A Touchstone for Greatness: Essays, Addresses and Occasional Pieces about Abraham Lincoln, and: The American Conscience: The Drama of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates (review)

174CIVIL war history ment. Although older fire-eaters such as R. Barnwell Rhett, William L. Yancey, and Edmund Ruffin provided the leadership in the 1850's, it was the young planter-slaveholding farmer group that worked the hardest for Breckinridge in 1860 and secession in 1861. "Their major goal," writes Barney, "was not so much an independent South as secure one." They "spoke for a generation that demanded an end to the recriminations and moral condemnations provoked by the slavery question" (p. 165). They believed the South must take action to protect itself from economic and social disaster. Southern moderates and conservatives were unable to stem the tide. John Brown's raid, rumors of abolitionist activities in Texas, and the election of a Republican President pledged to halt the expansion of slavery played into the hands of the extremists. The fire-eaters' long desired goal of secession became a reality. Although the war that followed destroyed slavery, racial and class exploitation of blacks survived . Barney notes that "had Southerners been assured of this in 1860, much of the impetus for secession, especially among the masses, would have been drained" (p. 208). Ralph A. Wooster Lamar University A Touchstone for Greatness: Essays, Addresses and Occasional Pieces about Abraham Lincoln. By Roy P. Basler. (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1973. Pp. ix, 257. $9.50. ) The American Conscience: The Drama of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates . By Saul Sigelschiffer. (New York: Horizon Press, 1973. Pp. vii, 488. $12.95.) Roy P. Basier, Chief of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress , has long been regarded a leading scholar in the field of Lincolniana . His editing of the nine volume Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln is ample evidence of the quality of his research. His latest venture is a collection of his personal essays, addresses, and miscellaneous writings of forty years' duration on the subject of Abraham Lincoln. Although the collection is a potpourri of topics, one theme does run throughout—Lincoln's profound command of the English language and his effective use of it to secure political advantage. Basier is particularly intrigued with the origin of Lincoln's philosophy of life and seeks to give explanation in analysis of the literature he was exposed to in his early years. Emphasis is also placed upon Lincoln's use of humor in his speeches. From the examples offered by the author, it is evident that much of it was "earthy," to say the least. In any compilation of fifteen topics on the same person by the same author, there is bound to be repetition. This is certainly true in this book, but Basier offers enough variety in approach that any adverse book reviews175 affect to the reader is minimal. The theme of several of the articles treats the controversy of whether Lincoln really composed the prose that crossed his desk over his signature or whether others, particularly his secretaries, were responsible. Basier examines the example of the "letter to Mrs. Bixby" with the assurance that it was indeed Lincoln, not John Hay, who inspired this poignant document. Basier is particularly adept at taking to task those groups today who seek to enhance their causes through the reinterpretation of Lincoln's words. He especially castigates the White Citizens' Councils and Black militants, who have depicted Lincoln as a white racist. Basler's high reverence for his subject is quite evident, yet he is also quick to point out those qualities, or perhaps flaws, that reveal the very human side of Abraham Lincoln. Both the scholar and the buff will find this book interesting reading. Dr. Sigelschiffer's handsome volume on the Lincoln-Douglas Debates is segmented into four parts: (1) "The Controversy"—in which a background to the slavery issue is offered (2) "The Antagonists"—where a contrast of the lives of Lincoln and Douglas is presented (3) "The Debates "—nine chapters comprise an analysis of the seven debates, and (4) "The Aftermath"—where the author offers the reader an evaluation of the campaign. Many authors treating this subject have been tempted to view the battle in Illinois as a pivotal point in history. This book is no exception: "Since the biblical struggle between David and...