Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-23
MILITARY BRIGANDAGE.

"TruIy," says Tscitus, speaking oil
the occurrences OF the reign of DJmi-
tiAn, ''the Romans of that age exhibited
an uncommon example of patient sub
mission and as their ancestors had
reached the extreme point Of liberty, 50
they experienced the extreme point OF
slavery, the mutual Intercourse Of speak
ing and hearing being destroyed by cruel
inquisltions. They would have los.
their memories as well as their freedom
Of speech, il it had been as easy for a
tyrant to eBjoin, as IL wss to command
silence
The Historian Gays of Rome under
Domitisn: "Her condition was 10 one
respect more miserable now than under
Nero, because he had the modesty to
withdraw his eyes, and not make him
self q witness Of those crimes which he
had commanded to be executed while,
under DOmitisD, the Romans were hs-
raised by the perpetual grievance Of
watching, and being watched by, the
tyrant who oppressed them. Almost
every cOuntenanoe was pale with suspi-
clon and fear; and the very signs OF
men were observed and registered as
proofs Of their disahection. The Empe
ror deigaed to confer with base aecusers
and witnesses, and assist them in con-
eocting plans Of neiarious falsehOod
He often conversed alone with prison.
ers, not venturing to trust the commu-
nication TO others but the dastRrdly in
ouisitor held their chains in his hands
for fear Of suffering the just consequences
of their contempt 81 anger"
That man must be Of extraordinary
virtue, who, being invested with the
powers of despotlsm over people lately
subi1gated, and who have not yet lost
ALI the instincts Of freemen, does not
soon become q tyrant, aud say, with
Caliguia, "Bet them hate me, provided
thew fear me.n Whenever the limits OF
q despot's authority are left vague and
underlined, the appetite for the exercise
of power, the impotence Of eontradic-
ton, and the ihsOlenee Of tyranny will
continually increase, until he whose
rule might have been a benefit, becomes
the scourge OF the people; aud his srbi-
trary power will be abused for the graft
hestion Of odions and tyrannieal passions.
HIS iavorites aud cOnfederates will be
those only who have no manly freedom
of character, but who hatter him By
a servlle adulation, aud encourage him
TO make his will and caprice the only
law.
The French people tore down the Bias
tile. that symbol or rsther Incarnation
of bloody, cruel tyranny and the heart
of the world lesped with joy, at The de-
struction Of one Of the dungeons Of des-
ootisu. Was q condemnation to i'm
prisonaent in the Bast lie, by the will
Of q Iieeptious King or insolent noble,
any worse than 3 condemnation TO i'm
pri,oameDt on the Dry ToTtugss, by the
sentence Of one of those DEVILS Courts
called Military Commissions {? U,on
our word, Of the two, We think the Bas-
tilIe and even Louis the Fifteenih's iron
cage we're the more respectable instru-
neuts of tyranny. 1t lie 3 sneaklng ex-
ercise of arbitrary power, when its vic
TINS are carried away in secret, to pre-
vent g hearing of their cases BY the
Courts.
To be sure, they chopped of mems
heads in France, by order of Revolu-
tlonary Tribunal. Oar rulers do not do
that; but they do what is worse they
condemn TO an imprisonment worse
than death, and Danish the sweet light Of
hope froa5 the human soul which they
torture, that they may enjoy the
agonies Of its despair. The petty ty-
rants who send young meu in irons to
the Dry TOFlugas, to die Of yellow fever,