The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-08-02

penetrated, tflaC the cOnHIct between
the North and South surpasses all re-
yolutionary wars Of which history
makes mention. The wars of the
Roses and the war between Charles ]
AMI the Parliament were long and
Fsangninary, but the disturbance which
they caused was less than is often
imagined. Many great towns in
creased in population and wealth
while the nobility and their rctainers
were fighting for the rival houses of
York and Lancaster; and it is record.
ed that before the battle Of Naseby a
pack of hounds passed between the
two armies, as though the fate Of
England were not involved in the re-
suit. Neither of those grand con-
tests stirred the heart of English so.
|ciety; and the French Revolution it.
self-ths greatest by far of all polit-
ical convulsions-did not, suspend,
even in Paris, the ordinary course Of
business and amusement. The Pari-
slams bought and sold, planted and
buildedp married and gave in mar
riage under the very shadow of the
guillotine; the passion for the theatre
was not quelled by the thirst for
bloodshcd, and social entertainments
were not interrupted on The terrible
night of Robespierre's fall. The des-
olation wrought by the most destruc-
tive wars and tumults is happily not
SO vast as the space which they occu-
| pied in the pages of the historian,
and few months Of peace are often
sufficient to effacc almost all visible
trace Of them. The exhaustion re-
sulting from them of course continues
longer. but such is the reproductive
energy called forth by the renewed
sense. Of security that even this is re.
paired, like the loss of blood in a
healthy subject, much sooner than
common experience would lead us to
expect. In America, no doubt, this
beniGcent law of nature will operate
with extraordinary vigor, but it will
have extraordinary difficulties to
overcome. The mighty resources
! of the North American Continent will
display themselves as they were never
displayed before;. still the process Of
recovery must needs be slow where
the, demand on the constitution has
been SO tremendous. The war has
been essentially a peoples war, and
| the consequences must be borne by
the people. Making every allowance
for the employment of foreign re
cruits, the number of American citi
zens personally engaged in the wal
has been such as already to drain the
lable-todied population very seriously
THE value; Of permanent works des
troyed must far exceed the waste Of
any previous war. The taxes re
quired to pay the. interest On eeb,
of two thousand six hundred and
thirty-five million Of dollars will press
heavily even OIL American enterprise
1.-THE disbandipg of the army, however
gradual, will upset the present bal
ance between producers and consul
liners, and the muttis utie bellum viii
prove to have reverse application
Above all, the colossal problems in,
volved in the. re.settlement of the
South will be crucial test of Amer
lean craftsmanship.
i From The Loadnn Times, Jane 2S.l
/ In the meantime it is but just te
recognize the moderation with which
the rights Of conquest have, on the
whole, been exercised. The sweeping
list of exceptions in President John
ssn's amnesty proclamation has been
compared to a sentence of proscrip
ton, but our intelligence from Ameri
ca does not justify this Interpretation
of it. It will he remembered that q
Especial power Of pardoning persons
comprised in the excepted classes
was reserved to the President, and
we are informed that he has granted
nearly every application for pardon
forwarded to him." Great and JUS,
indignation was excited in this cuun
try By the statement that Genera
Lee, notwithstanding the forma
acceptance Of his surrender, was
!, about to be tried for high treason
bnt it seems at least doubtful
whether thcproceedings,. such as i,
lis. is the act of the Government =
Bills for high treason have actually
been found against General Lee as
well as against other Confederate
officers, under the direction of a Uni
ted States District Judge. But We
/ gather from the statement of our cor
respondent that the Government had
not approved his course at the date Of
our correspondents letter, and tina,
it would not be supported by public
|oplnlon in course Of severity. he
Represents the vindictiveness Of 1.-THE
radicals to be a thorn in Presiden,
!. Johnson's side, and inclines to believe
that in postpoDing the trial Of Mr.
Davis he is actuated by merciful in,
: