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Story
August 17, 1808
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
In 1808, a solitary Georgia planter celebrates the Fourth of July at his plantation with humorous, patriotic toasts and songs honoring national independence, heroes like Washington, and critiquing politics including the embargo and Napoleon.
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Alexandria Daily Gazette,
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL
From the Savannah Columbian Museum
FOURTH OF JULY, 1808.
This great and glorious day was celebrated at my plantation, in a comfortable style: being solus, I chose myself president, and will venture to assert that a more perfect unity of sentiment, and harmony of disposition, never prevailed, since the existence of our National Independence. The following appropriate toasts were drank, accompanied with songs—after which I retired with decency and decorum.
1. The GLORIOUS DAY—that I now celebrate:
Purchas'd by heroes at so dear a rate,
May every rascal meet a broken pate,
And his base name become obliterate,
Who would attempt thro' malice to create
Political dissentions in this state
At such a crisis.
Song—Firm united let us be, &c.
2. The sacred memory of great Washington:
His virtues shine resplendant as the sun—
The day I now enjoy his valor won:
I prithee, death, dost think it was well done
to take him from us?
Song—Faithful below he did his duty, but now
he's gone aloft, &c.
3. The Philosophic Friend of Thos. Paine:
A lack of firmness—not a lack of brain,
But want of nerves may make a man insane.
Our crops are very much in want of rain,
But these embargo times I won't complain,
Because 'tis nonsense.
Song—Poor Tom's a-cold, long metre.
4. The Constitution as it was of old:
Pure as unadulterated gold:
Alas! Alas! I could a tale unfold:
But no—'twould make my boiling blood run
cold,
And crack my heart strings.
Song—God save the United States, &c.
5. The State of Georgia—as it ought to be:
I hope to live the happy time to see,
Among all parties perfect harmony,
And honest dealings.
Song—A light heart and thin pair of breeches,
&c.
6. Our Sister States—throughout the continent:
I do not think the money was well spent,
That on the Louisiana purchase went
To Buonaparte.
Song—Moll in the Wad and I fell out.
7. Nothing for Tribute, for Defence a Million.
We'll make Napoleon dance a new cotillion
If arbitrary measures he keeps still on,
To rule our free men.
Song—No foreign land shall give us laws, &c.
8. The British Council—it appears to me,
They wish to take a trip across the sea,
And with us drink another dish of tea
In Massachusetts.
Song—Yankee Doodle.
9. A free and open trade with all the world
May every tyrant from his throne be hurl'd,
And with hot pokers have his whiskers
curl'd,
That would prevent it.
Song—America, Commerce and Freedom.
10. Our Infant Navy—once it promis'd well:
Its nurse was chang'd—& wonderful to tell,
Like Terrapin it crawl'd into a shell
At the New City.
Song—I'm safe from Davy’s Locker.
11. Omitted.
12. Brave Warren, Mercer and Montgomery,
Who died like heroes for our liberty.
Their mem'ry shall be ever dear to me—
Peace to their ashes.
Song—Soldiers Adieu.
13. Traitors and Vagabonds of every kind:
May they like my old horse become stone
blind,
And be compell'd a BRAND NEW road to find,
To Carter's Mountain.
Song—O ye scamps, ye pads, ye divers.
14. The American Fair—kind Heaven bless
them all.
For their protection, at a moment's call
Would I turn out and firmly stand or fall,
Altho' a coward.
Song—And when the wars are over, we'll come
and live with you.
15. My Planting Friends—the neighborhood
around:
Of honest hearts and principles right sound,
May Cotton fetch us Fifty Cents a pound,
And Rice Five Dollars.
Song—Hospitality, all reality, no formality,
here you'll ever see.
16. Myself poor fellow, tho the last not
least
May I grow better as my days increase,
And when death comes—Oh! may I die
in peace.
I have no friend to toast me at my feast,
'Tis hard, by gracious.
Song—In the down hill of life, &c.
A CRACKER PLANTER:
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL
From the Savannah Columbian Museum
FOURTH OF JULY, 1808.
