Quote Originally Posted by Suppressed Poet View Post
Funny you should bring up William Pennington. He was a Republican Speaker that attempted to preserve the Union & avoid Civil War by shielding slavery from future abolition. He failed, and history has not judged him kindly. I’m sure you are aware Democrats supported slavery at the time just as I’m aware of the Southern Strategy. So by bringing him up do you finally admit to Democrats being the party of slavery, or do you claim William Pennington as one of your own? You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Yes I suppose that is another way to look at it. Democrats had an active role in elevating Mike Johnson to Speaker. We agree on that. Congrats and I hope it was everything they hoped it would be.

Johnson is similar to Pennington in three ways. First, each was involved in an election dispute where he tried to use a position of power to appoint people who did not get as many votes as their opponents. Second, they were both elected after many failed Speaker votes. Third, they both came to the Speakership from relative obscurity.

No one thinks Mike Johnson wants slavery. William Pennington was a Republican the entire time he was in Congress, including when he tried to amend the Constitution to preserve slavery.

I've got to go finish assembling my Halloween treat bags. Now that I discovered you can buy individually wrapped prunes, I think this year's treat bags will be a bigger hit than last year's. Before I go, I'll pose one question for thought about the Constitutional amendment advocated by Pennington.

"No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State."

What if future people amended the Constitution again saying something like, "The Constitution is amended by repealing the earlier amendment, and slavery is outlawed"? I say Pennington's amendment wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.