[Ads-l] Standalone "Go the whole"

[Bonnie Taylor-Blake]

I've just sent several messages to the list about forms like "go the whole
cloth" and "go the whole/big figure" and variants. Obviously these parallel
things like "go all the way" and "go the whole distance/length/extent."

I should note that a truncated form, "go the whole" and sometimes "go for
the whole," circulated in American papers as early as 1813 and, while it
seems to have been used as a shorthand for "go the whole distance/length,"
etc., it also appears to have been later used as a slogan of sorts for the
Democrats in the 1820s (this parallels adoption by supporters of Andrew
Jackson of "go the whole hog"), essentially -- as far as I can tell --
urging voters to choose the whole Democratic slate.

Here are some early examples of how the expression was used.

-- Bonnie


(Text marked by asterisks indicates italics.)

Timid politicians, & popularity-hunters, will "fly the way," but I shall
"go for the whole;" as experience has taught me, that whenever a debt is
contracted, provision ought to be made for payment. [From a letter by John
Dawson, dated 21 February 1813, The Louisiana Gazette and New Orleans
Advertiser, 25 March 1813, p. 2.]

Thus it is clear these shark-like officers *go for the whole*. ["Politics
for Farmers," Hartford (Connecticut) Courant, 3 December 1816, p. 3.]

... I will not aid and assist in placing in our judiciary a young man,
unknown to us, unknown to our customs, manners and laws -- and that, too,
in opposition to such men as Rowan and a Trimble, men of Kentucky growth,
richly gifted by nature and deeply read in the laws of our state; in fine,
because I do not tack *full* and *fair*, and to use their own favorite
phrase, go the WHOLE, I am a federalist. [From a letter by Benjamin Hardin,
dated 19 December 1816, The Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Intelligencer, 31
March 1817, p. 3.]

To effect a reduction of expense to this extent, it is not necessary that
foreign fabricis of the finest quality, such as may not have been equalied
in Kentucky, should be disused; but only the American Fabrics should be
used in preference to the Foreign, in all cases where their appearance is
equal. To go the whole; to make use of American Manufactures exclusively;
would be a saving in some Families of 70 or 80 percent. [In "Domestic
Manufactures," originally printed in the Kentucky Reporter, reprinted in
Lancaster Intelligencer, 8 November 1817, p. 2.]

If he believed the motive of the Judge corrupt, he would go the whole, and
remove by address, but at any rate, the case required  the legislature
should give a corrective. [In "Legislative Proceedings," Kentucky Gazette
(Lexington), 6 December 1821, p. 4.]

A few hundred or a few thousand do not satisfy the rogues of the present
day -- they go the whole, get rich at a single grab, and many of them
flourish away in society. [Nashville Whig, 2 October 1822, p. 3, column 3.]

The object *now* in view is not so hazardous; it is not intended to go the
*whole*. [In "To the People of Knox County," The Knoxville (Tennessee)
Register, 8 April, 1825, p. 3.]

One of the senators, (who could not "go the whole"), gave way and voted
against his party; col. Hall was then declared duly elected, and each man
departed for his own home in peace. [In "The Old Landmarks," Niles'
Register (St. Louis), 5 July 1823, p. 279.]

In the second contest, both parties determined "to go the whole," -- The
federalists with a view to gain strength in the south, took up as a
candidate for the Vice Presidency, General Pinkney, of S.C. and the
republicans with a view to acquire strength in the north, in like manner,
determined to run Aaron Burr ... [The Nashville Gazette, 13 February 1824,
p. 3, column 6.]

Why did his party in the first place bring forward the venerable and
deserving Col. William Russell as a candidate and then, shamefully desert
him, after pledging their support? Was it because he would not go the whole
in support of aristocracy? [In "Gen. Desha," Kentucky Gazette (Lexington),
20 May 1824, p. 3.]

The sentiment of the county seat subjects, is artfully made, and shows his
generalship -- I love to hear a man say he will go the *whole* with the
*majority*. [In a letter to the editor, Missouri (Franklin) Intelligencer,
22 May 1824, p. 2]

But, nevertheless, the advocates of prohibition have secured a convert who,
in this speech gives a promise that he will "go the whole." [In
"Manufacturing Meeting at Boston, Concluded," The Evening Post (New York),
13 June 1827, p. 2.]

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