History Packet No. 6

Era 3: Revolution and Settlement - 1763 to 1820

Reverend Aaron Hall's Oration

On January 7th of 1788, Keene chose the Reverend Aaron Hall to be a delegate at the New Hampshire Convention in Exeter to vote on whether to access or not the Federal Constitution. The following month on February 8th the town "voted, that they will not, at present, show their minds whether they will accept or refuse the new Constitution." When the Convention met on the 13th of February, supporters of ratification were fearful they did not have enough votes for ratification, and adjourned the Convention on February 23rd to the 21st of June to gain more time.

When the Convention met in June they voted 57 for and 47 against ratification. New Hampshire became the ninth state to accept the Constitution, thereby giving the two-thirds majority needed for final approval. The Rev. Aaron Hall voted for ratification. Although the town did not "show their minds," it does not appear the town instructed Hall in which way to vote (at least not publicly). Town records indicate nothing further on the subject of ratification. The citizens of Keene celebrated ratification on June 30th, with the Rev. Hall offering an oration at the meetinghouse. Within the oration, the Rev. Hall makes clear the reasons why he voted for ratification.

The oration was printed in the New Hampshire Recorder and Weekly Adviser, and published for sale and distribution by public request. The oration text presented below is from the published version with grammar and spelling as written in 1788.

Keene, June 30, 1788

Fellow-Citizens,

   WITH the moft humiliating conviction of my inability to perform that part of the celebration of this day, to which I have the honor to be appointed, I fubmit this (my firft) publication to the publick. Nothing but the important and pleafing crifis to which our young American Empire is advancing, added to the importunities of fome valued friends, could have influenced me (efpecially with a very fhort notice) fo far to have miftaken my abilities as to have prefented this Oration to the publick eye: And the recollection of the many favors conferred upon me by the Inhabitants of this Town, iduces me to fubject myfelf to the candour, which views with kindnefs the feebleft efforts of an honeft mind.

The Publick's moft obedient Servant,

The Author.

An Oration

   THE great, the important object for which the collected wifdom of AMERICA was fummoned together, is at length accomplifhed.

   MY Follow-Citizens and Countrymen, I congratulate you on the glorious event which Heaven has been pleafed to produce in our favor--And while we would do honor to the labors of a WASHINGTON, a FRANKLIN, a JOHNSON, a LIVINGSTON, a MORRIS, a RUTLEDGE, a PICKNEY, and other political fathers of our country, who dared to ftep forth in the greateft dangers to defend American Liberty; let us not forget our gratitude to the King of Nations and Lord of Hofts.

   IMPRESSED with the keenest fenfibility on this joyous occafion, I will hazard a few thoughts on the great fubject of our Federal Government. When we confider the greatness of the prize we contended for, the doubtful nature of the conteft in the late war, the favorable manner in which it has terminated, together with the fstablifhment of a permanent energetic government, perfectly confistent with the true liberties of the people, and this obtained in a time of peace, a thing not paralleled in hiftory. I repeat it, when we confider thefe things, we shall find the greateft poffible reafon for gratitude and rejoicing.--This is a theme that will afford the greateft delight to every benevolent mind, whether the events in contemplation be viewed as the fource of prefent enjoyment, or the parent of future happinefs.

   'TILL this period, the revolution in America, has never appeared to me to be completed; but this is laying on the cap-ftone of the great American Empire; and, in my opinion, we have occafion to felicitate ourfelves on the lot which Providence has affigned us, whether we view it in a natural, political, or moral point of light.

