The Portland daily press., 1867-06-22

s. .
INQUIRY INTO THE ORIGIN AND COURSE OF
POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES
BY the late ex-Presideut Martin Van Buren,
Edited by his Sons. Octave. PIP. 43S New
York: Hurd & Houghton.
Mr.. Van Buren,, during the latter and quiet
years of his lite at Lindenwald devoted HIM
self TO the preparation Of an autobiography
which was designed not only to be review of
his own life, but to record his recolleetions Of
his contemporaries and of his times This
work was undertaken at the instance of friends
who, knowing the Importance and interest OF
the scenes and incidents OF his extended rub
lie career, and the extraordinary influence he
had exerted upon the public men and ques-
tions of his time, were confident that such
work from him would have great interest and
value. The autobiography, however, was new
er brought down beyond 1884, and was never
revised, This valuable fragment has been
placed in the hands of Mr.. Charles Ii. Hunt,
~a-p Is preparing a biography OF Mr.. Van Bu-
ren. But there was another work, intended
to be merely an episode of the autobiography.
but which grew on the authors hands TO indie
pendent proportions, and though like the main
work, incomplete, it had yet been carried for
ward to the point, chronologically speaking,
that had been proposed, and, edited and revs-
ed by the sons of the ex-Presdeut, it is given
to the public in this volume.
q To trace the history of political parties il,
this country was task for which Mr. Vor
Buren, had many qualifications. He had hoo,
for many years behind the scenes of political
life, and was familiar with the workips of par-
ty machinery; at the same time he had retired
from active participation in these exeitements.
and had reached position which might well
content his ambition, and an age when the ac-
rimony of party spirit, and the asperities of
personal prejudice, had in great degree died
out; so that he was able to write in spirit of
candor and imparIality of the events of the
past. Hewas intimately acquainted too, with
the great actors in those events He was born
in 1882, and he retired to private life in 1s41.
after forty years of public service, cover
ing almost half eft the present century
and the most interesting portion, if We except
the last decade, of its constitutional history
His book is a gallery crowded with historical
portraits, not elaborately drawn, but exhibited
IN that KIND OF incidental, sketchy way which
is often better than formal Characterization
Washington. Hamilton, Madison, The Adams
Munroe, jackson, Clay and others stand out in
thsse pages living men.
Mr.. Van Buren's remarks on Clay's "Ameri-
can System" will be received by his readers
somewhat variOusiy, according as their politi-
cal theories may be more or less of the Free
Trade complexion. His estimate of the polite
al principles Of John Adams has excited some
sharp comment. laa
The eighth chapter of the work is devoted TO
a consideration OF the Dred Scott decision, and
to the exceptional oounteuance given on this
| occasion by the Democratic party to the Fed
eralist doctrine of the supremacy of the Judic-
al over the other departments" of the govern
ment. He believes the motives of the judges
to have been good, but esteems their obiter die
ia a mistake and he seems to take special pleas
| ure in reminding the reader that Judge Taney
was for the greater part OF his life Federalist.
| The course of President Buchanan with regard
| TO this decision he stigmatzes "as a voluntary
aud seemingly ready sacrifice OF most
| cherished principle OF the democratic faith
| the reciprocal Independence of the great de-
partinents of the government.
| The style of the Inquiry" is forcible, clear
| and polished, and there is often much vivacty
| in the narrative. The book is one which will
| be read with great interest," and which will re-
| main a valuable addition To our sources OF his
| torical information. Short and Loring have