[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Ahead.
Appear.
Double.
Husky.

Jumble | Seattle Times Newspaper

Mr. President


I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said "I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right — Il n'y a que moi qui a toujours raison."


In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administred.


On the whole, Sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.

Franklin would have had a very husky voice when he spoke these words to the man, fellow Pennsylvania James Wilson, Franklin would have read his words at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 which shows that he was still decades if not centuries ahead in the wisdom of his ideas when they are compared with some of his countrymen. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/cha...nsylvania.html Franklin had become too ill to read his words with much force at the Constitutional Convention so he had James Wilson appear instead of him with these words. Wilson doubled as Franlklin's friend and was one of the most influential Founding Fathers besides James Madison in writing the US Constitution.

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Afoot.
Outwit.
Exodus.
Faint.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Afoot.
Outwit.
Exodus.
Faint.

Ben Franklin was quickly afoot after he took a very hard stand against slavery trying to prevent the exodus of many a Southern Congressional delegate. In this area, he could not outwit the long entrenched peculiar institution and was a little too faint of heart to try a direct challenge so he tried one of his parodies.

Full Text of Ben Franklin’s last letter:

On the Slave-Trade To the Editor of the Federal Gazette March 23d, 1790

Sir,

Reading last night in your excellent Paper the speech of Mr. Jackson in Congress against their meddling with the Affair of Slavery, or attempting to mend the Condition of the Slaves, it put me in mind of a similar One made about 100 Years since by Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, a member of the Divan of Algiers, which may be seen in Martin’s Account of his Consulship, anno 1687. It was against granting the Petition of the Sect called Erika, or Purists who pray’d for the Abolition of Piracy and Slavery as being unjust. Mr. Jackson does not quote it; perhaps he has not seen it. If, therefore, some of its Reasonings are to be found in his eloquent Speech, it may only show that men’s Interests and Intellects operate and are operated on with surprising similarity in all Countries and Climates, when under similar Circumstances. The African’s Speech, as translated, is as follows.

“Allah Bismillah,&c. God is great, and Mahomet is his Prophet.”

“Have these Erika considered the Consequences of granting their Petition? If we cease our Cruises against the Christians, how shall we be furnished with the Commodities their Countries produce, and which are so necessary for us? If we forbear to make Slaves of their People, who in this hot Climate are to cultivate our Lands? Who are to perform the common Labours of our City, and in our Families? Must we not then be our own Slaves? And is there not more Compassion and more Favour due to us as Mussulmen, than to these Christian Dogs? We have now about 50,000 Slaves in and near Algiers. This Number, if not kept up by fresh Supplies, will soon diminish, and be gradually annihilated. If we then cease taking and plundering the Infidel Ships, and making Slaves of the Seamen and Passengers, our Lands will become of no Value for want of Cultivation; the Rents of Houses in the City will sink one half; and the Revenues of Government arising from its Share of Prizes be totally destroy’d! And for what? To gratify the whims of a whimsical Sect, who would have us, not only forbear making more Slaves, but even to manumit those we have.

“But who is to indemnify their Masters for the Loss? Will the State do it? Is our Treasury sufficient? Will the Erika do it? Can they do it? Or would they, to do what they think Justice to the Slaves, do a greater Injustice to the Owners? And it we set our Slaves free, what is to be done with them? Few of them will return to their Countries; they know too well the great Hardships they must there be subject to; they will not embrace our holy Religion; they will not adopt our Manners; our People will not pollute themselves by intermarrying with them. Must we maintain them as Beggars in our Streets, or suffer our Properties to be the Prey of their Pillage? For men long accustom’d to Slavery will not work for a Livelihood when not compell’d. And what is there so pitiable in their present Condition? Were they not Slaves in their own Countries?

“Are not Spain, Portugal, France, and the Italian states govern’d by Despots, who hold all their Subjects in Slavery, without Exception? Even England treats its Sailors as Slaves; for they are, whenever the Government pleases, seiz’d, and confin’d in Ships of War, condemn’d not only to work, but to fight, for small Wages, or a mere Subsistence, not better than our Slaves are allow’d by us. Is their Condition then made worse by their falling into our Hands? No; they have only exchanged one Slavery for another, and I may say a better; for here they are brought into a land where the Sun of Islamism gives forth its Light, and shines in full Splendor, and they have an Opportunity of making themselves acquainted with the true Doctrine, and thereby saving their immortal Souls. Those who remain at home have not that Happiness. Sending the Slaves home then would be sending them out of Light into Darkness.

