Hal Thurowe Empire of the United States of America has proclaimed Eight score and five years ago today! For once Wiki does well their account of A man so uncommon kind, Emperor Norton of the Mind. From wiki comes my memorial of the amazing Emperor Norton of the United States and Protector of Mexico. On September 17, 1859, Joshua Norton had become completely disgruntled with what he considered the inadequacies of the legal and political structures of the United States, and took matters into his own hands and distributed letters to the various newspapers in the city, proclaiming himself Emperor of these United States: 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. The announcement was first reprinted for humorous effect by the editor of the San Francisco Bulletin. Norton would later add Protector of Mexico to this title. Thus commenced his unprecedented and whimsical 21-year reign over America. In his self-appointed role of emperor, Norton issued numerous decrees on matters of the state. After assuming absolute control over the country, he saw no further need for a legislature, and on October 12, 1859, he issued a decree formally abolishing the United States Congress. In it, Norton observed: ...fraud and corruption prevent a fair and proper expression of the public voice; that open violation of the laws are constantly occurring, caused by mobs, parties, factions and undue influence of political sects; that the citizen has not that protection of person and property which he is entitled. In an imperial decree the following month, Norton summoned the Army to depose the elected officials of the U.S. Congress: WHEREAS, a body of men calling themselves the National Congress are now in session in Washington City, in violation of our Imperial edict of the 12th of October last, declaring the said Congress abolished; WHEREAS, it is necessary for the repose of our Empire that the said decree should be strictly complied with; NOW, THEREFORE, we do hereby Order and Direct Major-General Scott, the Command-in-Chief of our Armies, immediately upon receipt of this, our Decree, to proceed with a suitable force and clear the Halls of Congress. Nortons orders were ignored by the Army, and Congress likewise continued without any formal acknowledgement of the decree. Further decrees in 1860 dissolved the republic and forbade the assembly of any members of the former Congress. Nortons battle against the elected leaders of America persisted throughout his reign, though it appears he eventually, if grudgingly, allowed Congress to exist without his permission. Hoping to resolve the many disputes that had resulted in the Civil War, in 1862 Norton issued a mandate ordering both the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches to publicly ordain him as Emperor. His attempts to overthrow the elected government having been ignored, Norton turned his attention to other matters, both political and social. On August 12, 1869, being desirous of allaying the dissensions of party strife now existing within our realm, he abolished the Democratic and Republican parties. Norton was occasionally a visionary, and some of his Imperial Decrees exhibited profound foresight. He issued instructions to form a League of Nations, and he explicitly forbade any form of conflict between religions or their sects. Norton saw fit to decree the construction of a suspension bridge or tunnel connecting Oakland and San Francisco, his later decrees becoming increasingly irritated at the lack of prompt obedience by the authorities: WHEREAS, we issued our decree ordering the citizens of San Francisco and Oakland to appropriate funds for the survey of a suspension bridge from Oakland Point via Goat Island; also for a tunnel; and to ascertain which is the best project; and whereas the said citizens have hitherto neglected to notice our said decree; and whereas we are determined our authority shall be fully respected; now, therefore, we do hereby command the arrest by the army of both the Boards of City Fathers if they persist in neglecting our decrees. Given under our royal hand and seal at San Francisco, this 17th day of September, 1872. The intent of this decree, unlike many others, actually came to fruition with the construction of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and of the Bay Area Rapid Transits Transbay Tube. Among Nortons other Imperial acts, Norton spent his days inspecting San Franciscos streets in an elaborate blue uniform with gold-plated epaulettes, given to him by officers of the United States Army post at the Presidio of San Francisco. He also wore a beaver hat decorated with a peacock feather and a rosette. He frequently enhanced this regal posture with a cane or umbrella. During his inspections, Norton would examine the condition of the sidewalks and cable cars, the state of repair of public property, and the appearance of police officers. Norton would also frequently give lengthy philosophical expositions on a variety of topics to anyone within earshot. During one of his inspections Norton is said to have performed one of his most famous acts of diplomacy. During the 1860s and 1870s, there were occasional anti-Chinese demonstrations in the poorer districts of San Francisco. Riots, sometimes resulting in fatalities, took place. During one incident, Norton allegedly positioned himself between the rioters and their Chinese targets; with a bowed head, he started reciting the Lords Prayer repeatedly until the rioters dispersed without incident. Norton was loved and revered by the citizens of San Francisco. Although penniless, he regularly ate at the finest restaurants in San Francisco; restaurateurs took it upon themselves to add brass plaques in their entrances declaring [b]y Appointment to his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Norton I of the United States. Nortons self-penned Imperial seals of approval were prized and a substantial boost to trade. No play or musical performance in San Francisco would dare to open without reserving balcony seats for Norton. Nortons best friends and loyalist counselors were the two dogs, Bummer and Lazarus, which were also notable San Francisco celebrities. Though he did not own the dogs, as he did not believe in slavery, Norton ate at free lunch counters where he shared his meals with the dogs. In 1867, a policeman named Armand Barbier arrested Norton to commit him to involuntary treatment for a mental disorder. The Emperors arrest outraged the citizens and sparked scathing editorials in the newspapers. Police Chief Patrick Crowley ordered Norton released and issued a formal apology on behalf of the police force. Crowley wrote that Norton had shed no blood; robbed no one; and despoiled no country; which is more than can be said of his fellows in that line. Norton magnanimously granted what he considered an Imperial Pardon to the errant policeman. All police officers of San Francisco thereafter saluted Norton as he passed in the street. Norton did receive some tokens of recognition for his position. The 1870 U.S. census lists Joshua Norton as 50 years old and residing at 624 Commercial Street; his occupation was listed as Emporer [sic]. Norton also issued his own money to pay for his debts, and it became an accepted local currency in San Francisco. These notes came in denominations between fifty cents and ten dollars; the few surviving notes are collectors items. The city of San Francisco also honored Norton. When his uniform began to look shabby, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors bought him a suitably regal replacement. Norton sent a gracious thank you note and issued a patent of nobility in perpetuity for each supervisor. Nortons time and place of birth are uncertain, but during the later years of Nortons reign, it was the subject of considerable speculation. One popular story suggested he was the son of Emperor Napoleon I. Another popular story suggested Norton was planning to marry Queen Victoria. At his death the San Francisco Chronicle published his obituary on its front page under the headline Le Roi est Mort (The King is Dead). In a tone tinged with sadness, the article respectfully reported that, [o]n the reeking pavement, in the darkness of a moon-less night under the dripping rain..., Norton I, by the grace of God, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, departed this life. The Morning Call, another leading San Francisco newspaper, published a front-page article using an almost identical sentence as a headline: Norton the First, by the grace of God Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico, departed this life. Nortons funeral on Sunday, January 10, was solemn, mournful, and large. Paying their respects were members of ...all classes from capitalists to the pauper, the clergyman to the pickpocket, well-dressed ladies and those whose garb and bearing hinted of the social outcast. Some accounts say as many as 30,000 people lined the streets, and that the funeral cortège was two miles (3 km) long. San Franciscos total population at the time was 230,000. Norton was buried in the Masonic Cemetery, at the expense of the City of San Francisco.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 03:29:39 +0000
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