Gettysburg Address

Quote Interpretation

Gettysburg Address (1863)

“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal."

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground -- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” (Lincoln, pg. 276)

The Gettysburg Address was a short famous speech given by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863 to commerate the Soldiers National Cemetery.  He delivered his speech under a honey lotus tree, a stout tree with deep roots, far reaching to the sky and affiliated with love.  This symbolically could represent his believe for the continuance of this nation: stout, deep roots, limitless, and honed out of love. 

Honey Locust Tree, Soldiers National Cemetery

Lincoln speech was given during the American Revolution to commerate a section of land to soldier’s who lost their lives during the war, but his speech also turned out as a dedication to soldier’s who continue to fight for equality during the war.  His motivational speech was short and powerful and delivered for the moral of a warring nation. 

Lincoln started his speech by reminding citizens 87 years ago they won their freedom from England and now they have embarked on the same quest within their nation for all.  The notion that a country founded on these principles can endure, survive in their quest for freedom and equality, is implied and answered in this powerful message.  The meaning of those who lost their lives for liberty and the continuance of the fight carried on so the lives lost will not be in vain.  This country that they fought for is for them, the people, and the preservation of their nation.

Work Cited:

Gettysburg Daily, http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/?p=3890

Civil Disobedience

1)       What does Thoreau mean by a moral sense? How is it developed?

     Thoreau stated that people have a moral sense, the basic knowledge to distinguish right from wrong, just from the unjust as capable individual free thinkers.  To implement this process it has to be continually practiced for effectiveness, not to do so leads to the diminishment of personal thought and the following of others (government) without thought.

 2)       What is the cause of the conflict between the abolition and women's movement?

     The cause of conflict originated where they struggled against each other to classify who faced more unjust treatment.
 

3)       How would you judge the importance of civil disobedience today?

     Civil disobedience is a very important factor in today’s society as it was in previous civil cases in the past (e.i. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks).  To bring notice to unjust treatment through non-violent means is an appropriate action as to not give cause to the government to shed a negative light on a situation or give them cause to retaliate unfairly.  A recent example of a non-violent demonstration can be seen with Trevon Martin, a black youth killed in Florida, and follow citizens protested for the arrest of his killer. 

Interpretations

Henry David Thoreau

“…see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order…against their will, ay, against their common sense and consciences…Now what are they? Men at all? Or small movable forts and magazines, at the service of some unscrupulous man in power?  Visit the Navy-Yard and behold a marine, such a man  as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts – a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried, under arms with funeral accomplishments, though it may be…” (Thoreau, pg. 223)

I chose this statement since its sentiment is still conveyed today where the men and women of the military are considered nameless tools utilized to carryout directives of the government without any thought of their own.  The psychological conditioning required to have a soldier obey without question leaves the individual with a moral scar since the directive carried out might go against their personal natural moral inclination, so leaving this person a shell of their former self.

Frederick Douglass

“I do not ask the esteem and friendship of any minister or any man, no matter how high his standing, nor do I wish to shake any man’s hand who stands indifferent to the wrongs of any brethren.  Some have boasted that when Fred. Douglass has been at their houses, he has been treated kindly, but as soon as he got into their pulpits he began to abuse them-that as soon as the advantage is given to him, he takes it to stab those who befriend him.-Friends, I wish to stab no man, but if you stand on the side of the slaveholder, and cry out “the Union as it is,” “the Constitution as it is,” “the Church as it is,” you may expect that the heart that throbs beneath this bosom, will give utterance against you.  I am bound to speak, and whenever there is an opportunity to do so, I will speak against slavery.” (Douglass, pg. 238)

I like this quote since Frederick Douglass is stating even in the face of opposition he will always (and frequently) speak about what he believes in.  No amount of friend sentiments or classification of power will change what he believes in: the abolition of slavery, and so if a being is hurt behind his comments/believes, it is not his intention to inflict pain, but is his intention to bring to light the injustice of the many for just response.

Hamilton and Jefferson

Quotation Interpretation

“In countries where there is great private wealth, much may be effected by the voluntary contributions of patriotic individuals but in a community situated like that of the United States the public purse must supply the deficiency of private resource.  In what can it be so useful, as in prompting and improving the efforts of industry?” (pg 149)

 This quote effectively supports Hamilton’s feeling towards government responsibility towards the United States constituents by state influence, and monetary efforts of industry.  The responsibility of monetary betterment in the United States rely not only on private individuals, but on the government itself.

Question #1
Assuming that the "command" in Hamilton's writing is to establish the National Bank or support that establishment, what are the "reports" he uses to support this command?

·         Report on Credit
·         Opinion on the Constitutionality of the Bank
·         Report on Manufactures

Question #2
Explain Jefferson's argument that individuals possess a moral sense?

Jefferson stated people over time will lose their morals if not kept in check by the government.  They can easily “forget” what is moralistically important if they ignore their innate sense of right and wrong.

Mid-term Question Proposal

1.  It has been stated that the majority of the Constitution of the United States is ineffective or useless in this modern society.  Can you think of a case currently in the news that the Constitution can be applied.  List all Constitutional amendments applicable.

