“Notorious for—a Sally,” 1805
Engraving of Jefferson's Monticello from Century Magazine, May 1887. (Library of Congress)
A Dartmouth-educated poet, editor, and inventor, Thomas Green Fessenden was a Federalist who ridiculed Thomas Jefferson in Democracy Unveiled, a long satirical poem. In attacking Jefferson for his relationship with Sally Hemings, Fessenden insinuates that Jefferson’s underlying motive is to increase Virginia’s population by “manufacturing” children with his enslaved mistress.
From Thomas Green Fessenden’s “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled, 1805
A Chief who stands not shilly shally,
But is notorious for—a Sally,*
Might Mars defy in “war’s dire tug,”
Or Satan to an Indian hug.
Therefore, ye Feds, if you should now hard
Things mutter of a nerveless coward,
’Twill prove your character, ye quizzes,
Black as an Empress’s black phiz is.**
’Tis true some wicked wags there are,
Who laugh about this dark affair,
But I can tell the shameless faction,
They ought t’admire the same transaction . . .
For I will prove, sans disputation,
Our Chief has wondrous calculation;
And is in Politics, as able
As Mazarine or Machiàvel.
For where’s a readier resource
For that sweet, “social intercourse,”
Which at a grand inauguration
Was promis’d this our happy nation.
And if, by his example, he goes
To recommend the raising negroes,
The chance is surely in his favour
Of being President for ever.
A southern negro is, you see, man,
Already three fifths of a freeman,
And when Virginia gets the staff,
He’ll be a freeman and an half!***
Great men can never lack supporters,
Who manufacture their own voters;
Besides, ’tis plain as yonder steeple,
They will be fathers to the people.
And ’tis a decent, clever, comical,
New mode of being economical,
For when a black is rais’d, it follows,
It saves a duty of ten dollars.****
And he’s a wayward blockhead, who says
That making negroes or pappooses,
Is not consistent with the plan,
Of Tom Pain’s precious “Rights of Man.”
Then Mister Opposition-prater,
Since that reproach to human nature,
The most nefarious Guinea trade
May fall by Presidential aid,—
’Tis plain your best and wisest course is,
With Antifeds to join your forces,
And all combine to daub and gloss over
Our Philanthropical Philosopher.
________________________________
*[from Fessenden’s note:] [We] leave it for our commentators to decide, whether, by the term Sally, we mean an attack upon an enemy, or dalliance with a friend.
**[from Fessenden’s note:] [We] cannot determine whether we mean to allude to the jetty visage of the Empress of Morocco, or any particular paramour of the Emperor of America.
***[Fessenden’s note:] The preponderance which Virginia has already obtained in the scale of representation, will enable her to proceed to increase the privileges and immunities of her black population. In this she will be governed by the strict rules of Republican propriety; which always consults the greatest good of the greatest number.
****[Fessenden’s note:] This is a duty which has been proposed, and probably will at some future period, be adopted in the Southern States, to prevent the importation of slaves. It is surprising, that, among all the calculations for political economy, which have distinguished our penny-saving administration, this pleasant scheme has not been adopted more generally. But a word to the wise will not be thrown away. Our southern Nabobs will improve on this hint, and sable Nabobbesses will be fashionable articles.
Source: Thomas Green Fessenden, from “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled; or, Tyranny Stripped of the Garb of Patriotism (Boston, 1805), pp. 104–108.
From Thomas Green Gessenden’s “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled, 1805
A Chief who stands not shilly shally,
But is notorious for—a Sally,*
Might Mars defy in “war’s dire tug,”
Or Satan to an Indian hug.
Therefore, ye Feds, if you should now hard
Things mutter of a nerveless coward,
’Twill prove your character, ye quizzes,
Black as an Empress’s black phiz is.*
’Tis true some wicked wags there are,
Who laugh about this dark affair,
But I can tell the shameless faction,
They ought t’admire the same transaction . . .
For I will prove, sans disputation,
Our Chief has wondrous calculation;
And is in Politics, as able
As Mazarine or Machiàvel.
For where’s a readier resource
For that sweet, “social intercourse,”
Which at a grand inauguration
Was promis’d this our happy nation.
And if, by his example, he goes
To recommend the raising negroes,
The chance is surely in his favour
Of being President for ever.
A southern negro is, you see, man,
Already three fifths of a freeman,
And when Virginia gets the staff,
He’ll be a freeman and an half!*
Great men can never lack supporters,
Who manufacture their own voters;
Besides, ’tis plain as yonder steeple,
They will be fathers to the people.
And ’tis a decent, clever, comical,
New mode of being economical,
For when a black is rais’d, it follows,
It saves a duty of ten dollars.*
And he’s a wayward blockhead, who says
That making negroes or pappooses,
Is not consistent with the plan,
Of Tom Pain’s precious “Rights of Man.”
Then Mister Opposition-prater,
Since that reproach to human nature,
The most nefarious Guinea trade
May fall by Presidential aid, —
’Tis plain your best and wisest course is,
With Antifeds to join your forces,
And all combine to daub and gloss over
Our Philanthropical Philosopher.
Source: Thomas Green Fessenden, from “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled; or, Tyranny Stripped of the Garb of Patriotism (Boston, 1805), pp. 104–108.
