I am curious as to what any of the Founding Fathers would have said regarding their detractors, not only based on their revolutionary ideas, but also as politicians and human beings. This is a question not about the intentions of the second amendment's principles, but rather in its concrete practice.
Did they attack not only those remarks but also their right to say them? Or did they take a different attitude, perhaps similar to the nature of the Evelyn Hall quote of "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."?
Thank you!
First off, a claim that the 'Founding Fathers' did anything as a group is inherently flawed. The 'Founding Fathers' were a large group from a huge variety of backgrounds, and as a result at least some of them disagreed on nearly everything. The idea that the founding time was a more politically peaceful time, or a time of greater civility has very little basis in fact. Deeply personal attacks have been a part of the American political system since the founding of the Republic. Here are some of the earliest (and most entertaining) examples:
Washington: I gave an earlier answer that detailed some of this. Summary: The Federalists were attacked in the newspapers frequently and viciously throughout Washington's two terms. Initially attacks focused on Hamilton, as Washington was something of a sacred figure to much of the population. During his second term, Washington himself began to experience more direct attacks, as political rancor in the new country worsened. James T. Callender and Benjamin Franklin Bache were the two most prolific anti-Federalist journalists of the day. (Bache would send 3 copies of each new edition of his paper to Washington's Philadelphia residence just to irritate him). Washington took these attacks personally, when a political cartoon depicting Washington being guillotined by a mob appeared in print, Washington interrupted a cabinet meeting to rant angrily about the attacks and the press in general. By the end of his administration, even Thomas Paine (who had been his long time ally during the Revolution) had turned against him. Paine questioned "the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an impostor; whether you have abandoned good principles, or whether you ever had any."
Hamilton was a lightning-rod for political attacks for practically his entire public life. Early in the Washington administration, he was the main target for those who were afraid to attack Washington. Hamilton was also the subject of one of the first American sex scandals. Callender discovered that he had been making a series of payments to James Reynolds. He published a series of articles insinuating that these payments were part of a sinister financial scheme, and that Hamilton was using his influence to enrich himself. These attacks prompted Hamilton to release a pamphlet, (one of my favorite historical documents) in which he stated the payments were not part of a financial scheme, but instead hush money because he had been having an affair with Reynolds' wife.
Adams: John Adams had the misfortune of inheriting all of Washington's enemies, without Washington's borderline saintly statue. Press attacks against Adams were so frequent and brutal that he (and the Federalist controlled Congress) passed the Sedition Act making it illegal to criticize various members of the Government. (The office of the Vice President was notably excluded, as it was occupied by Jefferson, Adam's political rival). While the act seems highly unconstitutional to modern eyes, this was before Marbury vs. Madison had established the power of Judicial Review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional. As such, opponents of the law had no real recourse other than to attempt to repeal it. Many political opponents of the Federalists were jailed during the Adams administration including Callender and congressman Matthew Lion (who would eventually win re-election to congress from his jail cell).
Jefferson: (yes, this reply is getting pretty lengthy, but it's important to note that both parties were the frequent victims of personal attacks) During the 1800 campaign, Jefferson was attacked as an atheist, who planed to outlaw Christianity when elected. There was a story (likely apocryphal) that women were throwing their bibles down wells out of fear that Jefferson would outlaw them. Once Jefferson was in office, he was approached by James Callender, who had just been released from prison. Callender requested $200, a reimbursement for his fine under the sedition act. Jefferson sent James Madison to talk to him and to give him $50 to hold him over. While Jefferson eventually compensated Callender, he did not give him a government job, something Callender took personally. As a result, Callender published the first stories Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemmings. Jefferson never addressed the story, as master-slave relationships were deeply taboo in Virginia society (though ironically they were also very common). The story did not have the effect that Callender hoped, and he deteriorated into alcoholism, dying a few years later.
This is by no means a comprehensive listing of personal attacks and scandals (there are far too many), but I hope it serves to demonstrate that the Revolutionary period was not (as often depicted in popular culture) a period of highly civil political discourse.
Sources
Ron Chernow Books: Washington a Life and Alexander Hamilton
John Adams by David McCullough
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by John Meacham