The New York herald., 1872-09-16
LITERATURE.
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS

States BY Samuel Tyler IL. D., Of the Mary
Svo, PIP. 65ss With portrait.
Before entering upon the merits OF this volume
as q biography We must say one word OF the very
superior manner In which the publishers have done
their work. The typ0graphp0f the book is az near
faultlcss as 1t Is possible for mechanical process
to be. and the proof reading has LETT no discover
able blemish behind, 50 thoroughly has the press
been corrected.
Mr.. Samuel Tyler, now law lecturer for college
In Washington, belongs to che old and honorable
school OF Maryland lawyers, among whom the late
Chief Justice OF the United States passed the early
years Of his practice at the bar. Mr. Tylers earlier
works In literature and especially his 'Discourse
on the Baconian Philosophy" and sketch OF the
progress OF Philosophy" have acquired for him an
enviable fame as thinker ana writer. both In Eng
land and America. Perfect clearness Is the charac-
tertstic Of his style, and this in biographical
work Is merit of the first magnitude. The open
Ing chapter OF the book consists of q fragment Of
autobiography prepared by Chief Justice Taney
late In life, and continued no further than to his
twenty-ffth year. Born in 1777, the Chief Justice
died IN 1884, at the ripe old age OF eighty seven.
Two years before his decease he personally
indicated TO Mr.. Tyler his desire that he
should become his biographer. That gentleman
has waited until the heats and rancors OF the great
civil war have mostly died away to fulfil his pious
task toward the memory Of one whom he considers
his much mallgned friend. The part OF the memoir
for which the Chief Justice Is responsible is dis
tinguished by that perfect simplicity and transpar
ency Of style which marked the judicial opinions of
its author. Chronoogically it launches him in the
active career OF life, and introduces him to poll
tics-the politics OF the elder Adamsfor the youth.
ful Taney was an intense federalist IN 1901.
Mr.. Tyler takes up the narrative at the epoch OF
Mr. Taney's settlement in Frederick Nd, for prac-
tice at the bar. There Is pleasant sketch Of the
Old county town. Its natural scenery business
features and courts. In five years the young law
yer acquired lucrative practice by sheer force of
his intellectual talents, and thought himself rich
enough to marry. Francis Scott Key, afterwards
the author OF 'The Star Spangled Banner" and q
fellow law student with Taney at Annapolis had
pretty and graceful sister, and 1t was her. at the
paternal mansion In Frederick county, that the
future Chief Justice proposed and was accepted.
Here is a bit OF Mr.. Tyler's lighter vein OF writ
ing:-
wings and long pOrches. 1t was situated amid q
large lawn shaded by trees, and an extensive ter
Near by flowed Pipe Creek, through dense wood
cOptous stream OF purest water, where young
people loved to retire and sit under the sheterins
oaks In summer was at the foot OF the hill. A
meadow OF waving grass spread out towards the
Catoctin Mountain, which could be seen at sunset
this happy house that Mr. Taney was the 7th day of
Key
The two great points OF public interest in Chief
Justice Taney's long career were his removal of
the deposits under jackson, as Secretary OF the
Treasury, and his decision in the Dred Scott case.
Passing over the nrst now Of vastly inferior in
terest let us cite example Of Mr.. Tyler's po-
litical style the following sketch Of the men and
measures that followed closely upon General Jack
sons withdrawal from public life. We may premise
as an interesting and not widely known fact that
Jackson's farewell address to his countrymen was
written by Chief Justice Taney:-
When General Jacksons second term expired
there was no one to continue the restoration In the
great ruler. Martkl Van Buren, succeeded him as
President He was cold and crafty, always watch
his nature which is SO essential to the character OF
Q ruler OF the people: ne had by machination
by playing upon his hatred or Mr.. Calhoun, who
the General thought had been trcacherous to him
he; he succeeded in gaining his favor for himself as
ern man. with Southern principles" lie
ss sss n;,, his .inaqiTy into the origin and Cause
party, led by Mr.: Calhoun. felt for him the con.
emptuous haired borrowed from their great leader
tion oil the political factions and cliques and rings
psrs s
pos!tion-for such combination cannot be called q
party.-and called themselves whlgs, to indicate
power. which, as they pretended, General Jackson
had endeayored to, establish: The great leaders,
group by and
availability as the only qualification for candidates
for the Presidency and Vice Presidency they nomi-
mated William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, q
ederallst and nulliaer, to secure all the votes Of
such heterogeneous multitude as were concealed
under the appeation whig. pandering to the low
ceeded In eecting their candidates by the instru-
mentaties OF log cabins, cOonskins and hard cider.
From that moment the great party which Aexan-
der Hamilton organized fell to the lowest level in
politics.
Randolph OF Roanoke) were seven-ave ioaves and
two fishes. When nation comes to think that 1t
no longer stands In need of great Inen to lead 1t,
but relies upon the wisdom OF the intuitions OF the
multitude, It soon brings upon itself woes, which,
perhaps, may be esteemed curses for rcpudIating
ror Wisdom for the benefit OF the country in which
they are born. The federalst died and
the .nulliner became President, and admins
Of the Constitution. The democratic party, fight.
Ing the opposition upon the & level O. availability,
the other party nominated Henry Clay as their can
dldate. Polk was elected by large majority, which
elected from Mr.. Clay the remark that he was o..
never when his election was probable. The truth
s both parties had ceased to appreciate great men.
the az q the
to consider physical power and territorial extent
the chief gores OF great people. Therefore It was
that combinations OF corporations and public COM
panies and spectators and money changers be.
came great power In the politics Of the country.
Their schemes of personal aggrandizement could
not receive the same favor from great statesmen,
aspiring to proud name In history as wise rulers,
as they would from men OF narrow Understandings,
neither knowing what constituted historical honor
nor caring for 1t.
From this preliminary survey OF national politics
Mr.. Tyler passes to review OF the slavery ques-
ton, the compromises Of 1850, the Northern aeita.
tion and uneasiness and the Southern sensitive.
ness and resentment, all Of which were famed into
unprecedented name by the controversy over Kan
sas, Nebraska and slavery In the Territories. 1t is,
perhaps unnecessary to say that In this contest Mr..
Tylcr's sympathies are wholly with the South.
Thus he introduces the famous decision In the case
OF Dred Scott