2.  Name some modern day Anti-Federalist and note their current ideas. 

3.  Intepret the relevance of Article 4 of the Constitution and the effect on subsectional laws that occurred from it.

Anti-Federalist Paper No. 9: A Consolidated Government is a Tyranny

Question #1

“We the Aristocratic party of the United States, lamenting the many inconveniences to which the late confederation subjected the well-born, the better kind of people, bringing them down to the level of the rabble-and holding in utter detestation that frontispiece to every bill of rights, “that all men are born equal” -beg leave (for the purpose of drawing a line between such as we think were ordained to govern, and such as were made to bear the weight of government without having any share in its administration) to submit to our Friends in the first class for their inspection, the following defense of our monarchical, aristocratical democracy... As a majority of all societies consist of men who (though totally incapable of thinking or acting in governmental matters) are more readily led than driven, we have thought meet to indulge them in something like a democracy in the new constitution,”

This introductory portion of the Anti-Federalist document created by Montezuma and appearing in the Independent Gazetteer on October 17, 1787 displayed righteous self-esteem of the Anti-Federalist movement that proclaimed their rights as superior to others due to their station in life.  It is there contention that not all men are born equally as the Bill of Rights proclaim, but they are above such comparison to those who are, what they consider, inferior.  This proclamation states their natural born validality to a higher station in life than the next man.  Since other lesser born individuals, who in truth are unable to be rational men and are inferior, a party were created for them in order to occupy there time and lend basis to feelings of contribution, these people will be known as the Democratic Party (Federalist).  Montezuma proclaimed in this sentence that the Democratic Party was unable to think for themselves or the nation at large without the leadership of the Republican Party (Anti-Federalist).

I chose this work because it summarizes the discrimination that Anti-Federalist had towards Federalist and the pompous attitude reflected.

Question #2

Federal Government Power

It was the argument of Montezuma under Anti-Federalist writings number ten that too much power given to the federal government will result in a majority shift in power in their favor.  He stated, “Now, can a question arise in the colonial courts, which the ingenuity or sophistry of an able lawyer may not bring within one or other of the above cases? Certainly not. Then our court will have original or appellate jurisdiction in all cases-and if so, how fallen are state judicatures-and must not every provincial law yield to our supreme flat? Our constitution answers yes. . . . And finally we shall entrench ourselves so as to laugh at the cabals of the commonalty.”  He believed along with other Anti-Federalist that power should be retained at the Legislative level (federal).  The tyranny involved is the direct opposition of other factions towards there ideology, and any other opposed thought is wrong and in need of correction.  It would seem as the Anti-Federalist thought of people outside of their particular class as cattle to be led, fattened and considered as fodder for the strong to utilize as they see fit. 



The Federalist No. 10 by Publius (James Madison) Quote Interpretation

“There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects… The inference to which we are brought is, that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects…. If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the forms of the Constitution. When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government, on the other hand, enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens. To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed. Let me add that it is the great desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued from the opprobrium under which it has so long labored, and be recommended to the esteem and adoption of mankind.”

I chose this passage because it shows the conscience thought of divide and conquer…for the greater good.  Since the causes of factions can not be removed as Madison claims, because to do so would destroy liberty, liberty in itself should be encouraged with all the thoughts and objections welcomed from all.  Because as long as there are large bodies of different thoughts, no one democratic thought shall prevail, thereby letting the unified republic thought govern for the good of all.

The United States Constitution Article 4

The United States Constitution

Article 4

Section 1:  Full Faith and Credit Clause:

This section of the Constitution amends the similar Article 4 clause of the Articles of Confederation in regards to state-to-state acknowledgement of judicial superior claim and rights: “public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state.”  Whereas in the Articles of Confederation the interpretation was differently applied, it states, “full faith and credit shall be given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the counts and magistrates of every other state.”  It was further explained in 1786 by a Pennsylvania court that this clause did not allow executions of one state to reflect in another.  The Constitution amended and superseded this clause to encompass this execution.

Section 2: Equality among States, Extradition

This section state other States can not discriminate against residents of other states.  Also, this section establishes extradition of fleeing criminals back to the principle state where such crime took place to answer for such transgressions.  This clause also had another objective which was to extradite run away slaves back to their masters, whereas it states, “No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.”  Though the United States while drafting the Constitution objective was to the establishment of better government, as reflected today, it was motivated to the prevalence of the businessman.  An escaped slave was considered a loss of income and labor, so with the reinforcement of The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 (which made it possible to recover slaves, overruled state sanctuary laws, made it a federal crime to assist an escaped slave and allowed slave-catchers power without border jurisdiction).  This act was followed by the amended Fugitive Slave Act of 1850; both acts were done away with when the thirteenth amendment was established abolishing slavery.

Section 3: Creation of State

In order to maintain a unified government without separate entities, this section states no State(s) can create another State within their borders or jurisdiction without expressive consent of Legislatures of State or Congress.  Previous to the creation of the United States of America there were 13 colonial divisions which mostly lined the East coast spreading westward into unknown territory.  These territories were brought together with the American Revolution which helped form the patriotism of a unified America.  In order to maintain one government this section was created so State can unify or be established outside of America.

Section 4: Guarantee Clause

“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.”  What is actually a “Republican Form of Government”?  By definition it is everything in opposition to a Democratic government.  The Democratic profile was considered reprehensible to those who made law and was considered a sickness alike to a disease.  James Madison, writing under the assumed named of Publius, wrote Federalist number 10 which states the need to protect against outside factions and protect interior states.  It can be inferred by its readings that Republican form of government can be considered as a loose dictative government with the decisions and results thereof are done in the best interest of the people, even if they do not think so.  Madison also stated a government placed in the hands of the many (a delegate in charge of a large area to present the many) is better than the democracy which enables small area choice in the decision making process which clogs up the governing of State.