Strange History: Conduct Cases in the US Congress (c.1790s-1860s)

Hello folks! Here's another installment of Strange History. These conduct cases compiled by Leland Gregory makes our modern congressmen seem like pussycats...

Most people think our forefathers were gracious and eloquent men of class and honor -- not like the members of Congress we have today. Well, I hate to burst the bubble, but here are verbatim excerpts from the Historical Summary of Conduct Cases in the House of Representatives by the Commitee on Standards of Official Conduct:

Representative Matthew Lyon [VT][1798] "Disorderly behavior" [spat on Rep. Roger Griswold after an exchange of insults], [Jan.30,1798]; charge added of "gross indecency of language in his defense before this House" [Feb.8, 1798]

Representative Roger Griswald [CT] and Representative Matthew Lyon [VT] "Disorderly behavior" [Rep. Griswald assoulted Rep. Lyon with a "stout cane" on the House floor before the House was in session and Rep. Lyon responded by attacking Rep. Griswald with fireplace tongs], [Feb. 15, 1798]

Representative William J. Graves [KY] and Representative Henry Wise [VA], Breach of the privileges of the House Representative Graves killed Representative Jonathan Cilley [ME] in a duel over words spoken in debate; Rep. Wise acted as a second [Feb. 24, 1838].

Representative Philemon Herbert [CA], [1856] Arrested for manslaughter [May 8, 1856]; imprisoned prior trial; acquitted [July 1856]

Representative Lovell H. Rousseau [KY][1866] Assaulted Representative Josiah Grinnell [IA] with a cane outside the Capitol for alleged insult spoken in debate [June 14, 1866]

Source: "Stupid American History" (pp.67&154, 2009) by Leland Gregory

Back to Homepage.


.

The WINNER of the July 2010 FREE 1911 GRIPS Contest

Congratulations to Gerry K. aka Krazy45cat for winning this month's contest!!! Check out his submission below. He won a new set of Happy Face grips!!!

Thanks for all of those who submitted. If you missed it or didn't win, don't worry... we will do this every first Friday of month! You will have one week to post your video response. Until next time!!!



The winning video & some of the other entries...








Back to Homepage.


.

Strange History: Presidential Slaves

Hello folks! As an amateur history buff, I love reading stories about the past that are not found in any of the history books when we were growing up. Stories that are so wacky and unbelievable that they're stranger than fiction. This week, I am starting a blog series I call "Strange History" where I am going to share some of these incredible stories that I dug up over the years.

I bet you haven't heard this one... Two of our former presidents were indentured servants or "debt slaves". It has been estimated that indentured servants comprised almost 80% of the total British and continental emigration to America prior to the Revolution. Like slaves, servants could be bought and sold, could not marry without the permission of their owner, were subject to physical punishment, and saw their obligation to labor enforced by the courts. But unlike slaves, servants could look forward to a release from bondage. If they survived their period of labor, servants would receive a payment known as "freedom dues" and become free members of society. Here is an excerpt I found recently...

When they were boys, future Presidents Millard Fillmore (13th President) and Andrew Johnson (17th president) were indentured servants. An indentured servant is a laborer under contract to an employer for a specified period of time, usually three to seven years, in exchange for necessities such as food, drink, clothing, transportation, and lodging. The master basically owned the indentured servant, who had hardly any rights, until the term of contract was met. Andrew Johnson was indentured to a tailor, and he ran away. The tailor placed an advertisement in the Raleigh Gazette (North Carolina), offering a reward of $10 for the capture and return of future President Johnson. Fillmore served his master, a cloth maker, for several years and was able to purchase his freedom for $30. Sometimes I wonder if we would have been better off if they stayed indentured servants.          -"Stupid American History" (2009, p.24) by Leland Gregory.

It's interesting how our society has gone a looong way since then.... or maybe not. Today, many seem to be slaves to masters that are called by a different name... credit card companies!


Back to Homepage.


.

Fireworks on the 4th of July

I love fireworks... & I love the 4th of July! Here is a video of the fireworks display in our town I took from up a hill. Enjoy...






Back to Homepage


.

Fun Facts: Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!!! Here are some fun facts from purpletrail.com....

On July the 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. Thereafter, the 13 colonies embarked on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. This most American of holidays is traditionally celebrated with parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country. As you send out your July 4th party invitations, take a minute to think about how much you really know about what we are celebrating.

Did You Know…

• The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.
• Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee.
• Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
• The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
• June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, looking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
• The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’
• The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
• Before cars ruled the roadway, the Fourth of July was traditionally the most miserable day of the year for horses, tormented by all the noise and by the boys and girls who threw firecrackers at them.
• Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
• The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.
• The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
• Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777.
• The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. Someone joked that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam”. This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government.
• It was only in 1941 Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

Back to Homepage


.

FREE 1911 GRIPS Contest - July 2010

Hello folks! It's the first Friday of the month again & we're giving away another set of 1911 grips! All you have to do is watch Culerylover's video posting on youtube & post your video response... and we will pick out the winner at the end of the week. Try to make us laugh, cry, think... or whatever you want! The more entertaining the better! We will try to do this every first Friday of the month. This week you are going to win our one of our bestselling grips... the Happy Face grips!

Good luck, guys!!!




Back to Homepage


.