The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-08-11
A Parallel.
From the Richmond Times


ange was endeavoring to restrain the
passions ofa Wing Parliament clamor-
ous for the blood of the leaders of the
Tory party and the adhercnts and ad
visers Of the dethroned King James du-
ring his reign Not only was the blood
Of the fallen party vociferously de.
manded, but q most determined and
we'll nigh irresistible grasp was made
at their lands, tenements and chattels.
1t was the fortunate portion of William
to teach the Parliamentary majority
moderation and mercy, and to roll
back the torrent Of partisan fury that
threatened to cngulf the prominent
leaders of the minority party in Parlia
ment and throughout the Kingdom, to
save one faction from prescription and
to "rescue the other from the reaction
which such prescription would inevi-
tably have produced" In doing this
he was compelled to risk ''his popu-
Iarity with men who had been his warm
est admirers, IN order to give repose
and security to men by whom his name
was not mentioned without curse y
He disappointed the former of their
revenge. his own special partisans who
had raised him to the throne. and in the
hour of triumph, with patriotism and
virtue worthy of Cato, and humanity
unequalled in past history, he protect
ed and saved his former foes. That
cool, clear headed prince, when he as
cended the throne, reposed on no he'd
of roses. He was compelled to have
at his council board ministers of differ
cnt views and diamctrically opposite
affiliations. For though it was the
Wings who had chiefly been instrnmen-
tnl in hestowing upon him the crown
still there were many conservative To-
ries who had actively assisted in coun-
ell and in battle, and to whose invaua-
bic assistance William owed much, Be
sides the infuriate and radical Parlia-
ment. eager to hang, draw and quarter
the conquered, he had divided Cabi-
net both sides selfish and interested,
and striving for the mastery and con,
troll Of William, who cared not for par
ty, but looked solely to the good and
welfare Of the nation. The honorable
and disinterestcl conduct OF William
throughout the whole Of this struggle
to prevent the Parliamentary majority
from wrcakng their vengeance on the
minority who had adhered to james is
beyond all praise and eulogy. From
the very outset Of his reign, he advised
Cancellation and compromise. used his
Influence personally and publicly, and
from the throne again and again ad-
dressed both houses, urging lcniency
and deprcrating violence. and that the
past should be forgiven and forgotten,
to quiet the nation, to give it peace
and prosperity, was this i'lustrious ru
Ilers aim. 1t can betruly said that En-
gland never has had monarch OF
equal wisdom and virtue. ~-
The Wings in the first Parliament
held on Williams accession, had not
forgotten what they had suffered from
their opponents in the late reign, and
were now bent upon rcparltion and re-
venge. In all revolutions and political
changes, the party that gets into power
will pcrsecute the party that is out
"Yours was the turn yesterday, mine
to day is the cry. In the French
revolution the Girondons executed the
Cordcllcrs, and they in turn fell before
the Jacobins-thc Jacobins were soon
carted to the Place du Greve by order
of the Committee ofPublic Safety. The
victor to day may be the victim to-
morrow. t... .......-
Not content with doing justice to dc
ceased patriots by reversing bill of at
taindcr passed by former Parliamcnts
with annulling wicked and infamous
judgments, and making atoncment tc
the memory and families of victims o
party cruelty and popular fury, who
were themselves beyond the reach o
human power. the Parliament was cage
and anxious to inllict punishment OF
the admirers Of Charles and James du
ring the late reigns. Macaulay says
I"Happy for England at this crisis,
prince who belonged to neither of he
factions, who loved neither, and who
for the accomplishment of great de
sign, wished to make use of both, wa
the moderator between them," for thu
party that had been uppermost wa.
now undermost, and "the Sovereign
found it difficult to save the vanquishet
party from the fury of his triumphan
supporters, and those whom lie had dis
appointed Of their revenge murmure'
bitterly against the Government, which
had been so weak and ungrateful as t.
protect its foes against its friends
Early in the session William called th'
attention Of the Commons to the expc
diency of quieting the public mind b.
an amnesty and urged upon them
bill of general pardon and oblivion
| But they were not inclined to let the Of
Tending Tories of. and the usual or,
was raised that public justice must b
vindicated. Macaulay says twelve dis
tinct catcgories were framed Of offend
ers, some including ten thousand. Nu
merous culprits and witnesses wer
brought before the House. and they re
solved to institute twelve distinct II
uuisitiOns. Offenders must be punish
cd, despite Williams recommendatiO
Of mercy. What was the use Of thel
power unless they could persecute thei
I. enanI;es 7 Or course William was VIC
flentIv assailed bv the Wings, for b
was not ''a man to be popular with th
, vindictive zealots of any faction" H
: partisansNthosc who had placed hiI
r on the throne-swore that ''he wa
r now trying to procure an indcmnlt
FOR those very deiinq',elits whom b
had, few months before, described
D hi, Declaration as deserving of cxen
. . Il