New-York tribune., 1886-02-24
MIX. BLAINE'S BOOK.
EXTRACTS AND CHARACTER STUDIES.

rho saoond and concluding volume of Mr. Blane's
..Twentv Years of Congress has been published.
II embraces the period between MIR. JOhnson's ln'
sta,at,on as President and General Garfeld's elee'
tion 10 the Presidency. The earlier chapters are oc
cnpied mainly with the Reconstruction probiem'
the contest between the President and Congress
and the impeachment trial General Grants eighi
wears of administration are discussed IN genelou
and catholic spirit, and the closing chapters uea'
with current questions of political dlscusSion' Ahe
following extracts are meant to illustrate the au-
tbors critical manner in writing the history OF re-
cent years: ,.o>,
Mr.. Stanton. though originally a pro-slayery
DomOcrat had hy the progress OF tne war peeil
converted to the creed OF the most radica why oi
the Republican party. The aggressive movement.
the denuncatory declarations, made by Mr. john
son against the rebels" and traitors" oil the
South Immediately after bis accession 10 the fresi-
dcncv we're heartily reechoed by Mr.. Stanton, who
looked forward with entire satisfaction to the ViH-
orous policy 20 vigorously proclaimed MT.
Stanton's tendency In this direction had been
strengthened by the intolerance and hatred OF his
old Democratic friends OF whcm Judge blacA
was a type,-whO lDst no opportunity TO denouDce
him as a renegade to his party. as one VINO haq va
heen induced by place to fOrsw his old creed OF
State Rights. Such hostility should, however
he accounted O crown OF honor to Mr.. stanton.
He certainly came to the public service Win
mai riotlo and not with sOrdid motives. surrender
ing most brilliant position at the BAR ana WIN u
the emolument of which in the absence Oh accuWu-
lated wealth his family was IN daily heed. slI.
Stantons observ alton and wide experience through
the years of the war had taught him 10 ulsiius.
the Southern leaders Now t9at theS pt pt" of the
bayonet when they could no longer resist he alu
not believe that theyshoOld be regarded as returning
prodigals TO be embraced and wept over. for Wn0lh
fatred calves should be killed, and who should be
welcomed at once to the best IN tnelr tather
house He thought rather that works meet ior
renentance should be shown by these Offenders
against the law both of God and man, that they
should be held TO account III some form lot the
peril with which they had menaced the Nation; and
for the agony they had iDtlcted upon her loyal
sons. Mr stanton WAS therefore. bv every impulse
of bis heart and by every conviction of his mind
favorable to the policy which the trcsident had
indicated, if not indeed assured, to the people
Mr.. sEwARD's POWER
Those who thoroughly knew Mr.. Seward through
all the stages of his political career were aware
that, great as he was i'll public speech, IN the
Senate at ths Bar, before popular assembnes
cogent and powerful he had so often proved with
his pen, his one peculiar gait, greater perhaps than
apy othe with which he endowed, was his
faculty in personal nerSonrss mith one m man nv OF
views and taking captive his bearers With the
President alone, or with body no larger than a
Cabinet where the conferences and discussions are
informai and conversational Mr.. Seward snone
with remarkable brilhancy and with power unsur-
passed. He possessed characteristic rare among
men who have been long accustomed 10 lead,-he
was goOd listener. He gave defeIential attention
to remarks addressed to him. paid the graceful and
insinuatiDg, compliment OF seeming mnGn I'm, ho
came to reply. of repeating the argument OF his
opDorent in phrase far more afiuent and eloquent
than that in which it was originally stated.
In his final summing up of the case. when those
with whom he was comforting were, In i)r.
.JOhnson's phrase. talked OUT Mr.. Seward carried
all hetore him. His logic was clear and true, MS
iilustration both copous and felictous, his rapid
citation of historical precedcnts surprising even 10
thuse who thought they had themselves exhausted
the subject. His temper was too amiabe and serene
for StinUiOU hitting sarcasm, DIt lie Dau q
playful humor which kept the minds OF his hearers
in that receptive aud compliant state whlGh dls,
posed them the more readily to give full and
generous consideration TO all the strong parts OF
his argument. 1t might well indeed be SAID or Mr
Seward as Mr.. " cluster said OF Samuel Dexter:
{" The earneStness of his convictions wrought con,
yicton in others. One was convinced ana believed
and assented because it was gratliying and delight
full think and feel and believe IN unison with an
intellect OF such evident superiority
IMPEACHMENT OF JOHNSON.
But the importance of the Presidents Impeach-
meut does not depend upon the fame OF his accusers
or upon the length OF mis- trial The case IN itself
possesses intr nsic and enduring interest. 1t was
not affected by factltious circumstances. III Is
notable especially because of the extreme tension
10 which it subjected the Constitution, and the
attestalO. it affords of the restraint which free
people nstinctively impose upon themselves III
times of public excitement. 1t Will be studied as
precedent warning by the citizens of the
Great Republic during the centuries through which.
God grant, il may pass with increasing prosperity
and renOwn. And it may well happen that III the
crises OF distant future the momentous trial OF
1865 though property resulting III acquitta OF the
accused will be recalled demonstrating the
ease and the serenity with which, If necessity
should demand it, the citizens OF free country eau
lawfully deprive a corrupt or dangerous Executive
OF the office lie has dishonOred and the power he
has abused.
GENERAL GRANT IN CIVIL LIFE.
General Grant had never been in any way con
Dected with the civil administration of Nation or
State The charge of being mere military cheftain
al bPen i'm vain preferred against of his most
illustriOus predecessors; but with the possible
exception. of General Iaglor, no President ever
came to bis Office with little previous experience
in civil affairs. Washington's fame, prior to his
accession to the Presidency, rested mainly on his
victorious leadership of the Revolutionary army
but be had, as Young man: served in the Pro-
yincial Assembly OF Virginia had been member
of the Continental Congress, and had, alter the
close of lis military career, presided over the CON
was chosen President account OF his campaign in
the Southwest ending in his brilliant triumph at
New Orleans; but his experience i'll civil life had
already been long and varied. lie entered ongresS
as a Representative from Tennessee when Washing
ton was President, took his seat III the Senate of
the United States tue day John Adams was inaug-
urated, and afterward served as Judge OF the
Supreme Court of Tennessee. All these civil duties
had been performed before lie received a military
commission. After his stormy career IN the army
had euded he again sent to the Senate during
the second term of President Monroe. President
Taylor like General Grant, had been SIMPLY
soldier; but the people remembered that his service
in the Executive Chair was faithful resoute and
intelligent: ana tncy remembered also 1ndt some
of the greatest military heroes of the word had
been equally distinguished civil rulers CrOm
we'll William H.. Frederick the Great. the First
Napoleon, left behind them records of civil admin
istraton which for executive force and personal
energy established fame as great as they had
acquired on the field OF battle. The ineXperience
of General Grant had not, therefore. hindered his
election, an left ground for apprehension as to
the successful conduct of his Administration.
SENATOR CARPENTER.
His service in the Senate may rather be termed
brilliant than useful. The Truth is that Mr. Car
penter attempted to do what no man can accom-
plsh he tried TO maintain his full practice at the
bar and discharge his full duties as Senator at the
same time. His strength was not equal 10 the
double load He was endowed with high order of
ability If he had given all his time 10 the Senate.
or all to the Bar he would have found few peers
either field Of intellectual combat Aside from the
weight of his argument, his manner of speech was
attractive. lie had an agreeable voice, precisely
adapted in volume and tone TO the Senate Cham