Senator Sumner 1856

On May 22, 1856 Congressman Preston Brooks entered the US Senate chamber and infamously beat MA Senator Preston Sumner with his cane.  Sine I am always cynical about history books I decided to find a copy of Senator Sumner's speech "The Crime Against Kansas" that so angered Congressman Brooks.  (Sumner was signing copies of the speech when Brooks confronted him.)  Besides being typical political rhetoric designed to inflame the emotions of the North against the South, to Sumner's political advantage, it personally insulted Brooks' cousin, Senator Andrew Butler.  So now I'm not so sympathetic toward Sumner.

Here's the whole thing: The Crime Against Kansas.

The New York Gazette, December 9, 1765

A letter from the Sons of Liberty in Boston to the merchants and traders of NYC, thanking them for continuing to boycott all trade with Great Britain in protest of the Stamp Act.

"...bless the day that this amazing act, with all its horrors, was passed, for by it they have at once awakened a whole continent..."

http://www.patriottoursnyc.com/prints/12091765boston.png

Official resignation of the NYC Stamp Agent, James McEvers. Sworn to Isaac Sears and Joseph Allicocke, leaders of the NYC Sons of Liberty.

http://www.patriottoursnyc.com/prints/mcevers.png

 

 

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking before the NYC Chapter of the DAR.  They are a fantastic group of women, raising and donating money to many different charities and causes, including the post Hurricane Sandy reconstruction of the Fraunces Tavern.  Many thanks to them for inviting me to speak!

I love Financial History!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting the President and CEO of the Museum of American Finance on Wall Street.  Among many fascinating items I viewed the very first Treasury Bill to be issued.  Done during the Jefferson administration by Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin, it raised money to complete the Louisiana Purchase.  Ironically, it was issued to a British bank.  So financing came from England in order to pay Napoleon who then used the money to fight England.

I highly recommend a visit to MOAF if you are or will be in NYC!