PUTNAM'S AMERICAN FACTS.
THIS volume is a curious example of the rough and ready way in which. an American will "turn his hand to anything." Its conception and ex- ecution appear to have been the result of but "a few weeks " ; and the first idea was a small "statistical manual." But matter was at hand ; and, what with large slices of tables, equally large quotations, a running account of some institutions, and public characters, with striking facts, and remarks on topics of the day, we have a good-sized volume cut-and- dry. "Do something, no matter what is left undone," would be a fitting motto to accompany the "star-spangled banner" ; though we must ob- serve that, in literature, the same thing is very often done over again by our American friends.
The essence of a statistical volume is that it should be orderly in its arrangement., neat in the presentation of facts, and complete so far as it goes; which very few publications are, though much longer time may have been devoted to them than Mr. Putnam has given to his American Facts. As might be expected, there is little of completeness in this rapid compilation, except where the original matter was perfect, as in the cus- tomhouse-tables of exports and imports, and the returns of national produce and wealth; the possible correctness of which we should doubt in any case. But it is fair to observe, that a complete statistical view of the United States does not appear to have entered into Mr. Putnam's plan. American Facts is an emanation of patriotism. There is so much ignorance in England, he says, of everything American, that our author thought he should do the United States some service by a kook giving an idea of the country's superficies, rivers, products, popu- lation, wealth, and so forth, with statistical lists of and running com- mentaries upon the colleges and literary societies, as well as brief notices of the great authors, great artists, great philosophers, and great scholars of America, diversified by home scenes he has met in his travels. Slavery, literature, and repudiation, are Mr. Putnam's main points. The infamy of slavery he indeed admits ; but then, skilful tactician he saddles it upon England. The literary part of the business is fair enough, bating a dis- position to turn American ducks into swans, and a logical error in con- founding the exceptional acts of plagiarists and publishers with the national feeling upon the subject of international copyright ; though the same kind of thing might possibly be said for America. It would appear, however, that there is something in the habits or taste of the States which leads to a different mode of doing business—a different style of" getting up" publications. Coarse and cheap seems "the ticket," even in their own original copyright works ; as we observed in noting a publication of Mr. Gliddon on Ancient Egypt. But Mr. Putnam furnishes a more strik- ing example.
AN ENGLISH REPRINT.
Mr. Farnham's "Travels to the Rocky Mountains," &c. an American book, recently published in New York for 25 cents, (one shilling steiling,) was reprinted in London, spread out into two volumes post octavo; and the price to this day is. one guinea, as if it was an original copyright book. Yet the author never re- eeived a penny from his London publisher.
Upon repudiation Mr. Putnam is naturally sore and apologetics!. It meets us in the introduction ; a full review of the subject is presented at an early part of the volume ; and the theme occurs again and again. It would be well if Americans would pay more and protest less ; for the case is one of those things in which words are of no avail. It is useless to tell Europe that it is not America but this State or that which does not pay. This is known perfectly well, for we are not quite so ignorant as Mr. Putnam supposes : but Europe has no "diplomatic relations" with any State, but with America at large ; nor, when Americans are in the brag- ging vein, do they boast of States, but of the whole country : and per- haps there is something like Old Bailey art in this shifting backward and forward to meet the case. As for the indignation that the paying States have exhibited against the repudiating or non-paying, it would have been more cogent had it come sooner—had it sprung from the offence instead of the penalty, and led in place of echoing the reproaches of Europe and the refusal of the Old World capitalists to "have any thing to do" with the United States. At the same time, let honour be rendered to those States who really have struggled to pay their way : there is something Roman in the decision of Ohio.
"Here let me point out some of those whose actions are deserving of pram. "Ohio which was nearly falling into the same error as Pennsylvania, took a very summary course for ming the interest: the Legislature of that State placed the power of raising the requisite taxes in the hand of the Auditor; he was to name the percentage on the property in the State required to pay the interest; and, if any irregularity occurred, he was to be held answerable.
"Alabama went yet further to uphold:its credit; she laid sundry taxes on bil- liard-tables, cotton, brokers' commissions, and finally, an unmitigated poll-tax, without reference to age, sex, or condition: this was twelve months ago; and up to this present time a second Wat Tyler has not been heard of.
"New York State has raised its prepertyztax; so that if a citizen of the State has 1,0001. in New York Stock, he pays a tax of H. per annum; while if he has the same sum in British Consols, he would only pay 178. 6d. per annum, or 8 per cent on his income. A holder of property in England pays 7d. in the pound ster- ling on the income produced by it; but a holder of property in Ohio or Pennsyl- vania pays 68. on every one hundred pounds of capital; and if he did not obtain a better interest for his money than the holder of Consols obtains, this tax would then be equivalent to 2s. in the pound, or 10 per cent of his income. And yet these very Ohioans, who have endured this heavy taxation, are classed in the same cate- gory as the repudiating Mississippians.
"In fact, all these States have made many stringent laws to fulfil their engage- ments; and recent circumstances indicate that the same course of policy will con- tinue to be pursued.
"The only State in the Union against which the scorn of civilization can be justly directed on the ground of entertaining the doctrine of repudiation, is Mis- sissippi. This State is rich in resources and cannot plead poverty: but even here a few words might be urged in mitigation. By the last accounts of voters there, we find that the number of persons in that State who were for payment of the Bonds were 18,665, and against paying them 21,086; and there can be no qtiestion but that the minority contains the wealth, the talent, and the respecta- bility of the State; but unfortunately they are outvoted by those who are neither the taxpayers nor have any deep interest in the commonwealth. "It remains to be seen how long the mixed adventurers, who form the present majority in that State, can withstand the tide of indignation which is setting against them in every part of the Union. Such a state of things involves in- fluences which must soon produce the desired effect, even unassisted by foreign opinion. "It may be added as an example, that in Massachusetts the American holders of the State Bonds voluntarily consented that the foreign holders should first be paid, while they waited for their dividends until the public works yielded suffi- ciently profitable returns."
When we speak of the want of completeness in American Facts, it- should be understood that this does not affect their readableness; which is considerable, and perhaps a better coup-d'ceil is obtained than from a more laboured work : Mr. Putnam, stopping at nothing, has thrown some of his own rapidity into his book.
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