October 1856

Harper's Magazine archives (subscription required) ^ | October 1856

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[henkster]

I was most impressed by Strong’s first sense of responsibility when he realized he was a politician; it was to read the Constitution of the United States and of the state of New York. Too bad nobody in government seems to care about the Constitution today..

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from October 2 (reply #9)

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from October 5 (reply #22)

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly

[Tax-chick]

“A Cat is an Individual. A Cat is not a Person.” Rev. Mr. Osgood’s taking his life in his hands, here ;-).

Mr. Strong is SO clever, and enjoying his own cleverness. I’m reminded a bit of Mark Steyn.

[Squantos]

Correct me if I’m wrong but ..... a quick read of that page makes me believe there have been many an “Al Sharpton” sorts over the decades.....

[Tax-chick]

there have been many an “Al Sharpton” sorts over the decades

Can you be more specific? Whom are you comparing to Al Sharpton, and with what points of resemblance?

[colorado tanker]

Fremont is always spelled with an accent over the “e”. Back in the day, did they pronounce his name as the French would say it?

[Tax-chick]

Frehy-MON? Sounds a bit affected ;-).

[colorado tanker]

The 1850’s were wild and crazy times . . .

[Tax-chick]

It’s kind of touching that they would make that extra effort in typesetting.

[Tax-chick]

“... the latter class (Southern Gentleman) gives the tone to Southern society—ready to fight duels, slow to pay debts.”

An exact description of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and their contemporaries in New York politics circa 1804.

[Tax-chick]

Emphasis there on “New York”: I was on my phone last night and couldn’t emphasize.

[Tax-chick]

Fits a couple of current political figures much in the news today, as well.

[Tax-chick]

New York political figures.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from October 9 (reply #23)

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gulian C. Verplanck Wikipedia entry

[Tax-chick]

“I never knew old G.C. Verplanck to be on the winning side anywhere.”

LOL!

[colorado tanker]

I have always considered Buchanan the worst President in history, well at least until the last eight years. But following these threads I’m beginning to wonder if anyone could have brought the factions back together. So, maybe it didn’t matter that Buchanan aligned himself with the Southern Democrats and did nothing as states began to secede? Could anyone have fixed that?

[Tax-chick]

For a moment, I thought I’d slipped askew in the multiverse and Pat Buchanan had been President. Then I remembered what year it is here. Or what year it’s going to be.

And no, I don’t think a better President could have done much to stop the Civil War, unless you count “letting the South peaceably establish a separate country.”

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Continued from October 12 (reply #35)]

October 15. Another meeting last night, got up by our Vigilance Committee among the “roughs” in Fifteenth Street away down by the East River. The assemblage of freemen was tolerably large, and its quality would have been improved by a little soap and water. Honorable Abram Wakeman *, our candidate for Congress, was chief speaker; his speech poor stuff, without even the merit of being limited to the capacity of the audience. . . .

Writing hard tonight, save an hour in a dresscoat at Mrs. Dubois’. Her “sociable party” was small and slow like a young mud turtle. Dirty little Erastus Brooks ** there, looking quiet, stealthy, and malignant. His “dog noble” sobriquet is much too good for him, even judging from his outer man alone. If men are to develop into animal forms, each according to the law of his individual being, Erastus will be a very ugly, cunning, and vicious rat some of these days.

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas, Abridged by Thomas J. Pressly

* Abram Wakeman Wikipedia entry

** Erastus Brooks Wikipedia enry