The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-01

From - L>Csvas Journal.
AutsbiegrnU(0 ef'elatesmcn.
Wsssc il stated ti.&tAr Robert Peel has left an
for the press. We reGy@ 70 add, however, that 1t
il detssmined not "a nnblish il for some years to
come: owing, rs it = aid. to "motives Of deli
But lew persons have had more extensive oppor-
tunities Of observing men in high stations than
were enjoyed by Sir Robert Peel. He was in pub
ne , nts during more .nsn sersy yess., period
men and political reformers, Of whom Great Bri-
tain is justly proud. His autobiography. judg,
ing from the unusual opportunities he enjoyed.
will certainly bo one of the most interesting works
Of the class 70 which it belongs. There may be
very cogent reasons why its publication shall be
withheld for several years, though we cannot ap
preciate them. We have no idea that there IL any
vituperation Of men or fabrication Of motives in
the work, and we are therefore unable to see why
the world should not have the benefit Of the work
immediately.
work. It will doubtless be of great interest to all
readers Unfortunately but too few Of the
statesmen Of England have written accounts of
themselves and their lives. Indeed, English litera-
turc u singularly deficient in the department Of
personal memoirs, and yet that il Of the most
amusing, and IL may be made one Of the most in
strueuvc departments in literature. The French
have been far moro addicted to photographed
productions than any other people, aud the htera-
ture Of that nation contains more pleasant reading
in that line than tho literature of any other nation
Il would seem to be the duty of every man who
arrives ~ great distinction to record the means be
used to reach it, and the of various kinds
that he passed through. It's particularly the duty
Of great statesmen, those men who have given
direction to the history Of the States with which
they have been connected, who have exerted con-
trolling influence over national councils and i'm
pressed the national policy, both in its foreign and
domestic aspects, with their own views-it is par
ticuary the duty Of such men to leave behind them
in their own language an account of their careers
The accounts given Of them by biographers, whose
chief object seems to be to make 1t appear that their
mono, are, for the most part Of but little practical
value 70 the world. What the world wants ID fair
and judicious account of the lives of it's rulers,
written by themselves. What would not one give
for an autobiography written BY Burke or Fox, or
Pitt, Sheridanl Al yet the Biographies Of these
great men rarely consulted, because not one of
them has been written AZ truth and justice de-
mandcd. W s9 A si
Our own country, too. has done very little in
deed toward remedyng the defect in literature,
Of which VIC complain. Our own statesmen have
not taken the trouble to write out for posterty an
account OF themselves. And yet many OF those
statesmen could have made works which "the world
would not willingly let die" and which would
have both instructed and delighted mankind. In
the United States, people generally know very lit
tiers Of those great patriots who achieved our ma
tional independence, and gave to our Government
all it, great ccnsradi.ting uishing features. Had
the world from It might learn more of the motives
that actuated the friends of freedom, together with
that alienation Of hope and fear which they felt
for many years, than any history can now impart.
Had some one, who was very intimate with the
great spirits Of our revolutionary period and
with those men who framed the Government,
and put it, varied and yet harmonious ma
chinery in motion, written out impartially his
opinions Of those mon, together with anec-
dotos illustrative of their characters and hab-
it,, he would have conferred an inestimable
boon on our people. Mr.. Calboun's work on
the Constitution will not DO likely to meet with
many readers, nor il ii probable that its doctrines,
conflicting they do with the doctrines of the Con-
stitution A. proclaimed by tho Supreme Court and
viii ever exert much influence in the Republic
Much better would il have been for his fame, and
far more profitable to the people Of this country,
had he employed the time employed in the compo-
sition of his work in producing an autobiography
containing an exposition Of his motives on various
critical occasions, together with his impressions of
the characters of the great mon with whom nc met
views Of the Constitution, and they would be much
moro likely to be read in connection with interest
ing personal then they will be in the
form in which he saw fit to leave them. f
II Mr.. Clay should see fit to sit down and write
an autobiography, in which . full and fair account
Of his great and diversified experience, as well as
his recolicetions Of great men with whom he has
be included it would certainly prove to be one of
the most interesting and instructive books con-
tanned in the literature of any nation. Such q
work from such man would not only delight and
instruct thousands, but It would also go far to-
ward correcting many Interpretations that pre-
vail in relation to Mr.. Clay's public and private
career. Whoever may have the fortune to be the
ss e E that removed sssd s. s @
will have many disadvantages TO contend with,
prominent among which will probably be his
own enthusiastic admiration Of the character of
his hero. which will cause his work to degene-
rate into comparatively valueless and very in
iated eulogy of the orator and statesman. OF
such works we have too many, and what we
shall not only abound in facts of interest but in
truthful accounts of men and events; although in
spection of the motives of the great men, in periodic
of great national exigency cannot fail TO result in
much good TO all those to whom the explanation is
made known. For instance, the Mexican war ID a
most interesting event in our history. An account
of the campaigns and battles may be exciting
enough; but what we should like TO see in connex-
ion with 1t il Just and thorough investigation of
the motives Of those men to whose conduct the war
il certainly ascribable. So in regard to any other
interesting event We wish to know the motives
and causes that led to il, and it, consequences,
visible in relation to it. II such men az Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Webster should see 6t to initiate the con-
duct Of Dir William Temple, and dignity their
write out, fully, accounts Of their own times and
their own careers, the world would be indebted to
them for works which it would certainly clutch to
its bosom and never suffer to become obsolete.
NOM ARRxsrs In MIcHIaAN.--The Detroit
AdUertiser says that six more individuals have
been arrested part of the gang of conspirators
who have 30 long infested that section Of country.
The following are their Names James Gould, BEN
jamin Gleason, Miles Barker, Of Jackson John
w. Walsh, Abner Grant, Of Michigan Centre !;
David Louck. of Napoleon. One Of the parties ar
rested was taken with muskct upon his shout
der while acting As sentry at the door Of the State
prison. 49, ss, 50
In reference to these arrests, the advertiser says
sit 10 source of rejoicing to all friends of good
order that public attention Is now seriously and