THE SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT--GOOD OR BAD?

I have been writing about the signers of our Declaration of Independence for some time now, and will continue to do so.  But this being an election year, and one of great importance, I feel compelled to ask this question; is the Seventeenth Amendment good or bad?
If you have your copy of the Constitution go to Article 1, Section 3.  "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature hereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one Vote."
What was the purpose of choosing our Senate this way when the Congress was voted by the people at large?  Did the founders not trust the people?  Not at all- the Senator was sent to Washington to protect the interests of the individual State!  They answered directly to the needs of their State.
It was a system that served it's purpose very well for more than one hundred years.
The Seventeenth Amendment to our Constitution changed that election process to the popular vote that we use today, ratified and made law in 1913.
Today's election process has become a constant campaign for votes.  Elections are no sooner over than the process is started all over again.  Would it not be nice to, at least, see the upper body of Congress busy at work on the problems of their respective State---Hmmm?Medicineman!

FRANCIS LEWIS, SIGNER NUMBER 17

Born in Wales in 1713, the only son of an Episcopal clergyman, and left an orphan at the age of five years, Francis Lewis was raised by a maiden aunt and received a good education becoming proficient in Gaelic, the language of Scotland.  He served an apprenticeship with a merchant and at age twenty one invested his money in merchandise and sailed for New York.  There he formed a business partnership and left part of his goods with him and went to Philadelphia with the rest of his goods.  There he remained for two years.
On returning to New York he married the sister of his partner and they had seven children together.  He spent a lot of time in Europe until the French and Indian war when he became aide to Colonel Mercer at Oswega, when the fort was captured by Montcalm in 1757.  He was held prisoner in Canada until the end of the war.
He was given 5,000acres of land by the British as payment for his service.
He became a delegate for New York in the Colonial Congress in 1765 and when the Stamp Act shut down commerce he retired from business to his country home.  Then he was called to service again and elected a delegate to the General Congress in 1775 and again selected a delegate in 1776 where he became a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Francis remained a member of the  Congress until 1778 and was a staunch opponent of the Tories and while the British possessed Long Island his property was destroyed and his wife confined in prison for several months without a bed or a change of clothes.  Her health was broken and she died two years later.
Lewis died in 1803 at the age of 90 years...Medicineman!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, OOPS, CAN I SAY THAT?

When you think you have seen it all some new thing comes along to cause you to say--HUH!
Megan Kelly appealed to the nation to forgive her rude and insensitive remark---please!  Well now, just what did she say that was so terrible?  Children should dress up for Halloween, you know, like clowns, indians, cowboys, super man, bat man, old man or old woman, witch, etc.  You see what I mean?  Yes and even black face using a little face paint.
Well folks, that is where we have come in just a few short years.  In my lifetime this great country has completely gone bonkers, lost it's collective mind and demonstrated to the whole world that we are just a bunch of rude, snot-nosed, kids constantly picking on one another.  Grow up before it's too late!..Medicineman!

PHILIP LIVINGSTON--1716-1778

Philip's father Robert emigrated to America and obtained a large grant of land on the Hudson river.  There he became very wealthy farming the rich acreage, which came to be known as Livingston's Manor.  When  Robert died, Phillip, the eldest of three sons became heir to the Manor.
Phillip graduated from Yale College and entered the business world in New York.  His honest and upright dealings earned him great respect and trust.
Phillip became an Alderman for the East Ward and served there for nine years.  Then when the Governor of the Colony was made Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy his successor dissolved the Assembly and ordered new elections.  Both Phillip and brother Robert were elected to seats in the new Assembly.  There Phillip quickly became a driving force and several French frontier forts were taken from the French and Canada became a subject.
Phillip resigned from the Assembly when Toryism took over.  In 1774 he was elected to the first Continental Congress and was on the committee that prepared the address to the people of Great Britain; "an address replete with bold and original thoughts, prespicuous propositions and convincing arguments".
The next year a General Congress was formed (the Continental Congress being taken over by tories) and the Declaration of Independence was signed.  Livingston was elected to the senate of New York in 1777 and, although in very poor health he took his seat in 1778, said goodbye to his family and never returned home.  True service to his new country...Medicineman!

THE HONDURAN INVASION!

