Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-28
MA. BIhIaI,s moor.
"Twenty Years OF Congress, from
Lincoln to Garfield

"Twenty Years OF Congress, from
Lincoln to GardeIdn
Extract from New York Times review.
Though Mr.. Blaine gives to his history
the title Of Twenty Years Of Congress-
and the sub title "From Lincoln TO Gar
field, the most interesting portion OF the
FIRST volume is the /" Review OF the Events
which Led 10 the Political Revolution Of
$780," It is true that IL deals with facts
generally familiar to the student Of
American history, some groups Of which
have been severally more infinitely aud
much more ably treated by other writer's,
from point Of view not essentially diff
ferent from tina. Of tho author. Mr..
Blaine has given what may be called
politicians account Of the events OF the
first 90 years Of the century in the
United States that, considering both It's
SCOPE and Its special treatment, ia unlike
any other history that we have, and ia
possessed Of distinct value. BY this
Characterization of the "Review" we
do not mean to convey the im-
preston that 1t ia the narrow
work Of narrow politician, or
that 1t depends for ita interest upon the
details OF party struggles, but. rather,
thai 1t Ia the account of a student and
observer who unites to the qualities Of an
experienced and vigorous participant in
public life those of an eager, ambitious,
keen, aud skilled political leader. The
line OF events which Mr.. Blaine has
traced es those which led TO what he
justly calls 'the political revolution OF
$780," embraces those which bring out
the bsst traits in his mind and character.
They are tho events which aroused In
aim, 50 they did in thousands Of yCuue
Americana, the ardor Of youthful zeal
the first flame OF generous sympathy with
lofty principle, mingled, II unconeci-
ously, with the strong impulae OF o not
nnhonOrabie ambition; the events that
opened to him career OF hopeful activity
IN the fascinating life Of politics, and
directed his untired energy, his undeni
sble talents, to field that seemed, and
that was, field of patriotic duty.
II may DO said at the outset that Mr..
Blaine shows power Of connected, rapid
and balanced narration which could
hardly have been anticipated from the
nsture OF the life he has led, or from his
| public utteranoes. Though his style 10
not always even, and is at times some.
what dull, it is, when he ia dealing with
matters that engage his real interest,
vigorous, clear and sustained. II often
unites the effective grouping and the telling
emphasis Of the popular speaker with
genuine eloquence and compact and
brilliant statement. NJ. Blaine opens his
book with the declaration that "the com.
promises on the slavery question, inserted
In the constitution, were among the
essential conditions upon which the
Federal government was organized" Il
1t had not been for these "the thirteen
statea would not have been able to form
a more perfect Union.'" He then pro
oeeds to the story Of the Louisiana pur.
chase and the treaty with Spain by which
our boundaries were extended to the gulf
at the cost Of the oession Of what ia now
the greater part of the state Of Texas.
The fret 200 pages Of Mr.. Blaine's frs
volume are devoted to a history Of the
political movements In which was mani
tested the essential conflict between tbs
forces which 1t was hoped and supposed
had been reoonolled by the Missouri com
premise. As already remarked, his &C.
count OF this period is interesting and
valuable, because IL Ia written from the
point Of view OF the politician, and traces
the phases OF the struggle as they were
made plsiu in party action, and because
1t brings out clearly tine influence o.
party needs and methods, or per
s0nal ambitions, and of the mors or leel
open intrigues and jealousies among
PARTY leaders. He holds that within thu
region secured by the Missouri oompro
| TniQl ftaFn w nv
enough for the profitable, the immensely
profitable, use of all the slave labor thai
could be obtained, and he advances tn,
suggestion that the plans OF the southern
leaders before the outbreak OF the rebel
lion included the revival OF the slav,
trade. He finds the main motive o
those leaders in the long and desperat,
struggle that they maintained, in theii
political ambition, which required tina
the equality of the slave.holding state
should be unbrokeH in the Senate.
In the main, Mr.. Blaine's theory Of til,
motive of the southern leaders 10 sus
tanned by the facts, and the view which
he implies rather than avOws, that th,
question ofslsvsry In the territories nortl
OF Mason and Dixon'sslino wss rather tn
occasion than the real cause of the terri
BILE dispute which ended in war, ha
much to support II. Mr.. Blaine point
cut with much force and entire accurac,
the fsilure Of the southern sonators whei
taey apgrily left the capitol, OF the secea
Rion conventions when they declares
their abandonment OF the Union and eye,
OF the Confederate government when
presented its claim to ACKNOWLEDGE,
as a separate sovereignty, to specify
single substantial right that had bee
denied to the southern ststes, q siDgl
real danger by which they were seriousl
mensnced within the Union.
II Is, perhaps, natural and not uufsi
for Mr. Blsins TO point ont that RobeI
e. Lee offered password to Virginia bsfor
the people Of Virginia had acted on til
proposition OF secession, but he and mau
others who made the came fatal errO
could not have done 80 hsd rot the fee
ing toward their stste5 become one {
blind attachment. Nor was this feelin
without its strong eff4o. IN the Forth d
well. Il was not the rights of slave
holders that were being defended, it va
the rights Of states, ID the eyes oi man
northern Democrats who we're entirel
sincere III their opposition to the war.
Tbs portion of this volume which r,
lGtsS 10 the term OF Mr.. Lineoln's Pres
dency ia uDquestionGbiy interesting, ant
Ia soms regards, ia valuable. With q
these Mr.. BlsiGe Las written 0 volunl
that will be, On the whole, popular, an
that can b. read with profit. Tie wol
i3so'd ly subEcription only aud agent
are now csIvassinG this city. Samples ,
the variouf bindings Of the work are :,
exhibition at Lex Barne, q store M