This great and glorious day was celebrated at my plantation, in a comfortable style: being solus, I chose myself president, and will venture to assert that a more perfect unity of sentiment, and harmony of disposition, never prevailed, since the existence of our National Independence. The following appropriate toasts were drank, accompanied with songs—after which I retired with decency and decorum.
1. The GLORIOUS DAY—that I now celebrate:
Purchas'd by heroes at so dear a rate,
May every rascal meet a broken pate,
And his base name become obliterate,
Who would attempt thro' malice to create
Political dissentions in this state
At such a crisis.
Song—Firm united let us be, &c.
2. The sacred memory of great Washington:
His virtues shine resplendant as the sun—
The day I now enjoy his valor won:
I prithee, death, dost think it was well done
to take him from us?
Song—Faithful below he did his duty, but now
he's gone aloft, &c.
3. The Philosophic Friend of Thos. Paine:
A lack of firmness—not a lack of brain,
But want of nerves may make a man insane.
Our crops are very much in want of rain,
But these embargo times I won't complain,
Because 'tis nonsense.
Song—Poor Tom's a-cold, long metre.
4. The Constitution as it was of old:
Pure as unadulterated gold:
Alas! Alas! I could a tale unfold:
But no—'twould make my boiling blood run
cold,
And crack my heart strings.
Song—God save the United States, &c.
5. The State of Georgia—as it ought to be:
I hope to live the happy time to see,
Among all parties perfect harmony,
And honest dealings.
Song—A light heart and thin pair of breeches,
&c.
6. Our Sister States—throughout the continent:
I do not think the money was well spent,
That on the Louisiana purchase went
To Buonaparte.
Song—Moll in the Wad and I fell out.
7. Nothing for Tribute, for Defence a Million.
We'll make Napoleon dance a new cotillion
If arbitrary measures he keeps still on,
To rule our free men.
Song—No foreign land shall give us laws, &c.
8. The British Council—it appears to me,
They wish to take a trip across the sea,
And with us drink another dish of tea
In Massachusetts.
Song—Yankee Doodle.
9. A free and open trade with all the world
May every tyrant from his throne be hurl'd,
And with hot pokers have his whiskers
curl'd,
That would prevent it.
Song—America, Commerce and Freedom.
10. Our Infant Navy—once it promis'd well:
Its nurse was chang'd—& wonderful to tell,
Like Terrapin it crawl'd into a shell
At the New City.
Song—I'm safe from Davy’s Locker.
11. Omitted.
12. Brave Warren, Mercer and Montgomery,
Who died like heroes for our liberty.
Their mem'ry shall be ever dear to me—
Peace to their ashes.
Song—Soldiers Adieu.
13. Traitors and Vagabonds of every kind:
May they like my old horse become stone
blind,
And be compell'd a BRAND NEW road to find,
To Carter's Mountain.
Song—O ye scamps, ye pads, ye divers.
14. The American Fair—kind Heaven bless
them all.
For their protection, at a moment's call
Would I turn out and firmly stand or fall,
Altho' a coward.
Song—And when the wars are over, we'll come
and live with you.
15. My Planting Friends—the neighborhood
around:
Of honest hearts and principles right sound,
May Cotton fetch us Fifty Cents a pound,
And Rice Five Dollars.
Song—Hospitality, all reality, no formality,
here you'll ever see.
16. Myself poor fellow, tho the last not
least
May I grow better as my days increase,
And when death comes—Oh! may I die
in peace.
I have no friend to toast me at my feast,
'Tis hard, by gracious.
Song—In the down hill of life, &c.
A CRACKER PLANTER:
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Triumph
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Fourth Of July
Celebration
Plantation
Toasts
Satire
Georgia
1808
Patriotism
What entities or persons were involved?
A Cracker Planter
Washington
Thos. Paine
Warren
Mercer
Montgomery
Napoleon
Buonaparte
Where did it happen?
My Plantation
Story Details
Key Persons
A Cracker Planter
Washington
Thos. Paine
Warren
Mercer
Montgomery
Napoleon
Buonaparte
Location
My Plantation
Event Date
Fourth Of July, 1808
Story Details
A lone planter celebrates Independence Day solo at his Georgia plantation with 16 satirical, patriotic toasts and accompanying songs, honoring heroes, critiquing politics, and expressing personal sentiments.