Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1883 — TWENTY YEARS OF CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

TWENTY YEARS OF CONGRESS

From Lincoln to Garfield/ 1861—1881. Is the title of a book by James G. Blaine for which the people of all parties in this country and the Statesmon of Europe are on the qui vive. From the universally recognized ability of Mr. Blaine as a writer and his actual participation in the stirring scenes of those years; the great work takes front rank in advance as a standard inside history of the momentous events of that most important epofch in our career as a nation. The work will contain about 1200 pages in two Royal Octavo volumes. In the beginning of the first volume there will be introductory chapters showing the remote and immediate causes of the Civil war. It will then give a sufficient and impartial history of National Legislation upon the great questions arising from secession and the civil war including emancipation, reconstruction, legal tender paper and the return to specie, the impeachment of President Johnson, the work of the electoral commission and other important Domestic and Foreign measures: Also, of contemporary administrations. The book will be made spicy and attractive as well as valuable by sketches of the prominent leading men in Congress for the 20 years included in the history. It is conceded on all sides that Mr. Blaine is the man best qualified to write an inside history of that period, and his book is to be strictly nonpartisan. In the sketches of leading men it is his aim to sink the partisan in the historian and to do exact justice to all. The work is to be embellished with 57 fine steel engravings, included the presidents and Vice Presidents of the period, and besides that of the author 47 of the prominent leaders of all parties. There .other valuable features of the work of which our space forbids mentioning at this time. Suffice is to say in conclusion, that the work is one that Will be too valuable for any citizen interested in the progress and welfare of his country, not to say of civilization itself to think of doing without. It*is undoubtedly in the greatest demand and the most rapid selling work extant and people without regard to party are securing it for the satisfaction, in their decliniug-years, of a better understanding of our”country’s perils aud escapes and for the sustant\al instruction of those now rising to take their places in the guidance of the * ‘ship of state”. Capt. J. A. Burnham is the authorized agent of the work for this locality, and will doubtless receive that patronage, which the intelligence of this Community and the excellence of. the book would naturally lead him or anyone to expect. *