Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12

| tcl LOUIS biODt-iJtHiOCldl.J
| Lyon G. Tyler furnishes valuable con-
tributions to history in the third volume
OF the Letters and Times OF the Tylers,"
which has just been published by III. Il.
Jones. Williamsburg. Va. The first volume
| Of this work appeared In 1884. and the Sc
! cond in 1885, Volume III. contains the
more important letters bearing on the
| public services of former President John
| Tyler and his father of the same name.
which the editor Of this book had COL
lected in the interval since the second
volume was published. 1t also contains
short biographical sketches of many per-
sons who assisted in the making OF the
history OF the country in the twenty or
thirty years Immediately preceding the
war; and gives much valuable information
about the parties and public questions OF
those days. a better idea OF the compost
ton of the constituent elements Of the
Wing and Democratic parties OF half and
two thirds of a century ago, and of the
shifting OF different factions from one side
to the other. and their arrangement into
new combinations, is given in this book
than in any other book which has appear
ed In many years. Any one who reads
here what a -jointed organization
the Wings had will understand why 1t
was that the Wing party. which had du-
ring its time considerably more than half
of the ablest and most illustrious states
men OF the country on its rolls, won
power so seldom and lost 1t so quickly.
Some new light is here thrown on the
bank contest OF 1874. which aroused far
more excitement than was ever caused
by any other controversy In American
history between a President and the
party which elected him, except that be-
tween Johnson and the Republicans in
1S66-'6S. The Wings of that day called
Tyler traitor for his vetoes OF the two
bank bills, and the majority Of the his
torical writers, including Hoist and
Schuler have. to a considerable extent,
accepted the Wing judgments. In the
light of all the testimony which has been
furnished by Tylers friends and foes,
however, and by the undisputed history
Of the political conditions during the hall
a dozen years OF the Wing party, it is
easy TO see that the Wing charges are
baseless. The bank question was not an
issue among the Wings in the campaign
of 1910. In fact, the Wings were not har-
monious enough on anything, except in
antagonism to Jackson's protege. Van
Buren,, TO formulate a platform of any
sort or make any definite declaration or
principles whatever in that year. Nor,
indeed, In their whole career did the
Wings ever put forward a specified creed
In any presidential canvass, except In 1874
and 1852. The national Republican ele-
ment Of the Wing party, led by Clay and
Webster, which undoubtedly comprised
less than half the party, was the only
element which really desired the national
bank, and some OF the leaders OF that
faction. including Clay. said during ana
Immediately before the canvass of 1870
that no attempt would be made to restore
the bank. which had died four years
earlier. Moreover, Tyler was a State
rights man of the strict Jefferson school;
his record in Congress had committed him
against the principle contained in the two
bank bills which he vetoed, and every
Wing member Of Congress and many
Wings out of Congress knew this. The
contest on the bank question grew out OF
Clay's purpose to control the administra-
ton, which purpose led him into a diff
Guilty with Harrison few days after the
inauguration, and which was strengthened
by Harrison's death and Tyler's accession
to office.
On another question, also, that of Texas
annexation, injustice has been done TO
Tyler by some historical writers. 4 few
weeks ago the Globe-Democrat gave
history of the Texas acquisition achieve
ment, and showed that the honor of that
exploit belongs to Tyler and not to Polk,
to whom 1t is often accorded. Some or
the correspondence in this book throws
additional light on the Texas question.
Indeed, many Of the letters here, when
are the candid expressions of men who
stood close to the men and the events
which they describe. give a vivid picture
of the country's social and political life
during the score and half of years i'm
mediately preceding the war.