The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-14 00:00:00

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the friends of peace com-
menced at Edinburgh on Wednesday. It was originally
announced that the sittings should be held in Queen-
street Hall ; but in consequence of the great demand
for tickets of admission, which were issued gratuitously,
it was deemed advisable to change the place of meeting
to the Music Hall, a large and handsome building in
George-street, capable of accommodating about two
thousand persons. There was a numerous attendance
of delegates, appointed by the committees existing in all
the principal towns in England and Scotland. At
least one-third of the conference consisted of members
of the Society of Friends, many of whom arrived in Edin-
burgh by the Great Northern and Midland Railways,
which ran special trains at reduced fares, for the occa-
sion. Among those present on the platform were--the
Lord Provost of Edinburgh, president of the conference ;
Mr. Cobden, M.P., Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Cowan,
M.P., Mr. Miall, M.P., Mr. J. B. Smith, M.P., Mr.
Hadfield, M.P., Mr. Hindley, M.P., Mr. Bell, M.P.,
Mr. Joseph Sturge, Mr. Elihu Burritt, Mr. Henry
Vincent, Professor M'Michael, the Rev. Dr. Brown,
the Rev. J. Burnet, of London,, and others. There
was also a large attendance of visitor', including a con-
siderable number of ladies, who evinced a warm interest
in the proceedings of the conference ; and in the body
of the hall we noticed several clergymen of various re-
ligious denominations.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh took the chair shortly
after noon, and the meeting was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Brown. Four gentlemen were then chosen
to act as secretaries to the conference, and a committee
was appointed to arrange the order of business.
The Rev. HENRY RICHARD; of London next read

communications which had been received from gentle-

men in various parts of the kingdom, regretting their
inability to be present, but expressing their cordial ad-
hesion to the objects of the conference. Mr. Hume said
he was convinced, by what had occurred during the last
twelve months, that the course suggested by the Man-
chester conference was the proper course to be followed
by the Sovereigns of states to avoid war, and that it
accordingly ought to be persevered in. Sir David
Brewster was confident that the time was not far dis-
tant when war would be as impossible among civilised
nations, as duelling was among civilised men ; while Mr.
Brotherton, M.P., Mr. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. J. Silk
Buckingham, Mr. Joseph Price, the founder of the con-
ference, and Mr. Visschers, of Brussels, urged the
members of the association to renewed and more
vigorous efforts on behalf of the principles they had
espoused.
The LORD PROVOST then briefly explained the objects

of the meeting. It is well known, he said, to the gentle•

men here assembled that we are associated for a com-
mon end, and that we go all the length that we profess to
go by our resolutions and our constitution in perfect
harmony, but that beyond these boundaries there are
differences of opinion ; that the Peace Society consists
of two sections—those who hold the principle that war
in every form and for every purpose is unlawful, as being
opposed to the precepts of Christianity and to the whole
spirit of the New Testament. (Cheers.) Other members,
again, do not hold these principles, but still cordially
concur with the first-mentioned class in deprecating the
war spirit, wherever it may be found, and doing every-
thing in their power to repress it—thinking that the ar-
maments, not only of this nation, but of all the nations of
the world, are too powerful, and that they lead to war
inevitably from the great preparations made respecting it.
Then above all we hold that the great means of preventing
war would be an arrangement made between nations
when they are in a friendly position towards each other,
by getting clauses inserted in international treaties pro-
viding that, if any occasion shall occur in which a dispute
takes place which the parties cannot solve themselves,
arbitrators shall be named in the treaties, to whom the
questions shall be referred as they occur. We have
been misrepresented as being all non-resistants—that we
are for disarming the nation, and leaving it as a prey to
any unprincipled party that chooses to invade us. Now,
whatever opinions individuals may hold, the association
holds no such opinion. (Hear, hear.) We agree to
differ on points on which all cannot agree, and the mat-
ter is perfectly understood. There is another point...
which I should like to say a few words. We are not
met here as a political psi IT. We aLe not attached to
any Government, or any section of any Government.
We have no wish to promote any party end whatever.
It has also been said by many of our opponents that we
are met together, at least that we are apt, to abuse mi-
litary and naval men, and make personal attacks on
them. Now, certainly nothing of the kind can be said
of this association. We all know that there are many
able and excellent men who have been in both branches of
the service. Every man who has much knowledge of
the world must have met with many such in the course
of his own personal observation ; and, if it be that the
morale of the private soldier is lower than that of men
of other classes, it ought to be kept in mind that they
receive less than half the wages which any other class
receive, and that you cannot get men of high class to
take the low wages which are given to them. We are
not here to attack men, but to vindicate principles.
(Hear, hear.) We wish to say nothing that is personally
offensive to any man whatsoever. Our object is to dis-
seminate the principles which we hold, and to treat all
courteously, and in that Christian spirit which we desire
to see propagated throughout the world. (Cheers.)
Mr. RICHARDS then gave a résumé of the proceedings
of the sooiety since the conference met at Manchester in
January last. He alluded to the fear that then prevailed
of a French invasion, and to Mr. Cobden's pamphlet on
the subject, entitled " 1793 and 1853," of which 86,000
copies had been issued by the society. The society had
also distributed about half a million of tracts and pam-
phlets during the last nine months, and had besides held
meetings in nearly all the considerable towns in Eng-
land and Wales. On the 26th of February last, a depu-

