Earlier this month Gertrude Himmelfarb gave a lecture at AEI on Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France.  Audio and video are now available here.

I interrupt SA’s normal campaign-related blogging to ask what will seem like a completely arcane historical question: was the Louisiana Purchase constitutional?  After having read a quite a lot about the deal, I still remain somewhat unsure about the answer to that question.  Jefferson seemed to think it was unconstitutional, but went ahead with it when he thought the deal would fall through if he delayed too long in trying to push for a constitutional amendement.

So, I put the question to you, the Southern Appeal readership.

New footage has been discovered in Sweden of Sen. McCain’s release from POW camp. The Washingon Post reports that his limp was caused by the then-9-year-old Gov. Palin who was aiding and abetting the Viet-Cong, and it is attempting to find facts that support this story.

George Orwell’s diaries begin on August 9, 1938 — so The Orwell Trust had the idea to post the entries online, one day at a time, exactly 70 years after they were written.  You can read the first entry (and all subsequent ones, for that matter) here.

Courtesy of The Art of Manliness.

Overall, I think it is a fine compilation. There is, however, one glaring omission IMHO: General Robert E. Lee’s General Order No. 9 (the text of which is noted below the fold). Although I suppose one could quibble with whether this order is technically a “speech.” In any event, it is certainly worthy of a “honorable mention” here at SA. (more…)

Jay Wink’s “April 1865: The Month that Saved America” is nothing short of a masterpiece.* If you are even remotely interested in the history of the War for Southern Independence, you should purchase and read this book ASAP.

And yes, I realize that 4/1865 has been out for quite some time now. I have a huge backlog of books to read.

Thomas Jefferson at his finest:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. (more…)

A classic scene from “The Patriot” (which every SA reader should watch over the Fourth of July weekend):

Any SA readers care to weigh in on this one?

I apologize for the light posting today. I took a personal day to recover from a family trip over the weekend, and I’ve immersed myself in the John Adams HBO Miniseries (which is quite good).

Regular posting will resume tomorrow.

*  Walker Percy fans will enjoy this annotation of Love in the Ruins by Baylor’s Ralph Wood.

*  Forbes’s new interactive electoral college map includes info on the results of the 2004 race.

*  Right now on Intrade, for $3.76 you can buy a futures contract that will pay $10.00 if McCain wins in November.  Any takers?  For more on such “prediction markets,” read Gordon Crovitz’s interesting essay in the WSJ from last month.

*  High on my summer reading list is James Piereson’s Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism.  Interviews of Piereson can be viewed at Uncommon Knowledge (on NRO, the week of May 19) and Book TV.  What looks to be a precis of the book can be found in this 2006 article from Commentary.

*  Justice Scalia and historian Gordon Wood appeared recently on the C-Span interview program, Q and A.  You can see them (May 4 and April 13, respectively) via the show’s archive, here. 

*  Check out these amazing photos from Mars.

*  This season’s unusual commencement speakers include Nancy Grace (Mercer) and Chuck Norris (Liberty). 

Take that Aaron Burr!

Except, of course, for this one.

Today is the 172 anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. On this date in 1836 General Sam Houston led the forces of Texas against General Antonio López de Santa Anna’s Mexican forces. The battle lasted less than twenty minutes and resulted in a decisive victory for Texas. Lets all raise a toast to General Houston and his brave men.

Oh, and offer a prayer that their descendants finally learn to do Bar-B-Q right. It is PORK not beef.

Hat tip to Daniel over at Grim’s Hall for pointing out today’s significance.

“What gross deception and fatal delusion! Although very considerable benefit might be derived from strengthening the hands of Congress, so as to enable them to regulate commerce, and counteract the adverse restrictions of other nations, which would meet with the concurrence of all persons; yet this benefit, is accompanied in the new constitution with the scourge of despotic power, that will render the citizens of America tenants at will of every species of property, of every enjoyment, and make them the mere drudges of government. The gilded bait conceals corrosives that will eat up their whole substance.”

 I’m sure we’re going to be the best of friends.

Blackadder has this interesting post up over at Vox Nova.

To mark the 65th anniversary I recommend that you visit the treasure trove of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Project. 

I wish all a Happy Thanksgiving, and hope pleasure is found in reading these WSJ editorial traditions.

“The Desolate Wilderness.”

So they left that goodly and pleasant city of Leyden, which had been their resting-place for above eleven years, but they knew that they were pilgrims and strangers here below, and looked not much on these things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, where God hath prepared for them a city (Heb. XI, 16), and therein quieted their spirits.

and

“And the Fair Land.”

Anyone whose labors take him into the far reaches of the country, as ours lately have done, is bound to mark how the years have made the land grow fruitful.

This is indeed a big country, a rich country, in a way no array of figures can measure and so in a way past belief of those who have not seen it. Even those who journey through its Northeastern complex, into the Southern lands, across the central plains and to its Western slopes can only glimpse a measure of the bounty of America.

A quick tour through human history, courtesy of Paul Johnson.  Just a perfect Sunday afternoon read.  (HT to John Miller on The Corner.)

Now, here’s a vote you can feel good about.

Everyone should celebrate this day by watching this inspiring clip from Kenneth Branaugh’s Henry V.  The feast day itself has nothing to do with the Battle of Agincourt, fought on October 25, 1415, but any excuse to watch this clip is a good excuse.  You can read about St. Crispin and his brother St. Crispinian here.

This book will be my next purchase from Amazon; and I suspect that many of y’all will want to get a copy of ”Christ in the Camp” as well, given that the book covers two of SA’s primary topics o’ interest (Southern History/Culture and Christianity).

I just began reading a book this morning, “Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer,” as part of my morning quiet time (which I’ve been neglecting of late), and there is a fascinating question posed and answered by the author at the very outset: Who are the top ten “historical persons who have had the greatest impact on [your] life (excluding Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother–hey, it’s a Catholic book, you know it’s going to have a Marian vibe going)”?

Off the top of my head, here’s my top ten:

(1) General Robert E. Lee;

(2) Saint Thomas More;

(3) Saint Augustine;

(4) Saint Thomas Aquinas;

(5) Pope John Paul II;

(6) President (and General) George Washington;

(7) General Thomas J. ”Stonewall” Jackson

(8) President Ronald Reagan;

(9) Justice Joseph Story; and

(10) Winston Churchill

I may end up revising this list later, but these were the men who first came to mind.

Who would you choose?