New-York tribune., 1896-11-28
ABOUT THE UNITED STATES.
GENERAL AND SPECIAL HISTORIES AND
STUDIES.

Pp xiv. 49, Cincmhau' Inc ''''''
English and American Relations ms At rnomss ne Be- e
l"'vs a WoodbuTn. m Ph b., Professor OF Amercsn "a!
Indisnspolis I,diiio oil and Kansas city, The nMer
r Company.
SOUTHERN spELIGHTss Picture of sSiia
Before the War BY Edward Ingle. A. B. PIP.
s7s' s'' Thomas T. Croywe & Co.
WITH THE FATHERS Studies in the a,,s History Of
TOsssDs Of PenDsyvan" II ne''aP Pp iM s M b Appleton
SOUTHERN orAKERs AND SLAVERY. a
Study in institutional History: by StePhen, B
Weeks. Phi. D., University Of North Caroline n1l,a
University 1d Hdi studies Extra Volume XVI! PIP. xiv.
400 Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press
MARY DYER OF RHODE ISLAND The Quake Quaker
June l. 1860 BY Horatlo Rogers Associate !e,JuS Jus
tce of the Supreme Court OF Rhode isiaho'
PIP. vi. 15 Providence: Preston d Rounds
CITIZENSHIP AND SUFFRAGE IN MARY
LAND. BY Bernard c. Steiner. III. b.. Univer-
sity Of Maryland. PIP. s' Baltimore: Cusn-
Tie eagerness In historical writing and read
ing that has shown itself in the last few years Is
beginning to assume the proportions OF genuine
renaissance Talk az may about the popular
taste. II is certain that the number of people
whose memory and whose desire for knowledge
of the past subject to the twenty-four hour
limit is not increasing proportionateiy Ihose
who have discovered that things happened a
hundred years ago. fifty centuries ago that
are better to read about than the murder which
happened last night. are really beginning to
crowd their neighbors a little. AS an illustra-
tion of the fact that historical reading is not to
be left to mere scholars and dettanti. comes
Mr. Els's elaborate work with its thousand
pictures. many Of them in colors. and letter
press that is a delight to the eye The work
will take its place between the irnumerable
studies Of specialists and the books prepared
for people who care mainly for good general
knowledge of American history in all its varied
phases 1t will hardly be looked to for de-
csion on those minute points where endless con-
troversy RACES as to the exact relation Of facts
but it will give its readers taste for the theme
that may lead them TO the investigation Of dis
puted cases for themselves. 1t will keep to the
picturesque rather than TO the recondite side or
the theme. The illustrations from the hands
of a group of brilliant artists. if one may Judge
from the specimens already in hand. will form
q history by themselves hardly needing printed
word TO explain their meaning
The State of Tennessee furnishes an admirable
example for the study of constitution making
1t shows how unity may be evolved from the
growing together of communities. each with
political system Of It's own. If the earliest plans
had been carried out. the region within the
boundaries Of the present State would have pre-
scented a variegated appearance on the map or
the Union. There would have been many States
where there Is now but one. There seems 10 be
some difference Of opinion as to the origin Of the
principles OF government under which these in
cipient States were organized. Some writer's
md a
were derived almost exclusively from England.
while others insist that much of what is best in
American institutions was derived from the
Dutch either directly or through the temporary
residence Of Pilgrims and Puritan exiles In Hol-
land. Mr. Caldwell discusses this question so
far as it affects the institutions of his State
The territory of Tennessee belonged to North
Carolina. and like North Carolina. it was set
tied largely by people who went from Virginia.
and its political organizations followed Nirginian
precedents Huguencts. Scottish Hghanders.
Germans and a large contingent of Scotch
Irish constituted the first population. The first
organized community was named Watauga. AL
though the settlers few, they found them
selves in need of some form of government. and
as North Carolina failed to give them the re-
quircd protection. they provided for themselves.
setting to the still obedient colonies on the At
republic In this republic and in the State that
grew out Of il, the equality of the citizens was
the most salient fact. Mr.. Caldwell emphasizes
the point that Virginia family ever held such
power in Tennessee long held by the
Preston Breckenridge group in Kentucky De-
mocracy was so ingrained in the early settlers
that II was not to be overcome even by the
pligarchic influence Of slavery The sgniican.
fact is that they were men Of American birth.
with no such direct debt to English ideas as was
shown in the written constitution Of ancient
Connecticut They had probably never heard
of John Lilburn and the Jewellers Of Crom-
wellian times in England
The Watauga Association lasted for six years
and was succeeded by the somewhat larger
State known as the Cumberland Association.
The latter was absorbed by the State Of Frank
land a name afterward changed to Frank
lin This organization gradually increased in
numbers. and made for itself mark in history
by the advanced ideas 1t embodied of a social.
political and economic character. The first leg.
islative act for the announcement Of learning
was the charter of Martin Academy in 1885 by
the Franklin Legislature. Amid the financial
discussions of the present day the variety Of what
was called money In those days is suggestive
Tow linen was legal tender at Is. Cd. per yard
and lnsey at 3s.. clean beaver skins 6s each.
raccoon and fox skins Is. 3D.. bacon and tallow
Cd. a pound. rye whiskey 2s. Cd gallon, peach
and apple brandy 3s maple sugar and beeswax
is. pound. 1t is said that the Governor OF the
State was paid in mink skins. These items were
an endless source of amusement to the people on
the Atlantic coast. But Tennesseans knew Co.
lonial history ald they reminded Virginians that
wives once sold in the tidewater counties for 100
pounds Of tobacco: that North Carolinians as ate
as 1922 paid their debts In hides. talOw and furs
that in Massachusetts corn was at one time legal
tender that later musket balls were current at a
farthing each and that in 1850 ew-England
town paid its taxes in milkpails These were all
recognized as legal concessions to the rude neces