Today

Jefferson vs. Burr

On February 17, 1801, a tie in the Electoral College between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr was resolved when Jefferson was elected President and Burr Vice President by the House of Representatives.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Government Dominated by Citizens?
SharingAn article in Miller-McCune entitled “Ballot Initiatives: Making the Grade” …
Can’t Buy Me Votes
Sharing“Corporations and some of the wealthiest Americans have spent more …
Where Reality Sells
SharingA lot of people, Democratic and Republican, have been saying …
The Ultimate Legislature
Proposition 22 was supported by 59 percent of California voters …
We Can All Get Along
SharingOur country is divided politically — or so we hear — right from left, …

Against British Censorship
April 2, 2025
Paul Jacob tells the tale of Gab and Kiwi Farms.Read More »
The Trump-Tariff Question
April 1, 2025
Paul Jacob considers one free-marketer’s rethinking of our president’s chief …Read More »
How We Tear Up
March 31, 2025
Paul Jacob on what makes America . . . well, …Read More »
What’s Really at Stake in Maine
March 28, 2025
Paul Jacob on the role of anonymous donations in politics.Read More »
Seceding from Chicago
March 27, 2025
Paul Jacob on the latest separatist movement.Read More »

Why the Brutality?
SharingA former Uganda Supreme Court justice has said that were …
In-Nate Problem
SharingMy brother, Tim Jacob, blames me for sucking him into …
Term Limits or Death?
“The only responsible choice for Justice Breyer is to immediately …
Tupperware Really Locks You In
SharingPlastics: yesterday’s future, today’s convenience. Reading a report from Jefferson City, Missouri, …
Like Zimbabwe
SharingRichard M. Lindstrom signed a petition, but his signature didn’t count. The …

Congress Considers the Draft
SharingYes, “mandatory national service” is a live topic — again! Mandatory National Service? …
After Them, the Deluge
SharingOne might be forgiven for finding Sen. Kamala Harris the …
The Court-Packers
Sharing“What if there were five justices selected by Democrats,” presidential …
The Fifth Century Begins
SharingWhen socialists and woke scolds talk about slavery, you can …
Less Hate
SharingJust how awful are Americans? Racist and sexist “hate crimes” …

With the Acte de déchéance de l’Empereur (“Emperor’s Demise Act”) of April 2, 1814, France’s Sénat conservateur officially recognized the downfall of Napoléon I of France. The original resolution to remove the Emperor was moved on the legislative body’s floor, by Thomas Jefferson’s friend Destutt de Tracy (according to Tracy himself — official records do not name the member), and was drawn up by Charles Lambrechts. The final paragraph summarized the new reality concisely:

The Senate declares and decrees as follows: 1. Napoleon Buonaparte is cast down from the throne, and the right of succession in his family is abolished. 2. The French people and army are absolved from their oath of fidelity to him. 3. The present decree shall be transmitted to the departments and armies, and proclaimed immediately in all the quarters of the capital.

Nine days later, after attempting to put his son on the throne, Napoléon abdicated unconditionally. The Allies exiled him to Elba, which was to be the whole extent of this reign as “Emperor.”

This arrangement proved unstable, with Napoléon staging a comeback, eventually leading to more war, his defeat at Waterloo, and his exile to an island in the South Atlantic.

American author, art critic, and commentator Camille Paglia was born April 2, 1947.