[957] Ogden, op. cit., p. 19.
[958] Ibid., p. 12.
[959] Ibid., p. 19.
[960] Ibid., p. 15.
[961] Ibid., p. 20.
[962] Ogden, op. cit., pp. 10, 11.
[963] Ogden’s pamphlet was in high favor with the Democrats from the first. The Aurora of Feb. 14, 1800, has the following reference to it: “This book, within a few months, has attained a very rapid and extensive circulation, in all parts of the union. It is the ‘clue’ to the tyrannies at the northward, which have assumed the control of our affairs, under the sanction of federalism, or an union of church and state, & which has associated in one focus, federalism, religion, war, aristocracy, monarchy, and prelacy.” Ogden was responsible for two other pamphlets, somewhat similar in tone, but less striking. One of these bore the title: Friendly Remarks to the People of Connecticut, upon their College and Schools. It was published anonymously, and without indication of date or place of publication. The other bore the following title and imprint: A Short History of Late Ecclesiastical Oppressions in New-England and Vermont. By a Citizen. In which is exhibited a Statement of the Violation of Religious Liberties which are ratified by the Constitution of the United States. Richmond, … 1799. Neither of these is worthy of special notice.
[964] In the order of their composition and appearance these were: (1) Connecticut Republicanism. An Oration on the Extent and Power of Political Delusion, delivered in New-Haven, on the evening preceding the public commencement, September, 1800. By Abraham Bishop. Philadelphia, 1800; (2) Oration delivered at Wallingford, on the 11th of March, 1801, before the Republicans of the State of Connecticut, and their general thanksgiving for the election of Thomas Jefferson to the Presidency and of Aaron Burr to the Vice Presidency of the United States of America. By Abraham Bishop. New-Haven, 1801; (3) Proofs of a Conspiracy, against Christianity, and the Government of the United States; exhibited in several views of the union of church and state in New-England. By Abraham Bishop. Hartford, 1802.
[965] Oration delivered at Wallingford, on the 11th of March, 1801, p. 101.
[966] Plenty of bad political blood was back of the whole episode. Bishop’s father, who was charged with holding no less than five political offices simultaneously under Jefferson, had recently had his responsibilities extended by being appointed Collector of Customs for the Port of New Haven. The indignation of the Federalists was unutterable. A wrathy protest was sent to Jefferson, among whose specifications was the claim that on account of Bishop Senior’s advanced age (he was in his seventy-eighth year), the work would fall to his son who was a foe to commerce and an enemy to order. Cf. McMaster, History of the United States, vol. ii, pp. 585 et seq. In these circumstances Abraham Bishop seems to have found an adequate casus belli.