New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

IA
rroposed TO himself difficult problem than INC
.r,slv historical narrative of civil and military
events His work is less rehearsal OF eAtethai
transactions than an exposition OF the phlloso-
phy of the American Union. lie mas miheu 10
portray the gradual development OF the natonai
life tracing the course Of events in their relation to
principles and analyzing the political ideas that
were ultimately embodied in the Federal Consutu-
tion. His plan affords little scope for picturesque
description OF rhetorical embellishments Its faithful
execution has required years of dgent study IN the
accumulation of facts, and equal keenness and So
briefly of Judgment in deciding upon their bearing
and consequences. The author has not been enticed
by the influence Of favorite theories win STRONG
personal convictions he exhibits singular imparu-
ality of statement. Every page of his work eVlnces
n curious minuteness of research, subtle percep-
ton of the action of political causes, and an aoso-
Lutte mental integrity in the expression of results
1t al once furnishes invaluable authority on the
evolution of thought which was consummated III
the establishment of American independence, and
necredits the author TO an eminent rank among the
philosophical historians of the age.
The cardinal feature of the volume IS It's EXPOSE
ton of the origin and progress of the sentiment OF
nationality from its dawn in the early settlement OIL
the colonies TO its embodiment IN the declaration Oh
independence and its illustrOus triumph in the crisis
of civil war. Following the lucid analysis of Mr..
Union in the conception by the founders of New
England of a Christian state in the bosom of the
church But this basis was not broad enough to
embrace the whole of the territory to include the
complete mass Of the population. A more compre-
hensive tendency TO union was manifested IN New
York after the annexation of the colony to the
British crown During the seventy years from l6JO
TO 1860 there were constant suggestions of similar
character. 1t was urged that the people OF North
America were linked together by material interests,
and as they had before them common destiny, they
should be united by common polity. The idea OF
union received fresh impulse from the project of
the cabinet of George Ill to tax the colonies
Union was enjOined by the popular leaders as the
sum of American politics The sentiment npened
into conviction and almost gained the force of re-
hgious faith. Union became fact, with the moral
authority of unwritten law Under its inspiration,
anew and majestic public life rose into political
action By the resistance of the colonies the senti-
ment Of nationality combined with the concep-
tion of union. 1t mingled in political utterances
with the assertion of independence maintaining
that the people should not only off the authority
of Great Britain, but organize themselves into po
Gtical national unit
This sentiment was fostered by the physical char
acterisics of the country 1t seemed TO the thought
full that the Almighty had formed it for the abode of
people that should be prominent in the world
They unused upon the establishment of common
wealth, founded on the principles of humanity and
justice and giving impulse to the progress of civil
society as if the new world to surpaSs the
old, aud the glory of human nature was to receive
the highest perfection near the setting SUM-" Amid
the visions of glorious future, the popular leaders
concerted means having in view the founding of
republic. The term continental was in common use
to denote the territory of the contemplated govern
ment and the ideal of the was expressed in
the current remark that it was the cause of human
nature The sentiment of nationality thus became
the spring and passion of the popular party. The
conviction became general that American civiliza-
tion demanded for its future common country. The
ideal of republic became identical with the concep
ton of O national life.
The sentiment gained itsmost articulate expression
in the declaration of independence. That instru-
ment was welcomed not only as the symbol of free
DOM but as the tle-deed of distinct people, with
q name among the States of the world" The colo
MES in throwing off their allegiance TO Great
Britain had not taken the position of separate com
Tpnnities No single State was endowed with the
bower of external sovereignty, or the right to deal
9th iureIgn nations They chose different course.
ilnOn was the key to their politics. common
country wasa necessity. They declared their indie
pendence by joint act and thus became one ma
ton and assumed their station as the United States
The Declaration has been justly termed the funda-
mental act OF Union. III was an tnlDOululenJ VI
the will of the people composing one ma
ton. This act however, did not consist merely in
the declaration issued by Congress- but embraced
the prior action of the colonies. They sue
cessve stages Of joint act by which the declara
ton of independence established organic law
1t was a covenant of country in which the people
recognized the inevitable development of union.
The Declaration established Union IA a fundamental
by the SIDE OF the old law of Diversity These laws
ing dependent Cd that OF the other n
requirements tsey so free from antagonism or con
Hct fidelity be treason to the other
while obedience to bOth-each paramount In it's sphere
constitutes the life, harmony. and glory OF the American
the Union These historic ideas entw iDed
like warp and wool Influenced results along the whole
the Union appears grow stern aud to become at
tunes imperative, yet there eyinced the same deter
ture internal violation there had been IN the
TIE Declaration transformed the sentiment OF nation
aly into the fact Of natonality thought into reality
tiOnsry leaders expressed it exactythe birth Of the
Nation The transcendent fact OF Union now joined
10 the fact q Republic This Union was the country
This feeling Of country OF compacts.
not be- improyised by great men, but growth, de-
yelopmeut l. is the moral power, the influence,
the spirit preeedes forms organic
law IL spranR from the aggregate OF habits energies
Evolutionary repubcansm to such degree that they
nnoonsciousy applied in their customs and laws and
feeling that they had the right individuals,
try all their owRa right 70 the ncalculabe benefits Of
FatherlaDd for which the language has term,
for which Providence has planted deep the human
heart Its spirit breathes IN national song Its power is
symbozed In the national flag Americans felt the full
force Of the inspiration.
The severity Of the authors method in the con-
struction Of his work affords but scant opportunity
for the luminous episodes which for many readers
constitute one of the chief charms of historical com
position His D0merous portraits of the leaders of
the Revolution, however, although only miniature