Mexico has been invaded from the south.  No, not by uniformed troops but by women, children and ADULT, ABLE BODIED  MEN OF FIGHTING AGE!  They claim to have been run out by the gangs and hoodlums and criminal element.  If that is the case, why are these able bodied males not taking up arms and fighting for their country?  They should be ashamed of themselves for invading Mexico instead of forcing the criminal out of Honduras.
Mexico is not their savior and neither are we.  President Trump has vowed to place the U.S. Army on the border to combat the invasion.  If they are not stopped there where do we put them?  Who will feed and clothe them?  Who will treat their illnesses?  WILL YOU?...Medicineman!

MEET WILLIAM FLOYD--GREAT AMERICAN!

William Floyd's grandfather came to this country from Wales in 1680 and settled in Setauket, on Long Island.  There he became a very wealthy farmer.
William was born in 1734.  His wealthy father gave him every opportunity at education and William assumed the duties of the family when his father died suddenly.  He became a vigorous opponent of the oppressive mother country and was elected to the first Continental Congress in 1774.
Floyd became head of the County Militia, was reelected to Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.
The British took his farms and housed troops there, taking his cattle and sheep for food supplies while causing much damage to Floyd's property.  He never received any income  for seven years.
After signing the Declaration of Independence William Floyd became General Floyd and was elected to Congress again and remained there until 1783.  In 1800 he was chosen a Presidential Elector and served in that capacity several times.
He was a vigorous and robust man and in 1784 General Floyd purchased land on the Mohawk and developed and farmed the rich land and rebuilt his fortune.  Floyd was just one example of the kind of citizen who built this Republic!...Medicineman!

OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE---

I feel compelled to leave the snippets of our founders that I have been writing about to point out how Washington, "The Swamp" has taken charge of elected government today.
I am sure that President Trump was not aware of the task he promised to do when elected--Drain the Swamp!
What we see happening in our capitol is "Professional" hired hands ignoring ELECTED office holders and, essentially, taking over.  For instance; The justice department is a part of the Executive Department and everyone who works there serves at the pleasure of the President, and any and all can be replaced any time.  In fact, that is what happened after elections not too many years ago.  Sen. Jeff Sessions (a good honest man) was appointed Attorney General and promptly surrendered his seat to a "hired hand" in Rod Rosenstein who has been in and out of Washington for 30 years as well as his wife.  James Comey, FBI director was fired.  He has been in and out of government leaving once to work for industry and earning a huge bonus before coming back to the "Low pay" of Washington.  Robert Mueller took the special prosecutor job and has spent tons of tax-payer money on a wild goose chase and ruining the lives of some good people.
There are many, many more of the professional "Swamp" employee, not elected by anyone and seem to answer to no one.  Our Republic was never intended to be handled this way!  Of the people, By the people and For the people, great words with great intent have been put aside in favor of, "LET THE PROFESSIONAL HANDLE IT"! .... MEDICINEMAN!

WHO IS THIS GUY?

I never thought a lot about it before---that is, how the patriots who put their names to our Declaration of Independence faded away into history  and were forgotten.
Since I have been writing these little "snippits" of the men who signed this all-important document I have had readers ask me, "Why have I never heard of these guys before?"  "Until I read this I had not seen his name anywhere before!"  Please, do not think you have been shorted on your history.  You are not alone, by any means, for most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence simply did the job they were chosen to do and went on to serve wherever and however they could and did not ask for anything in return, except that future generations study and learn and practice what they had put their names to.  These men thought that all Americans would be grateful for the chance to live in a free state.  They thought that all future Americans would practice this "art" of self-governing.  The founders rightly thought that ALL Citizens would fight to keep what so many had fought and died for.  I must sadly admit that what I see happening today is certainly and definitely  not what our founders had in mind!...Medicineman!

MEET OLIVER WOLCOTT; 1726-1797

Oliver Wolcott's family came to America in 1630 when Henry Wolcott obtained a charter to form the state of Connecticut , thus making Oliver a long standing American.
Oliver entered Yale College and graduated in 1747, and received a Captain's Commission and took part in the French and Indiana war.  He rose to the rank of Mayor General quickley and then turned to the study of medicine, but as he finished his study he was appointed Sheriff and judge of his county. 
Mr. Wolcott became a member of the General Congress in 1775 and took an active part in the debates over the Independence of the Colonies,
Oliver commanded Connecticut Militia in the battle of New York before returning to the General Congress and was there when forced to move that body from Philadelphia to Baltimore.
He took part in the capture of Burgoyne and his army in October 1777 before returning to his seat in Congress.
He was active in the recruiting of soldiers during the Revolution while, at the same time, sitting in Congress, moving when threatened by the British and, as Major General, commanding troops when needed.  He was chosen Governor of Connecticut in 1796 and re-elected in 1797 and served until his death late that year.  Oliver Wolcott was very busy man!...Medicineman!

