Civil War 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.
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
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,
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
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
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
Civil War 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
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
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
Civil War 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
Founding Era 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”
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
Civil War 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
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
Founding Era An Enquiry into the Nature and Extent of Liberty: John Trenchard, 20 Jan. 1721--Cato's Letters, No. 62 Civil society arises in the nexus between principle and policy, and what that society becomes through policy seems often to reflect its principles and philosophical assumptions. This selection investigates the assumption, principle, and concept of liberty according to the thoughts of John Trenchard. In this essay, readers will find some
General Interest Who Should Be Able to Vote: Thoughts by John Stuart Mill Universal suffrage has become common in democratically-minded nations of the West. It hasn't always been that way, of course, as access to the franchise has been qualified across time and space. Today, however, most Western countries have universal suffrage for their adult citizens. English philosopher, John Stuart Mill, had some
General Interest OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MANKIND: Arthur Schopenhauer German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, had some fascinating thoughts about the nature and existence of man. These three selections highlight some of his most interesting views. August Glen-James, editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > There is no absurdity so palpable that one could not fix it firmly in the head of every man on earth
Founding Era "End of the Common Course and Condition" By William Bradford Few people know that the Pilgrims experimented with a kind of Christian-inspired communism. In his work, History of Plimoth Plantation, William Bradford wrote about the experience. This post investigates the relevant excerpt. It's important to know that prior to the opening sentence below, Bradford was writing about the hardships the
General Interest Bertrand Russell and the Conquest of Happiness Mathematician and philosopher, Bertrand Russell, wrote some interesting books on various subjects. One was entitled The Conquest of Happiness. In this work, Russell had an interesting take on both suicide and argumentation. These selections largely speak for themselves. August Glen-James, editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > External interests, it is true, bring each its
Founding Era The Coalescence of a Body Politic Many salient episodes of United States history deal with the concept and processes of forming unions. What is it that makes political affiliation and union possible? This post addresses some thinking on the subject from two sources. First, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about the most important elements of union and,
Political Philosophy Methods of Manipulation The greatest villains in history can teach useful and practical lessons in psychology, sociology, politics and more . . . that is if readers can separate themselves from the visceral revulsion for the person and consume the works for their academic and informative value. Such is the case for these selections from Mein
General Interest Conversing with Thoreau In this selection, Henry David Thoreau gives one something to think about when engaged in conversation . . . especially amongst those who may have a narrow viewpoint. August Glen-James, editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Get out of the way with your cobwebs, wash your windows, I say. I hardly know an intellectual man, even, who
General Interest Thinking: A Metaphorical Way to "Think" About it. Some people are born with transcendent gifts. Henry David Thoreau was one such person. His writings are lucid and powerful. This selection was taken from what appears to be one of his favorite lectures and was, subsequently, published posthumously. August Glen-James, editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Our winged thoughts are turned to poultry.
