Tag Archives: Aaron Burr

Conservatives’ Dilemma: Moderation or Adherence to Principles?

Federalist Party leaders in Massachusetts faced a situation that is similar to what is going on within the Republican Party today.  As Tea Party leaders clamor for principles, the party’s leadership in Congress, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, pursue a moderate … Continue reading

Posted in From The Desk, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Conservatives’ Dilemma: Moderation or Adherence to Principles?

How Hamilton’s Remarks Proved Fatal

Alexander Hamilton’s private remarks about Aaron Burr at John Tayler’s dinner proved fatal.  On June 18, 1804 William Van Ness, Burr’s defender, visited Hamilton’s office.  He presented Hamilton with newspaper clippings of Dr. Cooper’s account of Tayler’s dinner party.  In … Continue reading

Posted in From The Desk, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How Hamilton’s Remarks Proved Fatal

What Happened in Rufus King’s Library

Most rank and file Federalists disagreed with Hamilton, who opposed Burr’s nomination for governor of New York.  Nevertheless, in the name of disunion, Pickering and Griswold were locked in a battle to secure leadership of the party in New York.  … Continue reading

Posted in From The Desk, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What Happened in Rufus King’s Library

How Hamilton Learned About Roger Griswold’s Remarks on Burr

On March 11, 1804, Griswold tried to persuade Federalists that secession was necessary.  He wrote to Oliver Wolcott, Jr.  Wolcott was a prominent Connecticut Federalist.  Griswold promoted the idea that Aaron Burr was the right person to lead the North … Continue reading

Posted in From The Desk, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How Hamilton Learned About Roger Griswold’s Remarks on Burr

How Alexander Hamilton Reacted to Pickering and Griswold’s Scheme

At first Hamilton simply opposed the whole disunion scheme.  He agreed with George Cabot.  The time was not right to secede.  Most of New York’s Federalists helped to nominate Burr as a candidate for governor, despite Hamilton’s efforts to dissuade … Continue reading

Posted in From The Desk, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How Alexander Hamilton Reacted to Pickering and Griswold’s Scheme

What Happened When Pickering and Griswold Tried to Engage New York’s Federalists

If the Federalist Party had trouble with solidarity in Massachusetts, the problem was far worse in New York State.  As Timothy Pickering and Roger Griswold looked to New Yorkers to support their scheme for disunion, they walked into a hornet’s … Continue reading

Posted in From The Desk, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What Happened When Pickering and Griswold Tried to Engage New York’s Federalists

How the Essex Junto and the River Gods Began to Threaten Secession

  To New England’s Federalists the Louisiana Purchase tipped the balance of power in favor of the South.  By the end of 1803, Massachusetts Federalists dubbed the Essex Junto were scheming to secede from the Union.  They were joined by a … Continue reading

Posted in Newspaper Politics, Secession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How the Essex Junto and the River Gods Began to Threaten Secession