ta,tion, including sixteen members of Parliament, waited
on the Earl of Aberdeen with a memorial from the so-
ciety, in regard to the standing armaments of Europe,

and the wisdom and possibility of reducing them. The
deputation met not only a very gracious and courteous
reception, but one eminently favourable to the object
they had in view. His lordship, to quote his own words,

said he had never met any deputation with whose ob-
jects he more completely agreed. "No one could
more earnestly, he might say more passionately, desire
the attainment of this object—the security of the peace
of Europe—than he did ; and he believed that by no
other means could any Government more effectually
promote the happiness of mankind, and bring real glory
to the nation. These opinions," he added, "ho had not

recently adopted. They had even formed the subject of
discussion ten years ago, between him and his late emi-

nent friend, Sir R. Peel." Finally, he assured the depu-
tation that, whether the object was attained or not, it
would not be for any want of inclination on his part to
promote it. In the course of last year they received a
communication from the friends of peace in America,
stating that there were certain treaties then pending
between the United States and our Government in

reference to the fisheries, and that they had waited
on the American Executive to suggest .the insertion in
the treaties of stipulations binding the two Governments
that, if any misunderstanding should arise as to the con-

struction of these treaties, the question should be referred
to the judgment of some competent, impartial arbitrator.
This proposal, they were informed, had been received
with the utmost cordiality by the American Govern-
ment, who had expressed not only a willingness but an
anxiety to introduce such a clause, provided it were ac-
ceptable to the British Government. Under theso cir-
cumstances, the committee presented a memorial toLord
Clarendon, asking him to give instructions to the nego-
tiators who were conducting the business on behalf of
England to insert such a clause. His lordship received
the deputation of the society on the subject with great
kindness, and said that, while he thought there could be
no objection to such a clause, it was rather a novel thing
in diplomacy, and he would take a little time to consider
it. These treaties had not yet bee completed, but ho
(Mr. Richards) trusted when they were, they would be
found to have such a clause inserted. After referring to
Mr. Cobden's pamphlet on the Burmese war, of which
five large editions had been sold, Mr. Richards stated
that 8,0001. of the 10,0001. fuid proposed at Manchester
had already been raised, and they were in hope of re.
ceiving a considerable addition from their Scotch friends
and others attending the conference. He then explained
that, seeing that the minds of the English people were
so inflamed at present with warlike passions, and so
filled with mistrust of their neighboura—so anxious to
put themselves in an attitude of defiance and menace to
the whole world—it was the deliberate opinion of the
committee that it would have been impolitic, as was pro-
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