Lincoln & Washington

The Buffalo Soldiers

Civil War Vets

At the Memorial Day parade, Civil War veteran, George W. Collier, 97, shows Alwin Sharr, 9, a boy scout cub, how he aimed his rifle during the war. May 30, 1939

African American Troops in the Civil War

“There was an open door to the past, and what we could see through that door was magically haunted.  But when the last notes of the bugle hung against the sky, the door swung shut.  It cannot be reopened. “

On his way out the door to yet another speaking engagement at Meredosia, Lincoln amassed some newspaper clippings that he thought would make his point of view clear – but also added some quotes that I thought noteworthy for they aren’t shared all that often.

Here is the letter in full:

My dear Sir

I do not perceive how I can express myself, more plainly, than I have done in the foregoing extracts. In four of them I have expressly disclaimed all intention to bring about social and political equality between the white and black races, and, in all the rest, I have done the same thing by clear implication

I have made it equally plain that I think the negro is included in the word “men” used in the Declaration of Independence.

I believe the declara[tion] that “all men are created equal” is the great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest; that negro slavery is violative of that principle; but that, by our frame of government, that principle has not been made one of legal obligation; that by our frame of government, the States which have slavery are to retain it, or surrender it at their own pleasure; and that all others—individuals, free-states and national government—are constitutionally bound to leave them alone about it.

I believe our government was thus framed because of the necessity springing from the actual presence of slavery, when it was framed.

That such necessity does not exist in the teritories, where slavery is not present.

In his Mendenhall speech Mr. Clay says

“Now, as an abstract principle, there is no doubt of the truth of that declaration (all men created equal) and it is desireable, in the original construction of society, and in organized societies, to keep it in view, as a great fundamental principle”

Again, in the same speech Mr. Clay says:

“If a state of nature existed, and we were about to lay the foundations of society, no man would be more strongly opposed than

I should to incorporate the institution of slavery among it’s elements;”

Exactly so. In our new free teritories, a state of nature does exist. In them Congress lays the foundations of society; and, in laying those foundations, I say, with Mr. Clay, it is desireable that the declaration of the equality of all men shall be kept in view, as a great fundamental principle; and that Congress, which lays the foundations of society, should, like Mr. Clay, be strongly opposed to the incorporation of slavery among it’s elements.

But it does not follow that social and political equality between whites and blacks, must be incorporated, because slavery must not. The declaration does not so require.

Portrait of Soldier with American Battle  Flag, ca. 1861

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General Grant - Ulysses S. Grant 18th U.S. President

Gen. George Washington ↠ Turn: Washington’s Spies

TURИ: Washington’s Spies

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (September 6th, 1757- May 20th, 1834)

[portrayed by Brian Wiles on AMC’s TURN: Washington’s spies]

Tribute to the Marquis de Lafayette on his 260th birthday. [Part 1]

Lafayette, born a french aristocrat, joined the American cause in 1777, becoming a major-general in the continental forces at age 19. He grew to be the closest companion of His Excellency George Washington and was regarded as the General’s adopted son. Lafayette’s commitment to the American struggle for independence contributed decisively to the forming of an alliance between France and the United States in 1778. 

After the War of Independence, Lafayette returned to France where he spread the ideals of democracy and the Enlightenment. He wrote a draft for the Declaration of Human Rights and, influenced by his american friends Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, was a life-long abolitionist. Lafayette commanded the French national guard until 1791. After being inprisoned for five years, he left the political stage until the exiling of Napoleon Bonaparte. He became a high-ranking politician and once again commander of the national guard. Lafayette died in 1834, aged 76. 

TURN: Washington’s Spies | S3E9 Blade on the Feather