Background
A Dartmouth-educated poet, editor, and inventor, Thomas Green Fessenden was a Federalist who ridiculed Thomas Jefferson in Democracy Unveiled, a long satirical poem. In attacking Jefferson for his relationship with Sally Hemings, Fessenden insinuates that Jefferson’s underlying motive is to increase Virginia’s population by “manufacturing” children with his enslaved mistress.
Transcript
From Thomas Green Fessenden’s “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled, 1805
A Chief who stands not shilly shally,
But is notorious for—a Sally,*
Might Mars defy in “war’s dire tug,”
Or Satan to an Indian hug.
Therefore, ye Feds, if you should now hard
Things mutter of a nerveless coward,
’Twill prove your character, ye quizzes,
Black as an Empress’s black phiz is.**
’Tis true some wicked wags there are,
Who laugh about this dark affair,
But I can tell the shameless faction,
They ought t’admire the same transaction . . .
For I will prove, sans disputation,
Our Chief has wondrous calculation;
And is in Politics, as able
As Mazarine or Machiàvel.
For where’s a readier resource
For that sweet, “social intercourse,”
Which at a grand inauguration
Was promis’d this our happy nation.
And if, by his example, he goes
To recommend the raising negroes,
The chance is surely in his favour
Of being President for ever.
A southern negro is, you see, man,
Already three fifths of a freeman,
And when Virginia gets the staff,
He’ll be a freeman and an half!***
Great men can never lack supporters,
Who manufacture their own voters;
Besides, ’tis plain as yonder steeple,
They will be fathers to the people.
And ’tis a decent, clever, comical,
New mode of being economical,
For when a black is rais’d, it follows,
It saves a duty of ten dollars.****
And he’s a wayward blockhead, who says
That making negroes or pappooses,
Is not consistent with the plan,
Of Tom Pain’s precious “Rights of Man.”
Then Mister Opposition-prater,
Since that reproach to human nature,
The most nefarious Guinea trade
May fall by Presidential aid,—
’Tis plain your best and wisest course is,
With Antifeds to join your forces,
And all combine to daub and gloss over
Our Philanthropical Philosopher.
________________________________
*[from Fessenden’s note:] [We] leave it for our commentators to decide, whether, by the term Sally, we mean an attack upon an enemy, or dalliance with a friend.
**[from Fessenden’s note:] [We] cannot determine whether we mean to allude to the jetty visage of the Empress of Morocco, or any particular paramour of the Emperor of America.
***[Fessenden’s note:] The preponderance which Virginia has already obtained in the scale of representation, will enable her to proceed to increase the privileges and immunities of her black population. In this she will be governed by the strict rules of Republican propriety; which always consults the greatest good of the greatest number.
****[Fessenden’s note:] This is a duty which has been proposed, and probably will at some future period, be adopted in the Southern States, to prevent the importation of slaves. It is surprising, that, among all the calculations for political economy, which have distinguished our penny-saving administration, this pleasant scheme has not been adopted more generally. But a word to the wise will not be thrown away. Our southern Nabobs will improve on this hint, and sable Nabobbesses will be fashionable articles.
Source: Thomas Green Fessenden, from “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled; or, Tyranny Stripped of the Garb of Patriotism (Boston, 1805), pp. 104–108.
Excerpt
From Thomas Green Gessenden’s “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled, 1805
A Chief who stands not shilly shally,
But is notorious for—a Sally,*
Might Mars defy in “war’s dire tug,”
Or Satan to an Indian hug.
Therefore, ye Feds, if you should now hard
Things mutter of a nerveless coward,
’Twill prove your character, ye quizzes,
Black as an Empress’s black phiz is.*
’Tis true some wicked wags there are,
Who laugh about this dark affair,
But I can tell the shameless faction,
They ought t’admire the same transaction . . .
For I will prove, sans disputation,
Our Chief has wondrous calculation;
And is in Politics, as able
As Mazarine or Machiàvel.
For where’s a readier resource
For that sweet, “social intercourse,”
Which at a grand inauguration
Was promis’d this our happy nation.
And if, by his example, he goes
To recommend the raising negroes,
The chance is surely in his favour
Of being President for ever.
A southern negro is, you see, man,
Already three fifths of a freeman,
And when Virginia gets the staff,
He’ll be a freeman and an half!*
Great men can never lack supporters,
Who manufacture their own voters;
Besides, ’tis plain as yonder steeple,
They will be fathers to the people.
And ’tis a decent, clever, comical,
New mode of being economical,
For when a black is rais’d, it follows,
It saves a duty of ten dollars.*
And he’s a wayward blockhead, who says
That making negroes or pappooses,
Is not consistent with the plan,
Of Tom Pain’s precious “Rights of Man.”
Then Mister Opposition-prater,
Since that reproach to human nature,
The most nefarious Guinea trade
May fall by Presidential aid, —
’Tis plain your best and wisest course is,
With Antifeds to join your forces,
And all combine to daub and gloss over
Our Philanthropical Philosopher.
Source: Thomas Green Fessenden, from “Canto IV. The Jeffersoniad,” in Democracy Unveiled; or, Tyranny Stripped of the Garb of Patriotism (Boston, 1805), pp. 104–108.
