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250 years ago today, Washington writes to Gen. Sullivan, in command on the Canadian front: "I think every mark of friendship and favor should be shown them (Canadians), to encourage their zeal and attachment to our cause, and from which if they once heartily embark we shall derive innumerable...

I'm not too optimistic. We will probably get the rhetorical equivalent of Trump hugging an American flag. And the same degree of sincerity. The institution of the United States is bigger than one person and duty means subordinating one's interests to something bigger than himself.

I'm still flying the Grand Union Flag until the end of the Month, after which I will switch to the Virginia flag when Virginia declared independence (June 29th), and then, on July 4th, switch again to the Betsy Ross. Betsy Ross was actually adopted later, but the semiquincentennial is the...

On June 7th, the resolutions proposed by Richard Henry Lee contained three main clauses: draft a declaration of independence, "a plan of treaties to be proposed to foreign powers," and draft "a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration...

I am not sure I agree with that interpretation. All Mason says is that rights are "inherent," not where they come from, whether they come from the state, God, or simply by virtue of being human. Jefferson's assessment is clearer.

To point out what I feel are some significant points from the Virginia Declaration: It is wrong to force anyone to exercise a religion, but all have a duty to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity. (That is an interesting way to phrase it.) "The militia" consists of the body of the...

250 years ago today, Virginia, which was in the process of crafting a republican state constitution, adopts the Virginia Declaration of Rights (drafted by George Mason): Virginia Declaration of Rights I That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights...

I think Abraham Lincoln was a great speaker. Thomas Jefferson was a great writer. In fact, the disparity between Jefferson's writing ability and his speaking ability was such that, when president, he would write out his state of the Union addresses and send them over to Congress in written form.

250 years ago today, Congress decided who would serve on the committee tasked to draft a declaration of independence: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. John Adams suggested Thomas Jefferson draft the declaration. When Jefferson asked why...

And this one. Russian general's car explodes after his son posts his license plate number on social media. I have said social media is harmful and dangerous.

Something is jamming GPS signals over Europe. An interesting piece of digital sleuthing. Worth a watch if you have the time (34 minutes). Spoiler alert: it appears to be the Russians. The questions remains: If this was a test of a real GPS jamming system (but offset slightly from the main GPS...

I would think it is not amongst the enumerated federal powers (I mean, what federal law has been broken?), but the most likely reason is that the plaintiff filed his case in a Texas court (probably for good reason, as in he was much more likely to get a favorable ruling in a Texas court).

Also on this day in 1776, Congress postponed consideration of the resolution on the secession of the colonies until 1 July so that some of the colonies' delegations might have time to receive instructions from their home legislatures. In the meantime, "that no time be lost," Congress decided to...

250 years ago today, Washington, now back in New York, writes to Hancock that he has a "confident report" that British troops have embarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and are headed for New York. British "troops are hourly expected at the Hook" (Sandy Hook, New Jersey).

Twice, actually. 1775-1776 and 1812-1814.

In an era in which leaders on both sides of the Atlantic were not given to acts of moderation and conciliation, Parliament's Quebec Act of 1774, guaranteeing freedom of worship and restoring French property rights, was both conciliatory and successful in gaining the loyalty of the francophone...

They could claims a People's National Championship. Undefeated!

250 years ago today, the British begin sailing from Nova Scotia, headed for New York City. In New York, Washington is writing dispatches, trying to administer the to the needs of the army, to right then ship in Canada, and understand what happened at the Battle of the Cedars, outside Montreal...

Next week, June 17th, is National Garbageman Day. Remember to take care of the guys who collect your rubbish on cold February mornings and hot August afternoons. It is unpleasant, difficult work. Make a small gesture to show how much you appreciate them. We give a lot more pay and percs to more...

This is an interesting take. I especially appreciate his demonstrating that even in the Founding Era, the press were savagely biased.