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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Alien and Sedition laws, (search)
iot and insurrection. It also provided for the fining and imprisoning of any person guilty of printing or publishing any false, scandalous, and malicious writings against the government of the United States, or either House of (Congress, or the President, with intent to defame them, or to bring them into contempt or disrepute. This was called the Sedition Law. These laws were assailed with great vigor by the Opposition, and were deplored by some of the best friends of the administration. Hamilton deprecated them. He wrote a hurried note of warning against the Sedition Act (June 29, 1798) to Wolcott, while the bill was pending, saying: Let us not establish a tyranny. Energy is a very different thing from violence. If we take no false step, we shall be essentially united; but if we push things to the extreme, we shall then give to parties body and solidity. Nothing contributed more powerfully to the defeat of the Federal party two years later than these extreme measures. See Natu
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Asia, the, (search)
hurled three round shot ashore in quick succession. Lamb ordered the drums to beat to arms; the church-bells in the city were rung, and, while all was confusion and alarm, the war-ship fired a broadside. Others rapidly followed. Several houses were injured by the grape and round shot, and three of Sears's party were killed. Terror seized the inhabitants as the rumor spread that the city was to be sacked and burned. Hundreds of men, women, and children were seen, at midnight, hurrying from the town to places of safety. The exasperation of the citizens was intense; and Tryon, taking counsel of his fears, took refuge on another vessel of war in the harbor, whence, like Dunmore, he attempted to exercise authority as governor. Among the citizens led by Sears was Alexander Hamilton, then a student in King's College, eighteen years of age. The cannon were removed from the battery and fort, and were hidden on the college grounds. These did good service in the patriot cause afterwards.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Brown, Jacob, 1775-1828 (search)
Brown, Jacob, 1775-1828 Military officer; born in Bucks county, Pa., May 9, 1775, of Quaker parentage. He taught school at Crosswicks. N. J., for three years, and passed two Medal presented to General Brown by Congress. years in surveying lands in Ohio. In 1798 he opened a select school in the city of New York, and studied law. Some of his newspaper essays attracted the notice of General Brown's monument. Gen. Alexander Hamilton, to whom he became secretary while that officer was acting general-in-chief of the army raised to fight the French. On leaving that service he went to northern New York, purchased lands on the banks of the Black River, not many miles from Sackett's Harbor, and founded the flourishing settlement of Brownsville, where he erected the first building within 30 miles of Lake Ontario. There he became county judge; colonel of the militia in 1809; brigadier-general in 1810; and, in 1812, received the appointment of commander of the frontier from Oswego to
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Burr, Aaron, 1716- (search)
9 he was appointed adjutant-general of the State, and commissioner of revolutionary claims in 1791. A member of the United States Senate from 1791 till 1797, Burr was a conspicuous Democratic leader in that body; and in the Presidential election in 1800 he and Thomas Jefferson had an equal number of votes in the electoral college. The House of Representatives decided the choice in favor of Jefferson on the thirty-sixth ballot, and Burr became Vice-President. In July, 1804, he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel; and the next year he undertook his mad and mysterious enterprise in the West, which resulted in his trial for treason. In March, 1805, Burr's term of office as Vice-President ended, and he descended to private life an utterly ruined man. But his ambition and his love of intrigue were as strong as ever, and he conceived schemes for personal aggrandizement and pecuniary gain. It was the general belief, at that time, in the United States, that the Spanish inhabitants of Lou
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Cabinet, President's (search)
y. No regular annual report is made to Congress concerning the work of this department, but special information is given whenever any unusual event or complication in our foreign relations occurs. The first Secretary of the Treasury was Alexander Hamilton, who was appointed upon the organization of the department, Sept. 2, 1789. This department Seal of the Treasury Department has charge of all moneys paid into the Treasury of the United States, also of all disbursements, the auditing of e March 5, 1889 John W. Foster June 29, 1892 Walter Q. Gresham .March 6, 1893 Richard Olney June 7, 1895 John Sherman March 5, 1897 William R. Day April 26, 1898 John HaySept. 20, 1898 March 5,1901 Secretaries of the Treasury. Alexander HamiltonSept. 11, 1789 Oliver Wolcott Feb. 2, 1795 Samuel Dexter Jan. 1, 1801 Albert Gallatin .May 14, 1801 George W. Campbell Feb. 9, 1814 Alexander J. Dallas Oct. 6, 1814 William H. CrawfordOct. 22, 1816 Richard Rush March 7, 1825 Samuel
