USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. II > Part 8
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Of the celebration the Commercial Advertiser said :
" THE CELEBRATION .- A number of Democratic papers in different parts of the Union, mortified and exasperated at the destiny of their idol, Bonaparte, are daily leveling their malignant spleen at the men who think proper to celebrate the emancipa- tion of Europe from military despotism. Of these Jacobin papers the Columbian of this city stands pre-eminently conspicuous-"the vilest among the vile." For several days, that paper has been filled with base and groundless imputations against many of the worthiest men in the community. It has
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PEACE IN EUROPE
denounced every American who rejoices in the downfall of the French tyrant as a traitor to our country, rejoicing in the victories of our enemy. In spite, however, of this pitiful slanderer-in spite of the whole host of Democratic editors who are mourning over Napoleon's defeated glory, the honest citizens of this country will rejoice with the rescued and exulting nations of Europe. Yes, we rejoice that the rod of the oppressor is broken, and the captives are set at liberty. We rejoice in the sudden and providential emancipation of more than a hundred millions of our fellow beings. We rejoice that the most sanguinary and unrelenting tyrant the world ever saw has finished his blood- stained career. We rejoice that the great scourge of nations is stript of its colossal power, and driven as an outcast from that suffering and desolated con- tinent. We rejoice that Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Italy, Prussia and the whole of the Ger- manic Empire are all delivered from the iron yoke under which they have so long struggled. Yes, we rejoice -- every Christian ought to rejoice-every man on earth in, whose bosom dwells one spark of humanity will rejoice that the tremendous torrent of human blood which for twenty-five years has del- uged the fairest portion of the civilized world is stayed by the Omnipotent Sovereign of the Uni- verse, and that peace and national independence, so long strangers and exiles, are permitted once more to revisit the poor, suffering, afflicted inhabitants of Continental Europe.
" These are the subjects of our rejoicing, and he who condemns us for mingling our thanksgiving
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AND THE WAR IN AMERICA.
and our gratulation with the universal voice of Europe on these glorious results is a pitiful and narrow-minded wretch, unworthy to be called a Christian, a patriot, or a man. To our own country we anticipate also the happiest results from the events we have celebrated. Should we, however, be disappointed in this-should our enemy reject offers of peace on terms mutually beneficial and honorable -should Great Britain attempt to destroy our inde- pendence-should war rage here as it lately raged in the Old World, it will be your Holts and your Duanes and your Gales, men who cannot feel for others' woes, who can neither weep with those who weep, nor rejoice with those who rejoice, that will first shrink from the contest. It is always beings like these who would sacrifice their country for their own personal emolument or safety."
The celebration could not be properly referred to as showing any feeling hostile to the welfare of the United States. The patriotism of those whose names appear prominent in it were never questioned or doubted. Hon. Rufus King was the prime mover of the demonstration.
The exile of Napoleon had put a somewhat defi- nite aspect upon the American war-there would either be peace at once or a more vigorous and determined effort of invasion by land, aided and supported by the great power of the British navy, which was now unincumbered. In case of British success in America it meant peace, but the peace of subjection on such terms as Great Britain might de- mand. Should there be great efforts to avert it on the part of America ?- or must it come after pillage
,
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NO SURRENDER.
and desolation, accompanied by the greatest possible national humiliation of surrendering up independ- ence which had been so long cherished and held up by sire and son to the admiration of all nations, and proved such a bright page in the history of the world ? To us at this distant day it seems as if there would have been no wavering as to the de- termination of the men and women of that day.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Fourth of July Celebration-Tammany and Washington Soci- ety Processions- Mr. Wheaton's Oration-Tammany Din- ner and Toasts-Amusements of the Day-Evening Enter- tainments-Fireworks at Vauxhall Garden.
ROM the narrative already given of occur- rences immediately preceding the Fourth of July the reader will infer that its celebration was in keeping with the political feeling already shown by the leaders, with no small portion of the populace at their back-but how and in what manner and to what extent it would reach without allowing almost treasonable hostility to the general government no one could conjecture; although both political parties claimed to be friends of the general government and acting for the general welfare, their line of action to secure these ends for the people con- tinued to be directly opposite to each other, as they had been for many years before the declaration of war. From a careful study of the men and man- ners of that period the writer believes that the motives of each party were pure and honestly patriotic, and designed for the welfare of the people and the benefit of the country.
