New-York tribune., 1868-04-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

General Of Volunteers and Colonel IN the Regular
Army OF the United states 2 vols. SNO. Pans IL
braire Internationale. New-lOrk; Sold by {. W.
C,ristern
of the numerous works which have been de-
voted TO the history Of the of the Rebellion few
can boast of such strong claims Oh the attention oil
intelligent readers the present able and instructive
volumes The author, who is well known as an
adopted citizen of this country, is man of vide and
varied experience in both hemispheres with equal
brilliancy aud versatility of intellect, combining
ample literary accomplishments and practice with an
hereditary turn for military affairs and mbued with
an ardent sentiment Of devotion TO the political ideas
which are at the basis Of American institutions
Under a profound impulse of patriotic ferNof ne
1oined the National army OF the commencement oI
the war; and served in posts OF eminent hoHor 8i"
distinction until its close. He was not only an "o-
server of the scenes which he describes but IN many
of them a conspicuous and efficient actor Ills shin
as a writer is tempered by his experience a. soioi
Sn the composition OF his work. Ills personal shaI0
ia its events imparts peculiar expression Oh leai'y
10 his narrative giving il lifelike glow ana ANNA
zion beyOnd all the resources OF rhetOrlca OF uIhalc
art Nor is his work mere recital OF incidents; IL
ften assumes the form of earnest critical DISGUST
t,op II ndges as well as relates; submitting persons
and characters 20 a stringent analysis detecting IN
difference and treacheIy beneath their speclous dls
guises exposing military blunders ana lncapaci'y
without regard 60 popular prestige while 1t does
cordial aud liberal justice TO the wisdom and heros
which secured the victory OF the American cause
In point of style the volumes exhibit the character
jstc yivacity gayety of humor and pointed terseneSs
of expression for which the author had previously
been distinguished as a popular journalist. AT the
same time they possess breadth of view, scope OF
wise and profound reflection, and sound poIitlcal
instinct which would have seemed out of place ID
tbe glitterng productions of his earlier years
Tbe first volume of the work opens with rapid sur
yey of causes of tho These are shown to be the
maintenance and pepetuation ofsavery in Whatever
point yiew he argues we study the development OF
facts we always find this question at the bottom
Everything else is OF subordinate import The whole
political history of the United States pvots on the
struggle between freedom and slavery. in which the
statesmen of the country exhausted their strength IN
vain during half century. Their error, says Nj. de
Trobriand was believing in the efficacy of compro-
,nises-a moor expedient 10 reconcile lrTeoOnclable
iierences-pucrile efforts which in the presence o1
results seem like the attempts of children to smut out
the tide with dkes of sand. The growing prosperity
of the Northern States from the first excited the
jealousy of the planters of the South The cause was
simply the relative merit of free labor ana slave
labor But this the Shareholders would not perceive
and their grievances came to climax IN the tam OF
1928 Whenever a law,D shrewdly remarks N. de
ests the most plausible pretext for attacking il is to
represent il rs unconstitutional This was the
pOcy Of South Carolina which led TO the doctrine OF
accession The course of events is portrayed by the
writer in brief but mastery review, till the first
sct of the tragedy was opened with the execution Of
John Brown, who met his death with a serene eye
and smiling face This was in 1859. In 1867 says
NJ. de Trobriand, when the place was shown to me
where the defeated sentinel of abolition was hanged
there was no longer slave on the American CONT
nent" little anecdote shows the prevailing dis
position Of the two parties at this period. ii the
Republican candidate succeeds said one of the
leading Shareholders 10 me. We shall withdraw
frem the Union and establish Southern con-
federacy with government of our own pattern. We
shall place Gordon of troops on the frontier and
every one of YOUR internal abotiOnists who shall
place his foot on our soil viii be hanged. Then there
will be peace between us. Then, replied j,
there will he war; WARP sald he you don't
know that race of traders. They care Tor nothing
but to make money, and to humbng the people at
whose expense they get rich War would touch
them on the point which they hold most dear their
purse. They will never fight l tired in vain TO
shOw him his error in this respect You were born
Frenchman' be replied, and the French fight for
less than that; but you can never comprehend the
nature Of these people; the Yankee will let us so
and won't fght' Precisely the reverse of this was
maintained by the Northerners TO whom predicted
civil war as the inevitable consequence of the slavery
question. Civil war! Impossible, said they. The
fire-eaters make great bluster but do not come TO
blows For years. they have been crying out seccs-
sion, but when IL comes III earnest TO breaking the
UniOn-that is another matter. they Will not venture
upOn it," The author gives piquant sketch Of Mr.
Stewards Illusions to the same effect. His speech in
The Senate in which he cOntended that the cry Of
secession was q mere scarcCrOw to act upon the cleo
tions and would not produce any material result
was fine specimen Of optimism. aDdif we calibelieye
that he was sincere in what he said, does credit
fO his imagination than his sagacty.
The position of President Buchanan, after the
election of Mr. Lincoln, is the subject of pitless
criticism by the author. "To tho direct and multi
piled attacks upon the Federal Government
(which Immediately ensued "8 Mr. Buchanan opposed
nothing but the inertia of a senile imbecility.
She hypocrisy OF latent treason AT the opening OF
tbe Thirty-Sixth Congress which took place on the
Sd of December, his Presidential message without
boldness without inspiration. did not rise above the
narrow and petty details of technical discussion.
Mr.. Buchanan once said Of Mr.. Webster lie is re-
maTkable statesman. but politician To which
Mr. Webster responded Mr.. buchanan is great
politician but he will never DC a statesman.' The
last acts of bis political show that he
fell bslow tins estimate. reuark OF bir. Seward
perfectly chaTacteTzes the paltTy document adj
dressed 10 Congress. The President said he has
proved two things: first that State has right to
withdraw from the Union. unless it wishes TO
do 80; and second that it is the duty Of the
President to enforce the laws unless somebody is OPP
posed 10 it.b "TO conjure away the evil. Mr.
Buchanan could imagine nothing better than 70 aI-
point day for public prayer. Not knowing to which