Constitutional Telegraphe

The Constitutional Telegraph, November 1799

The Constitutional Telegraphe (1799-1802) was a newspaper produced in Boston, Massachusetts, at the turn of the 19th century. The paper sympathized with the Democratic-Republican Party, and supported Thomas Jefferson. Publishers included Samuel S. Parker,[1] Jonathan S. Copp,[2] John S. Lillie, and John Mosely Dunham.[3] The paper was originally called the Constitutional Telegraph. The "e" was added to Telegraphe with the 1 January 1800 issue. This issue included a new engraved masthead of an eagle and the motto "We advocate the rights of man."[4]

Samuel S. Parker

The first editor, Samuel Stillman Parker (1776-1811), was a doctor who trained under his father the Reverend Isaiah Parker, MD of Harvard, Massachusetts. Samuel S. Parker married Rebecca Thomas, the niece of the Worcester, Massachusetts-based patriot printer, Isaiah Thomas.[5][6] A variety of circumstantial evidence suggests that Isaiah Parker purchased a printing press, type, paper, and book stock from John Mycall of Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1798 in partial exchange for land in Harvard.[7][8][9][10] The elder Parker's name appeared in the 1800 Boston Directory as the newspaper's publisher and editor. However, the paper's first 2 October 1799 masthead shows that Samuel S. Parker was the original editor. Samuel S. Parker sent the Constitutional Telegraphe to presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson gratis.[11]

Jonathan S. Copp

With the 10 July 1800 issue, Jonathan S. Copp took over as printer and editor of the newspaper, while Parker retained ownership.

John S. Lillie

With the 27 September 1800 issue, John S. Lillie took over as editor and owner of the newspaper. In his final issue, Samuel S. Parker wrote that domestic circumstances and advocations prevented him from giving the paper the attention that it needs. In February, 1802, Lillie was indicted for libel against Judge Francis Dana, and on conviction was fined $100, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. He bade farewell to the readers of the Telegraphe in a long article dated 'Boston Gaol, March 30 — 19th day of Imprisonment.'

On 12 October 1803, Lillie sent a bill to Jefferson for $4.50 for the gratis issues that Lillie continued to send following Parker's lead, explaining to Jefferson that his imprisonment for libel led to financial difficulties. In the letter, Lillie wrote "You no doubt will recollect Sir, that the Constitutl. Telegraphe, was, at one time, the only decidedly Republican Paper in this State.". Lillie concluded by expressing his satisfaction in Jefferson's election.[11]

John M. Dunham

On 14 April 1802, the paper was issued in the name of J.M. Dunham as printer and editor, who, a few weeks later, changed the title to Republican Gazetteer."[12][13]

The Constitutional Telegraphe as partisan press

Some historians dismiss the Telegraphe as relatively insignificant. Justin Winsor, for instance, writes: "the ultra-Republican organ ... [was] unable to show any reason for its existence, lasted but about three years. ... The Telegraphe was but one of several papers which the ill-considered enthusiasm of political parties set on foot in the last years of the century, which lived a few months or a few years, and died leaving no sign."[14]

Modern print and journalism historians such as Carol Sue Humphrey point out that 19th-century historians did not understand the role and tone of early political newspapers, and so they dismissed the papers as being insignificant or non-objective as shown in the Winsor quote. Furthermore, having achieved their goal of electing Jefferson, many partisan Republican newspapers had no further reason to exist.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Published every Wednesday and Saturday at Parker's printing office, south side State Street, east corner Kilby Street;" cf. Constitutional Telegraph; Date: 10-05-1799
  2. ↑ "Jonathan S. Copp, for the proprietor, at his printing office, south side State Street, and corner Kilby Street, Boston;" cf. Constitutional Telegraphe; Date: 07-19-1800
  3. ↑ http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/18th/161.html
  4. ↑ The Constitutional Telegraphe, 1 January 1800, Vol. 1, No. 27, page 1.
  5. ↑ Joshua Thomas' Will, Worcester County Probate, Worcester, Massachusetts.
  6. ↑ Parker, Augustus G. Parker in America 1630-1910: What the Historians Say of Them.
  7. ↑ Rev'd. Doctor Parker Bot of J. Mycall, Novr. 10th 1798 Ledger Page, Parker in Review, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.
  8. ↑ October 1806, William Bentley's Diary, Volume 3.
  9. ↑ Deed Book 134, Pages 232-236, Worcester County Deeds, Worcester, Massachusetts. Rebeccah (Thomas) Parker was a witness.
  10. ↑ Physical comparison of imperfections and breaks in woodcuts in John Mycall's New England Primer with Samuel S. Parker's New England Primer, show that they are the same woodcuts.
  11. 1 2 John S. Lillie to Thomas Jefferson, 12 October 1803, Thomas Jefferson's Libraries (online).
  12. ↑ Nelson, 1918; p.412
  13. ↑ "From J. M. Dunham, the Republican Gazetteer passed into the possession of Benjamin True, and Benjamin Parks, who gave it another new name, — The Democrat. These gentlemen employed as editor, an Englishman, by the name of John Williams, — an author by profession, better known by his assumed signature, Anthony Pasquin. ... The Democrat was discontinued in 1808." cf. Buckingham.
  14. ↑ Justin Winsor. The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880, Volume 3. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1882.
  15. ↑ Humphrey, Carol Sue. The Press of the Young Republic, 1996.

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