The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-08
Origin of Phrase "Blue
Light FederaliSt."
Incident in the Second War
With Old England.
Why Decatur Didn't Run British
Blockade at New London.

"while glancing over some newspapers
published during the first half of the
present century," writes reader of TIE
News, 81 encountered the phrase Blue
Light Federalists' several times. 1t
seemed to be used as designation OF OPP
probrium, but nowhere have i been able
TO learn the real significance of the
words. Can the Gossiper enligbten meY'
This phrase mad its origin during the
used only sixty-three or four miles from
Providence. or, to be exact, in New
London, Conn.,, though Ii quickly spread
to all parts of the Union. The men-of-
war Macedonian and Hornet, under COM
mand of Decatur, were blockaded in New
London harbor. Decatur was very anxi-
GUS to run the blockade, and would have
done SO but for the mischievous IL not
treasonab bic faction of Federalists known
as the Peace party. Decatur fixed on
Sunday night, December II, 1913, for
making the attempt to run the blockade.
The night was very dark, the wind
was favorable and the tide right at con-
yenieDt hour. When everything was in
readiness and he was about TO weigh
anchor he received information from the
"row guard" of the blockaded vessels
that signal lights were burning
in both sides of the river near its
mouth. The lights were blue and were
placed in position by members Of the
Peace Party to warn the British OF Deca-
tur's intended movement. There were at
that time in nearly every place In New
England Peace men who did everything
in their power to embarrass the govern
ment in the prosecution of the war. Their
Vaccinations III this inst snce compelled
Decatar to abandon his enterprise and he
endeavored by every possible means to
discover bis betrayers, but without sue.
cess.
The Federalists denied the fact, but
the ugnsl lights lad been seen by too
many to make the denial of any effect.
Decatur's Indignation at such reasonable
treatment Is shown by the tone of his let
ter TO the secretary OF the navy In which
he said. Notwithstanding these signals
have been repeated and have been seen
by at least 20 persous in this squadron,
there are men In New London, who have
the hardihood to affect to disbeIleve 1t
and the effrontery to deny it," The
whole Federal party, which was tradition
ally opposed to the war. was often COM
pc led to bear the odium OF the bad con-
duct OF the Peace faction. This II had to
do in the case OF the blockade and for
a generation and long after the organiza-
tion had gone out of existence men who
had been connected with IL were stigma
t.xed with the epithet of (" Blue Light Fed
eralists.'
The Peace faction did not cut much Of
figure In Rhode land during the war
of 1872, but curing the Revolutionary
war the patriots of Little Rnody suffered
q good deal from the mac hinations of the
loyalists in their midst. The exposed
condition OF the colony and the presence
OF q British squadron In Marriage 'ett
Bay served to encourage activity on the
part Of the loyslIsts while the timid
uuOuk tnc totDutsts Nttt phb-
five by fear Of incurring the d'spleasure
of the British or their loyalist allies. The
authorities, however, took such means as
were within treir power TO suppress the
Tcries. General Charles Lee was sent to
Newport to confer with the Leg islature
about casting up Notifications there.
While in the town he had brought before
him the leaders among the disaffscted
persons, whom he required to take a
"tremendous OATH" as a contemporary
chroniclsr puts It, to support the author
ity of the Continental Congress. Soon
after this, on Nov. 8, 1T75. the General
Assembly passed an act condemning TO
death aud TO confiscstion OF property all
who held communication with or gave
assistance to the British ships. A fixed
supply was, however, allowed those
vessels to insure Newport from destruc-
tion.
TbranOb n Uvipdou