Abraham Lincoln: Well then, get to it!

» mikeohara - Well then, get to it!

...I haven't written anything on Newburgh yet...

Truthfully, I was only vaguely aware of the incident. I knew that we had come dangerously close to a coup of sorts before the Constitution was written. I probably read about it in the context of a discussion of Washington's refusal to be named King.

But, as I was getting reacquainted with the matter, the first thought that occurred to me was "well, here is why the Founders weren't too swell on a standing army, preferring instead a citizen militia". But, if you think about it, everyone involved was in the militia. They just happened to be standing at the behest of Congress. But they wouldn't be considered a "standing army" today. There is no magic in the idea of a citizen soldier as these guys demonstrated.

In any event, with your talent for analysis, I respectfully suggest you get off your butt and get something written about this fascinating event in American History.

-- posted by mikeohara