Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/687

 Chadwick: Causes of the Civil War 677 The American Nation: a History. Edited by Albert Bushnell Hart. Volume 19. Causes of the Civil War, i8jg-i86i. By French Ensor Chadwick, Rear-Admiral U. S. N., recent President of the Naval War College. (New York and London: Harper and Brothers. 1906. Pp. xiv, 372.) This book falls into two parts. The first sixty-six pages contain a discussion of the general causes of the war. The first chapter, on the " Drift towards Southern Nationalization ", works logically to the conclusion contained in its final sentence : " It was impossible for it [the South] to remain under a polity almost as divergent from its sympathies as the Russian autocracy of that period was from the United States of to-day" (p. 16). Chapter two discusses conditions in the South, chapter three the " Dominance of Calhoun's Political Concep- tions ", and chapter four the " Expectations of the South ", particularly with reference to territorial expansion and the reopening of the slave- trade. These chapters show a wide reading and an acceptance of such views as have obtained general credit among the best historical stu- dents. Of course there are many subjects upon which, as yet, historians take position according to their birthplace, and of these it is sufficient to say that Admiral Chadwick was born in West Virginia and was graduated from Annapolis in 1864. Only, perhaps, his view of Cal- houn deserves censure as unduly harsh. The remaining chapters treat of the history of the country from and including the John Brown raid to the evacuation of Fort Sumter. Such an account naturally suggests comparison with the work of Mr. Rhodes. The number of words given to the period in the present volume is about three-fifths of that used by Mr. Rhodes. On the other hand. Admiral Chadwick devotes almost half as many again to the, episodes of Forts Sumter and Pickens. This makes these episodes the leading feature of the volume, and the author makes it clear why he gives them this prominence. He pithily states the possibility that prompt action might have confined secession to South Carolina, but refuses to enter upon a discussion of this fascinating hypothesis. He points out the strategic importance of the coast forts, and the consti- tutional advantage which Lincoln derived from holding those that were left to him. He is, perhaps, a little more sharp in his criticism of President Buchanan than Mr. Rhodes, but there is here no material difference in their views. This is, however, the best picture which has ever been given of the general inefficiency of the government de- partments, extending into Lincoln's 'administration ; neither Holt nor Anderson nor Scott escapes criticism, and Seward is severely casti- gated. The milit-ary and naval situation is presented with unusual clearness, and this whole portion of the book has the ring of a defini- tive account. Admiral Chadwick is somewhat more severe in his personal judg- ments than Mr. Rhodes, particularly with regard to the Southern