Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants earned the ire of the governor of Massachusetts, where in a similar case in 1854, the city of Boston fought to protect a runaway slave.
The Cousins' Wars by Kevin Phillips claims to find a continuity between the English Civil War, the American Revolution and the American Civil War. I don't know what historians make of this.
It always amazes me that, in the light of this history, anyone can claim that the South was fighting for "States' Rights" without being treated with utter derision.
"Liberalism", a weak, effete philosophical belief system guaranteed to destroy the moral and spiritual fiber of a nation. What has four years of Biden brought us? Decline of this nation, that is what. Show me a major city run by liberals and I will show you a high crime dump. "Wokeism" is deviant. Millions of illegals, many of whom we know nothing about. Higher crime. Inflation, political show trials, weaponization of the federal government against the citizenry. This terrible war in Ukraine that could lead to a nuclear war with Rissia. Thank-you Biden. I have to throw this in. The majority of northern soldiers fought to preserve the Union, not to end slavery. The majority of southern men fought to repel a military invasion from the northern states, not to keep slavery. I have never read a memoir by any Confederste who said he fought to preserve slavery. I have never read a memoir by a Union soldier who said he fought to end slavery. The majority of southern people did not own slaves and had no vested interest in preserving slavery. Only a fool would have fought to preserve slavery. Go Trump!
"I have never read a memoir by any Confederste who said he fought to preserve slavery. I have never read a memoir by a Union soldier who said he fought to end slavery."
This is called a self-own. With all due respect, you really need to do some reading.
In researching my Irish and French ancestors from Northern Maine and Canada it has become clear to me that Massachusetts was not always friendly to immigrants. The following article has helped me to understand why.
Steven Taylor, “Progressive Nativism: The Know-Nothing Party in Massachusetts” Historical
Journal of Massachusetts Volume 28, No. 2 (Summer 2000).
"In no state did the American party reap as much success as in
Massachusetts. In 1854 the Party captured the governor’s office, the
entire state senate, and virtually the entire state house of representatives.
The American Party also took over the City of Boston and other
municipalities in the Bay State. Once in office, the Party not only passed
legislation that reflected the anti-immigrant positions of the national
Know-Nothing movement, but the party also distinguished itself by its
opposition to slavery, support for an expansion of the rights of women,
regulation of industry, and support of measures designed to improve the
status of working people. These progressive measures appear to be
inconsistent with the anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic stance of the
American Party. This article takes a look at the origins and the
background of the Massachusetts Know-Nothing movement and the
reason for what might appear to be stark contradictions."
This reminds me of how complex life could be even then. When I was reenacting as a member of the recreated 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, I did research on the background of this Irish regiment that confirmed its links to Boston and its surrounding towns (mostly now incorporated into the modern city) and the social status of the individual Irish immigrant. While Boston itself was an Abolitionist hotbed, many of its Irish immigrants were not as enthusiastic - an issue that we as modern reenactors had to understand, explain, and in some ways portray. When invoking the Fugitive Slave Law, one of the bodies that could be called upon for assistance would be the local militia. Boston had one Irish militia unit, of artillery, and research showed that its members would turn out to enforce the law if requested to do so. I'm fairly certain that this was a major reason for the state authorities disbanding this Irish unit in around 1855. When the Civil War resulted from the debates over slavery, the State of Massachusetts and specifically Boson actually raised two Irish regiments - the 9th Volunteer Infantry and the 28th Volunteer Infantry - for the war, and they were Irishmen found in most units raised in the area (possibly excepting the 20th Volunteers, aka "The Harvard Regiment" which was raised from graduates of that institution). Later authors would cite the Civil War service of such Irish regiments as one of the groundstones for what one of them called "How the Irish became White".
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this comment. I love that your reenacting unit delved into these complicated issues, but you are absolutely right. There was no love lost between Boston's Irish and Black residents. Even the elite Brahmin class, many of whom served in the 20th MVI were hostile to the Irish. Robert Gould Shaw's letters are filled with his suspicion and downright hatred of the Irish.
Well, maybe the police forces in Massachusetts need to actively resist ICE and the military if it’s called out. This is already heading down more than a slippery slope.