   THE frame of government now adopted for the United States of America, gives her citizens rank, if not fuperiority, among the nations of the earth; and it has the advantages of being concerted, when the rights of mankind are better known and more clearly underftood, than in any former age of the world. This conftitution of government contain the treafures of knowledge, obtained by the labors of philofophers, fages, and legiflators, through the long fucceffion of rolling years, fo that we have the collected wifdom of ages interwoven in this form of government. The three branches are created and made by the original independent fovereignty of the people, and are so balanced as to be a check upon each other: And after two, four, and fix years, each branch are to be return into the bofom of their country, to give an account "for the deed done in the body, whether they have been good or evil." It has been a most friendly afpect on literature, and opens her arms wide to extend and encourage commerce--lays a fair foundation for the free cultivation of our lands, and to alleviate the Farmer, whofe hands have long been relaxed by reafon of too heavy taxation--Is wifely calculated to promote the progreffive refinement of manners--the growing liberality of fentiment?and above all, the pure and benign light of revelation, and have free courfe and be glorified in the bleffings of fociety. If therefore the citizens of America fhould not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own, so long as they may choofe wife and good men to fet at helm.

   THE prefent crifis, my follow-citizens, is fo important, that filence would be a crime.--Shall Britain, (efpecially all her fons of free and liberal minds) while fhe envies our rifing glory, approbate this fyftem of government? Shall France, shall Holland and all Europe, applaud the wifdom of our Conftitution, and we be inattentive to our private, domeftic and national enjoyments; while Heaven has crowned all our bleffings, by giving us a fairer opportunity for political happinefs, than any other nation has ever been indulged with.

   PERHAPS fome may think I am too fanguine in my profpects. I grant it is yet to be decided, whether this Conftitution will ultimately prove a bleffing or a curfe--not to the prefent generation alone, for with our fate, probably will the deftiny of unborn millions be involved. I know that the wifeft of Constitutions, and even that from Heaven itfelf, has been, and may again be perverted by venal and defigning men; and on this account, I am not difpleafed that the Conftitution has been objected to, and carefully fcrutinized by the jealous, yet honeft intentions of many of our worthy citizens; as thefe things will lie before Congrefs, as a check upon them not to invade the liberties of the people. But I will venture to fay, with confidence too, that we fhall be happy and flourifh as a Nation and Empire, if the following fentiments, fuggefted by the great WASHINGTON; take place and prevail:

   "1ft. An indiffoluble union of the States, under one Federal head."
   "2d. A facred regard to publick juftice."
   "3d. The adoption of a proper peace eftablifhment; (meaning a well difciplined Militia.)"
   "4th. The prevalence of the pacific and friendly difpofitions among the People of the United States, which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and policies, and make those mutual conceffions which are requifite to the general profperity; and in fome inftances, to facrifice their individual advantages to the intereft of the community."

   THESE, my Countrymen, are the great PILLERS of which the glorious building of our Conftitution depends?on which our national character and profperity must be fupported--LIBERTY, that life of man, is the bafis--Whoever therefore would attempt to overthrow this foundation, under whatever fpecious pretext, will merit the bittereft execration and fevereft punishment his injured country can inflict. However, the cup of bleffing, in a political fenfe, is put into our hands, and happinefs is ours, if we will make it fo, from the overturns of Divine Providence; yet how much depends on our conduct, I repeat it, how much depends upon our conduct, whether we will be refpectable and profperous, or contemptible and miferable as a Nation. The beft things in this imperfect ftate are liable to be perverted to the worft of purpofes.

   THIS is a very critical moment with America; the eyes of Europe, and the world, are upon us; and it is a time of political probation with every free citizen. It is certain, that the beft Constitution, and the beft Rulers, will avail nothing to the happinefs of a people, without good, induftrious, and loyal fubjects.

   IT is a moft important day with America; in my opinion, as much fo as it was in any period of the war; and of the last moment, as to our national character, for all to fubfcribe to our Federal Government; and though all cannot think alike, which is not to be expected, any more than it is that we fhould all look alike; yet it becomes us to unite in the common caufe as a BAND OF BROTHERS, fince we are all embarked together for ourfelves and our pofterity; and notwithftanding there are fome who cannot rejoice to fo high a degree, at prefent, on the ratification of the Federal Government, yet I presume to fay, that their living under it a fhort time, will give them to realize the felicity that others anticipate.

