The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1905-02-18

A Political History of Slavery By Will
liam Henry Smith. With an Introduction
by Whitelaw Reid. Two volumes. Svo.
G. P. Putnam's Sons. 49,
"a Political History Of Slavery by
VIM. Henry Smith, is an elaborated story
ton, from the early days Of the 18th cen
tury to the close of the Reconstruction
period in the United States.
There is an introduction by Whitelaw
and which gives quite an extended criti-
cism OF these two very instructive VOL
.umes.
Mr. Reid says: ''This Political History
is written with the fullness of knowledge
that comes from having seen many of the
events from the inside as they occurred,
from lifelong familiarity with and study
of the entire range of the subjects: and
from access to much unpublished infor-
nation, in the papers of President Hayes
and Governor BrOugh, in the records OF
the state office held during critical part
Of the period. and in constant personal
communication with some of the actors"
Again: LAS time goes on fuller justice
will be done. in the history of the move
bounds Of freedom, to communities and
to leading men that relied upon typical
Anglo-SaNOn means for the correction of
wrongs and the better development Of
Greeley first among public educators, to
Chase. and Seward, Stanton and Welles,
first among Legislators and cabinet min
| listers: and finally to the peer. if not the
most capable politician of the list, Abra-
ham Lincoln,
In Chapter L. the author says: If there
| is one thing clearly established, it is that
slavery was deprecated by the men who
| formed the Constitutions; who, recognize
| ing that such an institution was inconsis-
! tent with Christian civilization inconsis-
tent with the great principles of civil lib
erty for which the colonies had contended,
and which constitute the basis of our Re
| public. refrained from inserting in that
great charter a name so repulSye to free
dom. We must conclude that they were
percipient witnesses to the public senti
ment of that day. There was no state
free from the faint OF slavery and the
feeling that it was injurious to society
was in no sense dependent upon sectional
| lines. Its ultimate extinction was gener-
ally confidently expected: emancipation
! Of Maryland, and It is not unreasonable
to suppose that if there had been no inhi-
bition of the African slave trade. emanci-
patton would have followed in Delaware.
Maryland. North Carolina. Kentucky and
Tennessee.
"Opposition to the institution Of slavery
| arose from religious convictions as to it's
sinfulness or from economic and social
policies The resistance of those who
with Mr.. Jefferson condemned it because
of it's destructive influence became as
impotent as his. or succumbed to the vio-
| lence of political forces; while that hav-
ing its source in religious feelings played
an important part in the creation of a
third party. The Society of Friends led all
other de,nnomina tons in the employment
Lloyd Garrison Benjamin Lundy or Chas.
of moral influence for the eradication of
slavery. though there were not wanting
| outspoken utterances in the Presbyterian,
Baptist and Methodist ck-rches at an
early day. especially in Ohio Kentucky
and TENNESSEE
Some years ago one who had been
conspicuous as a leader in the anti-Slav-
faithfulness of current history in dealing
with the genesis of modern abilitionism,
and thereupOn controversy Sprang up in
Osborne was entitled to be styled the first
Apostle of Emancipation. Geo. w. Julian,
the writer who challened the truth of
history clearly established the claims OF
Osborne to be mentioned before either
Lundy or Garrison: but strangely over
looked the claims of another whose career
was strikingly like that or Lundy-John
Woolman. Friend, who was born in New
count of his early life and career. exceed
ingly interesting and of his anti-slavery
sentiments When about &c years of age
he visited North Carolina, where he
holders and wrote an essay entitled Con-
siderations on the Keeping of Negroes -
After his death in 1772, his journal,
which was published; had wide: circula-
the work of emancipation. He travelled
from colony to colony. preaching remon-
strating and counselng.
The author discusses with painstaking
detail the Free Soil Mo:ement.' THE
compromise, "rh repS Nomination t Of Linz
ant and ne in their exhibits
knowledge. which could only result from
many years study and contact with the
leading men Of those stirring times.
Outbreak Of the war in which he says:
I'm the history of nations weak rulers are
treated with scant respect. They become
the dupes of Knaves. the instrument Of
invite disorders to enter in; they are the
real enemies to human progress When
MI. Buchanan was brought face to face
W.T. Wath men resolute IN purpose to disrupt
he construed the fundamental law to be
as impotent as he was in fact as the ex-
ecutive. Imagine Andrew Jackson, the
executive head of the government in
lS6061. Would members Of Congress en-
gagged in the work of disunion have been
welcomed at the White House? Would
they have buliied him
CIVIL WAR TINES
Civil War Times. BY Daniel Walt
$ 70. Pp: Al. si.5o' indianapolis: bobbs-
MerrilI Co.
The war of '61-5 will never cease-at
least in the present generation, to be a
perennial! and never failing topic OF alb
sorblrg interest. This is so. because ii
wsts a war of giants; because many OF
those giants still survive it's vicissitudes
its hair breadth escapes, and the immi-
nent deadly breach; it's long and dread
full marches: it's Gettysburg and Chicka-
maugas; because the finale of that con-
hict profoundly influenced the civilizations
vertebrate in all the various activities of
American life.
Because of these things the author $
volume is interesting. 1t can be read
dents of the great strife which has hith-
erto remained unwritten, is brought forth
by Mr.. Howe.
One Of the most interesting chapters
IN the volume is one dealing with the re-
iation of the Confederacy toward the me
nearly every important Confederate COM
mander favored the enlistment of black
soldiers: that the NATTER was finally de-
bated ir the Confederate Senate. and the
bill authorizing the enlistment of Negro
soldiers, was defeated by but one vote
desperate circumstances of the Confed-
eracy became so visible that the leaders
saw the doom Of Richmond and the
'.cause." draft order was issued to force
federate flag, but that before it could be
made effective. the fall of Richmond. and
| the flight of Jefferson Davis was at hand.
This chapter is especially interesting at
under its banner.
There are other very interesting chap
| ters in the book The style is clear. uniIl-
| volved and natural. and the author has
written instrUctively.