Harper’s Weekly – July 9, 1859

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | July 9, 1859

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

To the Public – 2
Fire in the Fourth – 2-4
Editorials – 4-5
Correspondence – 5-6
The Lounger – 6-7
Niagara Falls – 7-8
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, Book II, Ch IX – 9-11
Our Map of Northern Italy – 11-13
Julia in Heaven – 14
“Signs of the Times” – 14-15
Captain Latimer: Coward – 15-17
Tobacco and I – 17
The Weekly Farmer – 17
The Difference – 17
The Charge of the Zouaves at Palestro – 18-19
Practical Working of the Cass Doctrine on Naturalization – 19
Trumps, by George William Curtis, Ch. XXXVII-XXXVIII – 20-23
Humors of the Day – 23
Scene – A Thunderstorm – 23

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Continued from July 7 (reply #12).]

July 9. The great battle was of “Solferino,” June 24th. No particulars yet. Allies won, but at heavy cost. Austria recrossed the Mincio without molestation, it would seem. But this Austrian retreat is growing monotonous and wearisome. I fear Italy is doomed to become a French satrapy again. Its people will, of course be consulted, and 100,000 French bayonets will guarantee them a free choice and free expression of their views, without fear of compulsion.

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[C19fan]

Noticed the article about the growing popularity of lager beer.

[C19fan]

Napoleon III was a liar. The price of French involvement was French acquisition of Nice and Savoy.

[devane617]

Cool! I love this stuff. Thanks for posting.

[BroJoeK]

Interesting editorial on the meaning of naturalized citizenship.

Apparently a certain Mr. Cass published his opinion that the USA is obliged to treat naturalized citizens similar to the way fugitive slaves were then treated -- to return them to their "masters" when such people demanded it.
This editorial straightforwardly points out the flaws in such reasoning and it's good they did because among such new immigrants were some of my ancestors, fresh off the boat, having escaped conscription in one of Europe's wars, they certainly did not wish to return and would soon enough be asked to serve the Union Army whose language they didn't yet speak.

Of course, by that time, so far as we know there would be no more discussion of returning my fugitive ancestors to their previous "masters", either by this Mr. Cass or anyone else.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

“Apparently a certain Mr. Cass . . .”

Lewis Cass, Secretary of State 1857-1860

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Cass

[colorado tanker]

The Hofer case and Mr. Cass' view present an interesting issue. I know something about this because we adopted children from foreign countries.

The US oath of citizenship does not actually require that a naturalized citizen renounce their foreign citizenship, only that they affirm a willingness to do so. This is how so-called dual citizens are created. An immigrant from, say, Ireland, can take US citizenship but continue to hold an Irish passport.

Our sons have not renounced their foreign citizenship. We have not, however, encouraged them to get a passport for this very reason. We don't want them to get a draft notice. Perhaps when they are past military age.

Mr. Hofer apparently did not renounce his foreign citizenship or perhaps they did not accept it. He probably should not have returned.

[colorado tanker]

I wonder if some enterprising German immigrant might bring that new lager beer to Colorado some day?

[M Kehoe]

Hi Teach.

Thanks for the great classes. WWII was absolutely a must read. Especially for Millennials and Gen X.

Are you going to do the War of Northern aggression, 1860-1865?

To include the Carpet baggers?

Incoming...

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Right now I have no plan to get very deep into Reconstruction. I have done a lot of reading to learn what happened 1861-65. I haven’t gone past May 1856 when the Grand Army of the Republic passes in review in Washington D.C.. The history of that short period is so dense and amazing I have all I can do to gain a minimal familiarity with it all. Maybe if I am still around in 2025 I will forge on.

[M Kehoe]

8^)

5.56mm

[BroJoeK]

HJS: "Lewis Cass, Secretary of State 1857-1860"

Typical Doughfaced Northern Democrat!

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of John Brown, July 12, 1859

Wrote John Henrie and J. Smith. Also Jacob Frery, Esq., about hogs.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 520

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com

John Brown to John Henry Kagi, about July 12, 1859

Look for letters directed to John Henrie at Chambersburg. Inquire for letters at Chambersburg for I. Smith & Sons, and write them at Harper's Ferry as soon as any does come.1 See Mr. Henry Watson at Chambersburg, and find out if the “Tribune” comes on. Have Mr. Watson and his reliable friends get ready to receive company. Get Mr. Watson to make you acquainted with his reliable friends, but do not appear to be any wise thick with them, and do not often be seen with any such man. Get Mr. Watson, if he can, to find out a trusty man or men to stop with at Hagerstown (if any such there be), as Mr. Thomas Henry has gone from there. Write Tidd to come to Chambersburg, by Pittsburg and Harrisburg, at once. He can stop off the Pittsburg road at Hudson, and go to Jason's for his trunk. Write Carpenter and Hazlett that we are all well, right, and ready as soon as we can get our boarding-house fixed, when we will write them to come on, and by what route. I will pay Hazlett the money ho advanced to Anderson for expenses travelling. Find yourself a comfortable, cheap boarding-house at once. Write I. Smith & Sons, at Harper's Ferry. Inquire after your four Cleveland friends, and have them come on to Chambersburg if they are on the way; if not on the road, have them wait till we are better prepared. Be careful what you write to all persons. Do not send or bring any more persons here until we advise you of our readiness to board them.

_______________

1 See the Diary for July 12.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 532-3

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com

[BroJoeK]

It's not clear just what Brown is talking about here, and I don't recognize any of the names as "secret six".
Brings up the question of how many, in total, were involved with Brown's raid?
How many beyond the six helped with preparations but did not participate in the raid itself?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I think John Henry Kagi was Brown's executive officer, so to speak, in his operations. The other names are men who went to Harper's Ferry with Brown. You can find some of them here. At this time Brown is residing in a hotel in Harper's Ferry under the name of Isaac Smith.

None of the Secret Six were directly involved in the raid. They didn't know the details of Brown's plan to begin a slave insurrection. Probably to maintain plausible deniability as was as for operational security. Some people did know the plan but didn't participate in the raid. Frederick Douglass was one, as we shall discuss next month. Brown really wanted Douglass to go along, but he declined. I think Harriet Tubman was also in on it.