Raw History (Page 6)

How Rulers Should Keep Their Promises. Niccolò Machiavelli, 1513.

Political Philosophy

How Rulers Should Keep Their Promises. Niccolò Machiavelli, 1513.

Have you ever wondered what it means to be Machiavellian? This post will help readers better define the term and see why it carries a negative connotation. This is from Machiavelli's work, The Prince, chapter XVIII. August Glen-James, editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > For the common people are impressed by appearances and results.

"Man's Search for Meaning." Excerpts recounting various thoughts and experiences in Nazi concentration camps, by Viktor Frankl.

General Interest

"Man's Search for Meaning." Excerpts recounting various thoughts and experiences in Nazi concentration camps, by Viktor Frankl.

History is multifaceted. One can learn large lessons about organizational behavior, social psychology, governmental and economic philosophy, mass hysteria . . . veritably, all things about the human condition through space and time. Unfortunately, though, along with being instructive, history can be revolting--the Holocaust being most probably the best illustration of instruction and

True Functions of Government. Thoughts by William Leggett, 1834

Political Philosophy

True Functions of Government. Thoughts by William Leggett, 1834

What the "true functions of government" should be are of interest to all involved in any kind of body politic. Of course, opinions differ. Some positions are rooted in a collectivist assumption about society; others from an individualist assumption. To all, however, Leggett's thoughts should be interesting and thought provoking.

The Appropriate Region of Human Liberty: Thoughts by John Stuart Mill.

Political Philosophy

The Appropriate Region of Human Liberty: Thoughts by John Stuart Mill.

In his work, On Liberty, John Stuart Mill opined much about the rights of the individual versus those of the collective which, when deeply studied, can be problematic. In this piece, Mill writes about what individual liberty should be at its most basic level. August Glen-James, editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > It comprises,

Declaration of Causes: Georgia's Secession, 1861.

Declaration of Causes: Georgia's Secession, 1861.

In Requiem for a Nun, William Faulkner wrote, "The past is never dead. It's not even past." A truer statement, I contend, has never been uttered. One of the great surprises of my life was to discover, some years ago, that the Civil War wasn't really over. It still directly

There will be an end of Slavery: A conversation with Frederick Law Olmsted, 1856.

There will be an end of Slavery: A conversation with Frederick Law Olmsted, 1856.

In his book, A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States, Frederick Law Olmsted recounted a train journey that, along with passengers and slaves, was delivering a load of hay to a plantation at, what he thought, was an exorbitant rate. Many forage crops could be raised in South, he surmised.

On the Tyranny of the Majority: Thoughts by John Stuart Mill.

General Interest

On the Tyranny of the Majority: Thoughts by John Stuart Mill.

Tyranny is a word that has been much used in America since the 1760s. Most references are to governments; however, in part of John Stuart Mill's work entitled, On Liberty, he wrote about some issues surrounding tyranny when it is carried out by the majority. This selection is a short

The French Treaty and National Honor: Thoughts by William Leggett, the "Evening Post," December 15, 1834.

General Interest

The French Treaty and National Honor: Thoughts by William Leggett, the "Evening Post," December 15, 1834.

During the Napoleonic Wars, American shipping had sustained losses for which the United States demanded compensation. A treaty was struck in July 1831 wherein the French were to pay 25 million francs in 6 annual installments which, for various political and organizational reasons, they failed to do. By early 1833,

Revolutionary Pensioners: Thoughts by William Leggett, Dec. 8, 1834

Political Philosophy

Revolutionary Pensioners: Thoughts by William Leggett, Dec. 8, 1834

In this selection, William Leggett was responding to a proposal by Assistant Alderman Tallmadge that one hundred dollars be “paid out of the city treasury on the 1st January next, to every surviving officer and soldier of the revolution in the city and county of New York, now receiving a

New York at the Beginning of the Civil War, William Russell, 1861

New York at the Beginning of the Civil War, William Russell, 1861

William Russell was an Irish reporter for The Times. He is considered to be one of the first war correspondents having reported, for instance, on the Crimean War. He happened to be in the United States when the Civil War was beginning and wrote several letters with interesting observations. In

The Division of Parties, Thoughts by William Leggett, 1834

General Interest

The Division of Parties, Thoughts by William Leggett, 1834

In this post, readers will recognize arguments that may seem eerily modern in may ways. From the very beginning, Americans have divided into parties and bickered over the nature and extent of the Federal government. Consequently, Leggett's characterization of the "Democracy" and the "Aristocracy" should present an interesting journey into

Asylum for Insane Paupers: Thoughts about the Role of Government by William Leggett, 1834

General Interest

Asylum for Insane Paupers: Thoughts about the Role of Government by William Leggett, 1834

Every generation has hard decisions to make, like what is the scope and purpose of government. In this piece, William Leggett addresses what he believes the extent of government involvement should be in "charities." Agree or disagree, Leggett gives a reader something to think about. This selection comes from the

Political Change, Slavery, Thomas Jefferson & More: Thoughts by Frederick Law Olmsted

Political Change, Slavery, Thomas Jefferson & More: Thoughts by Frederick Law Olmsted

