Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-16
THE rHRYAsYnUIAN AMNESTY,

II is thought by some that the phases ant
conditions OF society have been SO yariet
that nothing really new is TRANSPORTING il
the world that history is merely repeating
ITSELF and that we may find a solution of al
questions arising now by referring to the
past. Whether this be literally true or not
this much may be safely afiirmed-,hat his
tory is full of examples for our instruction
and guidance.
The following extract may be Of interest
10 the general reader at the present time;
in vol. ], page $50, Rollins Ancient Ills
tory, Cincinnati edition of 1854, the author
says, after relating in the history Of Greece
the expulsion of the thirty tyrants from
Athens by Thrasybulus, ioS wears before
Christ:
All the exilas were recalled Thrasybulus at
that time proposed the celebrated amnesty, by
which the citizens engaged upon oath that all past
transactions should DC buried IN oblivion. The
foundation. the laws restored 10 their pristine
vieor. and magistrates elected with the usual
cannot forbear observing in this place the
wisdom and moderation Of Thrasybulus, salu-
tary and essential after long continuance Of
domestic troubles. This Is of the finest events
In ancient history, worthy Of the Athcnian lenity
and benevolence. and has served as model to
successive ages IN good governments.
Never had tyranny been more cruel and bloody
than that which the Ahtenians had Just thrown
of. Every house was in mourning; every family
bewaled the loss Of some relative.
IL had been q series Of public robbery and ra-
pine, in which license and impunity had author
iEed all manner Of crimes. Private individuals
seemed 10 have the right to demand the blood Of
all aecomplices IN such notorious Manifestations,
and even the interest Of the State appeared 10
authorize such n claim, that by exemplary scyeri-
ties such enormous crimes might be prevented for
the future.
But Thrasybulus. rising above those sentiments
IRON the superiority ofhis more extensive genius,
and the views of a more discerning and profound
policy. ioresaw that by sequiescing IN the pun,
and enmity would remain t. weaken. by domes
tic divisions, the strength Of the republic. which
emy' ana ScrasicD The loss To- The STATE Of great
number Of citizens who might render il impor-
tant services with the very view of making
amends for past misbehRNia..
Such acondnct after great trouble in State has
always seemed. 10 the abcst politicians. the most
certain and ready means TO restore The public
peace and tranquility. Cicero. when Rome was
divided into two factions upon the occasion of
Caesars death. who had been killed hy the CON
spirators calling 70 mind this celebrated amnesty
proposed, after the example OF the Athenians.
70 bury Al that had passed in eternal Oblivion
Ssrdinel MAzarin observed 10 Don Louis de Haro
rnme Minister q Spain. that this gentle and hn-
name coneuct IN France had prevented the
troaeles and revoits Of that Kingdom from having
any iatai consequences. and that the King had
not lost foot Of hand by them 10 Tint day;''
whereas the inhcxible severity of The Snaniari.
was the occasion, that the subjects of thai mou-
arohy. whenever they threw .oe the mask. never
returned 70 their obedience bud 81 the force Of
arms: which sufficiently appears. SAYS he. /" in
the example % the Hollanders. who arr In the
peaceable possession OF many provinces that not
Spain"