The native American., 1837-08-26
THE NATIVE AMERICAN.
REVIEW OF MAGAZINES, BOOKS, &c.

Representatives, before the American Historical So
ciety, at their second annual meeting, January GOTH
1897.
This is pamphlet of sixty odd pages, and is
the result Of wise and patriotic association of gen.
tlenen, who, Flor purposes Of national advantage
have established themselves into Historica Society
The first address of the Society was delivered by a
ripe and accomplished scholar, the honorable Lewis
Cass. He had the wide and almost unexplored re-
gions of American speculation traverse and his Pc
culiar studies qualified him in happy manner for his
task-how he fulfilled the duty imposed upon him by
the Society," the public has seen in beautiful and mas
tery address. To follow in the footsteps of such
difficult and perilous undertakng-to soar
over the high subjects, and wing his flight with
the unhinching power, was task which few
men would willingly have encountered, and yet in our
opinion, Mr.. Woodbury. has accomplished the labor
with signal success. We propose to devote brief
space notice Of this performance and we do so with
feelings of pride aud congratulaon. We are pleased
to see the leading politicians of the day turning aside
from their stormy paths, to tread the shaded walks of
literature and art, and wish that they would more fire.
quently avoid the contact and contagion of the dark
and violent srfes of party and devote their high at
tainments to subjects Of calm and philosophical ma
We upon this duty of the notice with the
same feelings proessed by Mr.. Woodbury. when he
takes his first step into the sacred temple of history
"Let u.s., he says, put off the pa.tizan Of the day.
whether in religion politics, we'll as discard our
favorte theories of philosophy and political economy
and seek faithfully TO do Justice
The objects Of the American Historical Society,"
Mr. Woodbury. informs us, are, "to discover, procure
and preserve whatever may relate the natural civil
literary and ecclesiastical history of America in gene!
raj, and Of the United States in pascuIar.''
With the ancents, history the tw in sister of po
etry. Indeed, she Of the muses.. She was
supposed preside the shifting changes of the
worlds matters, and take her Hight from umA to
time to some high and commanding elevation, far in
advance Of civilization, and prophecy well as
cord. Her memory with the past, her hopes were
with the future Her duty was to anaze. condense,
phosophize; teach the present generation and preach
to coming by the stern lessons of experience
to give halo virtue and drive vice into the howl
ing regions of wthering and accursed Immortality.
The genius of the moderns is peculiarly historical.
We stand upon the isthmus. which divides the cha
otic and revolutionary past, from the almost millennium
prospects Of the time to come. We have 1--WE speak
ofthe world lage) advanced to the highest pinnacle
Of power in the arts Sciences and politics. Gathering
about the bright attendants of victory and placing
liberty in the van,we have marched the and
vast plains Of an,quaed and classic despotism. The
Americans are peculiarly situated. They are the first
ripple upon the broad surface Of far ciIcng
They are the first grand and almost, may say, uni
versal experiment at free government We are the re-
vvers Of the olympic games OF the nineteenth cenury
those lofty in which the prizes were civic ho-
nor and impershable renown. To foster these great
ends of competition in honor the Historical Societies
have been created in this and other countries and they
will fulfil grand design. The harmonies Of history
will be preservedthe great harp OF time will be struck
by vigilant and hands, and children and
their children will travel back golden threads of
tradition, chronology, and analogy, and run over the
gamut Of their countys history to the of me-
lodous symphonies.
Mr.. Woodbury. has we'll remarked that s'the record
merely of battles and changes in dynasties, series
of chronological tables of remarkable and which
constitute the general idea of the design of his
tory would in the brief well republican Of
the United States, be literally the shor and simple
annals Of the poor HI also says, referring docu-
mentary history ssIf its contents throw neW light
the progress powers of any state, is i'm
material; whether tbe only newspaper manuscript,
or relate only to the voyage Of some hardy fisher
to throw the hook or harpoon in nnexpored
CT the description of the smallest insect which
gtters in the sunbeamthe shell, whose couch is the
ssbue and boundless seathe ore that sleeps beneath
the mountain sde-or the plant, whose leafs is some
times the shield as we'll food for both man and the
worm" Again: "A more accurate acquaintance with
the signs Of valuable minerals, may also change the
prosperity Of whole States, by leading to the dscove-
ries of lead, coal, iron, and SALT The attention &c
these branches, Mr.. Woodbury. classes among the du
ties Of the society, and we cordially agree with him. r
as much as the eye Of the great Columbus the exis
tence of continent proved by the grass and
drifting wood, to the eye of the philosopher inn
nortant truths are shadowed forth in the minua Of ma
ture and policies Of whole States may be changed by
the discovery Of mineral mines Sin their midst" IL
mark down these discoveries they are made-to keeT
record of their progress will be of great interest ane
importance to future times and it will be the province
Of this Society to perform that service to postery.
We are glad that Mr.. Woodbury. has reminded tbt
Society Of these various branches of duty. The i'm
portance Of this minut@ mineral and vegetable history