“I repeat the Question, What is to be done with them? I have heard it suggested, that they may be planted in the Wilderness, where there is plenty of Land for them to subsist on, and where they may flourish as a free State; but they are, I doubt, to little dispos’d to labour without Compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish a good government, and the wild Arabs would soon molest and destroy or again enslave them. While serving us, we take care to provide them with every thing, and they are treated with Humanity. The Labourers in their own Country are, as I am well informed, worse fed, lodged, and cloathed. The Condition of most of them is therefore already mended, and requires no further Improvement. Here their Lives are in Safety. They are not liable to be impress’d for Soldiers, and forc’d to cut one another’s Christian throats, as in the Wars of their own Countries. If some of the religious mad Bigots, who now teaze us with their silly Petitions, have in a Fit of blind Zeal freed their Slaves, it was not Generosity, it was not Humanity, that mov’d them to the Action; it was from the conscious Burthen of a Load of Sins, and Hope, from the supposed Merits of so good a Work, to be excus’d Damnation.

“How grossly are they mistaken in imagining Slavery to be disallow’d by the Alcoran? Are not the two Precepts, to quote no more, ‘Masters, treat your Slaves with kindness; Slaves, serve your Masters with Cheerfulness and Fidelity,’ clear Proofs to the contrary? Nor can the Plundering of Infidels be in that sacred Book forbidden, since it is well known from it, that God has given the World, and all that it contains, to his faithful Mussulmen, who are to enjoy it of Right as fast as they conquer it. Let us then hear no more of this detestable Proposition, the Manumission of Christian Slaves, the Adoption of which would, by depreciating our Lands and Houses, and thereby depriving so many good Citizens of their Properties, create universal Discontent, and provoke Insurrections, to the endangering of Government and producing general Confusion. I have therefore no doubt, but this wise Council will prefer the Comfort and Happiness of a whole Nation of true Believers to the Whim of a few Erika, and dismiss their Petition.”

The Result was, as Martin tells us, that the Divan came to this Resolution; “The Doctrine, that Plundering and Enslaving the Christians is unjust, is at best problematical; but that it is the Interest of this State to continue the Practice, is clear; therefore let the Petition be rejected.”

And it was rejected accordingly.

And since like Motives are apt to produce in the Minds of Men like Opinions and Resolutions, may we not, Mr. Brown, venture to predict, from this Account, that the Petitions to the Parliament of England for abolishing the Slave-Trade, to say nothing of other Legislatures, and the Debates upon them, will have a similar Conclusion? I am, Sir, your constant Reader and humble Servant,

(Signed) HISTORICUS. (Pseudonym of Ben Franklin)

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Friday's Word Jumble answers:

Yeast.
Orphan.
Hymnal.
Arose.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Friday's Word Jumble answers:

Yeast.
Orphan.
Hymnal.
Arose.

Ben Franklin's ideas provided the yeast of many an orphaned writer. Or at least for writers who needed some kind of direction. This guidance arose in many cases and these readings of Franklin's work provide quite a hymnal to Franklin's influences over the past 220 years. D.H. Lawrence's take on Franklin's 13 Virtues in quite revealing. Lawrence on Franklin

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble | Seattle Times Newspaper

Saturday's Word Jumble answers:

Mayhem.
Ratio.
Assign.
Fable.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble | Seattle Times Newspaper

Saturday's Word Jumble answers:

Mayhem.
Ratio.
Assign.
Fable.

Looking back on Franklin's life one of his fables seems especially prophetic. This is the one of the lion cub and the mastiff.

A lion's whelp was put on board a guinea ship bound for America
as a present to a friend in that country: It was tame, and harmless as a kitten,
and therefore not confined, but suffered to walk about the
ship at pleasure. A stately, full-grown English mastiff, belonging
to the captain, despising the weakness of the young lion, frequently
took its food by force and often turned it out of its lodging box,
when he had a mind to repose therein himself. The young lion
nevertheless grew daily in size and strength, and the voyage being
long, he became at last a more equal match for the mastiff; who,
continuing his insults, received a stunning blow from the lion's paw
that fetched his skin over his ears, and deterred him from any
further contest with such growing strength; regretting that he had
not rather secured its friendship than provoked its enmity.

If the two could have become friends rather than enemies quite a lot of new opportunities could have been assigned the citizens of each country and this probably also would have hindered the various coming wars and revolutions from happening which had been caused mostly by the stark discrepancies between the very rich and the very poor created by trying to finance the struggles between England, America, and France and their various allies. A lot of mayhem could also have been prevented. Unfortunately, wars and their motivations seldom come down to something that can be put into a neat little formula provided a ratio of costs versus benefits.