SAM HUNTINGTON & WILLIAM WILLIAMS OF CONNECTICUT!

I mention these two signers of the Declaration of Independence simply because they were born about the same time; 1731 and 1732.  Sam was born at Windham to hard working farmers and had little formal schooling.  Sam was able to school himself with borrowed books on what ever subject he could find.  He read himself into law and became a judge at age 30 years.  He was highly respected, honest and vigorous in defense of liberty and local control.  He was appointed a member of the General Congress in 1775 and had the privilege of signing the Declaration of Independence.  He was appointed Lt. Governor in 1785 and then became Governor the next year.
William Williams family came from Wales and his father and grandfather were both ministers and at age sixteen he entered Harvard College and entered into the study of Religion.  But the French and Indian war drew him away and there he developed a considerable dislike for the British ways.  He left the study of religion and entered the mercantile business, became town clerk and then became a member of the Connecticut Assembly and then on to the General Congress where he had the honor of adding his name to the Declaration of Independence.
When in 1781 he heard that the traitor Arnold had attacked the town of New London and burned it to the ground he was Colonel of militia but was too late to help in the three hours it took to make the trip.  During the war when the continental dollars issued by Congress were being refused in many areas William bought two thousand dollars worth of the "continentals" to help buy goods for the regulars, losing most of it in the process....Medicineman!

MEET ROGER SHERMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS!

Born in 1721 in Newton and moved to Stockington when he was two, Roger was apprenticed to a shoemaker until the death of his father.  Then, at the age of 19 yers, Roger took on the care of his large family.  In 1744 he sold the farm and moved the family to New Milford, Conn. where he had a brother and family. 
Sherman had little formal education but as he worked at his shoemaker trade he studied, reading books of all kinds as he could find them.  He was such a quick mind that he became proficient in law that he was admitted to the Bar in 1754.  In 1755 he became a member of the Assembly of Connecticut and Justice of the peace.
Roger became judge of Litchfield County and moved to New Haven in 1761.  He became a member of the upper house of the Connecticut Legislature at about the time of the Stamp Act
Roger became a fierce supporter of the Patriot cause and was involved even he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774 and signed the document in 1776.  Even with all his duties in Congress during the war he found time to serve with the Committee of Safety of Connecticut.
Roger was on the committee to draft the Constitution and served in the new Government until his death in 1793.
Roger Sherman fathered 15 children by two wives in his seventy three years!  Medicineman!

CHESTEY PULLER, MARINE!

This space has been devoted to the signers of our Declaration of Independence for several days now, but today I want to speak to the subject of the only Marine in history to earn five Navy Crosses, Lewis B. (Chesty) Puller, Lt. General, United States Marines.
Chesty Puller joined the Marines in 1918 at the age of twenty years.  He commanded the Horse Marines in Peking, fought bandits in Haiti and Nicaragua, battled across the Pacific from island to island and fought a savage rearguard action in the "Frozen Chosin" in Korea.  After nearly forty years and forced to retire he never reached full General status.
The example of his leading troops is still a topic of class room discussions today.
Early in the Korean war our troops, ill prepared for the fight, were pushed back to the southern port of Pusan.  Col. Puller led his Marines in an Amphibious assault, from Tokyo, Kobe and Sasebo, on the western port city of Inchon.  There Chesty. once again, demonstrated his mettle by pacing back and forth on the sea-wall while urging his Marines over the wall in that "Mega-phone" voice he was famous for.  United States Marines and Army and United Nations troops pushed North Koreans all the way back the the Yalu river, which marked the border between Chine and North Korea.  There General MacArthur was fired and the Chinese sent thousands of  tennis shoe clad troops against us.  As a result the fighting retreat in minus 30-40 degree temperatures came to be known as "The Frozen Chosin" resulting in many casualties.  Chesty Puller was there, all the way!...Medicineman!

MEET WILLIAM ELLERY OF RHODE ISLAND!

