Page 141 →Appendix B Debating Questions and Decisions
Dates given are dates that debates occurred; questions were selected earlier. Some questions include minor alterations of punctuation to ensure clarity. The minutes are ambiguous about whether decisions were rendered based on the judge’s opinion of the merits of the question or the quality of the debaters’ performance, but evidence of debaters’ comparative success suggests that decisions were likely based at least in part on proficiency.
1847
November 16: [Question unstated], Affirmative
November 23: Whether the present War with Mexico, will be of any advantage to the United States of America, Negative
December 1: Whether the (United States) was right in declaring her Independence, Negative
December 8, 22: Which is the most desirable, Literary or Military glory? Literary
1848
January 5: Whether a Republican or Monarchial government tends most to the happiness of a people, Republican
January 12: Which is the happier, civilized or savage life? Civilized
January 19: Which excelled the more in literary pursuits, the Moderns or Ancients? Moderns
January 26: Whether the liberty of the press should be restrained or not, Negative
February 2: Which is the most useful, literary or romance reading? Literary
February 9: Whether the application of steam to machinery has been of any disadvantage to mankind or not, Advantage
February 23: Which was the greatest and most virtuous general, Washington or Alexander? Washington
March 1: Which was the most skilful general, Hannibal or Napoleon? Napoleon
March 22: Which is of the most service to man, those machines that ply upon the water or land? Water
April 5, June 7: Was it ambition that led Napoleon to battle or not? Affirmative
September 18: Which nation fought on the most just side, the United [States] or Mexico? United States
Page 142 →December 26: Will the acquisition of California be of any great use to the U.S.? Affirmative
1849
February 7, March 14: Which country presents the brightest prospects for future happiness and permanency, the U.S. or Great Britain? U.S.
March 21: Was England right in banishing Napoleon Bonaparte to the Island of St. Helena? Affirmative
March 28: Are there any benefits derived from riches? Affirmative
April 4: Is the Republic of France likely to remain permanent? Negative
April 11: Has the Pope’s banishment been or is likely to be of any advantage to Rome? Negative
May 21: Was Brutus right or wrong in condemning his sons to execution, when tried before him for conspiring against the government? Right
June 6: Which will a man hear first, the prayer of his wife or mother? Wife
June 20: Were the Athenians right in condemning Socrates to death? Negative
June 27, July 5: Which tends most to the diminution of murders, “capital” punishment or “life-time” imprisonment? Capital punishment
July 10, 12: Which tends most to the ruin of the human race, Dishonesty or Intemperance? Dishonesty
August 1: Which the more useful, Telegraphic or Steam power? Telegraphic
August 8: Was the treatment of the English to the Irish tyrannical? Affirmative
August 22: Which the better, a Mechanical or Professional pursuit? Professional
August 29: Were the French right in interfering with the late affairs at Rome? Negative
September 6, 13: Which the greater protection against a foreign foe, a nation’s Military or Naval force? Naval
September 27: Which the greater incentive to exertion, punishment or rewards? Rewards
October 4, November 5: Which the more interesting, Ancient or Modern history? Ancient
1850
January 7: Is war the proper means for the gratification of national revenge? Affirmative
February 4: Which tends most to a nation’s benefit, its agricultural or commercial advantages? Agricultural
March 4: Who was the most patriotic, Demosthenes or Socrates? Socrates
April 3: Whether a man condemned to die, though unjustly, can without a crime escape from justice & the laws, Negative
April 10: By whom has the most good been effected, Martin Luther or George Washington? Luther
April 17: Which [is] the more conducive to moral purity, a Country or City life? Country
May 1, 22: Who deserves the greater meed of praise, the Inventor or Improver of a project? Inventor
May 29, June 12: Was Caesar right, in usurping the government of the Roman Empire? Affirmative
Page 143 →June 19, July 1: Whose learned men have contributed most to the advancement of civilization, those of the Greeks or Romans? Greeks
July 24: Was Themistocles right in committing suicide rather than assist an enemy of his country? Negative
July 31: Who accomplished the greatest good for his country, Demosthenes or Cicero? Demosthenes
September 4: Which was calculated to shed the brightest lustre and influence on Grecian manners and character, the laws of Solon or Lycurgus? Solon
September 11: Was Cromwell right in usurping the reins of Government in England? Negative
September 18: Are afflictions in any manner beneficial to humanity? Affirmative
