“[A]meliorate the evils under which the country is laboring”

[ Hat tip: Tom Higgins ] Given the mess in the financial markets, this bit of history is amusing:

September 17, 1859

“At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.

NORTON I, Emperor of the United States.”

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  3. Kim Stanley Robinson interview
  4. Charlie Stross’ Blog
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This entry was written by Bill Humphries, posted on September 17, 2008 at 10:38 am, filed under culture, places and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
  • http://onyxlynx.blogspit,com D. Potter

    So next year is the 150th anniversary of this proclamation? Shouldn’t someone somewhere be organizing a party? (NOT a hint.)