Posted on 09/01/2016 4:54:37 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed. To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
The lead article for this month primarily deals with the problems of transferring photographs to mass produced books, and the desirability of overcoming those problems. However, the article then digresses into the areas of anatomy and brain function.
The second section is devoted to the life, times, wit and wisdom of Daniel Webster (1782-1852) esteemed Massachusetts Whig statesman.
“Soldiering in Oregon” caught my eye because of the biographies I have been reading about future Army commanders who spent time on frontier duty on the west coast and Mississippi River valley. It was tough duty.
There is plenty to cover in current events. Admitting Kansas as a state under the Topeka constitution, proposed Congressional appropriation, a resolution to expel Rep. Brooks from the House for beating Sen. Sumner, a homicide by a California representative in Washington, the New York Democratic convention, railroad and steam boat accidents, vigilantes in California, Indian wars in various states – all in the United States. There are additional items of news from Nicaragua, Mexico and Europe.
I take the cartoon section to be an artist’s imagined depictions of actual classified advertisements.
Fashions for September needs no explanation, but I wouldn’t try to get my wife in that getup to go for a walk.
Continued from August 30, (reply #99)
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly
That was interesting.
5.56mm
George Templeton Strong’s experience with marijuana (or hash, same thing) convinces me that use of marijuana was a waste of time before the advent of television and Doritoes.
At least he had educated, historical, mindless delusions. Sort of like when I drink too much and get even more pedantically sesquipedalian than I am when sober.
Hmmm. He doesn’t report getting the munchies.
Continued from August 18 (reply #80)
Nicole Etcheson, Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty in the Civil War Era
September 9. We turned out to see the Grand Democratic Torchlight Procession. Large certainly, but rather straggling, and with a large infusion of youthful Democrats who’ll hardly grow enough to vote next November! Not very joyous or enthusiastic and greeted by little outside hurrahing. The news from Maine hasn’t helped to make them jolly. That rather doubtful state seems to have gone Republican with a rush. Fremont forever! *
* In the state election in Maine, with Hannibal Hamlin running for governor, the Republicans triumphed by a vote of roughly 67,000 to 42,500. They won by a still greater margin in Vermont, the vote being nearly three to one.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly
It’s interesting how quickly New York, which had been very winnable for the Democrats, is warming to the Republicans.
September 10. Three cheers for Maine! The election there is a great fact; it shews which way the cat is jumping and will make her jump farther. Doubtless it has already decided x+y cautious gentlemen, waiters on Providence, uncat-like people to whom the victoris causa is always pleasing, to get down from their fence and go for Fremont, influenced solely by a conscientious sense of duty. This x+y is a large figure; it may well be ten thousand in this state alone. Hamilton Fish is said to have seen a great light lately and to be trying the feel of the current with his toes before jumping in. I don’t believe his accession will affect the fortunes of any party very essentially. It’s said a Fremont electoral ticket will be run in several Southern states, including Missouri, North Carolina and Virginia. Dubious. It probably won’t be permitted by the oligarchy of little barbarous princes to which the white trash of the South is subject.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly
September 11. Long discourse with Walter Cutting, who’s frightened at the Maine news; has a “betting opinion” still, but will give no odds on Fremont, and considers that the South will secede if Fremont’s elected. Which the South won’t, as long as Southern gentlemen can make a little money going to Congress.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly
See, the speech to the Georgia legislature of Sen. Robert Toombs. http://civilwarcauses.org/toombs.htm
Strong expressed his contempt for the south in general, Texas and South Carolina in particular, at the time of the 1850 compromise. He would remain a secession doubter right through 1860.
Nicole Etcheson, Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty in the Civil War Era
September 16. Early train to Boston, breakfast, and then sat on a barrel for two hours reading Mrs. Stowe’s Dred, for that the Nahant boat had privily changed its hour. . . . Dred is a strong and telling book. Ellie is now deep in the first volume, and much exercised thereby. Found all well at Nahant; hotel all but deserted; weather lovely. Small party that evening at Mrs. Paiges: Professor Felton, Agassiz and wife, and Longfellow (to whom I missed an introduction, not knowing he was there). Next day dined at Agassiz’s with Felton – very pleasant; Agassiz and his wife most charming people. After dinner on the rocks at low tide (the “sunken ledge”) with him for a couple of hours, and was presented to marine notabilia, chiefly of the zoophyte family, many of which I’ve long sought to see.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly
Dred, A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (1856), by Harriet Beecher Stowe: in two volumes.
Corals and sponges, what fun!
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly
Interesting. I did not know secession sentiment was this strong as early as 1856.
South Carolina appears to have the most virulent form of pro-Secession activists. They have had this streak in one form or another for a generation. Take a look at the Nullification Crisis of 1832:
http://www.ushistory.org/us/24c.asp
Also, when the Abolitionist Movement was just getting started in the 1830s, and various publications were sending Abolitionist pamphlets by mail into the South, the most violent reactions came from South Carolina.
http://history1800s.about.com/od/abolitionmovement/fl/Abolitionist-Pamphlet-Campaign.htm
The agitation expressed in 1856 was nothing new. George Templeton Strong’s vexation with South Carolina was probably a common political feeling in the North by now, and Northerners are already thinking that South Carolina is the cause of all this controversy. It will be easy to transfer a sense of vexation into anger once blood begins to flow in the Civil War. And in about eight and a half years from now, after over three years of war, that anger is going to be vented on South Carolina with a vengeance.
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