We cannot at this distant day properly judge which party was the most wise and exercised the most foresight as to the future welfare of the coun- try in the political struggles of 'those times. But
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L'ETERAN CORPS CELEBRATE
we can see that the actual effect was more the re- sult of accident, or a series of them, than of prac- tical wisdom on the part of any party or class of men. In fact, the leaders of that day could not have prevented the result to the American people.
The plans for the celebration of the 4th of July, 1814, had been started many weeks before that date, but had changed many times as events arose that affected the opinions of the political societies that took up the matter and were not formulated as finally carried out until a few days before that na- tional anniversary.
The earliest movement in the observance of the day was by the Independent Veteran Corps of Artil- lery, under the command of Capt. Geo. W. Chapman. They assembled at the Arsenal on Elm Street at three o'clock A. M. They then marched to the residence of Governor Tompkins, on Bowery Lane, near Houston Street, and offered him the compliments of the day and fired a federal salute of eighteen guns in front of his house. He had returned from Albany the day before ; they were received by his excellency with his usual urbanity. The corps then returned to the Arsenal and was dismissed.
At sunrise an artillery salute was fired at the Battery by men detailed from General Morton's bri- gade. The uniform Militia, under General Morton, paraded on the Battery at half-past six in the morn- ing. At seven o'clock they were reviewed by Governor Tompkins and Major-General Stevens. After performing several evolutions they took up a line of march up Broadway and Park Row to the jail, then across the Park in front of City Hall to
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THE 4THI OF JULY.
Broadway, then down to Fulton (Partition) Street, then to Greenwich Street, and then down to the Battery, where a feu de joie was fired by the Artillery.
At nine o'clock the Veteran Corps of Artillery re- assembled at the Arsenal and marched, to the resi- dence of Captain Chapman, on Washington street, near Beach street, where they were presented with an elegant standard by Mrs. Frances Warren Fraser. ' She delivered the following address :
"Gentlemen : I congratulate you on the thirty- eighth anniversary of American Independence-a blessing which cost you the privation, toils and perils of a seven years' arduous contest. With heart- felt pleasure do I view the war-worn veteran, claim- ing no exemption for age or infirmity, again draw his sword in his country's cause. As a feeble testi- mony of my respect, permit me to present your honorable corps a standard consisting of thirteen stripes, the number of our revolutionary States. Blue, predominating, is emblematic of the fidelity of our immortal Washington and his brave comrades of the Revolution. Red, indicative of that precious blood shed in obtaining our independence, and white, studded with golden flowers, representing the blessings which accompany an honorable peace ; the pointed banner in a field of white, surmounted with your appropriate motto (Pro Deo et Patria), will for- cibly remind you of the purposes and obligations of your association.
" Veterans ! Accept this standard. May you always display it in your country's cause and furl it with honor !"
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TAMMANY CELEBRATES.
The standard was received with present arms by the corps and a salute of martial music. Lieut. Isaac Kieler replied in behalf of the corps. After this the corps then marched to the Arsenal and fired the signal salute for the joining the procession of the day. For this purpose they were in three pla- toons. The advanced guard, under Captain Chap- man ; the rear guard under Lieutenant John Nixon and the guard of honor for the Genius of Colum- bia, orator of the day, and standards of the different civic societies under Sergeant Osborn.
The public celebration was by two grand pro- cessions-one represented the Democratic party and led by Tammany Society ; the other represented the Federalists, led by the Washington Benevolent So- ciety and the Hamilton Society.
The principal or main celebration being by Tam- many and many other civic societies combined.
The announcement of Tammany was as follows :
" TAMMANY SOCIETY OR COLUMBIAN ORDER.
"Brothers : You are requested to assemble at Tammany Hall on Monday next, the 4th inst., at half-past eight o'clock in the morning, to join in the celebration of the 38th anniversary of our national independence. Each brother will appear with the buck's tail in his hat, and may be provided with tickets for the anniversary dinner at the bar, to which each brother has the privilege of inviting a Republican friend.
"By order of the Society, "H. WESTERVELT, Sec'y.
" JULY 2D."
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THE 4TH OF JULY.