I was told recently by a reader that he did not know and never heard of the person I wrote about.  That is not unusual.  Why?  Because many of those who were in the Continental Congress were ordinary citizens doing what good citizens do; serving their Colony.
William Ellery was born in Newport in 1727.  His father saw to his early education so when he was ready he entered Harvard College where he studied Greek and Latin, graduating at the head of his class.  He then studied law and practiced Law for twenty years, amassing considerable wealth.
He became an active Patriot and heated up the ire of the British so that when Newport was occupied they burned his house and most of his property.
Ellery took an role active in the politics of the day and served in the Continental Congress and was present on August second to sign the Declaration of Independence.
To understand the animosity built up by the British over the years, one only has to look at this example; In 1772 the Gaspee, a British armed vessel sailed into Providence harbor to enforce the revenue laws.  The Captain required every ship entering the harbor to lower her flag.  One ship refused and the Gaspee gave chase and ran aground.  Sailors and Dock hands invaded the Gaspee and captured the crew and burned the ship to the water.
William Ellery served his country on many posts and positions and worked on the treaty of Peace while a justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island.  He was a Patriot and Christian and died in 1820 at age seventy three!...Medicineman!

MORE ON THE FOUNDERS! WHY?

In answer to that question; because it is so important.  Schools today are failing to impart to our kids the importance of learning from where this nation came.  Elected officials, in many cases, do not know nor understand the formation of this country.  Many, certainly, display their ignorance of our Constitution (which they swear to uphold) and strive to change it.
Signing member, Stephen Hopkins, is the subject of today's signers.
Stephen Hopkins was born in 1707 in Providence, Rhode Island.  Education was hard to come by in the early 1700's so Hopkins was mostly self taught.  He farmed until 1731 then moved to town and became involved in mercantile business.  The next year he was chosen representative to the General Assembly until 1741 when he was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Ten years later he became Chief Justice of the Colony.  During the French war he raised a corps of volunteers but their services were never needed.
Hopkins was an early opponent of British oppressive regulations and became a member of the Committee of Public Safety of Rhode Island in 1775 and then elected to the General Congress where he had the honor of adding his name to the Declaration of Independence.
Although his education was limited he became a respected and capable leader.  Hopkins was a sincere and consistent Christian which directed his life of service.  He died in 1785 at the age of Seventy Eight years..Medicineman!

MEET ELBRIDGE GERRY!

This signer of the Declaration was born in Marblehead, Mass. in 1744.  His father was a merchant involved in many businesses.  Elbridge attended Harvard College and earned an AB degree in 1762.  He entered the field of business and soon became a rich man.
He was well thought of by the people because of his good character and intelligence. He watched with great interest the rapid strides of British oppression and spoke out so vigorously the people elected him to the General Court of the province in 1773.  There he joined with John Adams and others in the removal of Governor Hutchinson from office because of the secret letters he had written encouraging English Ministers to enforce heavy penalties on the people to end the unrest building among the Americans.
He was a member of the Provincial Congress and good friends with Dr. and General Warren and ,the night preceding the Battle of Bunker Hill they slept together and parted in the morning, Elbridge to join the Congress sitting at Watertown and Dr. Warren to die on the battlefield.
In January, 1776 he was elected delegate to the Continental Congress.  He served on many committees including the one to visit General Washington at Valley Forge to see just how bad conditions were.  He was forceful and effective in gaining support and money for Washiungton's army.
He retired from Congress in 1785 but not for long.  President John Adams called him back to serve as one of three envoys to the Court of France.  Gerry retired once again but in 1811 was elected Vice-President.  He became very ill and died in November,1814 at the age of seventy..Medicineman!

Robert Treat Payne--American!

Paine was born in 1731 to a Clergyman father, the Reverand Treat of Barnstable county.  His maternal grandfather was also a clergyman.  He enjoyed the instruction in letters from the same tutor as Hancock and John Adams.  He attended Harvard college and studied law.  In 1755 Paine was Chaplain for the military expedition in the North in.
In 1770 he served as District Attorney in the trial of Captain Preston.  He was chairman of the Committee of Vigilance of Taunton, Mass. in 1773-1774.
He advocated for a Continental Congress and was a member of the Provisional Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and became very active there.  He was appointed Chief Justice in Massachusetts and elected to the General Congress in 1775 where he signed the Declaration of Independence the next year.
John Treat Paine served in the new government throughout the war, became a judge of the Supreme Court and died in 1814 at the age of  eighty-four years...Medicineman!