October 2: Who has the greatest chance to show forth his patriotism in time of war, the statesman in the hall of power, or the soldier on the field of battle? Soldier
October 14: Was Caesar right in crossing the Rubicon or not? Negative
November 4: Was the conduct of the Roman General Regulus commendable or condemnable? Commendable
1851
January 6: Is education beneficial to society? Affirmative
February 3: Which had the greatest influence on Grecian character, their Poetry or Philosophy? Philosophy
March 31: Were the allied nations of Europe justifiable in banishing Napoleon? Negative
June 9: Have the late Revolutions of Europe tended much to benefit the condition of the people of that Continent? Affirmative
June 23: Will the World’s Fair bring about the contemplated union of intercourse among the nations of the earth? Affirmative
July 14: Which is the most responsible for an article, the Composer or the Publisher? Publisher
August 11, 25: Which exercises the greatest beneficial influence upon society, Intellectual or Moral excellence? Moral
September 8: Has the Intellect been beneficial or deleterious to man’s Happiness? Beneficial
September 22: Which is the most Advantageous, desirable, and Beneficial—a Married or Single Life? Married
October 13: Was the conduct of Gen. Lopez commendable or condemnable? Commendable
October 27: Whether forms of Government exert any important influence on the growth and character of National Literature, Affirmative
December 8, 29: Whether success[es] in difficult Sciences are the results of Genius, or Industry and Perseverance, Genius
1852
January 26: Which is the most conducive to Man’s Happiness, Mechanical or Agricultural employments? Agricultural
February 23: Would the United States be Justifiable in interfering with the present struggles of Europe? Negative
Page 144 →April 12: Are we to infer from the teachings of History that the Sword has been more destructive, than beneficial to the happiness of Mankind? Destructive
April 26: Emigration; does it tend, or has it ever tended to the advancement of civilization? Negative
June 14: Which were the best disciplinarians of Youths—the Athenians, or Spartans? Athenians
June 28: Who was the Greatest and most virtuous General, Caesar or Pompey? Pompey
October 25: Did Wellington in the battle of Waterloo prove himself a greater General than Napoleon Bonaparte? Affirmative
November 8: Which is more likely to injure the prosperity of a Country, Foreign Broils or Intestine Commotions? Intestine Commotions
December 13: Would the increase of Territory prove an advantage to the United States? Negative
1853
January 12: Was Charlemagne a great man? Negative
February 23: Are the late improvements of decided advantage to Mankind? Affirmative
March 9: Does the distance of a Country’s dominions weaken the force of its Laws therein? Affirmative
April 14: Does the prosperity and progress of a nation depend more upon the observance of its laws by its subjects, or the strict execution of the same by those empowered? Observance of the Laws
May 11: Is Louis Napoleon an usurper or not? Negative
June 8, 22: Is it right to remove the Indians from Florida? Negative
July 6: Was Lafayette right in assisting the colonies in their revolt against the mother country? Affirmative
August 3: Is the Maine liquor law conducive to the happiness of American citizens, and in accordance with her free institutions? Affirmative
September 14: Did the games and oracles of the ancient Greeks produce many salutary effects upon their national character? Negative
September 28, October 12: Was Caesar a great man? Negative
December 21: Is a rude state of Society favourable to patriotism? Affirmative
1854
February 1: Is a nation strictly justifiable in compelling another nation by force of arms to open her port for trade? Negative
March 14: Which is more condemnable at the bar of Public Opinion, Slander or Flattery? Flattery
March 28: Is [sic] France & England right in interfering in the present struggle between Russia & Turkey? Negative
April 25: Was England right in banishing Obrien, Meagher & their coadjutors? Negative
May 11: Have the various fairs that have been held tended to excite among the people a spirit of industry and improvement? Affirmative
December 6: Is absolute religious toleration conducive to the stability of a government & the moral excellence of a people? Affirmative
Page 145 →1855
July 9: Would it have been criminal in Socrates to have attempted to escape prison upon the suggestion of his friend Crito? Affirmative
July 23: Is the occurrence of great events indicative of a progressive spirit? Affirmative
1856
April 7: Do the consequences of Success tend to Good or Evil? Evil
May 5: Is a rude state of Society favorable to Patriotism? Affirmative
June 2: Is increase of Territory injurious to the permanency of a Government? Affirmative
Question selected on June 2 but never debated: Which is more conducive to Individual improvement—Solitude or Society?