An eye witness gave the following account :
At sunrise the national flag was displayed at all the public buildings and on the shipping in the har- bor. At nine o'clock the different societies (except- the Washington Benevolent and Hamilton) began to assemble in Nassau street opposite Tammany Hall. The Grand Marshal of the day, Garrit Sickles, Esq., assisted by his aids, arranged them in the fol- lowing order :
1. Tammany Society, each member with a buck- tail in his hat.
2. Hibernian Provident Society.
3. The bearer of the national flag, accompanied by the Genius of Columbia (an allegorical figure that originated in Tammany Society and used by them in all public parades of that society), supported on her right by Wm. Donovan, Esq., the assigned rea 'er of the Declaration of Independence and on her left by Benj. Parshall, Esq., the assigned reader of Wash- ington's farewell address. In the rear of these were. Robert Swanton, the chairman, and George Har- sin, Jr., the secretary and treasurer of the general committee of arrangements, each bearing an enì- blem of his office. All these were flanked by the blue banners of the different societies, accompanied by a detachment from the Veteran Corps of Artil- lery under Sergeant Osborn.
4. Columbian Society.
5. Cordwainers' Society.
6. Military officers off duty.
7. Veteran corps of artillery with their field pieces.
At ten o'clock the Grand Marshal and his aides in
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TAMMANY PROCESSION.
cocked hats and long plumes, preceded by a band of music, took their station at the head of this body, and at the signal of eighteen guns fired by the Veteran Corps of Artillery, proceeded down Beekman Street to Pearl, down Pearl to Wall, up Wall to Broad- way, up Broadway to Cortlandt, down Cortlandt to Greenwich Stre t, up Greenwich to Duane, up Duane to Hudson Square (St. John's Park), along Hudson. Square to Anthony, up Anthony to the new theater west of Broadway. The van of the procession then opened to the right and left, fac- ing inward ; the Grand Marshal and his aids pro- ceeded down between the lines and met the Genius of Columbia and her party and conducted them up to the theater, the military and societies following in reverse order. The band was vigorously playing Yankee Doodle in the meantime. The front of the theater was decorated with transparencies showing some of the glorious achievements of our naval heroes.
On entering the theater the grand national stand- ard was placed in the centre of the stage, the Genius of Columbia, the orator of the day and the readers were seated on the stage, and the standards, ban- ners, etc., of each society were arranged on each side and appropriate scenery was at the rear. The military and civic societies were seated in the body of the house. The doors were opened to the public at 11 o'clock. The grand marshal called the whole to order and the exercises proceeded as follows :
1. Music by the band.
2. Reading Declaration of Independence.
3. Music by the band.
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FEDERALISTS' CELEBRATION.
4. Washington's Farewell Address.
5. Music and collection.
6. Oration by Henry Wheaton, Esq .*
7. Music by the band.
On retiring from the theater the same order was retained as on entering. The march was up An- thony street to Broadway, down Broadway to Pearl, down Pearl to Chatham, down Chatham to Tam- many Hall. A hollow square was then formed and the band played a few appropriate tunes, nine cheers were then given and the whole were dis- missed.
The grand standard of the United States was dis- played in front of Tammany Hall until sundown.
The Federalists' celebration was commenced by the display of the United States flag at sunrise on Washington Hall on Broadway (where Stewart's Building now is). The members of the Washing- ton Benevolent and Hamilton societies assembled at Columbia College Green (now Park Place) at ten o'clock, each member with his badge worn in the usual manner. The procession formed at half past ten and moved at eleven o'clock, in the following order : Volunteer escort, grand marshal of the day and his four aids ; Hamilton Society, grand mar- shal of the Hamilton Society and his four aids, committee of arrangements ; banner of independ-
* Mr. Wheaton was at that time editor of the National Advo- cate, the only daily paper in New York city that openly and avowedły supported the administration and defended the Presi- dent and Governor Tompkins in every act and every baneful ac- cusation against them. He afterwards became the eminent author of the History of the Law of Nations and other works which bear his name.
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WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
ence, flanked on the right by a banner bearing the date of the evacuation of the city by the British and on the left by a banner bearing the date of the adoption of the Federal Constitution by the State. The Hamilton Society formed in nine divisions, be- tween which was borne the banners of the society, supported by members in military uniform in the following order : Trumbull, Ames, Wayne, Lin- coln, Lawrence, Ludlow and Washington ; grand standard, flanked on the right by the banner of Yorktown and on the left by banner of Monmouth ; tylers, assistant treasurer and assistant secretaries, and treasurer and secretary, counsellor carrying the constitution of the society, standing commit- tee ; president, first vice-president on his right. and second vice-president on his left ; deputy mar- shal.
