Celebration in Baltimore of the Triumph of Liberty in France

In Short

Published in 1830, this collection records Baltimore’s public celebration of France's July Revolution. Opening with official civic proclamations, military orders, and an extensive list of participating trade guilds, the text culminates in an oration by statesman William Wirt and a civic address to the French people. Wirt contrasts the disciplined, three-day uprising of 1830 with the chaotic violence of 1789, arguing that France has finally achieved a stable, constitutional monarchy. The work endures as a vivid snapshot of early American civic culture and 19th-century transatlantic democratic solidarity.

The Story

The volume opens in early October 1830, when Baltimore Mayor Jacob Small calls upon citizens to organize a public commemoration honoring the recent overthrow of Charles X in France. Delegates from the city's wards gather at City Hall to establish a general committee, select marshals, and request that local businesses suspend operations for a day of celebration. Major General Smith orders the Third Division of uniformed militia to assemble for a national salute, while Marshal-in-Chief John Thomas coordinates a massive procession through the city streets to Monument Square, bringing together military units, civic leaders, equestrian performers, and dozens of organized trade groups.

At Monument Square, three artillery shots mark the start of the formal ceremonies. Following a national air, William Wirt delivers the keynote oration, taking up the core question weighing on American minds: whether this new revolution will endure or collapse into another bloody dictatorship. Wirt traces the tragic trajectory of 1789, recalling how the prolonged storming of the Bastille, the execution of Louis XVI, and the rise of factions like the Jacobins turned France into a slaughterhouse that ultimately yielded to imperial despotism. He contends that the uprising of July 1830 differs fundamentally because it was planned and executed in just three days by practical men who acted with businesslike dispatch.

Wirt analyzes the geopolitical landscape, asserting that major European powers like Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal will recognize or mirror this new limited monarchy, while autocrats like Russia will hesitate to risk a costly war against a united French public. He notes that even former king Charles X was permitted to leave the country in peace, illustrating a widespread desire for order, reconciliation, and the abolition of capital punishment rather than revolutionary vengeance. Citing letters from General Lafayette, Wirt defends the choice of a "republican monarchy" as a necessary compromise tailored to European stability.

The narrative shifts inward as Wirt urges his fellow Americans to learn from France's civic discipline. He warns that internal political strife, factionalism, and uncharitable rhetoric threaten the American republic from within. Calling on citizens to honor the legacy of their founding fathers and respect the surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, he frames the United States as the original guardian of liberty. The book concludes with a brief formal address signed by Samuel Smith and John S. Skinner, conveying Baltimore’s admiration directly to the citizens of France.

How It Unfolds

The city prepares Baltimore officials call ward meetings, organize a general committee, and request local businesses to close so citizens can honor France's revolution.

The trades assemble A meticulous order of march brings together uniformed troops, civic leaders, and forty-eight distinct trade groups, ranging from blacksmiths and ship carpenters to printers and draymen.

The memory of 1789 Wirt opens his address by contrasting the swift success of 1830 with the dark, protracted tragedy of the original French Revolution, which devolved into terror, anarchy, and ultimate despotism.

Analyzing European powers The orator reviews the strategic positions of Britain, the Netherlands, Russia, and Austria, arguing that international monarchs will accept the new French government rather than risk widespread domestic instability.

A republican compromise Referencing communications from General Lafayette, the speech explains why a limited monarchy under a republican king is the safest, most practical choice for French stability.

A warning to America Wirt closes by calling on American citizens to discard bitter partisan rancor, preserve their own constitutional union, and serve as a peaceful model of free government for the rest of the world.

The People

• William Wirt: The principal orator who uses his legal and literary intellect to evaluate the geopolitical impact of the July Revolution. He seeks to convince his audience that France has achieved a lasting, stable victory for liberty while using the event to lecture Americans on the dangers of internal political division.
• General Lafayette: The legendary French military leader and veteran of the American Revolution who serves as a symbol of republican virtue. He guides the French compromise toward a limited monarchy to maintain domestic peace and prevent foreign intervention.
• John Thomas: The Marshal-in-Chief responsible for organizing the massive civic parade. He coordinates the logistics, timing, and arrangement of military units, trade guilds, and civic associations across Baltimore's streets.
• Jacob Small: The Mayor of Baltimore who initiates the public celebration by inviting citizens to assemble in their respective wards to appoint planning delegates.
• Samuel Smith: The Major General and Chairman who orders the Third Division into parade, submits the citizens' formal declaration, and signs the concluding fraternal address to the people of France.

In Its Own Voice

"The French have sometimes been spoken of as a light people, without depth or stability of character."

• William Wirt directly confronts common stereotypes about the French nation before describing the swift, disciplined actions of the Paris populace during the July Revolution.

"Terror, death, and rapine walked abroad in triumph, and the diabolical spirits which had set the mischief afoot, hovered over the bloody spectacle and mocked at the misery which they had created."

• The orator vividly describes the worst excesses of the 1793 Reign of Terror to highlight the grave risks that accompany unchecked revolutionary violence.

"Truth does not require the torch of discord to light her steps."

• Wirt warns his Baltimore audience against aggressive partisan political battles, arguing that sound governance relies on moderation, kindness, and calm persuasion.

What It's Really About

Beneath its celebratory street procession and patriotic rhetoric, the book is an extended argument about how free societies establish and maintain political stability. Wirt uses the contrast between 1789 and 1830 to explore the mechanics of revolution, warning that sudden, total disruptions often invite anarchy, while moderate, measured reforms preserve liberty. The text grapples with the delicate balance between radical democratic impulses and the practical need for institutional order. By placing Baltimore at the center of a global conversation, the work reflects 19th-century American anxieties about maintaining domestic harmony in an era of intense political polarization, framing civic moderation as a moral obligation to the world.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers interested in early 19th-century American history, historical rhetoric, and transatlantic political thought. Reading the text feels like stepping directly into a nineteenth-century public square, where complex geopolitical analysis was delivered as popular civic entertainment. The detailed parade orders provide a fascinating, highly specific glimpse into the social structure and labor force of antebellum Baltimore, systematically listing every trade guild from coopers and block makers to sugar refiners. Readers should be prepared for the formal, elevated prose style typical of 1830s American oratory, complete with lengthy sentences and classical allusions. While modern readers may find the political optimism oversimplified, Wirt's eloquent plea for civil discourse, mutual charity, and national unity in the face of bitter political division remains strikingly relevant and memorable today.