24
THE GRANITE MONTHLY.
“WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 28, 1810.
Dear Sir:—
I received yours only last evening, which I read with pleasure. You complain of Democratic orators dealing out falsehood; I thought you knew them better than this, for if I should find them dealing in any other commodity, I should think them insane. or that they had deserted their cause. This I apply to their leaders, and not to all who call themselves Republicans, for there are many among them who are well disposed men, and need only to be here one week, and hear the threats in Congress, to convince them that they have been misled. A leader among them, three days since, in Congress, made a war speech, and in reply to a gentleman who had spoken against war. said: ‘Some gentlemen seem to regret the loss of blood and treasure more than submission to Great Britain. I. also, said he, regret the loss of the blood of some of our citizens, but if we go to war with England, Canada must be taken, and we very well know what men must be engaged in taking that country.’ And many more such expressions, which would make the blood of our New England Republicans boil. I immediately went to him and required an explanation. He looked beat, and paddled off as well as he could.
Let nothing deter you from duty at, and before the second Tuesday of March. For the darkest time is just before day.
I am sir, &c., Signed.
DANIEL BLAISDELL. To John Currier, Esq.”
The next letter is interesting as showing the hostility of the Federal party to all measures for the defense of the nation at a time when England, supposing us to be weak, had become, day by day, more arrogant in her demands.
“WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 27, 1810. Dear Sir:—
I send you Mr. Eppe’s war speech, which seems to have originated in a fit of madness, that the Senate had seen fit to cut Mr. Mason’s American navigation act of that part which they intended, instead of the Emargo or non-intercourse. It was sent back from the Senate to our House on Thursday, with only three out of thirteen sections left. The two first to interdict the armed ships of England and France from our harbors. And the other, to repeal the non-intercourse act. To be sure, sir, it was a curiosity to see the embargo hands, with distorted features, rise in turn, and declare that it was treason against the party that had brought forward and supported commercial restrictions, to thus dispose of it without a substitute. Some of them said they would much rather the hall might fall in and crush them to death, than abandon the system in this way. And after a Sunday evening caucus at the president’s, they (as it would seem) are prepared to plunge the nation into immediate war, for Eppes did not deny, but owned it must have that effect. Seventy-four supported the measure, and forty-nine opposed it. If so many of their war measures, resolutions, and proclamations, had not evaporated, all must see that we must have a war with England soon, for France is only mentioned to deceive the people. The president, on Saturday before the caucus, said openly, our affairs with France were in a fair way to be settled. Tell your demos if there is any dependence to be placed upon their leaders, they may fix their knapsacks to go to Canada. From your friend,
DANIEL BLAISDELL. To John Currier, Esq.”
At the expiration of his term, in 1811, Mr. Blaisdell returned home, firmly believing it to be a Christian virtue to oppose the coming war. Public meetings were called for the purpose of concentrating public opinion. A series of resolutions, longer than one of John Worth’s prayers, and more tiresome, setting forth the iniquities of the Democratic leaders, and calling upon good men to defeat them, were passed. The excitement ran fearfully high, and continued for years. Many worthy neighbors became estranged, and the lives of many of them were too short to outlive the ill-feeling engendered.
And for more than twenty years he went in and out among his neighbors and friends, exercising great influence in their affairs, honored and respected by all, even by the Democrats, whom, as a party, he never ceased to denounce as the enemies of his country. The struggles of his early life had given him habits of industry, temperance, and economy. He built him
