There is still some opposition to the Electoral College. Some people are advocating that it be done away with and we go to a strictly popular vote. That would move us more towards Democracy. If you’ve read any of the words of the Founding Fathers, you’ll remember that they taught that a Democracy is one of the worst types of government. It eventually results in the control by the masses and tyranny.
Be reminded that the U.S. Constitution was an agreement between the new States. It replaced the Articles of Confederation which gave basically no power to the federal government. The State representatives were very diligent in discussing the method of electing a new President over their “more perfect Union.” George Washing allowed much discussion and at least 55 different votes on the method. That method was accepted by the individual states.
The story is often told about how President Abraham Lincoln felt about some of his Generals during the Civil War. Apparently someone complained to Lincoln about the drinking habits of General Ulysses S. Grant.
An anonymous descendent of Jefferson’s recently made a gift to Monticello of Jefferson’s obelisk clock. Jefferson had a carved shelf inside of his alcove bed. He designed an obelisk clock which was engineered and built by Parisian clockmaker, Louis Chantrot. It’s quite a work of art in itself. When Tom could see the time on the clock as it sat on this shelf in the morning sunlight, that’s when he would arise and start the day.
Looking at all the different fish, I was reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s experiment with a faddish vegetarian diet. He had given up eating meat for a season. On a trip across a harbor on a boat, the wind stopped and the boat became becalmed. It couldn’t reach the shore. So the crew made the most of their time by fishing off the bow.
bookstore long ago. This bookstore sold used books and I bought this one. I don’t remember where or when. The book is “Ben Franklin’s Almanac of Wit, Wisdom and Practical Advice” with the sub title “Useful Tips and Fascinating Facts for Every Day of the Year” by the Eidtors of The Old Farmer’s Allmanac.”
Benjamin Franklin had seen so much trouble and even despair caused by drinking that he advised against it. His childhood friend borrowed some money from Ben, then disappeared to Barbados. Ben never saw him again.
James Monroe, while not considered one of the Founding Fathers directly, did serve with and was influenced by them. Monroe was in the camp with George Washington in December, 1776. You recall that was the month that Washington directed the assault across the Delaware River in a snowstorm to attack the British and their hired warriors, the Hessians. The Hessian were considered the most mighty and brutal of all the fighting armies at the time.