Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-21
New Books.
MEMOIRS OF LIEUT. GENERAL sooFT, LII.
D. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF New York Sheldon &
Company 1864.

MEMOIRS OF LIEUT.. GENERAL ScoFT, LII.
D. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. New York Sheldon
Company. 1854.
Auto biographies, if good and such are
very rare,-are the best of books, But, be-
side this common interest, these memoirs
derive an additional value from the fact
that the author was chief actor in much Of
his country's history, and remains the con-
Meeting link between this age and the pre-
Revolutionary times in which lived the
fathers of the Republic.
The memoirs are condensed into two
volumes of three hundred pages, each,
Published by Sheldon & Co., New York.
They have been long promised, and eager
Iy waited for, as it Wis known that they
would throw much light upon the see-et
and open workings and interactiOns Of
those forces which have finally precipitat-
ed the present rebellion. Their publica-
tion is timely, and for the reason above
stated, as well as on account Ofthe high
personal and public character ofthe authori
they must have an immense sale.
Winfield Scott was born in 7s6, ten years
after the Declaration of Independence wal
signed, near Petersburgh, Virginia.
Like many other distinguished men, he
did not at first find his true place and work
but was trained for the law. Early in his
legal career he hastened to Richmond tt
attend the trial of Burr for high treason
and his account of it is very interesting
He concludes it thus:
"The calm judgment of the bar, however
has now long been, that though the crimt
had been committed, the prosecution broke
down in its legal proofs. This is to be re-
gretted-nnt that the thirst for blood wal
not slaked on the occasion but be
cause, there never having been an
an execution in the United States for th'
highest of crimes, our people were, in 1873.
and 1851, still untaught a most needfu
lesson-thGt playing at treason IS danger
Gus game Hence to threaten treason ha'
become an ordinary party device in nom
mating Presidents, and in factious debate
even on the floors of Congress hence null
lifcation in 1928 and hence the pres
ent Qs63) mighty rebellion"
And in footnote to this passage, the au
thor gives it as a remarkable fact tina
III &C III OuG CA lCb II6blu6uNn-hdEOl
Burr, J. C. Calhoun and J. C. Breckin
ridge-became each in his day, leader il
treason
After much vacillation between the ba
and the sword, young Scott connected him
self with the army, and was henceforth
son of Mars, finding sufficient fields of fam,
in Canada and Mexico, The bulk of tn
volumes consists in the narration of mat
ters and events connected with the wars o
1912 l3 and in Mexico, and he sheds
strong steady light upon those eventful pc
RODS. The events of subsequent years h
does not largely dwell upon. He treat
very briefly the opening stages Of the pres
ent reb ellion, publishing letters in proof O
the efforts he made to induce Presiden
Buchanan to lay an iron hand on the pro
jected and incipient revolt, and showing
his swn superintendence of military affair
at Mr.. Lincoln's Inauguration.
The two or three chapters which the
author devotes to the history of nullifca
tion, and to the account of the part he actet
in reference to it and the authors and ad
vOcates of the doctrine, arc, TO US, the mos
interesting portions ofthe work, although
the autobiographer never permits the at
tention to give over for a moment. Tn,
reader of the history of these times will b,
curious to learn just such facts of persona
experience, in connection with doctrine
which have led to this civil war and tn,
author has not aimed to write an elaborate
ambitious standard work of reference, bu
just simple, free and easy record of per
soual and public experience. As he him.
self says: at will be seen that aspire no
to the dignity of a historian, but simpl!
offer contemporary memoirs for the use o
some future Prescott or MacauaIy."
This excellent work is for sale at Ingban
and Bragg's.