The Washington Benevolent Society, in the following order: The banner of independence, flanked by two smaller banners and supported by military and naval characters of the Revolution ; the society, four abreast, in fourteen divisions, each under the direction of two assistant marshals, pre- ceded by a banner on which was inscribed the name of a deceased patriot of the Revolution. This was called the Washington band and was in divisions, which were seven on each side of a ban. ner, as follows : on the right, Hancock, McDoug- all, Putnam, Schuyler, De Kalb. Knox, Greene ; on the left, Wooster, Mercer, Montgomery, War- ren, Steuben, Lincoln, Hamilton ; the Washing- ton standard, flanked by two others, borne and supported as the banner of independence. Captain
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FEDERALISTS' PROCESSION.
Van Wart, one of the captors of Major Andre, bearing a standard emblematic of that event ; Washington band of music, committee of arrange- ments, standing committee and officers of the society ; orator of the day, Theodore Varick, Esq. ; president of the society, with first vice-president with the United States Constitution on his right, and on his left second vice-president with Washing- ton's farewell address ; escort.
The route of the procession was from College Green, (Park Place) to Broadway, down Broadway to Partition (now Fulton street), down Partition street to Greenwich street, up Greenwich street to Chambers street, up Chambers street to Broadway, up Broadway to Washington Hall, corner of Duane street. When the van arrived at the hall the pro- cession halted and opened to the right and left, face inward, and marched from the rear through the line and entered the hall. The officers of the Hamilton Society were seated on the right of the stage and those of the Washington Society on the left. The Washington and Hamilton standards were placed on the stage and the banners were distributed in dif- ferent parts of the hall.
The exercises were opened by a prayer, then a piece of solemn music by the band. The Declara- tion of Independence was read by Francis Child, Jr. A piece of soft music was played, during which a collection was taken up for the relief of indigent members of the two societies. An ode prepared for the occasion, set to music, was then sung by Mr. Uri K. Hill. The oration followed. Then martial
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MILITARY PARADE.
music by the full band-Yankee Doodle as a finale, and the members were dismissed.
The members of these two societies partook of a dinner in the afternoon at Washington Hall, but in separate rooms.
The address of Mr. Varick and the toasts given at the dinner were not published.
In Mr. Wheaton's address he said :
"The awful danger of the crisis admonish us to Union ! In that word is contained a potent charm that, could we wear it near our hearts, would assure our safety in any perils that may await us. We must now gather the fair fruits of peace which hang on the precipice of our degradation, beneath which the abyss yawns for our independence, or we must grasp them on the field of battle where valor is the herald of victory.
* % *
" And is there any still baser wretch, a coward living to die with lengthened shame, who would wish to purchase peace by a sacrifice of national in- terests and rights and honor ?- to see us descend from that rank in the scale of nations to which the virtue and valor of our fathers exalted us?" * * *
The Governor, nor the military as a body, nor the Mayor or other city officials did not take any part in either of the processions nor attend the dinner of either of the societies. The military parade was headed by the Governor and his guards and was en- tirely independent of any other procession.
The Independent Veteran Corps of Artillery, after accompanying the procession to the Anthony Street Theater and the conclusion of the ceremonies there,
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TAMMANY TOASTS.
were dismissed with the procession at the park ; then they retired to a dinner at Kent's Hotel, on Broad street, and drank to appropriate toasts.
The flotilla of gunboats under Commodore Lewis, came up from Sandy Hook and formed in a semi- circle in front of the Battery dressed in various colors, in which position they fired a salute at mid- day. Immediately after which they sailed with the favoring breeze and the ebbing tide to their station at Sandy Hook.
The French brig Olivier, which had recently ar- rived in port, was anchored in the Hudson off the Battery. She was decorated with the flags of all the nations of Europe except that of England. She answered the different salutes fired from our forti- fications. As she was about getting under way to sail down to Sandy Hook with the tide she fired a federal salute and as she passed Castle Williams her salute was returned with twenty-one guns.