Hello Brad Lewin, It is funny how liberals love their dysfunctional social justice causes. I live in a Arizona border town. I see what Biden's disastrous border policy has wrecked on us down here. I wonder how many liberals would invite these people into their homes. Liberal love, I am sure, has limitations.
Regardless of how dangerous it is down where you live, it sounds like you have plenty of time to read. Given your initial comment, I highly recommend starting with James McPherson's book For Cause & Comrades.
Wonderful essay on Burns! These stories are good preparation for the next four years of vicious, imbecilic, racism as spat out by the like of Homan....
That Grimes and Burns were linked seems inevitable yet just looking at the remarkable life of either testifies to how second-class Americans then and now have their versions of La Migra to fear and fight. Grimes in his earlier days ran a hackney service as a front for his using it as an Underground Railroad line. Caught once and convicted for helping a family escape north, he had the 1840s Dream Team legal defense and got "only" a minimum sentence of 2 years in state prison + $100 fine. It wasn't time wasted: he "got religion" in lockup. Upon release, he moved to New Bedford with his family. He studied for the ministry and headed the new 12th Baptist Church in Boston. He turned it into an Abolitionist power center. After Burns lost his freedom, Grimes raised the money to buy his freedom. He recruited for the 54th Regiment and was offered its chaplaincy but remained at his church post.
Sitting in my car (parked of course) with tears. Thank you for reminding me of the strength on Bostonians. I had never read this story but have lived here for decades.
I suppose if we were in Old England, the debate would be Cavaliers and Roundheads. I would have been a Cavalier.
The Cousins' Wars by Kevin Phillips claims to find a continuity between the English Civil War, the American Revolution and the American Civil War. I don't know what historians make of this.
I certainly can't speak to it with any authority.
It always amazes me that, in the light of this history, anyone can claim that the South was fighting for "States' Rights" without being treated with utter derision.
It goes without saying that I have no problem if people want to display their own ignorance for all the world to see. LOL
"Liberalism", a weak, effete philosophical belief system guaranteed to destroy the moral and spiritual fiber of a nation. What has four years of Biden brought us? Decline of this nation, that is what. Show me a major city run by liberals and I will show you a high crime dump. "Wokeism" is deviant. Millions of illegals, many of whom we know nothing about. Higher crime. Inflation, political show trials, weaponization of the federal government against the citizenry. This terrible war in Ukraine that could lead to a nuclear war with Rissia. Thank-you Biden. I have to throw this in. The majority of northern soldiers fought to preserve the Union, not to end slavery. The majority of southern men fought to repel a military invasion from the northern states, not to keep slavery. I have never read a memoir by any Confederste who said he fought to preserve slavery. I have never read a memoir by a Union soldier who said he fought to end slavery. The majority of southern people did not own slaves and had no vested interest in preserving slavery. Only a fool would have fought to preserve slavery. Go Trump!
Need a Laugh Icon to respond.
"I have never read a memoir by any Confederste who said he fought to preserve slavery. I have never read a memoir by a Union soldier who said he fought to end slavery."
This is called a self-own. With all due respect, you really need to do some reading.
In researching my Irish and French ancestors from Northern Maine and Canada it has become clear to me that Massachusetts was not always friendly to immigrants. The following article has helped me to understand why.
Steven Taylor, “Progressive Nativism: The Know-Nothing Party in Massachusetts” Historical
Journal of Massachusetts Volume 28, No. 2 (Summer 2000).
"In no state did the American party reap as much success as in
Massachusetts. In 1854 the Party captured the governor’s office, the
entire state senate, and virtually the entire state house of representatives.
The American Party also took over the City of Boston and other
municipalities in the Bay State. Once in office, the Party not only passed
legislation that reflected the anti-immigrant positions of the national
Know-Nothing movement, but the party also distinguished itself by its
opposition to slavery, support for an expansion of the rights of women,
regulation of industry, and support of measures designed to improve the
status of working people. These progressive measures appear to be
inconsistent with the anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic stance of the
American Party. This article takes a look at the origins and the
background of the Massachusetts Know-Nothing movement and the
reason for what might appear to be stark contradictions."
