The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-10

HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS OF THE
,nr sr th BY Wah Sorras
New York. Harper & Brothers. 1868.
This Is a handsomely printed octave of 636 pages,
embeshed with some eighteen finely executed en-
cravings of good portraits OF leading members OF
both houses that Of Mr.. Speaker Colfax being the
frontispece and that Of Old Thad Stevens" as the
leader OF the House, following next in order. The
history thus garnshed, with an allusion to the mo-
menOus events Of the vacation following the assassi-
nation Of President Lincoln, properly begins with
the meeting Of the Thirty-ninth Congress and the
momentous duty devolving on the Clerk, Mr.. Edward
Mcpherson, OF deciding upon the admission or exclu
sion from the roll Of the members of the House duly
returned those members present from number OF
the rebel States reconstructed during the recess
by President Johnson. The Clerk excluded them
fromthe roll, and from that point, the first Monday
in December, 1885, began the conflict between Presi
dent Johnson and Congress on Southern reconstruc-
tion.
This history Of the subsequent events of that Con-
gress Is chiefly made up from the debates of the two
houses on the great measures distinguishing and
developing this conflict between President and Con-
gress-including the appointment Of the joint Com
mittee Reconstruction to inquire into and report
at any time on the condition Of the rebel States
suffrage in the District Of Columbia the first Freed
~
Rights bill and its passage over the Presidents
objections the second Freedmen's Bureau bill and
Its passage the veto; reports and debates on re-
construction; passage OF the constitutional amend
ment known as article fourteen; general report Of
the Reconstruction committee restoration OF Ten
nessee on the bases OF the amendment known as
article fourteen; negro suifra ge legislation for the
District of Columbia and passage of the bill
over the Presidents veto; the several mill
tary reconstruction acts and their passage
each over the Veto including Universal
gro suffrage In the ten States concerned; the
bankrupt, tariff and financial measures passed; the
Tenure Of Office act and its passage over the veto;
the first impeachment proceedings initiated by Mr..
Ashley OF Ohio, and the report of the committee and
great variety OF personal matters, and, in addition
a number OF interesting biographical sketches.
AS book OF reference IN relation to all these and
other proceedings Of the Thirty Congress this
history Is convenient and valuable, especially to those
directly concerned in the profession Of politics de-
sirOus Of having the means at hand OF immediate
proof In reference to any Of the leading measures,
arguments and characters making up the records of
the Thirty Congress. similar book in regard
to the Forteth Congress will be needed, however, to
make this history Of the Thirty ninth complete, and
the work of preparing 1t Is doubtless in the hands Of
Mr.. Barnes or his successor in the task.
THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS BY HELEN s. CoNANT;
with Illustrations Boston: TicknOr Fields.
prettily got up and gracefully written volume OF
the natural history Of butterflies, this book is ad
mirably adapted for childrens instruction and enter
tainment A series of country rambles, exciting
butterfly hunts with nets and bags pleasant CONVEX
satons anecdotes and descriptive pastoral scenes,
carry the young mind through course of study OF
the otherwise dry science Of lepdoptera. The Illus
trations OF the various species Of butterflies and
moths are considerable aid in distinguishing the
structure and plumage OF the different classes. The
book is very elegantly brought out both as to typo,
graphy and binding. making 1t quite an ornamental
volume Tor the parlOr table.