Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-04-25
[FoR THE LEXINGTON GAZETTE BANNER.
CAVENTOl


If it be true that Revolution is great Ma
lures law" and that History is ever repeating
itself, we would recommend to the jealous adj
rocates of liberty now sending forth their de-
cree from the Star Chamber Of the 10th GEN.
fury, glance at the history of of the
past, that have been as highly exalted perhaps,
in their day as this section Of the swift revolv-
ing circle, the centre or hub Of which is said to
be in the vicinity of Boston.
The world has seen many such eras as that
in which we live, and in the great drama Of
life the role the South is now acting has been
borne by others, before as Indifferent audiences
as that which now scarce deigns sigh Of pity
from 1.-The private boxes" of Europe, since, with
the less tragic nature of the scene, they have
ceased to feel interested
IT'S true wisdom "to be wise in time" and
humanity and self interest alike make it incum-
bent upon the Northern people TO profit by
he examples and warnings of the past and to
shorten sail in their mad career, ere they dash
upon the breakers beyond whose surge lie the
scattered wrecks Of more than one ship Of
State.
"Delenda est Carthage was the brutal cry
that continued to ring from the walls Of the
Senate house Of naughty Rome when in her
"highest pitch of pride" 1t has woke an echo
in our Western Republic, and Porcius Cato
found and ape in the person of ranting dem
agogue. who resembles his prototype as close
ly as Hamlet's cloud was every like whale"
or the stabbed" lion to which Sambo compared
his master, resembled the true liking of beasts"
We would quiet the names Of the stern old Ro-
man with the assurance that we mean nothing
refractory to his character by the comparison,
for palliations for his cruel policy are found in
his living in barbarous era, the dotage Of old
age, and the formidable nature of the Cartha-
genian state. And yet, with these extenua-
ting circumstances, how culpable is he in the
sight of modern philanthropists, whose breasts
are so full Of the milk Of human kindness that
10 their clear perceptions) they have creamed
over the sooty countenances Of some millions
of Gods creatures and taught Nature that she
in vain has set her mark of distinction upon
tie sons Of Afric's sunny cline
There is no darker stain upon Roman char
acter and Roman faith than her treacheaous
dealing with the broken power Of Corthage,
when the latter sent her ENJOYS to prefer the
submission Of the State Assuring these Com
missioners that the Liberties. of their people
should be respected, and having received their
arms into their possession, the Roman Consuls,
when their enemy lie PROSTATE in the dust be-
fore them, with faithesness that eclipsed
Punic perfdy," then made known with the
coolest effrontery the fearful doom Of their de-
voted city In vain did the astonished Car
thagenians appeal to the plighted faith of the
Roman Senate. But slight conjunction was
felt over so base deception by men whom
greed Of gain and love of spoil urged on, vul-
ture like, upon the prey they felt sure Of
clutching. They were answered with the
mocking prevarication that only personal lib
erty" was alluded to in the stipulation agreed
upon and with agonized hearts and dragging
steps they bear the tidings Of their wretched
fate to their fellow countrymen. Animated
with the energy of despair the people of Car
thage, though stripped of their arms, shut
their gates and resolved to die with their feet
to the foe. Temples were converted into ar
mories and delicate women gave their treSses
for catapults The siege and subsequent fate
of Carthage is known to every reader Of history.
There is more than one point of analogy be-
tween the treatment received by Carthage from
Rome and that endured by the South at the
hands of her lately found masters too obvious
TO need comment.
All where was Roman greatness then the
generous magnanimity that fired the breast Of
Fabricius? Lust Of power and taste of plum
der, just sufficient TO give edge TO their ayarice,
hHd biuutrd the noblc svnsibiiities Of their ma
lures, and by pandering to this degenerate ten
dency they produced that consummation Of
british and corrupt character exemplified in
Marius, who is the architype of some individ-
uals of the present era.
So surely as reckless ambition, mad thirst
for power, and untempered passions (bc they
avarice, revenge, fanaticism, or what not,) led
to the reign of anarchy and eventual downfall
| of Rome, as certainly will the prevalence Of a
similar execrable spirit at this corrupt period
| have its issue in the utter subversion OF our
country's liberties. We Of the South, holding
| in allowance sectional autipathes, burying in
oblivion the remembrance of our burning
wrongs, and exercising forbearance already
too sorely tried, would beseech the infatuated
zealots Of the. North to temper their vindictive
rage with the memories of past associations, the
reflection that we, too, like Shylock, have feel
| ing: and last, though not least important, that
it is to their interest to restore amity and good
will between States so widely sundered in SEN
timent and dependent upon their unity and
harmony Of section for existence rs Fedora
| ton.
Chastisement even when deserved and COM
ing from parent, beyond limit, becomes bru-
tai persecution, and persecution only steels the
heart of its object, whilst it begets new enc
mics to those who inflict it. The tyrant may
with IMMUNITY spit upon and mock the fallen
foe upon whose neck bis foot is SET and yet
the meanest serpent will dart its sting when
tread upon.
The massacre of st. Bartholomew prosclyted
many fire-breathing Papist, and the blood of
good Coligni only cemented more firmly the
| foundation stones of the Reformation. We
know that there is spirit now existing that
would breathe prescription" as fercely as IN
the days of Catalina; but,
"Let Hercules himself do as he may
The cat will new, the dog will have his day.,
and the blood-thirsty minon OF Marius, that
to-day exults in daggering the prescribed OBJ
iect of his malignant revenge, may Tomorrow
himself weller in his own blood by the decree
of Sylla. Fortune is tickle jade and we
warn those now basking in her smiles not to
give too firm a bond TO Fate.
The South, now stripped alike of ornament
and stength, like Sampson of old, grindS in
the prison-house of her captors. What cruel
sport it is intended she shall furnish for their
enjoyment, time alone can reveal. She has
not vet been blinded Let her uuEighteous
masters beware how they attempt to rob her
of what is dearer than her existence lest sum-
4 naming n mighty enarcy she should overwhelm