The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-04-25
The Men of That Day. and the Men
of This.

of This.
The history of the revolution by which
the American Colonies became indepen-
dent of British rule, is open to oil; and
there is such striking similarity in the
progress and workings of the present
war with that Of the revolution, that it
seems our government and people could
and ought to profit by the examples fur
nished them by the faithful historian
Bora, who perhaps has written the most
impartial history Of the American war,
says
"That among the many difficulties with
which the colonial government had to |
contend, was shameless thirst of gain,
an unbridled desire of riches, no matter
by what means acquired. The most ILL |
cit, the most disgraceful ways, were no
obstacle to this devouring passion. De-
pendence or independence. liberty or no
| liberty, were all one to them, provided
they could fatten on the substance of the
State. While good citizens were wasting
themselves in camps, or in the discharge
of the most arduous functions; while
they were devotng to the country their
time, their estates, their very existence,
these Unsuitable robbers were plundering,
and sharing out, without blush the pub
lie fortune and private fortunes. All pri-
vate contracts became the object of their
usurious interference and nefarious gains.
all army supplies enriched them with pee
ulations, and the State often paid dearly
, for what it never obtained. Nor let any
imagine that the most sincere and virtu-
. GUS friends of their country ever made so
pompous parade of their zeal To hear
these vile beings, they only were animat-
ed with a genuine and glowing patriot
, ism. Every citizen of eminent rank, or
invested with any public authority what
ever, who refused to connive at their ra-
pines, were Immediately denounced as
lukewarm, tory, royalist. sold to England.
1t seemed that the first duty of those
who governed the republic in time of dis
tress, was to fill the Golfers of these fam
} ing patriots"
If the historian were living today, could
he draw better picture of the present
condition Of things? Speculation and ex-
tortion is being practiced in every de-
partment; and all who are engaged in it
are loudest in Boosting of what they are
doing for the government, and that they
cannot possibly fight because their valu.
able services cannot be dispensed with at
home. And just let any interfere with
their plans or impugn their motives, like
their counterparts above described, they
at once denounce them, if an officer, as
unfit for the place he holds, or citizen,
as being disloyal or sold to the Federal
government. Is it possible that our gov
eminent or people will continue to be
duped by these characters?
! The historian further says
"That this public pest spread wider ev
cry day; it had gangrened the heart o
the State; everything presaged an i'm
pending ruin, and that it was the hope o.
England"
Are not these men pluming themselve:
upon their effrontery? Is not the pest
, growing every day? And will our autho
: rites, with such warnings before them
3 permit this evil to widen and deepen un.
t til it gangrenes the very heart of the
3 Confederacy, and becomes the hope Of
' our enemies as the only means of con.
3 quering us2