My History Can Beat Up Your Politics LEFTOVER NOTES FROM THE ZACHARY TAYLOR SERIES
Jan 26, 2026
A grab bag of untold tales tied to Zachary Taylor's era. Stories include Frederick Douglass’s blistering public letter and its political impact. Accounts of California’s Gold Rush injustices and John Sutter’s coerced labor. Surprising legal twists from the Fugitive Slave laws and landmark court fights. Odd local histories like towns named for Taylor and Rough and Ready’s quirky secession.
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Douglass's Public Rebuke Of His Former Owner
- Frederick Douglass published a public letter to his former owner Thomas Auld on the 10th anniversary of his escape.
- He used the letter to publicly indict Auld and the institution of slavery rather than seek reconciliation.
Reencounters With Auld And His Family
- In 1866 Douglass marched in Philadelphia and spotted Amanda Sears, Thomas Auld's daughter, in the crowd.
- In 1877 Douglass returned to Maryland and met an infirm Thomas Auld, greeting him and holding his hand briefly.
Taylor's Death Shifted The Compromise Outcome
- Zachary Taylor's death in 1850 altered the political balance and opened space for the Compromise of 1850.
- His uncertain stance on measures like the Wilmot Proviso left key questions about veto use unanswered.
