Posted on 02/08/2010 7:57:31 AM PST by Publius
No kidding, you picked probably the single passage that nailed it in a nutshell.
Liberals, who have no sense or understanding of history, think of our forefathers as primitive bumpkins with coonskin hats.
They were remarkably sophisticated men especially if measured by today’s standards, and would easily be able to navigate and engage in discourse today.
Even more so, because they knew how to do it well. The fact that this writing is so prescient is astounding.
(Ecclesiastes 1:9-14 NIV) What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
I’ve always taken the above verse to be a reference to the actions of men.
#38 is another example of just how astute these people were in regards to human nature. And how hard the Constitutional Convention tried to guard against human nature when putting together the Constitution.
I would be interested in finding out if modern methods have been utilized in trying to identify who this man was. I know that there are computer programs out there that can correlate writing styles and phrases to provide a statistical likelihood of the true author. Referring to line (2) that of a 'continuing correspondence' there must be other documents in keeping that would lend themselves to such a technique.
The reference to Pope's maxim (10)-
For Forms of Government let fools contest; whatever is best administered is best. - Alexander Pope
Makes the 'let fools contest', though not written, indelible.
(26) Private debts are lessened, and public debts incurred by the war have been by various ways diminished, and the public lands have now become a productive source for diminishing them much more.
Land grants were a common form of payment in colonial times and this practice carried on after the revolution. To the victors go the spoils and so they did. There was a thriving trade in land speculation following our independence. It was not unusual for officers to be paid in land and was an incentive given on both sides. Entities such as the Holland Land Company were set up to represent foreign investors who saw the turmoil as opportunity. Titles to land were bought from Officers who had no interest in settling new country and regarded land ownership as a relatively safe form of savings.(Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants ) Certainly another source for the diminishing of debt, though not always recognized, was the overwhelming demands of the westward expansion. I find it difficult to imagine the times. A bottled up populace on the east coast, enjoying the suddenly open lands to the west must have produced a vacuum for goods that would have rivaled the vacuum produced by the emigration of the Kings subjects to the north and east.
(98)a free elective government cannot be extended over large territories
This from a time when the fastest communication was by lantern light at night or perhaps cannonfire. The communication restrictions brought about by distance were assumed to be unalterable and though we find it amusing today, could result in an entire war being won or lost. Even this paper would have had quite a delay in getting distributed throughout the country and was likely not published in a timely manner that would allow the States at the extremes to have equal input into the process.
Afer reading that sentence, I realized that my little essay on money should have mentioned land. Because land was in fact money and wealth, it was one of the engines of prosperity that made America different from Europe, a topic that will come front-and-center with John DeWitt #1 next week.
I am Jack’s complete lack of suprise.
SnakeDoc
I reformat the papers and write essays on things that I know, such as finance, and American history in the period between the Revolution and the Civil War.
Bill has read all the great philosophers and economists, and writes on those items.
It's a good mix, and we work well together.
We didn’t actually think you were the same person ... it was a Fight Club reference (if you haven’t seen/read it, you won’t catch the reference ... but its a good movie).
SnakeDoc
I saw “Fight Club”. It was a good movie until the end, when it took that strange turn.
The strange turn is what we were referring to.
Actually, I’ve often thought Fight Club was a reasonably good allegory for communism.
(1) Socialists sieze on anti-consumerist frustration with the lack of fulfillment with consumer-driven capitalism;
(2) property ownership is jettisoned for a simple, less consumer-driven, and nominally more fulfilling lifestyle;
(3) small communities are formed (the fight clubs) in which anti-consumerism and militancy are preached;
(4) the community leaders (Tyler Durden) grow in power and devotion from followers;
(5) the community grows, coalesces and militarizes (the Paper Street house);
(6) member individuality is completely subordinated for the good of the group/leadership (the members of Project Mayhem have no names, individual will is completely subordinate to the wishes of Tyler Durden);
(7) once individuality is completely jettisoned, and systematic brainwashing and re-education are complete ... the followers will do anything asked by the leadership to further the cause (violence, terrorism — Project Mayhem).
It lines up pretty well. I also thought the movie was an interesting commentary on masculinity in a matriarchal society. And I thought the plot twist was cool.
SnakeDoc
Maybe it's only a fantasy, but the impression I'm getting reading these pieces is that these guys would be very comfortable on FR. Sometimes I think of this place as a roadhouse in old Virginia, my car parked next to the horses and a furious contention inside next to a roaring fireplace and with bottomless tankards of ale. Sammy Adams over there is wearing his Red Sox sweatshirt again and I may have to kick his butt before the evening is over. Or he, mine.
Oh, yeah, and we...don't...talk...about...Book...Club... ;-)
Precious-s-s-s-s!
OMG!! You've just given me the idea for a short story based on this with a touch of "Cheers". It will be like that "James Madison Gets Drunk" story I wrote for Loud Mime's thread.
Sam Adams walks into the bar in his Red Sox jersey. "SAM", yell the guys at the bar. "What'll you have?" asks the bartender. "Give me a Sam Adams dark." Everybody moans.
So there you are, and you have to tell these guys what became of that ridiculous little herd of ex-colonies they started. TommyJeff pours you another one from the pitcher and says, "Hey, you guys ever study something we called the Constitution in the history books?" Oh yeah, you answer, we're still having fistfights over it. Same as you.
Personally I think that's pretty cool.
We were making fun of the movie Fight Club.
OUTSTANDING post, commentary, thread. Thanks to all historians/educators/posters. BTTT!
Re-reading (worth the re-read). Thanks to all.
That’s what it’s here for.
Maybe, just maybe, people reading these essays will figure out how far we have fallen from the original intent of our great Constitution.
Then again, maybe not. If not, we are headed for a debacle greater than the one in 1861. And, this possible future conflict will make CWI look like a walk in the park on a warm spring day.
Please pray for our country.
5.56mm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.