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

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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...








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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!


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