August Glen-James

Political Philosophy

Was Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes a "Liberal"?: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1930.

H. L. Mencken (Sept. 12, 1880--Jan. 29, 1956) was an American journalist from Maryland. His work is characterized by sharp criticism and satirical observations about government, cultural institutions, and powerful people. He was witty, iconoclastic at times, and a master of the English language. His works are always an interesting

Founding Era

The Weak or Wicked Men Among Ourselves: Anonymous, 1776

Out of Philadelphia, 1776, came four anonymous letters. The utility of the letters is to enable one to better understand the position of the "patriots" of the American Revolution concerning the colonies vis-a-vis their relationship with the "Mother Country," so-called. In this letter, Anonymous unpacks the

Founding Era

The British Court Coming to an Open Rupture with the Continent: Anonymous, 1776.

Out of Philadelphia, 1776, came four anonymous letters. The utility of the letters is to enable one to better understand the position of the "patriots" of the American Revolution concerning the colonies vis-a-vis their relationship with the "Mother Country," so-called. In this letter, Anonymous unpacks his

Classic Civilizations

Untaught Bravery v. Skill and Training: Thoughts by Vegetius, c. Late 4th Century C.E.

According to Hippolytus, Heraclitus once quipped that "War is the father of all and king of all, and some he shows as gods, others as men; some he makes slaves, others free." That's a lot to think about; however, Roman theorist, Vegetius had some suggestions in

Political Philosophy

The Socialism of Deschamps: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich

Igor Shafarevich (1923-2017) was a gifted Russian mathematician and Soviet dissident. He associated with some notable "trouble makers" in the USSR, like novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. One of Shafarevich's students, Ilya Piatetski-Shapiro, revealed that the math savant "disliked the October" and had "negative feelings

General Interest

On the Liberty of Thought and Discussion: John Stuart Mill

The title and body of this post speak for themselves. Enjoy! August Glen-James, editor But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those

Political Philosophy

"The Greatest Dangers of the American Republics Proceed from the Unlimited Power of the Majority" -- Thoughts by Alexis de Tocqueville

In this selection, Tocqueville expresses his belief that democratic-republics are liable to perish from a misuse of power rather than by impotence. He also ventured the thought that the American republics are more centralized and more energetic than the monarchies of Europe. Of interest, too, he quotes a couple of

Founding Era

Novanglus No. I: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Writing as "Massachusettensis" in the Massachusetts Gazette, Daniel Leonard argued that Parliament had a constitutional right to exercise authority over the American colonies. The denial of this "right" was the central theme of America's revolutionaries; consequently, writing as "Novanglus," John Adams countered

Federalist

"A Signal Advantage of Taxes on Articles of Consumption." Thoughts by Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 21, Dec. 12, 1787.

After postulating that the Articles of Confederation committed a “fundamental error” in “principle” by attempting to regulate “the contributions of the States to the common treasury by QUOTAS,” Hamilton opined about the difficulty in determining a “common standard or barometer” by which the degrees of national wealth can be gauged.

Anti Federalist

The Constitution's Tendency to Consolidation: Thoughts by "Brutus," March 20, 1788

Two salient criticisms of the Constitution animating the Anti-Federalist faction were the lack of a Bill of Rights and the Constitution's tendency to consolidation which, they claimed, would result in the abolition of the state governments. This selection highlights how, according to "Brutus," that "nothing

Founding Era

The Spirit of Liberty Ought to be Jealous: Thoughts by John Adams, 9 & 16 February, 1767

The French and Indian War completely changed the relationship between Great Britain and its American colonies. The era prior to this conflict has been characterized by historians as one of "salutary neglect." Broadly speaking, salutary neglect means that the various revenue laws and acts (e.g., the Navigation

Anti Federalist

The Nature of the Union: Patrick Henry answered by James Madison and analyzed by Jefferson Davis.

What exactly is the nature of the government framed by the Constitution . . . a confederation of sovereign states or a consolidated nation of "we the people"? Many in the founding generation, like Patrick Henry, worried that the proposed constitution of 1787 was intended to and would result in a

Civil War

The Difference Between Nullification and Secession: Thoughts by Jefferson Davis, 1881.