On the dismissal of the Tammany procession the members of Tammany Society sat down to a repast prepared by Messrs. Marling & Cozzens, the pro- prietors of Tammany Hall hotel. After the cloth was removed the following toasts were drank.
1. The Ever-memorable Fourth of July, '76-the birthday of our independence. Three cheers.
2. The President of the United States. Three cheers.
3. The Vice-President of the United States. Three cheers.
4. The Heads of Departments.
5. The Governor of the State of New York.
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TAMMANY TOASTS.
6. The Memory of Washington and other de- parted Heroes of our Revolution.
7. The Army and Navy of the United States. Nine cheers.
S. The Union of the States-the palladium of our safety. Thirteen cheers.
9. The Congress of '76.
10. Thomas Jefferson, the author of our Declara- tion of Independence-the statesman, philosopher and patriot. Three cheers.
11. The People of the United States-pre-eminent in freedom, invincible in union. Six cheers.
12. Domestic Manufactures.
13. The State of New York-emancipated from political thraldom. Thirteen cheers.
14. The Memory of Pike, Lawrence and other De- parted Heroes, who have fallen in this second strug- gle for independence.
15. The Ocean: its surface to those who advo- cate its freedom, its bottom to those who would wish to usurp it. Three cheers.
16. Honorable Peace or Vigorous War. Three cheers.
17. Our Ministers in Europe-they will never dis- grace their country by agreeing to a dishonorable peace. Three cheers.
18. The American Fair.
VOLUNTEER TOASTS.
By the deputation from the Columbian Society : America, Sole Exception in the Christian World-the only member of the family of nations that can boast
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TAMMANY TOASTS.
the celebration of the thirty-eighth anniversary of its independence.
By Henry Wheaton, Esq. (orator of the day). The Army-Presaging flashes of heroic enterprise show what it will perform when com manded by a general worthy of American soldiers.
By Matthew L. Davis, president of Tammany Society : William B. Crawford, our Minister in France-the sincere and ardent friend-the firm and intelligent statesman-the inflexible and dis- interested republican.
After the orator (Henry Wheaton, Esq.) retired the following toast was drunk with three cheers : The Orator of the Day-his merits we leave the pub- lic to appreciate.
By A. Stagg, president of the Tammany Council : Liberty given to us by the Fathers of the Revolution -that wretch shall perish who would try to wrest it from us.
By Lawrence Myers, treasurer of Tammany So- ciety : The United States Ship Independence-well built, well rigged and well manned-may she soon have an opportunity of meeting one of John Bull's 74s to teach them a lesson of American Naval Tac- tics.
By a member : Baron Lescallier, the French Consul-General-the true friend of his own country and of America.
By a member : The late Celebration of the Resto- ration-When Machiavelli and Beelzebub join in collusion to deceive, ve gods direct.
By a member : The Republicans of New York-a terror to British influence and toryism.
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SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI.
The State society of The Cincinnati assembled at the City Hall at one o'clock for their annual business meeting. The following were elected officers for the year :
Richard Varick, President.
Ebenezer Stevens. Vice-President.
Henry S. Dodge, Secretary.
Leonard Bleecker, Treasurer.
Jonas Addoms, Assistant Treasurer.
Messrs. Bicker, Burrall, Cooper, Fowler, Giles, Leaycraft, Loomis, Steddiford and Waterman, Standing Committee. Messrs. Troup, Stevens and Livingston, Delegates.
After the meeting they retired to the Tontine Coffee-house, where at four o'clock they sat down to a dinner prepared for the occasion. Commodore Decatur, then lately elected an honorary member, dined with the Society. After dinner eighteen toasts were drank, each followed by an appropriate piece of music by Moffit's military band. The only notable toast was, "Peace, Plenty and a Good Government to our Country."
The steamboats, Car of Neptune, of the Albany line, and Fire Fly, of Poughkeepsie, made ex- cursions on that day in company, probably for the safety of their. passengers. They started from the foot of Cortlandt street at nine o'clock and proceeded round the Battery, up East River to Wallabout, and then returning went up the Hudson River a few miles and returned about one o'clock. They started again about three o'clock and ran down to Staten Island, but did not pass the Narrows, and returned about dusk. The fare for
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STEAMBOAT EXCURSION.
each excursion was one dollar for grown persons and fifty cents for children. The capacity of each boat was only one hundred persons. Refreshments could be had at the bar on board.
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