In the mid 1850s, Frederick Law Olmsted toured many Southern States and then wrote about his journey in a work entitled, A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States. In this selection, Olmsted was analyzing the “avowed principles of the Revolution” in relation to Virginia’s laws concerning inheritance. As you

Riots: Thoughts by William Leggett, From the "Evening Post," July 12, 1834

General Interest

Riots: Thoughts by William Leggett, From the "Evening Post," July 12, 1834

By the mid 1830s, animosity between abolitionists and anti-abolitionists was creating significant problems in parts of the country. Although William Leggett was unequivocally against slavery, he opposed violence and rioting as a legitimate form of protest. His views on how to deal with rioters is quite interesting. August Glen-James, editor

A Consolidated Nation vs. A Federal Republic: Thoughts By Abel P. Upshur about the Theories of Joseph Story

C Chauncey Burr

A Consolidated Nation vs. A Federal Republic: Thoughts By Abel P. Upshur about the Theories of Joseph Story

The early 1830s was a time of agitation in the United States. Pervasive bickering and bitter recriminations, most notably between Northern and Southern politicians, were occurring at the highest levels of the Federal Government over the nature and extent of federal power vis-a-vis state power. Much of the turmoil was

Government Establishments vs. Private Enterprise: Thoughts by Lysander Spooner, 1844

General Interest

Government Establishments vs. Private Enterprise: Thoughts by Lysander Spooner, 1844

Libertarian, Lysander Spooner, attacked the government's monopoly on mail delivery in his 1844 pamphlet, "The Unconstitutionality of Laws of Congress Prohibiting Private Mails." In said pamphlet, he made an interesting contrast between government establishments and private enterprise. August Glen-James, editory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Universal experience attests that government establishments cannot keep pace

Sectionalism & Factionalism in the Civil War Period: Thoughts by Albert Taylor Bledsoe

Sectionalism & Factionalism in the Civil War Period: Thoughts by Albert Taylor Bledsoe

Albert Taylor Bledsoe served as an officer in the Confederate army; however, he was also an Episcopal priest, mathematician, and attorney. He was a defender of slavery, believing that it was an important component of an orderly society, and one of the many apologists for the Southern cause in the

Of the Original Contract: David Hume, 1752

Of the Original Contract: David Hume, 1752

Contract theory is tantamount to American constitutionalism and is central to the founding of the United States. In essence, contract theory means government by consent. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, channeling authors like John Locke, wrote that “all men are created equal” and “endowed” with the “unalienable Rights”

Louis Brandeis on the Freedom of Speech and Assembly: Whitney v. California (1927)

General Interest

Louis Brandeis on the Freedom of Speech and Assembly: Whitney v. California (1927)

The First Amendment freedoms of speech and assembly have relevance across space and time. These freedoms, or the lack thereof, are harbingers of freedom or tyranny. No right is absolute, however, and the Supreme Court of the United States has, over time, defined both the limit and extent of many

Roger B. Taney on Judicial Activism: Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857.

Roger B. Taney on Judicial Activism: Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857.

Dred Scott v. Sandford is one of the most infamous Supreme Court decisions in history. It ruled, among other things, that slaves were not citizens and, therefore, could not sue in federal courts. Furthermore, the Court ruled that Congress could not outlaw slavery in the territories. Of course, this contributed

Shelby Foote & the End for Jefferson Davis

Shelby Foote & the End for Jefferson Davis

Historian, Shelby Foote, wrote a massive, three-volume work on the Civil War. In Volume III, Foote gave narration to the major events in Jefferson Davis's life from his arrest to the end of his life. It is poignant and well-written. I will let Mr. Foote take it from here. August

The Failure of Interventionism (Including Socialism and Fascism): Thoughts by Ludwig von Mises--Epilogue, 1947

Political Philosophy

The Failure of Interventionism (Including Socialism and Fascism): Thoughts by Ludwig von Mises--Epilogue, 1947

Originally published in 1922, the book Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis is a work that opens the subject to the critical analysis of the Austrian school of economics’ prime thinker, Ludwig von Mises. Socialism was so convincing that it turned some young socialists of the age into free market

Edmund Burke: Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies,
22 Mar. 1775*

Edmund Burke: Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies, 22 Mar. 1775*

An Analysis by August Glen-James -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By March 1775, the British situation in the Colonies was growing daily more tense; the first shots of the American Revolution were less than a month away. Edmund Burke, in response to this crisis, delivered a speech in Parliament wherein he said, “I do

Federalist No. 10: An Analysis

Federalist No. 10: An Analysis

Federalist No. 10 was written by James Madison in November 1787 and was a continuation of Federalist No. 9, written by Alexander Hamilton. The theme of both numbers was “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Factions and Insurrection.” What follows is an analysis of Federalist No.

These Confederated States and the Right of Revolution: Thoughts by John Quincy Adams, 1838

These Confederated States and the Right of Revolution: Thoughts by John Quincy Adams, 1838

The 1830s were a tumultuous time in American History. The tariff debate between the North and South reached a fever pitch and resulted in the emergence of sectional bickering that foreshadowed the Civil War. During this time frame, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster emerged as sectional champions for the