August Glen-James - Raw History

August Glen-James

The Failure of the Crittenden Compromise & The Inauguration of War.

C Chauncey Burr

The Failure of the Crittenden Compromise & The Inauguration of War.

In his work, The Old Guard, C. Chauncey Burr addressed myriad issues related to the development and prosecution of the Civil War. In this case, he addressed the Crittenden Compromise. The Crittenden Compromise proposed a series of constitutional amendments proposed in Congress in 1860 to ameliorate friction between proslavery and

The Weapons of the Administration: The Boston Courier, Civil War Era.

C Chauncey Burr

The Weapons of the Administration: The Boston Courier, Civil War Era.

The national narrative of the Civil War often excludes the critics of President Abraham Lincoln. Copperhead, C. Chauncey Burr, had plenty of maledictions for the President. In this case, Burr lets the Boston Courier do the work. August Glen-James, editor The Boston Courier thus paints the face of Lincolnism: The

"Nations, once fallen, seldom rise again." Thoughts by C. Chauncey Burr during the Civil War.

C Chauncey Burr

"Nations, once fallen, seldom rise again." Thoughts by C. Chauncey Burr during the Civil War.

Copperhead, C. Chauncey Burr, saw in the Civil War the potential of a fundamental decay of the nations principles. This was alarming for Burr since, quoting an unidentified source, he wrote that "there is no resurrection" for nations. Of interest in this post are the lessons Burr draws from Rome

Obligations to Posterity: Thoughts by Cato, 1787.

Obligations to Posterity: Thoughts by Cato, 1787.

This is a short but interesting view about obligations that a generation has to posterity. The occasion of these remarks is the fight over the ratification of the Constitution. Cato, being among the Anti-Federalists, distrusted the Constitution vis-a-vis the Articles of Confederation. August Glen-James, editor . . . your posterity will find that

General Robert E. Lee's Policies in Pennsylvania: Thoughts by Edward Alfred Pollard, 1865

General Robert E. Lee's Policies in Pennsylvania: Thoughts by Edward Alfred Pollard, 1865

The effect of his moderate warfare on such a people was to irritate them without intimidating them. . . .

"The Trap History Had Set for Us." Thoughts by Elie Wiesel, Memoirs

"The Trap History Had Set for Us." Thoughts by Elie Wiesel, Memoirs

It seems that life is largely composed of two veins of thought: what should be and what is--i.e., theory and reality. In his memoirs, Elie Wiesel relates a moment where theory and reality collided. The overall history of WWII, the setting for Wiesel's work, is well known; however, his

Factionalism in the Byzantine Empire: Thoughts by Montesquieu

Classic Civilizations

Factionalism in the Byzantine Empire: Thoughts by Montesquieu

Factionalism, i.e., the development and subsequent infighting of political parties, has long been recognized as poisonous by many of history's celebrated thinkers and writers. For example, Madison, in Federalist 10, outlined the causes and effects of factionalism, and what he believed to be the only way to control them.

The Powers of Congress, Tyranny, and an Armed Population: Concerns Answered by Mr. Sedgwick, Massachusetts Convention.

The Powers of Congress, Tyranny, and an Armed Population: Concerns Answered by Mr. Sedgwick, Massachusetts Convention.

It was, he said, a chimerical idea to suppose that a country like this could ever be enslaved.

Debating the Constitution: Symmes v. Bowdoin--From the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention

Debating the Constitution: Symmes v. Bowdoin--From the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention

I observe, sir, that many men, who, within a few years past, were strenuous opposers of an augmentation of the power of Congress, are now the warmest advocates of power so large as not to admit of a comparison with those which they opposed.

A Plot For Monarchy: From the Works of Thomas Jefferson.

A Plot For Monarchy: From the Works of Thomas Jefferson.

Delegates in different places had actually had consultations on the subject of seizing on the powers of a government & establishing them by force, had corresponded with one another, and had sent a deputy to Genl. Washington to solicit his co-operation. He calculated too well to join them.

Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr: An Interesting Anecdote.

Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr: An Interesting Anecdote.

I . . . should never go into the office of President by capitulation, nor with my hands tied by any conditions which should hinder me from pursing the measures which I should deem for the public good.

Ideological Unity & Communism: Thoughts by Milovan Djilas

Political Philosophy

Ideological Unity & Communism: Thoughts by Milovan Djilas

Once ideological unity is established, it operates as powerfully as prejudice.