[Taltarzac725]

Word Jumble answers for Sunday, Mother Day's 2013:

Muscle.
Vying.
Canal.
Appall.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Word Jumble answers for Sunday, Mother Day's 2013:

Muscle.
Vying.
Canal.
Appall.

Benjamin Franklin

This link is to an article on the funeral of Benjamin Franklin who died 223 years and 26 days from today on April 17, 1790.

Seems his old nemesis John Adams was a bit appalled by all the hoopla granted in Franklin's honor. France was even vying with the fledging nation on who could honor Franklin more. President Washington was scared that too much of a celebration of the man would muscle into the area where men were put on the same pedestal as Members of the Royal Family.

One of the areas that Franklin's work would have a slow start at really taking hold in the U.S. was that of canals. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/DE...ort/canal.html

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Monday May 13, 2013 Word Jumble answers:

Bound.
Glaze.
Income.
Postal.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Monday May 13, 2013 Word Jumble answers:

Bound.
Glaze.
Income.
Postal.

Franklin was a Colonial Deputy Postmaster and it only fitting that we look at some of the stamps used for postal income after his death. http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/1d_franklin.html

The United States post office has issued over one hundred thirty stamps depicting Benjamin Franklin. He has also appeared on booklet stamps, postal stationery, and revenue stamps. The rarest Franklin stamp is the 1-cent Z grill, with only two copies recorded of this National Bank Note Company issue of 1867-68. In 2006 the United States Postal Service honored Franklin’s 300th birthday with a block of four stamps illustrating his various roles as printer, scientist, postmaster, and statesman.

from above linked article from the Smithsonian Postal Museum.

We are now bound for another subject intricately linked to the success of the American Revolution. The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Hope there are few TOTVers whose eyes glaze over with boredom when mentioning this Corsican who had such an impact on European History a well as that of the United States.

[Taltarzac725]

Canvas.
Onward.
Flirt.
Bushy.

We will have to canvas the history and archives of many countries to move onward to the life of Napoleon Bonaparte who had flirted with the idea of conquering Corsica after it had been sold to the French by the Genoese Republic on May 15, 1767. His was a long line of small time nobles from Florence who had picked the wrong side to back in the Italian battles between the Pope's supporters (Guelphs) and those of the Holly Roman Empire (Ghibellines) and been forced to live Florence and then moving to Ajaccio, Corsica in 1520.

You can get an idea of this place where the Bonapartes had made their home from this travel adventure. http://luxurytravelbeat.com/2011/01/27/corsica-by-rail/

Having already spent a great deal of time in Corsican waters, I opt instead to explore the old town, where old men enthusiastically play pétanque in the warm, lazy afternoons, before rounding up my day-trip with a walk to the local open-air market. Here I sample cheese and sausages before buying some local jam to take back home as souvenirs. On the train back to Calvi, I silently lament the fact that I did not dedicate my entire holiday to exploring this wild-eyed and bushy-tailed island by train.

From above linked article.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Canvas.
Onward.
Flirt.
Bushy.

We will have to canvas the history and archives of many countries to move onward to the life of Napoleon Bonaparte who had flirted with the idea of conquering Corsica after it had been sold to the French by the Genoese Republic on May 15, 1767. His was a long line of small time nobles from Florence who had picked the wrong side to back in the Italian battles between the Pope's supporters (Guelphs) and those of the Holly Roman Empire (Ghibellines) and been forced to live Florence and then moving to Ajaccio, Corsica in 1520.

You can get an idea of this place where the Bonapartes had made their home from this travel adventure. Corsica by rail: A one-day taster

From above linked article.

Pasquale Paoli (Corsican statesman) -- Encyclopedia Britannica

http://pollenhaus.com/UMB/HIS112/prologue.html

The Bonapartes were forced to flee Corsica in mass when Napoleon's array of giant or formal and informal alliances and family missteps with them began in earnest with his 18 year old brother Lucien's hot headed attacks on Pasquale Paoli a Corsican patriot and long time hero of Napaleon Bonaparte. His family would often get Napoleon into political bogs much like he would actually find in the marshy Egyptian campaign. http://www.napoleon-series.org/ins/s...palestine.html

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Answers tomorrow.

Yesterday's words were:

Marshy.
Giant.
Array.
Formal.

For checking today's Word Jumble answers if you want to-- http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../16/index.html

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle


Epoxy.
Needy.
Matrix.
Idiocy.

For checking today's answers: http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../17/index.html