The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-09
BLAINE,s ntW WORK.
Preface or the Ex-secrctary's Twenty
| .. y Yenrs, ui.nIs cence.

/ O. y Years, "Reminiscences. -
WAsutSGroS, April 7.-Ex.Secretary
Blaine Is still hard at work at his book ON
the politics OF the past twenty years, and he
eau be seen almost every day III the
archives ofthe State Department searching
for statistics and data. UnliEe'niost great
authors, Mr. Blaine does not leave this part
OF bis work to an assistant, but attends oit
himself. Besides this, he has found that he
can yet along faster without stenographer
than with one, and hehas, therefore, given
UP dictation. The whole burden OF the
work thus falls on his shou lders, and, al
together with his social and other duties,
make up pretty good days labor for him.
The eSsCretary expects TO finish the fist
volume OF the work during the present year,
and twill probably be published imme'
diately. Alteth he has finished this part he
will take afew months rest and then begin
work on the second volume. The scope,
design and aim OF the whole book are
clearly set forth in the following extracts
from the preface:
The twenty years OF Congress between
the inauguration OF Lincoln in 1851 and
the inauguration OF Garfield in 1881 were
the most, important in our history US a Ma.
ton. The entire period Was filed with
monlentous events. Legislation during
the progress OF the war, in aid OF the great
armies which upheld the Government; ;
through the period in which the Union
was RECONSTRUCTED u on new and enduring
foundations, on the finances during the era
OF paper money and the subsequent return
10 the standard Of coin; on slavery, and
tho emancipation which came generations
before philanthropists had dared to hope
on tayation, exercised anil enforced to a
degree beyond all precedent, yet always
sustained by popularmgorilies; on indus;
trial development 80 wisely fastened that,
despitetlIe waste OF thousands Of millions
by The ravages Of war, the aggregate wealth
OF the people was doubled in single de-
cade-legislation on these great subjects
forms the vital history ol the country, and
is worthy OF oommemoration.
During the years when these legislative
deliberations were in. progress, much was
done in Congress Of inferior Importance
and temporary interest. To separate the
valuable and the permanent from the
yalueless and transient ot this historic
epoch, and to give a clear ind connected
account OF the really great events in the
Senate and House OF Representatives, is the
aim Of the work. L is not intended to be
an ,abriigement ofthe proceedings OF Con.
press, ,-ora mere conipendint1 Of debates
vet no important transaction In either
branch is omitted. and no discussion
worthy ofhonorable mention is overlooked.
The design necessarily yiincluJes, With In the
limIts OF careful discretion, the narrative OF
many facts which could not appear In an
Official report, as well as fair and just
estimate OF the men who have been most
prominent, and influential 10 the two
Hbnses OF Congress. ~ v -
1t would be obviously impossible 10 pre-
sent perspicuous history Of the two de-
cades from 1851 10 1881, without reviewing
at some length the important and often
tangled course Of events, which brought
about the political revolution Of 1850, re:
sulting In the defeat Of all the old political
Organizations! and giving the control Of
theeouury 10 q new, ra4lc lcal epthusiaslic
and progressive party. The cause o. TINS
revolution. properly sualyzad. Will be
found, 10 be Notwithstanding back at
least forty years, and yet steadily and COLI
tinuously tending towards the examination
which was reached in the election oil Mr..
Lincoln to the Presidency The incidents
Of The intervening struggles in Congress,
the connection OF one phase Of the contest
with an others-n seen atthe time, but In
retrospect distinctly vlslble- present a
biIeld oi Interesting inquiry, necessarily In
trodTlrtoFy 10 the work now In hand.
The encouragement 10 publish any his.
,or;coI work Ia tnund In the belief that Il
supplies what was before Inaccessible,
ING history Of The events nov presented ID
sCa .tered through 100 volumes ot the pom
derous records Of Congress, and In the
scarcely less voluminous reports oi commit
tees oil both Senate and House. In this
vast mass Of documents, complete series
oi which Is, probably, not contained in q
single library outside the National Capitol,