The New York herald., 1863-07-22

anu thofonghly demolished Tire rebel army or
Virginia, and we will undertake to promise our
readers of all parties that the government will
soon be enabled to relieve them Of all their
fears OF our Northern conscription
The American and Roman RepubIics-A
Remarkable Historical Parallel.
There are many features in our history smi
lar TO that Of the ancient republic of Rome
The seditions and wars of the Gracchi have
their resemblance. But the "social war" in
Italy is more remarkably in point. To that
chapter in the history of the Roman republic
the origin, progress and probable solution Of
our civil war present a most extraordinary
parallel.
At the termination of the last Punic war;
Rome, like the American republic, was in the
zenith Of her glory. She had conquered all
Italy and planted her standards in Sicily, Gaul,
Spain, Greece, Africa and Asia. AT this time a
controversy arose between the republic and
various States of Italy which had revoltrd
against her because she refused them the full
rights of Roman citizenship. The insurrection
was the more formidable because the insurgents
were perfectly acquainted with the military dis
cipline Of the Romans.
In early times Rome had adopted the system
Of extending the franchises of Rome to the sur
rounding nations which had submitted to her
! sway. But this system ceased at the end Of the
first Punic war, because the original Romans
feared they would be outvoted by the new cit-
zens. This was fatal error. Had they con-
tinued the old liberal policy, Rome and Italy
would have been spared a war in which the
flower of their population perished. Italian
citizens, however residing at Rome, had been
allowed, by sufferance rather than by right, to
exercise the privileges Of Roman citizens. ALI
at once, just when the Italians expected to be
placed on a footing of equality with the
Romans, a law was passed, at the instigation of
two distinguished Romans, ordering all Italian
citizens at Rome to cease usurping the privi-
leges Of Roman citizens. At this all Italy took
fire. Eight nations, including the Samnites and
Marcians, formed confederacy which they
called Italica, and declared Corfnium to be
their capital, and their purpose to blot out
Rome. They elected consuls like the Romans,
and vigorously prepared for war. They first
drew up statement Of their claims and sub
mitted It to the Roman Senate. They said
that, though they had furnished two
thirds Of the army that conquered the
world, they were treated like aliens. The
Senate temporized by granting portion of
the demand, thus hoping to gain over the
wavering and the lukewarm, instead of mag
unanimously yielding the whole. II was not
satisfactory, and the confederates resorted to
violence and blood to precipitate the war;
They established mint, and issued coin with the
inscription In the Oscan language instead Of the
old Latin. They even resorted to the desperate
measure Of seeking the alliance Of Mithridates,
powerful Asiatic monarch, then at war with
Rome, who told them to hold out firmly; that
he was at present engaged in expelliny the Ro-
mans from Asia. and when that work was done
he would cross the sea and assist them in crush
ing the she wolf of Italy. But he came not
His promises were like those made to the
Southern confederacy by England and France.
The first efforts Of the Italian confederacy were
desultory and feeble, until a brave and
skilful general arose who gave them de-
cided success. The Senate was taken COM
pletely by surprise by the outbreak. The
Roman armies were terribly defeated, and the
Consul Rutilius the commanding general, killed
in the first great battle In subsequent battle
the Consul Cato FELL and the city of Rome was
threatened with destruction. AT last old Ma
rius, the veteran general Of Rome, the Winfield
Scott of that time, stayed the progress of the
rebel arms; but being secretly friendly to the
confederate States, because he had so often led
their troops to victory, and did not wish to see
the material Of future armies wasted, he pre-
ferred to remain on the defensive. in the hope
that the trouble would be settled by negotia-
ton. Plutarch attributed bis inactivity to his
age and corpulency. But Sylla, young and
ambitious general, Of great ability, aided by
other young generals, overthrow the confede-
rates dsastrousy at various points; their armies
were crushed, and several States submitted,
though the Samnites still held garrisoned towns,
and the Spolians occupied strong positions in
the mountains. In this condition Of things, and
after three hundred thousand Of the youth of
Italy had fallen in the most disastrous and de-
structive war ever waged by Rome, the Senate
conceded at last more than was demanded at
first, which will probably be the finale of our
own struggle.
But after this question was settled and Rome
was dissngaged from domestic strife Sylla had
leisure to prosecute foreign war, and he set
out with an expedition against Mithridates,
King Of Pontus, implacable as Hannibal in his
hatred 10 Rome. There was war pending
With him which must be finished, and he must
be punished for his encouragement OF the
Italian revolt against Rome. II was be-
sides the well known policy Of the
Roman republic after troubles at homo
to embark in . foreign war, in order to unite
the people, give employment to the army and
afford free scope to the military ambition Of
the generals Sylla defeated Mithridates nv