End the Electoral College and elect by direct vote
Dixon California December 1872 letter argues the Electoral College skews democracy. It decries bribery and misrepresentation in presidential elections, urges direct popular vote for president and U S senators, cites Lincoln and 1876 scenarios, and calls Republicans to reform.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States
Lincoln
Douglas
Breckenridge
Bell
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Illinois
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Missouri
Kansas
California
Oregon
Arkansas
Texas
U. S
Pomeroy
Clayton
Dixon
Paternal Government in the Southern States
A political editorial attacks federal interference in the postwar South. It blames Northern adventurers and carpetbaggers for corrupting Southern governments, urges whites to govern locally, and condemns Congress and the President for meddling. It cites state turmoil in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina and calls for self-rule through local courts and tribunals. A second note reports the national electoral results, listing Grant's win and the vice presidential tally, with scattered vote details by state.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Georgia
Carolinas
South
Warmouth
Kellogg
Casey
Packard
Spencer
Patterson
Worthington
Louisiana
Alabama
Washington
Arkansas
South Carolina
Supreme Court
Congress
New Orleans
Charleston
Montgomery
Senate
N. S. Tribune
Suppression of Obscene Literature Critique in Des Moines Leader
The Des Moines Leader criticizes teen youth culture and the press for fostering vice through semi obscene and sentimental literature. It argues that mobile dime novels and lurid magazines undermine virtue and reader modesty, predicting long term social harm to character and morality.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Police Gazette
New York Society
Des Moines
Census figures show German Empire population rise
The December 1 1871 census records 41 058 139 inhabitants for the German Empire. Including Alsace and Lorraine with French figures raises total by 1 546 450, indicating a population decline when those areas are counted separately. Large emigration noted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
German Empire
Alsace and
Lorraine
Local Misconduct and Philanthropy Hook Alexandria Scene
A report from Alexandria highlights a rowdy scene as African American men amuse residents by dropping women’s clothing and declaring a small ex plea. W W Corcoran of Washington has donated 320000 in six percent coupon bonds to Washington Iee University. Carroll Smith, a young man from near Canton Miss, reports earning 1950 from thirty bales of cotton this year. The O A M and Lynchburg Danville Railroads have merged under one management as Virginia North Carolina Railroad.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alexandria
W. W. Corcoran, Esq
Washington
Washingtone Iee University
Carroll] Smith
Canton Miss
Lynchburg
Danville
Virginia & North Carolina Railroad
Congress Passes Soldier’s Bounty Land Bill Amid Debate
Washington December 12 The house debated the soldier s bounty bill with Coburn Storms Niblack Holman Stoughton and Shellabarger leading the discussion A substitute bill favored by Holman was adopted granting 16 acres of public land to private soldiers musicians seamen and officers honorably discharged or to their widows or orphans under 21 with entry in the name of the entitled person and patent issued to them or their survivors The measure outlines land allotments along railroad lines or other public works and restricts land sales or power of attorney related to such land.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Messrs. Coburn
Storms
Niblack
Holman
Stoughton
Shellabarger
Hawley
Ilinois
Yeas
Army
United States
Navy of
Secretary of the Interior
Pri
Reforms for a Direct Vote in Presidential Choice
Centerville Cilizem argues the Electoral College shows clumsiness in selecting a president and proposes reforms. The piece supports a direct vote for president and vice president, single six year term, federal officer terms aligned with the presidency, and uniform election days to ensure honest, broad state involvement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greeley
Hendricks
Horace Greeley
Missouri
Georgia
B. Gratz Brown
General Grant
N. Y. World
Centerville
Pension Bill Passes House After Amendments and Debate
The House debated and passed the pension appropriation bill with amendments. Garfield reported a deficiency bill of 1,639,000 dollars as a special order after the pension measure. The pension bill allocates 30,480,000 dollars with about 33,000 added pensioners, including 17,000 War of 1812 veterans. thousands were dropped from the rolls due to death and other causes. The session adjourned after the committee reported the bill.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Garfield
Committee On Appropriations
Hoar
Mass
Beaver Dam On Fox River Near Town
A Beaver Dam has appeared on Fox River about two and a half miles from town. Beavers are busily building a dam with one large individual acting as boss giving directions. If not disturbed soon the colony may prosper and lead to future trapping profits.
Father Burke Honors Free America as Brightest Shadow
Father Tom Burke declares his earthly title as American citizen, saying beside the cross the greatest shadow is the stars and stripes of free America, framing patriotism in faith.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tom Burke
Free America
Palmer postal telegraph bill heads for approval before holidays
A Washington dispatch to the Chicago Tribune reports the postal telegraph bill of Representative Palmer will be presented by the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable report before the holidays.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Chicago Tribune
Palmer
Committee On Appropriations
Isles of the Amazonic verse in Overland Monthly
The piece reviews Joaquin Miller’s Isles of the Amazon in the Overland Monthly December issue. It notes the poem’s graphic South American imagery and sensual passages, highlights the narrative lag, and quotes a dramatic section about Amazon life, love, and motherhood while preserving the article’s critical stance and period voice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco Bulletin
Joaquin Miller
Isles of the Amazon
Overland Monthly
South American
Also Mentioned on This Page
Br Aseph Asslaxen
Florida
Grant
Henry Wilson
B.gratz Brown
Tennessee
Kentucky
Thos. E. Bramlette
Willis B. Mach
Delaware
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
the Sierra
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!