The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-01
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
Blackburn 4 McDonald'a History Of the
United States.

School Board OF this county, and perhaps all
the counties Of the State, have adopted as a
text book of history Blackburn 4 McDonald's
History Of the United States. The history
class OF this school read it as far as to the
late civil war. Some eight or ten of the larger
members Of the class asked their teacher to
excuse them from reading that part of the
history; they stated their objection was to its
partisan character. The teacher, however,
was Incorporating, and the pupils left
school.
Now, wish to call the attention Of this
Club, and indeed all whom It may concern,
to an examination Of this history. think,
when you have read it, you will not condemn
the course pursued by the scholars at the
school referred to.
For the benefit Of those who may not have
access to the work, | will make a few extracts
from it. Page 1888, under head Of ''Blue Light
Fedsralists,h it says;-"Some of the inhabi-
tants along the coasts of New England gave
important assistance to the British ships block
aiding the harbors, when it was known that a
U. 5. naval vessel was about to leave har-
Dor and try TO get to sea, information of the
attempt was conveyed to the blockading yes.
sells by raising blue lights as signals
Page 1879, under the head Of Hartford
Convention speaking of the delegates that
composed the convention, it says;-"These
were in secret session for three weeks. They
then published an address, finding fault with
the U. s. Government and recommending
seven amendments to the Constitution. When
they adjourned, they agreed to meet again in
June, 1918. They intended at that meeting
to separate the New England States from the
rest Of the Union and set up government Of
their own. Before that time, however, peace
was made, and hence they did not meet
Page 100, under head Of stKansas War"
1850 it says;-"The Northern States sent
many settlers to Kansas in order to make it
a free State. Large sums Of money were
raised to be paid settlers who would go there
from the North. They we're also furnished
with guns, to be used against the Southern
settlers. In the New England States even
the preachers aided in these efforts. The
Southern0rs, however, were not frightened
by this action Of the North. Many OF them
went to Kansas and settled there with their
slaves. Whenever they were attacked they
defended themselves, and blood was often
shed between the two parties
Page POI. Speaking of the financial eondi-
tor Of the North and South, after the war, it
says;-"The depreciation Of Confederate pa.
per money was very great In April, 1865,
one dollar in gold was worth one hundred
dollars in paper currency. The depreciation
OF Federal currency was much less,
forbear any comment on these quotations.
| only hope you will read the book and Judge
for yourselves.
The above was read before the Union
Bridge Agricultural Club by D. Wolfe,
Esq, as an appendix to bis essay on Edu-
cation, We separated it from the pro-
ceedings of the Club aud the essay on Ed
ucatiou. which appear on the FIRST page of
this issue, in order to make some comments
thereon.
MIR. Wolfe leaves that part of the history
the civil war-to which the Frederick
school boys objected, and bases his criti-
cism on that portion of it which relates
to the war of lsl2-'l5. He makes no
other allusion to the civil war but the de-
probation Of the currency, fact which he
certainly does not mean to question. To
the truth of the history of the Hartford
Convention, the burning Of blue-lights,
and the Kansas troubles, then, and not to
the civil war, our remarks are mainly ad-
dressed
In two copies of the History cited by
Mr.. Wolf, in our Office, one of 1875 and
one of 1879, we do not find any of the
quotations referred to on the pages desig-
mated. Admitting that such passages do
occur in some edition of the work, we un.
hesitatingly endorse them as correct, and
never before heard them questioned. The
members Of the Hartford Convention de-
Tended their action on various grounds,
but no one ever denied the convention was
held, or that the published proceedings
were Incorrect. Truth is not partisan, but
may be used for partisan purposes. The
refusal of the pupils in the school referred
t., 10 read the book quoted, was a right
they could well exercise, but in thus clos
ing their eyes to such historical facts, they
besray narrowncss Of thought and spirit
which must forever dwarf their intelleets
and debar them, in measure, from attain
inc the elevated plane of mental expansion,
which alone can be reached by thorough
reading, and embracing the truth, no mat
tel however distasteful.
History, all history, within our know
ledge, aiirms the assertions concerning the
"Blue-Light Federalists,' "The Hartford
Convention" and the "Kansas War"
whilst the depreciation of Confederate and
Federal Currency is known to everybody.
The Confederate currency was worth moth
ing when the South surrendered in 1865,
and the Federal currency only reached par
few weeks ago.
For the benefit Of Mr. Wolfe, who
seems to be as little eonversant with his.
tory, or too prejudieed in favor of New
England, as the school boys, we will give
some historical extracts to prove the facts
laid down by Blackburn and Mcdonald.
First, as to the 'blue-lights':- the
war of lsl2-l5, on June LIST, 1913, Com
modore Decatur, with three U. S. frigates,
was chased into the harbor Of New Lou.
don. These vessels remained there the
remainder Of the war, every effort to cs-
cape being signalled to the British squad
ron by burning blae.lighis on bath sides
Of the mouth Of the harbor. Randall, In
his "Life Of Jefferson says:
"He IDecaiurl officially communicated to
the Secretary Of the Navy December 90,
| 1885, that he attempted TO get 10 sea on q
dark and tempestuous night; that as soon as
his movements TO that end became apparent,
signals continued to the enemy were made BY
burning blue-lights on both points Of the har-
hor's mouth, and he declared There is no
doubt that they (the enemy have by signals
| or otherwise instantaneous information Of our
movements. = These signals have been
repeated, and seen by twenty persons in this
| squadron. During . severe storm Of wind
and rain, IN March, 1914, Decatur issued or
ders for the instant embarcation Of bis officers.
In very short time blne-lighis were thrown
up like rockets from Long Point, and were
Immediately answered by three guns from the
- n a. Il