Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-12
History of Hail Columbia"

The following history the now famous
song of "Hail Columbia" (Which we pub
lish below,) from the pen of the author,
Judge John Hopkinson, will be read with
interest by those of our readers who are
unacquainted with it. The author says:
The song was written in the summer of
1898, when war with France was thought
to be evitable-Congress being then in
session in Philadelphia, celebrating upon
that important subject, and acts of hostili-
ty having actually occurred. The contest
between England and France was raging,
and the people we're divided into parties
for the Que side or the other, some think
ing that the policy and duty required us
to take part with Republican France, as
she was called, others were for our connect
ing ourselves with England, under the be-
lief that she was the great preservative
power of good principles and safe govern
ment.
The violation of our right by both be-
ligerents was forcing us from the Just and
wise policy of President Washington, which
was to do equal justice to both to take part
with neither, but to keep a strict and hon
est neutrality between them. The pros
pect for a rupture with France was ex-
ceedingly offensive to the portion of the
people who espoused her cause, and the
violence of the spirit party has never risen
higher--I think not SO high--as it did at
that time on that question. The theatre
was then open in our city. A young man
i belonging to it whose talent as a singer,
was about to take his benefit. / had known
him when he was at school, As his ac-
quaintance he called on me in the after
noon, his benefit being announced for the
following day. He said he had no boxes
taken, and the prospect was that he should
suffer loss instead of receiving benefit
from the performance, but that if he could
get patriotic song adapted to the tune of
the presidents March,, then the popular
air, he did not doubt of full house that
the poets of the theaterical corps had been
trying to accomplish it, but were satisfied
that no words could be composed to suit
the music of that march. | told him
would try for him.
He came the next afternoon, and the
song, such as it was, was ready for him.
1t was announced on Monday morning,
and the theatre was crowded to excess, and
so continued night after night for the rest
of the season, the song being encorcd and
repeated many times each night, the whole
audience joined in the chorus. 1t was al
so sung at night in the streets by large
assemblies of citizens, including members
ofCongress. The enthusiasm was general
and the song was heard, we may say, in
every part of the United States The OBJ.
ject of the author was to get up an Ameri
can spirit which should be Independent Of
and above the interests, passions, and
policy of both billigerants, and look and
feel for our own honor and rights, No
an allusion is made either to France OF
England or the quarrel between them, OF
to which was the most in fault iD theil
treatment to us. OF course the song found
favor with both parties, at least none o.
= them could disown the sentiment it incul
Gated 1t was truly American, and moth
J. ing else, and the patriotic heart of every
American responded to it. Such is tn,
: history of the song which has endured in
tnitely beyond any merit it can boast o
: except that of being truly and exclusivel.
Il patriotic in its sentiment and spirit