[David]

You may not have recognized the fact however that many things have changed in America and in the World generally since the sixth and seventh decades of the 19th Century. Many of the politicians of the era had somewhat different views of the rights of man than we share today.

On the other hand, one thing that has not changed is the effort of people who get money from government to support a a strong central government with increasing power, free of any firm constraints on the exercise of its power.

[Elihu Burritt]

You may not have recognized the fact however that many things have changed in America and in the World generally since the sixth and seventh decades of the 19th Century. Many of the politicians of the era had somewhat different views of the rights of man than we share today.

Actually, the proportions are very much the same. The unique events of the Civil War only by chance let into power in Washington a unique set of men who did believe in the notions of the founders, and who were enabled, by the absence of the southerners, to control Washington long enough to let freedom ring enough so that a hundred years later, the promise was able to come true.

On the other hand, one thing that has not changed is the effort of people who get money from government to support a a strong central government with increasing power, free of any firm constraints on the exercise of its power

John C. Calhoun when asked how the South could manage to control the country for so many decades when Northern Democrats objected to slavery: "The consensus of the plunder of the public purse." Thaddeus Stevens caused a bit of row one day by simply pointing out the plain unvarnished that Southern Democrats were in fact traitors, and Northern Democrats were 'parasites.' After strenuous objections and a rush of dozen democrats to get at old Thaddeus which was stemmed by the mere presence of Roscoe Conklin, they retook their seats, and Thaddeus agreed to change the word 'parasite' to 'satelite.'

Great moments in the House.