New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS:
s.RcENrs PUBLIC MEN AND EVENTS.

MINl TRAIlON IN lS03. BN NATHAN SAN"ANi'
vols. SvO J. II. llppinectt n Co.
The period covered by these volumes embraces
many of the most significant events in the political
history of the United States Ii WAS epoch of in
TENSE excitement when the first principles OF the
American Government were called into the arena oil
nnbhc discussion on the floor Of Congress. Party
sorit was az its hight. The great questions In de
bate were treated with viIuence in proportion 10
their importance and the serene counsols oil wisdom
were often silcnccd amid The yehemence of sectional
heats Among the eminent men of that tine John
Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John
G. Calhoun, Martin Van Buren, Thomas H. Benton,
and host of other familiar Names were conspicuous
The subjects of debate included, among Others the
Panama question, the Public Lands. the tariffs Ct
ISIS 1892 and 1888 the removal OF the deposits the
annexation ofTexas, the with Mexico. the admis
sion of California New-Mexico, and Utah into the
Union. and the Compromise measures of 1880, with
the Fugitive Slave law. The author OF the present
work had an intimate connection with public az
f,irs dnring the whole period. His relations with
the press brought him into familiar association with
MANY uf the leading men in the country. An Oh
fce-hoder for considerable time under the Federal
Government, he had ample opportunities for be-
coming acquainted with the machinery of party
and the conduct of political campaigns Since his
retirement i'm 1871 from the post OF Commis-
soner of Customs. which he had held for ten
years he has devoted the principal part of his
leisure to the composition of these volumes. lie
makes no pretcnsions to perfect impartaiy IN his
narrative Of events and his estimate of public men,
Int has treated his subject according Ia the lights OF
AN old liue Wing, although We do not find that he
has often coorcd his recital by personal or political
prejudice. His work is desult0ry in lis metho'is'
not aiming at historical unity, or consecutive expo
stion but relating apparently at random the events
that recur To his memory after the interval of years
In n wing readers specimen of the book we can
only follow the example of the author, and repro
ducc some of his isolated scenes and portraitures
with little regard TO their connection or conse-
quences.
The first nomination of General Jackson can
didate for the Presidency by the Legislature of
Tennessee in 1923. He was again nominated by
public meetings Of citizens in different localities and
il was soon apparent that he would find an easy path
to the frS political Office Of the country. HIS char
acter and appearance at tins tme are skctched as
follows:
Gen Jackson wac a man Of a noble and commanding
presence-taIl. straight, with military air and mon
thai made strong gud favorable impression upon every
sne al lin sight In any prumscuous assembly Of
thousand men he would been pointed out above all
ofhcr- rs Tie born To command. ana VINO WOnll,
I'm any dangerous emergency, be at once placed IN con"
maud Ordinarily he md the peculiar, rough indeleh
q, ut, irceand-asy ways ot the p'""""J nm oe az
and especially vixen in TIT socley o. LADIES', Ne4! ui"he
and graceful manners. ,..
he vixen lie chose 10 be- naughty anu oFeIoein'
Impatient restraint and iraechIe in temper olosl,
tiu, IN any shape aroused his anger, which was 0cIcc
aud unreeutns. He who crossed his path lhwarted his
purposes held opinions in opposition to MS "Wh'
though honest and Sncere III those "pihn ana Opp"o-
lug Gilu under high duty aad not from person
warm lad been his previous friendship. He
gave; implicit aud unrcas0uing aoquiescence in MS
opinions and purposes was the price 0i his hnehdhnp,
aud 70 friends he knit himself WIN hooks 81 aoe
There WIS service in lis power he would not render
ilo r,ai with which they served hun
H. aGcctionate regard aud dcyOtedne~s 70 BIS wife,
aud ready suhiuie her soothing voice, even
when IN his most excited and rcvrngetU moods were
beautiful and connendable traits in bis character And
il strong proof OF her Ace nj Judmcnt se!c9ntro
mild temper and ardent affection for HIM. that she ad
such "a controlling influence over him.
The contrast between the society Of Washington
at the commencement of JactsOn's administration
andduring the time of General Washington set forth
in lively colurs, but without extravaganza of define
alton. Washngt0n's high sense of personal dignity
led him 10 preserve, to great degree, the etiquette
of foreign courts. His house the of
IRENE otncal Formally. He received company at
his leyees with dress sword by his side He bowed
to liz guests rs they caJne up and passed on, but
never shook hands with any one. He was fond Of
horses, aud piidcd himself on his stud Of ll-hloos
six ot which were attached to his carriage on state
OCCASIONS. Mr.. jefferson came into power as a DEM
ocrat, and aimed ut democratic freedom and plain
ness in his social intercourse. People and
went as they pleas ID, without ceremony, and sonic
times perhaps, without decency. AT the close of
John Quincy Adamss administration Il motley group
of celebrities haunted the capital.
Among the eminent and h, Distinguished men who con
ume-Sanat0Is, members Of the House of Represents.
uves Judges Oi the Supreme Court, ohces u the army
and navy, besides the candidates tue Presidency
Adams, Crawford Jackson, Clay, Calh0un-were the
venerable aud learned Marshall; Die Siyucous. witty
and profound Story tie sage yet civalTlc johnson Of
South Carolina the two model gentlemen OF the
Old school of mallclOtes and cOutly manners -enOrs
Ruiu- King AMI Gall.d Oi South Carolina: the two
Lloyds, senators from Massachusetts, and Maryland
the heroic HroWn Scott tancs Ripl Icy, Mc"mh il ssup
1owson, Gibson, Deratur Baiuhr1dSe, Hull Stewart,
Tingey, McDOnough, and 'haunoej besides a cOn-iel-
iai0n OF lesser Out equally brave ana hcr"c, military
and naval stars; che eloquent " model gentleman"
PnckDey the accomplished Writ; the massive Web
sier tine meilnunus stOrrs tile grave James, and the
metaphysical. Philip p Barbour; the poetic and unvrT-
sally admired Wilde tho logical clcaihcadr1 Sergeant;
the lndoaiigable, dognailc, and tmperiUus Benton;
the impassioned MeDntle the historian OF 49, The six
Nations" Golden the witty and faceOus John Holmes
the smOOth-tOngucd Van Buren, the bland Lewis Ne
Lane the upright and honest John Mclean the modest
but fearless Gov Mrcaf the brave nobehearcd Gen.
Vance the pioneer patriots Governors Macarthur and
Morrow the humorous Lctchcr; the eIIac gcnills Bar
ton the gallant Hutspur, Hamilton Of South Carolina
in snprrOr could treble tho list assembled the
eminent, In Congress. the and navy, and III
civil service And here too wer those ~ the otncr cx
worthy companions Uf The first the land together
forming a brilliant aud harmonious whole rarely me;
with elsewhere.
The society of Washington was probably never
more refined than 1T that timc LIE Inequalities
were dispensed by Mr. Adams. Mr.. Madison, MI,
Monroe Gen. Scott, and others, with hbeIality and
grace that has never been Surpassed. The drawing
rooms not filled to sutfocatiUn by a promscu-
Gus crowd unknown 10 each other, and scarcely
known TO the host aud hostess. A large proportion
OF the society personal acquaintance. Their
social Intercourse was genial and agreeable, with