| Episodes |
A Double-Dealing Antagonist: Callender as Letter Writer
Adin Greenwald and Kiersten Moore
[1] James Thomson Callender, a man beaten and thrown aside in the world of political journalism, is particularly known for his association with Thomas Jefferson. Looking at personal letters written between Callender and Jefferson and compiled by Worthington Ford in Thomas Jefferson and James Thomson Callender, we are given a more exclusive panorama of the intimate relationship they had. Here we view their private affairs in comparison to the more well-known public information and can make observations as to how Callender's private words differ from his public ones. In looking at the letters, we are forced to wonder what exactly brought Callender to such a position of completely betraying the man he thought of as a friend, for the public voice Callender shows in the Richmond Recorder differs much from the private letter voice. Ford bases his caustic opening remark on Callender's public voice: "Of all the foreigners who were connected with journalism in the United States at the beginning of the century, James Thomson Callender was easily first in the worst qualities of mind and character" (3). Publicly, Callender clearly is a man of malice and hatred, using slashing words to express his feelings. He hides no emotion and is even violent in his expressions. Callender's private voice, on the other hand, is composed, very amicable, and almost business-like. He is strictly straightforward in his manner and leaves no room for emotion or opinion. In reading Callender's publications in conjunction with his personal letters, the difference in content, tone, and overall emotion is striking to say the least. It is apparent, however, that Callender's sweet-talking had an ulterior motive, one later revealed in his better-known published works.
[2] If one word were to be associated with James Callender it would be "libel." His work as a journalist consisted of virtually nothing but finding and publishing evidence to defame a political figure. On September 1, 1802, in the Recorder he wrote, "It is well known that the man, whom it delighteth the people to honor, keeps and for many years has kept as his concubine, one of his own slaves." This statement is the most infamous and controversial sentence Callender ever wrote, sparking the Jefferson-Hemings controversy. In this article and others Callender uses such terms and phrases as "this wench Sally," "African Venus," and "The negro wench," and he memorably describes James Madison as "a poor consumptive thing; 5 foot 2 or 3 inches high; deeply wrinkled; and nothing but skin and bone." The tone of Callender's Recorder articles is angry, sadistic, and biased. He wrote solely for himself, as revenge against Jefferson, as is clearly evident in the last sentence in that September 1 piece: "When Mr. Jefferson has read this article, he will find leisure to estimate how much has been lost or gained by so many unprovoked attacks upon J.T. Callender." But were these attacks actually unprovoked? Were they actually attacks? When looking at his The Prospect Before Us we'd certainly say Callender is being extremely sarcastic and hypocritical when saying the attacks were unprovoked.
[3] In June of 1800, Callender was charged with sedition by the Adams administration for his The Prospect Before Us, a book extremely reckless in style, consisting entirely of unprovoked attacks against the president. "The design of this book," Callender himself writes, "is to exhibit the multiplied corruptions of the Federal Government, and more especially the misconduct of the President, Mr. Adams" (3). He proves his intent later in the book, writing that "Mr. Adams has labored, and with melancholy success, to break up the bonds of social affection, and, under the ruins of confidence and friendship, to extinguish the only beam of happiness that glimmers through the dark and despicable farce of life" (30-31). Looking at this sentence, any sensible reader would realize that Callender's intent is nothing but wanton attacks, which, since the entire book is biased against the Federalist Party, obviously benefitted Jefferson, and in turn benefitted himself. "Take your choice," says Callender, "between Adams, war and beggary, and Jefferson, peace and competency." Obviously, then, the primary purpose of Callender's public writing is self-gain, as is his private writing, but there he conveys his points in a completely different manner.
[4] While the word "libel" is associated with Callender's public voice, "obsequious" is easily associated with his private voice. He is extremely respectful and almost charming, and, simultaneously, he often flatters Jefferson throughout the letters. In May of 1796, for example, Callender addresses Jefferson with, "Sir, Among the unexpected incidents of my life, it is one of the most singular, and partly one of the most painful, that I am now intruding upon your time with a letter" (7). Again on November 19, 1798, Callender starts with, "I never write a letter, when I can avoid it. I much less desire to trouble my superiors" (12). His tone is distinctly different in these private letters, as his letters are very proper and subservient, yet also ambiguous and almost egocentric. Thus, his intention is subtly the same in each medium -- self-gain. In almost every one of his letters to Jefferson, Callender is writing about some form of monetary assistance. For instance, on September 28, 1797, Callender writes to Jefferson concerning a new history that he will be writing about the United States. After exaggerating points about his health and family in order to make excuses for his poverty, Callender brings up "some assistance in a pecuniary way, that [Jefferson] intended to make on finishing [the] next volume" (8). On this level it is easily seen that Callender is almost parasitic. In his time of writing the Prospect against the Federalists, Callender relies on Jefferson for money and work. Callender subtly requests money from Jefferson again in March of 1798: "If your good offices could get the bals. due, I think I shall not run scores with the society again" (9). Though looking back it is clear that Callender is abusing the relationship, at the time of writing, he appeals to Jefferson in a very charming manner.
[5] Callender is hypocritical and blatantly two-faced, as we can see when we delve into his private life. In addition to his properness, he seems also brazen in some of his comments. In September of 1798, Callender writes to Jefferson and comments, "I engaged in American controversies not from choice, but necessity; for I dislike to make enemies, and in this country the stile of writing is commonly so gross, that I do not think the majority of such a public worth addressing" (10). This is perhaps the most shocking of all the words in Callender's letters. This strong statement is not reflected in his public voice at all. He states privately that he dislikes making enemies, yet he sets himself up for controversy in his slashing words that are later published. After he is "betrayed" by Jefferson, Callender immediately switches sides and is employed by the Federalist Party to slander Jefferson. It is in his journalistic endeavors from here out that he breeds nothing but enemies from his gashing words. Both of his voices, public and private, however, show his scrounging and egocentric qualities, but his private letters to Jefferson show these in a completely dissimilar manner.
[6] Although many historians and readers revere Callender as merely a trusty reporter of juicy scandals, many do not see the uncovered truths about him and his tactics. He was a very different man in his public life than in his private life, as we discovered. He was a simulated, greedy man who used his position as a reporter to climb up the political ladder through his publications. He made a sharp turn on his "friend" Jefferson primarily to benefit himself. However, he remains cool and collected in his private words to Jefferson. Take a deeper look into the private life of Callender, his actions, and his real mode of operation. They say that things are not always what they seem, and this sure does ring true here. Reading more closely about Callender and hearing his exact words in his public vs. his private writings reveals to us the true scandalmonger. He was a complete and utter phony, disloyal and ready to betray a friend as fast as an enemy. The truest and most profound statement is that which reveals Jefferson's own disappointment and also displays the duplicitous nature of Callender through his writings: "Having befriended and used him," says Ford, "[Jefferson] thought the poor journalist would not turn upon him; but he learned that Callender was as ready to libel him as any member of the Federalist party" (6).
