Confederados #11: Clown's Choice Recalling George W. Clarke

 

Block #11 Clown's Choice for 

George W. Clarke by Jeannie Arnieri

Franklin Pierce (1804-1869)

George Peter Alexander Healy, National Portrait Gallery

Until recently Franklin Pierce has been rated as the worst president ever. An alcoholic, he took office grief stricken over the appalling death of a son in a train accident. He consistently made such poor decisions he remains the only elected president to be refused a second term by his own party.

James Buchanan pulling the Presidential Chair from Pierce in 1856

 Clown's Choice by Denniele Bohannon 

As a New England “doughface” Pierce was committed to the coded “State’s Rights” platform on slavery’s continuation, appointing many problematic proslavery supporters to high positions and low---from Jefferson Davis as Secretary of War down to local partisans in the territory soon to become “Bleeding Kansas,” thanks to the Pierce government.

Pierce is the wobbly drunk in the center

surrounded by proslavery politicians, "Border Ruffians.”

1850 Census Van Buren, Arkansas

Kansas historians cite George W. Clarke (1812-1881), Pierce’s appointee as Agent for the Potawatomie, as a prime “Border Ruffian.” He spent his early career publishing a newspaper in Van Buren, Arkansas where he was remembered as an aggressive Democrat with a temper. "A thick-set man about five feet three inches in height, exceedingly loquacious."

In 1844 he married Malvina Deluren Doak and they had six children. He brought family and belligerence to the Kansas Territory, assuming unofficial leadership of the proslavery forces. After Clarke shot an antislavery settler in the back no trial ensued and Clarke was soon transferred to the Land Office in Fort Scott under an assumed name.

His next job in the new Buchanan administration was as a Navy Purser, a supply officer with a chance to make much in graft. When the Civil War began Clarke deserted the U.S. Navy to join Ben McCullough's Confederate troops stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He then took his family to Texas where his wife died in 1864. 

Refusing to live in a post-Civil-War Union, Clarke fled to Mexico and the Confederate colony Palacio, south of Coahuila, which was doomed to failure due to resistance from the aboriginal tribes, particularly the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache who controlled the area's culture of raids and negotiation.

Clown's Choice by Elsie Ridgley

Clarke then moved to Mexico City where he published an English-language newspaper for expatriates. The Two Republics first edition was dated July 27, 1867. 

After George Clarke’s death in 1881 son Joseph Mastella Clarke took over the paper becoming a spokesman for Mexico/U.S. trade until he died in 1899. The Kansas City Times in 1885 indicated that Mastella inherited none of his father’s sociopathic personality.

The Block

Clown's Choice

It’s easy to ridicule a President as inept as Franklin Pierce but his malignant administration had devastating consequences for America. From top appointees to the lowest he did not pick “All the best people.” Had Winfield Scott won the 1856 election (he decidedly did not with an electoral vote of 42 to 254) policies and appointees may have been more qualified and the nation might not have spiraled into Civil War.

 

Denniele Bohannon's top with the alternate red-centered nine-patch

is finished. Last block will be posted in December.