   WHO would be willing that this fhould be the ill-fated moment for relaxing the powers of the Union, and expofing us to become the sport of European politicks, and to be made the dupes to ferve their interefted purpofes? Our Union alone, muft give us dignity, power, and credit abroad; wealth, honor, and felicity at home; and without this, it muft be extremely difagreeable to reflect, that fo much blood and treafure have been lavifhed to no purpofe; that fo many fufferings have been encountered without compenfation; and that fo many facrifices have been made in vain. It is a give point on all hands, I believe, that the State of New-Hampshire, from its local fituation, will be more benefited than any in the Union. Who then from a moments reflection, could be willing that we fhould exclude ourselves from the Union, and sink into the ruins of liberty, abufed to licentioufnefs?

   FROM a ferious confideration of the above, with other weighty objects, I have been decidedly in favor of the Constitution, and have endeavored to reflect honour upon thofe who placed me in a fituation to act a part in this grand affair; and who is there, my Fellow-Citizens, but muft have fincere intentions for the happinefs of that country where he is born, and where he expects to die, and leave the fruit of his labours to his tender offspring?

   WHILE our hearts glow with joy and gratitude, to the great parent of prefent and future happinefs, on this fignal occafion, that he has been in the counfils, of the great, and made them fo unanimous in fentiment, (which to me, all circumftances confidered is one of the greateft events America ever experienced) I fay while we recognize thefe things with grateful souls, let us clofe with the earneft prayer of General WASHINGTON, in his circular letter:--"That God would have the States over which he prefides, in his holy protection--that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a fpirit of fubordination and obedience to government--to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another of their follow-citizens of the United States at large--And finally, that he would moft gracioufly be pleafed to difpofe us all to do juftice, to love mercy, and to demean ourfelves with that clarity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characterifticks of the divine author of our bleffed religion; and without a humble imitation of whofe example in thefe things, we can never hope to be a happy nation."

Biographical Sketch

Aaron Hall was born in Cheshire, Connecticut in 1751, a few miles north of New Haven. He attended Yale in New Haven and was prepared for university life by his own minister the Rev. John Foot, who also acted as his theological tutor for a year upon his graduation from Yale in 1772. In 1775 Hall added an A. M. from Yale to his credentials.

Keene had been without a full time minister since 1772, being survived by visiting clergy and pastoral candidates for the position. At this time there was no separation of church and state and the town chose the minister for the lone Congregational church. During the summer of 1777 the young pastor appears to have been invited to Keene. The church and town eventually offered the minister position to Hall in December. He accepted in January of 1778, and by a unanimous vote at a town meeting was approved. Ordination as the town's minister was on February 18th. Hall's starting salary was eighty pounds a year, or about $265.00. Over the years this was increased to $500.00, although payment was sometimes in the form of beef, pork, beans, wood, and other necessities.

On Christmas day in 1882, Aaron Hall married Sarah Baker of Keene. Sarah bore four children with Aaron, but died in October of 1788, only a few months after he delivered his oration to the town of Keene. Town support for the widowed minister was enormous. The following year Rev. Hall returned to his home town of Cheshire, Connecticut to take Hannah Hitchcock as his new wife. They were married in 1790, and Hannah had two children with Rev. Hall.

Under Hall's leadership the original structure of the First Congregational meetinghouse was built in Central Square in 1886. More than two-hundred new members were added to the church and 871 persons were baptized. Rev. Hall was widely known beyond his own parish. He held and participated in services and councils in other towns throughout the region, including a sermon delivered before the governor in Concord. Aaron Hall's thirty-six years of service to Keene came to an end with his death at the age of 63 on August 12, 1814.

Bibliography

Griffin, S. G. A History of the Town of Keene. Keene: Sentinel Printing Company,
     1904.

Hale, Salma. Annals of the Town of Keene. Keene: J. W. Prentiss & Company,
     1851.

Hall Papers, Rev. Aaron. Manuscript Group #29, Folder 3. Historical Society of
     Cheshire County, Keene, NH.

Keene History Committee. "Upper Ashuelot:" A History of Keene New Hampshire.
     Keene: The City of Keene, 1968.

Proper, David R. History of the First Congregational Church. Keene: Sentinel
     Printing Company, 1973.