The national Republican., 1866-04-12
THEN AND NOW.

that History repeats itself" The similarity
is striking between the days that tried the
souls of the fathers Of our country and those
of national restoration or reorganization.
Just before CORVALLIS surrendered at York
town, we were on the brink Of ruin. II was
the gloomiest hour since the Declaration Of
Independence. The finances had become ex-
hausted; paper currency was almost worth
less; the army was clamoring for its long
delayed and hard-earned pay, and IL seemed
impossible, even with the aid Of France, to
carry on another campaign.
When the treaty Of peace was finally con
cluded, an exciting question arose in the State
and National Councils as to the proper course
to be pursued toward the tories. It was ar
gued on the one side that they deserved no
favor; that their bitter prejudices, their dis
appointed hopes, their modification at defeat,
and their want of sympathy with the Govern
ment, would necessarily prevent them from
becoming good citizens.
On the other hand il was contended that
the surest way Of making them friendly and
extracting bitterness, was to treat them with
forhaa,a,,o ooJ m G., . M ,,oss;l,lo fo,,.ot tho;r
49,. .'1,,,.' a., a.. .i,';, - ~.
was justly answerable for any thing but in
odhor;ns 90 q" '' "
Tbose who advocated mild ,neosures wore
at first very unpopular and sti0,notized as
traitors who had joined hands with the enc
mics Of their country. hut after a few Years
reason oaned the sunremacv over this fool
;no and tho ;ntemnerate sn;r;t s,bs;dad
Refugees were allowed 70 return confiscated
propertv was largely restored. and those who
had waped war against America became
ouiet law.abidino citizens and even loving tho
Government thew once despised.
Within n wear We have nassod tbropob
nboses that hear n close resemblance IN tho
t;,nes vo have descrihed
Early in tho spring or 1863 our financial
affairs sorelv tronbled Mr., Lrxco,x and his
Cab;not rro osL for orotbor loroo loan from,
tho natriotic masses seemed hazardous. the
,horo,bt that ono,hor drof, for ,hroo hrrdrod
,ho,sond ,no,, r,io.s, no nooos.or,, ,ros ON
noIino. % corr,, an a wor for oro,Lor yoor or
l,,oh s,,Dondo,,s ,,oo,,;,,,do soor,od olr,ost
;nnossibIe
In ri. oocorros0 for ro,co IN or, UNIV oor-
,,,,o,,, ,.;,L A., Lonor o,d ,;I;,L,o1 c,i,L ~
Lo na,;on ,Lo p.o.;don, disnons;n,, ,r;,L al
nr,o,iI;o o.,o,ndod ,Lo os.or,tIod Sonoro.,
r., a,,;o,,,, donor,;no cror, ,bo Exoo,,,i,,o
- ,..;.i, L., L,,, A. c,o.,.,
or his c,r,iI, oorr;ono 20 boId b;s oornot.hoo
and rrocooJ;no 70 Uomn,or Roads 70 corror
,r;,h oor,.i, insnroor, -, iso;onor. ond %
intimate bis wilIingnass 10 concede tho most
IihoroI ,or,,. II ,bo,, ,vorId ro,rrr to ,boir al
Iegianco
nv tho bIcss;n, or providenco and tho in
domitable nersayeranca of General Gp,xr
the insrroonts woro AT last rorcod 10 Weld n
our arms and thew were mot compeIIed n
degrade themselves in tho qiobt or tho victor
Tbe terms GRANTED ~ them wore on tho ann
noo;,;or thot tbo,, marc o;nooro oI,ho,oh q.
rino and deIrdoi
r., ,,,r o,th, or,or tho ,r;,,r,,,b,l ,r,
cession or the armics Of Mr,pr and suvpy,x
through the streets of the National Cap,taI
every one was pleased with the pronitious
state Of affairs and the remorkoble GOOD be-
havior of those recently in rebellion. The
energies Of General GR.xr were turned To-
ward the work of disbanding the finest armies
the world ever saw. and it was believed that
the true policy was to restore the political
status of the errnV states as soon as con-
ycnient
But as the time for the session or Congrcss
drew NIGH tho ouostor os to tho mode and
the time for the restoration of the rebel
States to their old privileges began to be
agito,od and has coptinroJ until tho country
IL NOT onIr ororood hut dividod on ,hio ono:
,ion
Now no or,or tho srrrordor or convw,,
LIS, the more enthusiastic are opposed to
lenient measures. They would not recognize
the insurgents rs engaged in great civil