New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-09
SOME RACY ANECDOTES.
Mr.. CHITTENDEN'S RECOLLECTIONS.

Personal "REMINISCENCES. 1s40ls0O. Including
som some not hi'herto published Of Lincoln and the
York. Richmond. Croscup Co.
Mr. Chittcndens previous volume OF Recollec-
lions of President Lincoln and his Administration"
was so successful an adventure in what was TO the
author on unknown field of literature that he has
written second volume of "reminiscences in the
same spirit. Naturally the choicest material was
appropriated for his first book wherein the great
President. whom he knew intimately, the
chief figure. But 50 varied have been hi, expert
ences, and many sided has been his life, that
there was an abundance of anpcdotc and rcmns
ccnce in reserve for this second venture. Like
every else who had important work to do in
the American civil conflict, Mr.. Chttendcn has
regarded the events Of that heroic period when
history was made in Theodore Winthrops phrase,
hand over hand" as OF transcendent importance
When he undertook, 10 collect the "reminiscences OF
his busy life with the necessity OF excluding Lin
coin and the rich field previously reapcd he was
not satisfied with the cleaning, lie felt con-
strained to include matters which properly
belonged in his first volume, and finally. as an
after thought, appended seven chapters on Lin
coins character a supplementary study These
closing chapters are the least satisfactory in me
new volume. The author has neither the quality
or MIND nor the literary iaDlt reIuIeu LOT hdiN SIS
Of such character as that Of Lincoln. He cxcels
as genial story-tcller. entertaining his readers
out Of the fulncss Of his experiences and svmpa-
thics, and having recourse to tho same natural
and unconventional method which he would EN-.
ploy at a dinncr-table with familiar friends.
The art Of narrating "reminiscences is one that
conceals the art Perhaps the best book Of this
kind that has recently been Published is Dean
Holes Memories" Mr. Chlttcn1en's work re-
sembles it in method and STYLE but is inferior TO
il in orderly arrangement and in literary inisn'
He does not follow any chronological or other or
der of subjects but passes abruptly from financial
policy to birds, from Judge Lynch TO Adirondack
scenes from duck-shooting To quackcry and law
yers' practical Jokes and from novel experiences
in official life TO the death of Lincoln; Savannah
during the war; and teaching school on Hog Island.
While each chapter is complete in itself, the group
ing is unfortunate. Dean Hole could have taught
him a useful lesson in this respect Indeed his
own instinct a genial host ought TO have warned
him against rapid transitions Of topic and fre.
quent returns to the same field. Guests are not
entertained 10y constant change Of subject The
motive for this confusion and carecssncss was
probably miscaculatcd desire for variety in the
contents Of the volume. That is defective art, for
the method is not concealed. The reader is dis
turbed by constant lacking TO and fro for short
distances when all the conditions are favorable
for smooth sailing over long ranges Of water.
Here our criticism must end. for Mr.. Chittcndcn,
apart from his defective study NJ Lincoln and his
dsordcrly arrangement Of chapters has written a
pleasant book, rich in quaint and striking an"c
dotcs. gocd-temrcrcd in every page. Astounding in
strong local color and shrwd observation, and
illuminel by humor and sentiment. lie has con
trved to get great deal Of pleasure ont OF the
serious work Of his life ~ a lawyer. Treasury
official and politician, and in this volume no shares
the joy of rccollcctions with sympathetic readers
who like 70 have good stories quietly told. without
literary articc and nann"rism.
In his opening chapter Mr. Chittcnden gives an
interesting Of the organization OF the Free
Soil party in the Ncw-England States. II was in
April ls4s or six weeks before tho call for the
Buffalo Convention was issued. The Slave Power
had secured control Of the Democratic party, and
was proclaming as its policy the abrosation OF
the WilInot Proviso. the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise, and the acceptance Of the doctrine
Of suatter sovereignty. The Democratic State
Convention Of Vermont met at Montpelier AMI in
corporatcd in its platform these new principles in
the interest Of slavery There were six delegates
who were loyal to the love of freedom. inherited
from their ancestors in the Green Mountains Mr..
Chittendcn and Charles ID. Kasson tlc leaders
of the group and they succeeded in making four
converts to their views They treated with
contempt by the State Committee, and excluded
from representation in the Committee on Platform.
Mr.. Chttenden, who had barely completed his
twenty fourth year. delivered tie only speech
against the resolutions. lie warned the majority
that they were making it impossible for a Yer
montcr who respected himself to be Democrat,
and that if they persisted in passing the resolu-
a. 4nI tIn lot hc nd
cates would leave the convention and abandon
the party Ills speech was followed by an oppres-
sve silence, and then by what appeared to bn a
burst OF genuine applause. An ancient Democrat,
whose mind was mpervious to argument remarked
that IA the hoy had spoken his piece, they might
as we'll proceed the business OF the convention
No answer made to the rcmonstrancc There
was a subdued Affirmative vote to the resolutions,
and sharp NO. from the six. An effort to
raise a hiss failed. The six members left their
seats in silence, retired to room in the adjoining
hotel. and organized thr Free Soil party, out Of
which came in due time tho Republican party A
newspaper was established under the editorship Of
Edward A. Stansbury, which cAertcd great nfu-
ence in New-E ENGLAND.
In consequence Of his courageous stand against
Pro.Slavery Democracy, Mr. Chitendcn received
/ in June. 1915 a letter fr?m John Van Buren, ask
| ing MIN 10 aIt"nu conference III AlDalV Nen-
eral Cass had secured the nomination for the Pcs-
dency from the Democratic convention and the
/ support Of the bunker faction OF the party in
Ncw-Yorl The leaders Of the Barn Burners. the
rival faction had boltel the nomination, and had
decided TO hold another convention and 70 place
ex-President Van Buren, on Free Soil platform
The object OF the conference was 70 frame a call
and to fix a time for holding the convention The
main question 10 be decided was whether the call
should be made broad enough to invite such men
as Charles Sumner and Charles Francis Adams,
who had never been either Democrats or Adolf.