GDG- Winter Stomp

[James Cameron]

<< On another subject, this morning on Book TV, James Simon talked about his
new book called "Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and
the President's War Powers."  The author discussed the three issues listed
in the title, and more than once commented that Lincoln would not have been
elected president escept for Roger Taney's written opinion in the Dred Scott
case.  He tied the decision to the Lincoln-Douglas debates that led to
national recognition for Lincoln, even though he lost the Senate race to
Douglas in 1858.

Is this book on anyone's radar screen yet?

Tom Ryan >>

No, it has not, so I can't comment in any informed manner on the author's 
contention.  That said, I tend to be skeptical about anything which attempts 
to attribute a result which was influenced by so many factors, such as 
Lincoiln's election, to a single "but for" such as Taney's Dred Scott 
opinion.

I am currently reading "An Honest Calling", on Lincoln's law practice, by 
Mark Steiner.  I'm not that deep into it yet, and thus far it has been as 
much about the state of mid-19th century legal education and practice in 
general, including how it related to Whig politics, as about Lincoln's own 
practice in particular.


Jim Cameron