1850s Lincoln

In defending the free labor system against slave labor, Lincoln gives us a strong statement of his American faith in property rights and social mobility. It feels very conservative, befitting the mid-19th century.

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Lincoln defended the free labor system against critics who claimed that slaves were better off than hired laborers. Pointing to his own experience he denied that a permanent laboring class existed in the North. Men like himself might start off with no capital and thus be forced to work for others, but in time they could, if they were industrious, accumulate capital and hire others to work for them. “In doing so they do not wrong the man they employ, for they find men who have not their own land to work upon, or shops to work in, and who are benefited by working for others, hired laborers, receiving their capital for it. Thus a few men that own capital, hire a few others, and these establish the relation of capital and labor rightfully. A relation of which I make no complaint.” No man, he said, was locked into the position of hired laborer forever unless he sank into vice, fell into misfortune, or simply chose such a life. The free institutions of the country were designed to promote social and economic mobility. “This progress by which the poor, honest, and resolute man raises himself, that he may work on his own account, and hire somebody else is that progress that human nature is entitled to, is that improvement in condition that is intended to be secured by those institutions under which we live, is the great principle for which this government was really formed.”

-- Michael Burlingame, “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”

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Sunday

Coming out of my afternoon nap, I thought this might be a good opportunity to shave, since Pop went downtown this afternoon, but it was already four o’clock. I blew my chances when I opted for a long wank after lunch.

That downtown trip is kind of a funny thing, too. It feels like a cover story. He just quickly went out saying that he felt like looking around downtown. Usually, almost always, well, always except for this once, he has a particular reason to go downtown, whether it is to watch the Cowboys practice or see an event. The beginning of August is also not a great time to be walking around out there. And he also left late for such a trip, after twelve-thirty.

I kind of wonder if Pop might be taking some chances, exploring the Internet possibilities of hooking up with young women, and for just a little bundle of cash, wanting to make sure he has tasted what life might have available for him if he just tries, before old age lays him up for good. Or maybe I am just projecting too much. Nevertheless, something smells fishy.

The Natural World

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Charles Alan Wright

Ah, according to Mallon’s novel, Charles Alan Wright, the UT law professor, was Nixon’s lawyer during Watergate. I probably shouldn’t be surprised that I did not hear of that when I was there. I did not get much of the scuttlebut being passed around.