Conclusions About Josef Stalin: Thoughts by Milovan Djilas

General Interest

Conclusions About Josef Stalin: Thoughts by Milovan Djilas

"At the time I was still capable of believing that I could be a Communist and remain a free man." --Milovan Djilas

Agricola's Conquest of Britain by Tacitus: A.D. 98

Classic Civilizations

Agricola's Conquest of Britain by Tacitus: A.D. 98

Roman historian, Tacitus, authored five works: Agricola was the earliest. Incidentally, Agricola was Tacitus's father-in-law. Of interest here is the way in which the Romans used both force and culture to enslave the Britons. This post is a bit lengthy, but worth the read as it will give one much

The Rise of the Romans v. the Decline of the Carthaginians: Thoughts by Montesquieu.

Classic Civilizations

The Rise of the Romans v. the Decline of the Carthaginians: Thoughts by Montesquieu.

In his work, Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline, Montesquieu had some interesting thoughts about the elements that make a people either powerful or weak. From Montesquieu's analysis, one can ferret out some timeless considerations on the strengths and weaknesses of society, causes

Thomas Jefferson on the Construction of History: From "The Anas," 1791--1806.

Thomas Jefferson on the Construction of History: From "The Anas," 1791--1806.

In this excerpt, Jefferson is writing about the notes he would take on “loose scraps of paper” when he served in the Washington administration. He wrote further: These scraps therefore, ragged, rubbed, & scribbled as they were, I had bound with the others by a binder who came into my cabinet,

Luther Martin Defends Elbridge Gerry: January 1788

Luther Martin Defends Elbridge Gerry: January 1788

It's easy to get the impression that the Constitutional Convention was a harmonious venture; however, there was actually a lot of angst and anger at times. For instance, Robert Yates and John Lansing, delegates from New York, left the convention and actively fought against ratification. Other members, like Col. Mason

Intellectual Combustion: Ideology and Federalism in America Today

Intellectual Combustion: Ideology and Federalism in America Today

Thoughts by August Glen-James Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) wrote that “Life is known to be a process of combustion; intellect is the light produced by this process.” An interesting metaphor, to be sure, but metaphors can be tricky. Often, some points, premises, or conclusions don’t tuck neatly under a metaphorical

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 6: The Right of Revolution

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 6: The Right of Revolution

By August Glen-James After running the gamut of innovations from denying a king’s divine right to rule, redefining the purpose of government, denying the supremacy of the Mother Country, invoking the rights of self-government, and denying the validity of “virtual representation,” the American colonists finalized their revolution: They not

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 5--Distinguishing between Representation and Virtual Representation.

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 5--Distinguishing between Representation and Virtual Representation.

By August Glen-James Because they were not represented in Parliament, Americans denied the legality and constitutionality of British colonial taxation policies that emerged after the French and Indian War. Parliament had no right either to tax the colonies or to legislate for them generally. Great Britain’s government, however, formulated

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 4--Taxation, Representation, and Self-government.

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 4--Taxation, Representation, and Self-government.

By: August Glen-James The French and Indian War changed the relationship between England and her North American colonies. Victory over the French and her native allies was expensive. Consequently, the British, believing their colonies benefitted from the war, asserted that they should help pay the massive war debt. The colonies

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 3--Defining the Relationship of the Mother Country to the Colonies. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 3--Defining the Relationship of the Mother Country to the Colonies. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Under the economic theory of mercantilism, colonies were subordinate to their Mother Country. Colonies existed primarily to enrich the Mother Country by providing raw materials for manufacturing and serve as a ready market for her commerce. American revolutionaries denied this doctrine. Here are some leading thinkers of the American Revolution

Six Innovations on the Road to Revolution: Innovation 2--Minimalist Government. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Six Innovations on the Road to Revolution: Innovation 2--Minimalist Government. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Despite living in an age of monarchical governments with all its pomp and ceremony, size and power, Englishmen and their “country cousins” in America were notorious throughout the Western world for their “insubordination, their insolence, [and] their stubborn unwillingness to be governed.”[1] While professing their loyalty to the crown,

Six Innovations on the Road to the Revolution: Innovation 1--Putting Kings in their Proper Place. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Six Innovations on the Road to the Revolution: Innovation 1--Putting Kings in their Proper Place. Thoughts by August Glen-James

It was widely held in monarchical Europe that God had chosen certain people to rule nations. Known as the divine right of kings, this political doctrine defended monarchical absolutism by asserting that kings, having derived their authority from God, could not, as a consequence, be held accountable for their actions

Why Civilizations Fail: Editorial Thoughts by August Glen-James

Why Civilizations Fail: Editorial Thoughts by August Glen-James

“History,” wrote Edward Gibbon, “undertakes to record the transactions of the past for the instruction of future ages.”[1] Gibbon well apprehended this task having penned a six-volume tome entitled The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire comprising more than 1200 pages. Deciphering historical lessons, therefore, is no easy