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Columbia University, (search)
River and was the most beautifully situated of any college in the world. The first commencement was on June 21, 1758, when about twenty students were graduated. In 1767 a grant was made in the New Hampshire Grants of 24,000 acres of land, but it was lost by the separation of that part of Vermont from New York. In 1762 Rev. Myles Cooper was sent over by the Archbishop of Canterbury to become a fellow of the college. He was a strong loyalist, and had a pamphlet controversy with young Alexander Hamilton, one of his pupils. Cooper became president of the college, and so obnoxious were his politics that the college was attacked by the Sons of liberty and a mob in New York on the night of May 10, 1775, and he was obliged to flee for his life. Rev. Benjamin Moore (afterwards bishop of the diocese) succeeded him. The college was prepared for the reception of troops the next year, when the students were dispersed, the library and apparatus were stored in the City Hall, and mostly lost, an
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Constitution of the United States (search)
nt as early as 1780, while their ratification by the States was pending. Alexander Hamilton, then only twenty-three years of age, in a long letter to James Duane, inYork, then in session at Poughkeepsie, and that body, by a resolution drawn by Hamilton and presented by his father-in-law, General Schuyler, recommended (July 21, 17respective legislatures to ratify their determinations. In the spring of 1783 Hamilton, in Congress, expressed an earnest desire for such a convention. Pelatiah Web grave discussions at Mount Vernon, Washington, acting upon the suggestions of Hamilton made five years before, proposed a convention of the several States to agree ua committee for revision and arrangement. It consisted of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Johnson, Rufus King, and Gouverneur Morris. The latter put the d Rufus King. Connecticut. Wm. Saml. Johnson, Roger Sherman. New York. Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey. Wil: Livingston, David Brearley, Wm. Paterson, Jona: Dayt
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Cooper, miles 1735-1785 (search)
Cooper, miles 1735-1785 Clergyman; born in England in 1735; graduated at Oxford University in 1761, and came to America the next year, sent by Archbishop Seeker as an assistant to Dr. Samuel Johnson, president of King's College. He succeeded Johnson as president in 1763. He was an active Tory when the Revolution broke out, and was reputed one of the authors, if not the author, of a tract entitled A friendly address to all reasonable Americans. Alexander Hamilton was then a pupil in the college, and he answered the pamphlet with ability. Cooper became very obnoxious to the Whigs, and a public letter, signed Three millions, warned him and his friends that their lives were in danger. On the night of May 10 a mob, led by Sons of Liberty, after destroying or carrying guns on the Battery, proceeded to drive him from the college. He succeeded in escaping to a British vessel, and sailed for England. He commemorated this stirring event by a poem printed in the Gentleman's magazine
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Corinth, operations at (search)
, encountered Oliver. The latter being hard pressed, General McArthur was sent to his support, but both were pushed back. To these both McKean and Davies sent help. Very soon afterwards the Confederates made a desperate charge, drove the Nationals, and captured two guns. The Confederates had resolved to capture Corinth, with its immense stores. They now pressed heavily on the National centre. Davies was pushed back, when Stanley sent Colonel Mower with a brigade to his assistance; and Hamilton was pressing through a thick mire on Lovell's left, when darkness fell, and the struggle ceased. The Confederates enveloped Rosecrans's front, and rested on their arms. Van Dorn believed he would have possession of Corinth before sunrise. He had sent a shout of triumph to Richmond by telegraph. The battle was resumed before the dawn. Both parties had prepared for it. The National Plan of battle at Corinth. batteries around Corinth were well manned, and a new one, mounting five guns,
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Cow Chace, the (search)
Thine are these tales of woe; Shall at thy dire insatiate shrine Blood never cease to flow?And now the foe began to lead His forces to th' attack; Balls whistling unto balls succeed, And make the block-house crack. No shot could pass, if you will take The gen'ral's word for true; But 'tis a d—ble mistake, For ev'ry shot went through.The firmer as the rebels pressed, The loyal heroes stand; Virtue had nerved each honest breast, And Industry each hand.In See Lee's trial. valor's frenzy, Hamilton Rode like a soldier big, And secretary Harrison, With pen stuck in his wig.But, lest chieftain Washington Should mourn them in the mumps, A disorder prevalent in the rebel lines. The fate of Withrington to shun, They fought behind the stumps.But ah! Thaddeus Posset, why Should thy poor soul elope? And why should Titus Hooper die, Ah! die—without a rope?Apostate Murphy, thou to whom Fair Shela ne'er was cruel; In death shalt hear her mourn thy doom, Och! would ye die, my jewel?Thee, N