The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1905-03-11

POLITICAL HISTORY OF sLAvERT.
liam Henry Smith. With an Introduction
by, Whitelaw Reid. Two volumes. Svo.
Net: $3.50. BY mall $500. New York:
"A Political History of Slavery" by
VIM. Henry Smith, is an elaborated story
Of the controversy over the slavery ques-
tion from the early days of the 18th CEN
period in the United states ate Neeo''S'''''"
There is an introduction by Whitelaw
Reid. which tells of Mr. Smiths career
and which gives quite an extended criti-
cism of these two very instructive VOL
umes:
Mr. Reid says: "1his 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from access, to much unpublished infor-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
ments by which free people enlarged the
bounds Of freedom, to communities and
to leadg men that 1a reled upon typoa al
wrongs and the better development of
Anglo-SaXon institutions; - to Horace
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
superior Of them ALL and certainly the
most capable politician of the list. Abra-
ham Lincoln
is one thing clearly established, it is that
slavery Was deprecated by the men who
formed the Constitution: who, recognize
ing that such an ms titutiOn was inconsis-
Christian cit
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 name so repulsiVe to free
dom. We must conclude that they were
perciDient 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
was to be the rule. This came early north
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 tie institution Of slavery
arose from religious convictions as to it's
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-
ing its source in religious feelings played
an important part in the creation of a
third party. The Society of Friends led all
other denominations in the employment
Lloyd Garrison. Benjamin Llndy or Chas.
Of moral influence for the eradication OF
slavery. though there We're not wanting
outspoken utterances in the Presbyterian
firtn Mnfh I;.,t obs.
early day. especially in Ohio, Kentucky
and TenneSsee.'
Some years ago one who had been
conspicuous us a lender in the anti-slav-
cry contest endeavored to show the un-
faithfulness Of current history in dealing
with the genesis OF modern abilitionisln,
and theleupOn controversy spIang up in
Osborne was entitled to be styled the first
Apostle of Emancipation. Geo. w. Julian,
the writer who challened 1.-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 o. Lundy-John
Woolman. a Friend who was born in New
Jersey about 1920. ,'Tnen, follows an ac-
ingly interesting and of his anti-slavery
sentiments. when about &c years of age
he visited North Carolina. where he
sought to arouse the consciences Of slave
siderations on the Keeping OF Negroes !"
After his death in lie, his journal,
which was published, had wide circula
ton. 1t shows that his life was given to
the work OF emancipation. He travelled
from colony to colony. preaching remon-
st'ating and counseling.
The author discusses with panstaking
detail the Free Soil Increment" The
Omnibus Bill" "tsepeal Of the Missouri
Compromise The Nomination Of Lin
coin" and in their discussion exhibits
wealth of information and breadth of
knowledge. which could only result from
many years study and contact with the
teadins men OF those stirring times.
VOL IT opens with chapter on The
Outbreak of the War" in which he says:
I'm the history Of nations weak rulers are
treated with scant respect. They become
tho uures OF Knaves. the instrument of
oppression: they inperl governments and
invite disorders to enter in; they are the
real enemies to human progress. When
Mr.. Buchanan WAS brought face to face
with men reso)ute III purpose to disrupt
the Union and overthrow the government,
he construed the fundamental law to be
as isnrotert as he was in fact as the ex-
ccutve. Imagine Andrew Jackson, the
executive head Of the government in
lS6o~6l. Would members of Congress en-
gagged in the work of disunion have been
welcomed IT the White House? Would
hey have 1l:l,ied him