Massachusetts was incredibly unfriendly to immigrants. I highly recommend the Expelling the Poor by Hidetaka Hirota (Oxford Press).
This reminds me of how complex life could be even then. When I was reenacting as a member of the recreated 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, I did research on the background of this Irish regiment that confirmed its links to Boston and its surrounding towns (mostly now incorporated into the modern city) and the social status of the individual Irish immigrant. While Boston itself was an Abolitionist hotbed, many of its Irish immigrants were not as enthusiastic - an issue that we as modern reenactors had to understand, explain, and in some ways portray. When invoking the Fugitive Slave Law, one of the bodies that could be called upon for assistance would be the local militia. Boston had one Irish militia unit, of artillery, and research showed that its members would turn out to enforce the law if requested to do so. I'm fairly certain that this was a major reason for the state authorities disbanding this Irish unit in around 1855. When the Civil War resulted from the debates over slavery, the State of Massachusetts and specifically Boson actually raised two Irish regiments - the 9th Volunteer Infantry and the 28th Volunteer Infantry - for the war, and they were Irishmen found in most units raised in the area (possibly excepting the 20th Volunteers, aka "The Harvard Regiment" which was raised from graduates of that institution). Later authors would cite the Civil War service of such Irish regiments as one of the groundstones for what one of them called "How the Irish became White".
Hi Robert,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this comment. I love that your reenacting unit delved into these complicated issues, but you are absolutely right. There was no love lost between Boston's Irish and Black residents. Even the elite Brahmin class, many of whom served in the 20th MVI were hostile to the Irish. Robert Gould Shaw's letters are filled with his suspicion and downright hatred of the Irish.
Well, there's your baseline......
Well, maybe the police forces in Massachusetts need to actively resist ICE and the military if it’s called out. This is already heading down more than a slippery slope.
Hello Brad Lewin, It is funny how liberals love their dysfunctional social justice causes. I live in a Arizona border town. I see what Biden's disastrous border policy has wrecked on us down here. I wonder how many liberals would invite these people into their homes. Liberal love, I am sure, has limitations.
The dysfunction seems all on the other side. Pardon me while I go laugh now.
Regardless of how dangerous it is down where you live, it sounds like you have plenty of time to read. Given your initial comment, I highly recommend starting with James McPherson's book For Cause & Comrades.
That’s for sure.
One thing is certain. This is certainly going to escalate before all is said and done.
Wonderful essay on Burns! These stories are good preparation for the next four years of vicious, imbecilic, racism as spat out by the like of Homan....
But then, "Leonard Grimes, a Baptist minister in Virginia" stopped my reading to paste into the search engine. (IDK why!) Found this 2.5 page biographic paper: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/559ec31fe4b0550458945194/t/563e32d7e4b0f9aa57e4e556/1446916823148/lgrimes.pdf
That Grimes and Burns were linked seems inevitable yet just looking at the remarkable life of either testifies to how second-class Americans then and now have their versions of La Migra to fear and fight. Grimes in his earlier days ran a hackney service as a front for his using it as an Underground Railroad line. Caught once and convicted for helping a family escape north, he had the 1840s Dream Team legal defense and got "only" a minimum sentence of 2 years in state prison + $100 fine. It wasn't time wasted: he "got religion" in lockup. Upon release, he moved to New Bedford with his family. He studied for the ministry and headed the new 12th Baptist Church in Boston. He turned it into an Abolitionist power center. After Burns lost his freedom, Grimes raised the money to buy his freedom. He recruited for the 54th Regiment and was offered its chaplaincy but remained at his church post.
Back to reading KML's meaty post.
Hi Norm,
Thanks for reading. Grimes is a fascinating individual.
For those of you who want to read further into this aspect of Boston's rich history, I highly recommend Steven Kantrowitz's book More Than Freedom.
Sitting in my car (parked of course) with tears. Thank you for reminding me of the strength on Bostonians. I had never read this story but have lived here for decades.
Hang in there, Donna. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Thank you for sharing this incredibly powerful and inspiring story.
Hi Candee,
Thanks so much for taking the time to read.