New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-05

Tsos.s r. r. CoBB Of Georgia. Philadelphia: T. w.
" joSn.on Co. Savannah: W. Thorne Williams Vol l.,
~ ''''v'h and 'S Irb.s 4,.ie..I wa
NJThis new law book has an attraction which
,ubhcations of that sort very seldom present, at
h.st for the general reader. 1t is also likely to
,,oye highly useful and convenient to the practical
hxyer, since it treats of title peculiar to Amer
,,p law, and never hitherto made the subject Of
An elementary treatise. Its professcd object is to
,,hibit the exact legal status of the slave in the
United States. To enable the student to appre-
eate, not merely the positive, but the relative
,mtion Of the American slaves as compared with
hat of other serye Glasses in other times and
cher countries, its learned and industrious
mthor has prefxed an introduction which occupies
war half of the present volume, containing an his
siea sketch of Slavery in all ages and nations.
w.shall confne what We have just now to say
bhis Historical Sketch, reserying our observa-
ions on that portion of the volume relating spe-
aaIly to our American Slave law for second
rtiele.
Let us begin, then, with saying that Mr.. Cobb evil
lepty belongs to the comparatively small class of
reasonable men, and that to, perhaps, somewhat
reater degree than in the present excited and ia
utcal state of public opinion at the South on the
question Of Slavery, he thinks it altogether polite
@prudent to evince. 1t is impossible, however,
10 concede to him that philosophical and Judicial
impartiality to which be aspres. While denying
bis preface that he has any political or sectional
wrpose he at the same time admits that he has
syabtless been biased by his birth and education
ma slsyeholding State. Indeed, it is impossible
not 10 see in both divisions of his book, not merely
statement of facts, or alleged facts but an at
tempted apology for and justification of the exist.
ing system of American Slavery-an apology and
Justification all the more effective because the book
cannot be read by any person competent to judge
ii without feelings of respect, especially in contrast
with the style in which the Slavery question is
commonly treated at the South by those who con-
descend to discuss it at all, for the learning, COM
prehensieness and candor of the author. He de-
chres, and We doubt not in pe.fect good faith,
that as far as possible, he has diligently sought
truth, and has written nothing which he did not
recognize as bearing her image. But, like 50 many
ether sincere seekers after truth, he sees several
ions, and by the murky atmosphere about him,
ind on some matters coinciding with those prepos-
Rssions, and tending to make out his case, espe-
eay in what relates to the condition of the eman-
dpated negroes in the Northern States and the
West Indies, he bases very broad conclusions
Ind very positive statements upon very slight
testimony and that sometimes of very
worthless character This is no doubt in
part owing especially when he comes down
TO cotemporary events, to the disadvantage,
to which he refers of having been obliged to write
hb book in an "interior village" (Athens, Geo.,
which, though the seat of Southern university is
but ill provided with books and journals, whereby
k has been reduced sometimes TO rely on second
hnd Investigations and sometimes, as his book
Acws, upon merely the distorted and and vanishing
Shoes Of common rumor and interested clamor.
Rejection, he says, has induced him to change
hary positions which he had committed to paper.
Even Of those which he has committed to print,
there are many which also need to be changed,
nsult which the author himself anticipates as the
consequence of subsequent reflection and the OK
position Of other minds.
The book has also been written in the midst of
Ascrious practice-a very commendable instance
srndustry and application, and the more com
aendable from its rarity in the authors part of the
country; and this too is made an excuse for
"dsccnnection and ncohercDcy" which the author
nys may be detected by experienced eyes. We
% indeed detect such an incoherency; but it ap.
Fars 10 us much less due 10 the disadvantages I'M
sr which the book WAS composed, which the
s'hOr has shown himself quite capable of over
coming, than to the character Of the cause which
s has undertaken TO defend. II happens to advo-
o'es Of doubtful cases who feel the want of one
a'0ng and nyincible position. that they are some
unes led to put themselves upon several grounds
ne' Vet! consistent with each other. Mr.. Cobb has
ooupi%ss heard Of the famous case in which the
."oer oi Ae''ie brought suit against the borrower
"r having Drought 1t back with hole in the bot
Hm and to which the defense SET IN WAS. first.
ne Kettle was never borrowed: second uhen il
s1 borrowed, II already had a hole in =. third
fwss whole when returned. Now, there .nnears
bus a little of the same incoherency in onr am.
eors defense OF American Slavery, 1t ia evidently
~ chief object Of his elaborate and ipteres,n,
storicl sketch TO lead TO the inference from ,hs
srerality Of Slavery in all times and ages-thst
ee status Of Slavery without any reference at all
Srace or color. is the natunl. nOrmsl and on the
shole, most comfortable and desirable condition
D'the sboring class of mankind. He admits, in
*ee, that Slavery has disappeared from among the
"ized nations Of modern Europe, but he labors
.'how that after all this changeis rather nominal
No real and so far as it is real is decidedly TO the
advantage of the laborer by depriying him Of a