Nullification and secession were hot-button issues in the 19th century . . . and seemingly still are today. As power in Washington, D.C. oscillates from one party to the other, the elements in the ousted faction often saber rattles about secession and nullification. With this in mind, it may be interesting to

Founding Era

What "parties" showed up at the Constitutional Convention? Analysis by participant, Luther Martin

Luther Martin (1748-1826) served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Maryland. He opposed the idea of creating a strong central government and constantly sided with the "small" states against the "large" states in their disputes over proportional representation versus equal representation. He supported having

Civil War

"Dixie After the War" by Myrta Lockett Avary, Originally published in 1909.

The era of "Reconstruction" was transitional in U. S. History. Years of sectional bickering culminated in a horrific war, which took the lives of hundreds of thousands, maimed countless others, and destroyed billions in property holdings throughout the Southern states. Then, this fratricidal conflict crashed, headlong, into a

Federalist

The Nature of the Union under the Proposed Constitution: Thoughts by Samuel Tenney, 1788, Writing as "Alfredus."

It is always central to historical literacy to apprehend how the generations who lived through and/or forged major historical events understood the various issues of such momentous times. The history surrounding the ratification of the Constitution of the United States is of particular interest since, over time, parties have

Federalist

Reserved and Delegated Constitutional Powers: Thoughts by James Wilson, 6 October 1787.

When the 1787 Constitution was conveyed to the States for consideration, many arguments erupted between those who favored and those who opposed ratification of the document. One of the first arguments to garner attention was the absence of a bill of rights in the Constitution. James Wilson addressed this issue

Civil War

Lessons of the Civil War in North Carolina: Thoughts by Cornelia Phillips Spencer--Originally published in 1866

In her work, The Last Ninety Days of the War, Cornelia Phillips Spencer had some interesting thoughts contrasting the the war spirit vis-a-vis the cautionary thoughts of the old "fogies" before the war and the lessons learned at the end of the conflict in North Carolina via her

Founding Era

Thomas Jefferson to Justice William Johnson: Thoughts on the Difference Between America's Political Parties, 12 June 1823.

Thomas Jefferson, believing that the United States had already lost its way and was descending into "monarchism" under Federalist leadership, ran for President in 1800. He won and characterized the victory as a revolution in service of republican principles. Of course, Jefferson's "revolution" didn&

General Interest

Niccolò Machiavelli: Thoughts on Many Subjects, 1513

Considered the father of modern politics, Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513. Noted for its amorality and singular focus on maintaining power through deception and force, The Prince is replete with thought-provoking concepts. I have added my own subject titles so that readers may scan and read what interests

Civil War

The Enlistment of Slaves in the Confederate Army: Thoughts by General John B. Gordon

First published in 1944, the Beard's New Basic History of the United States contained the following passage: > In the Proclamation of Emancipation, issued under his war powers, Lincoln declared thenceforward and forever free all the slaves in all the districts of the United States then in arms

Founding Era

Society and the Perniciousness of Sub-Societies: Thoughts by John Taylor of Caroline, 1818

In a work entitled, "Agriculture and the Militia," John Taylor addressed the topic of Slavery. In one part of the subject, he addressed the purposes of society and the problems associated with "sub-societies." Although, not a name known to many today (as opposed to Thomas Jefferson

Founding Era

Interpreting the Constitution: Thoughts by Thomas Jefferson, 1803

Writing to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 7 September 1803, Thomas Jefferson articulated his thoughts about the power grants of the Constitution and remediation when found lacking. Written within the context of the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson defended the acquisition, which was under attack by his political opponents, on the basis of the

Founding Era

An Independent Judiciary: Thoughts by William Cranch, 12 December 1801

Entitled, “A Friend of the Constitution,” William Cranch penned this for the Washington Federalist. It has some interesting points about the virtues inherent in an independent judiciary and the vices that may issue from judicial dependence. Pieces like this often, however, beg the question as to whether, given human and

Founding Era

Husbandry versus Manufacturing: Thoughts by Thomas Jefferson from "Notes on the State of Virginia," 1785

Is there a divide between the character and culture of rural and urban populations? Does agriculture produce a certain type of person . . . less corruptible and venal than one involved in manufacturing or trade? Thomas Jefferson would answer yes to both questions. This excerpt explores Jefferson's thoughts about the