hour after dined with them and a large company at their
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Assembly room, which is one of the best I have seen anywhere in the United States.
At half after seven I went to the Assembly, where there were about seventy-five well dressed and many very handsome ladies, among whom (as was also the case at the Salem and Boston assemblies) were a greater proportion with much blacker hair than are usually seen in the southern States. About nine I returned to my quarters. Portsmouth, it is said, con- tains about five thousand inhabitants. There are some good houses, (among which Col. Langdon's may be esteemed the first,) but in general they are in- different, and almost entirely of wood. On wondering at this, as the coun- try is full of stone and good clay for bricks, I was told that on account of the fogs and damp they deemed them wholesomer, and for that reason pre- ferred wood buildings. Lumber, fish, and potash, with some provisions, compose the principal articles of export. Ship building here and at New- buryport has been carried on to a considerable extent; during and for some time after the war there was an entire stagnation to it, but it is beginning now to revive again. The number of ships belonging to this port are esti- mated at
Wednesday, 4th.
About half-past seven I left Portsmouth quietly and without any attend- ance, having earnestly entreated that all parade and ceremony might be avoided on my return. Before ten I reached Exeter, fourteen miles distant. This is considered as the second town in New Hampshire, and stands at the head of the tide-water of the Piscataqua river, but ships of three hundred and four hundred tons are built at it. Above (but in the same town) are considerable falls, which supply several grist mills, two oil mills, a slitting mill and snuff mill. It is a place of some consequence, but does not con- tain more than one thousand inhabitants. A jealousy subsists between this town (where the Legislature alternately sits) and Portsmouth, which, had I known it in time, would have made it necessary to have accepted an invita- tion to a public dinner ; but my arrangements having been otherwise made, I could not.
This is as much as Washington had time and inclination to write down about his impressions of Portsmouth and Exeter.
Until the end of the revolutionary war it may be said that there were no political parties in the United States. The only distinctions were between patriots and tories. The last were sometimes called by the harsher name of traitors. The forma- tion of an independent nation necessarily developed differences of political convictions. Taught by the history of European nations, some of the more wealthy and powerful leaders leaned toward a monarchical, or at least an aristocratic form of govern- ment. To this end they sought to centralize the powers of the
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colonies and lodge them with the national government. The federation of independent States served well for common de- fense in time of war. The conflicting claims of those States in time of peace led to lack of harmony. The two main questions were, how far can the whole people be trusted and allowed to govern themselves, and how much of independence can be allowed to separate States. The adoption of the national Con- stitution did not setttle these questions and put an end to dis- cussion. Perhaps they never can be settled immovably. When- ever the acts of the national government seem to conflict with the rights and privileges of a State or group of States, then the old discussions are renewed. Whenever the laws of a State conflict with popular convictions concerning personal liberty, then the individual comes again to the front with shouts for freedom. The growing feeling among well informed men ever is that every person, every town, every State, should have the largest measure of liberty consistent with the rights and privil- eges of others. The powers of the individual and of the group are surrendered only to obtain the greater powers that come from union with the strong, for everywhere and in all time men want power and opportunity to use it. Using it justly and for the good of all is liberty; abusing it in an unlawful and selfish manner is license and tyranny.
The advocates of the national Constitution were called Federalists in 1788, because its effect would be, it was thought, to bind together more firmly the States into a confederation, or Union. Subsequent controversies have shown that some intended a federation of sovereign States, and others a consoli- dation of mutually dependent States into an indissoluble Union. The logic of events has put the latter interpretation upon the national Constitution as adopted in 1788. The Federalist party then formed continued to hold power till the end of the eigh- teenth century. The leading members of that party were Washington, Hamilton, Adams, Jay, and many less distin- guished patriots of the Revolution. The leaders in New Hamp- shire were the Gilmans and Jeremiah Smith of Exeter, William Plumer and Charles Atherton.
Opposed to these were the Anti-Federalists, a party that arose about 1792, under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson,
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who had learned his principles of government, while he was ambassador in republican France. This party was opposed to all monarchical tendencies, and it contended for the largest pos- sible measure of power to be reserved to the States. It founded the doctrine of State Rights, not then for the purpose of dis- solving the Union, but to resist the encroachments of the aristocracy upon the rights of the people. Some would have made a king of George Washington, while he was satisfied with being primus inter pares. The name of the Anti-Federalist party was changed in 1793 to Republiccan party, soon length- ened into the Democratic-Republican party, and finally known as the Democratic party. This party advocated a strict inter- pretation of the Constitution in opposition to extension of federal powers. The leaders were Jefferson, Madison and Mon- roe. In New Hampshire John Langdon, though a friend and supporter of Washington, favored this party, and so did General Stark. In their own minds this party is said to have stood for large powers of the State, religious liberty, freedom of speech, trial by jury, economy by the government, opposition to stand- ing armies, to paper currency and to war, and to entangling alliances with foreign nations. The party cry was the People versus the Aristocracy. Doubtless there were put into the party platform motives and desires that were shared as earnestly by their political opponents. Political parties frame phrases to catch the votes of the unreflecting, and different persons, who really want the same things, vote opposing tickets. So long as the desire for leadership expresses itself only in the press, on the rostrum and in votes, opinion gets ventilated, the people are made to think a little and education advances. When there is resort of the political factions to arms, we have a Mexican or a Haytian "Revolution."
In New Hampshire the Federalists carried the election in 1793 reelecting Josiah Bartlett for Governor. The extent of his popularity is shown in this, that out of a total number of ballots of 9854, he had 7385 votes, while John Langdon had 1306, John Taylor Gilman 708 and Timothy Walker 382. Gov- ernor Bartlett had been long in public office, and in consequence of advancing years and declining strength he refused to be longer the standard bearer of his party, the Federalists. He
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was succeeded as governor the following year by John Taylor Gilman. These men are sufficiently sketched elsewhere in this work. Timothy Walker was the opposing candidate of the Republicans, but Governor Gilman's majority was large, and he continued to hold the chief office of the State for a long time. An event occured which shook the power of the Federalists and created no little political upheaval in New Hampshire.
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