Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-09-23

subject will remove the sense OF its de-
formity, and conquer the strongest aver
sion of the mind. War, with Its shock
ing appendaees, is conducted with such
dreadful publicity Of circumstances, that
the public mind will grow callous to
what in other times it would not have
contemplated without emotion. The
frequent recurrence of those events
which mark its progress in bloody sue
cession, must not only impair the sense
Of their enorm'ty, but also foster an a.
farming curiosity of speculation. A Gu
riosity which will divert the mind from
serious ayocations, and lead 10 danger
Gus relaxation of habits which had been
formed under more favorable circum.
stances.
War gives viger and energy to vice,
which it could not attain in a time OF
peace. 1t brings together so many in
dividuaIs which compose the army, OF
bandoned principles and desperate ma.
bits, and so concentrates the efforts OF
wicke dness, that by united operation,
the general amount Of vice receives
dreadful accessions. The evil, OF such
associations would not indeed be so
great, if they we're confined to one par
,icular place but they must circulate
in every part of the country, to the no
sma| detrimsnt of virtue. And when it
becomes necessary that the army should
4 ~ lad ~ Let l,Se q
muni,y such variety in the principles
and habits Of depravity, as gives renew.
ed strength to the genius of turpitude.
The social compact is assailed in time
of war, and threatened with subversion.
I, is founded upon benevolence & good
will towards the species in general; and
when wo are taught to regard part OF
the species as enemies, this foundation
must be weakened. Says an eloquent
writer: " The sword, and that alone,
cuts asunder the bond of consequently,
which unites man to man. As it inme-
diately aims at the extinction of life. it is
next to impossible, upon the principle
that every thing may be lawfully done to
him whom we have right to kill. to set
limits to military licencc. For when
men pass from the dominion of reason
to that of force, whatever restraints are
attempted to be laid on the passions will
be feeble and fluctuating Though we
must applaud, therefore, the attempts OF
the humane Grotius, to blend maxims
of humanity with military operations, it
is to be feared they will never coalesce,
since the former imply the subsistence
of those ties which the latter suppose to
be dissolved. Hence the morality of
peaceful times is directly opposite to the
msxims Of war. The fundamental rule
OF the first is, to do good T.; of the latter,
to inflict injuries. The former commands
US to succor the oppressed, the latter to
overwhelm the defenceless. The rules
Of morality will not suffer us to promote
the dearest interest bv falsehood. The
maxims of war applaud it when employ.
ed in the destruction of others-That
familiarity with such maXims must tend
to harden the heart, as well as to per-
vert the moral sentiments, is too obvious
to need Illustration. The natural con-
sequence of their prevalence is an IN
feeling and unprincipled ambition; with
an idolatry of talents and a contempt Of
virtue whence the esteem OF mankind
is turned from the humble. the Denef.
cent and the good, to men who are qua
lifted by genius f,rtile in expedien,s
courage that Is never appalled,, and a
heart that never pi;ies, to become the
destroyers ofthe earth While the phi.
lanthropist is devising means to miti-
gate the evils and augment the happl
ness of the world, fellow worker toee-
tber with Con in exploring and giving
effect to the benevolent tendencies of
nature; the warrior is revolving in the
gloomy recess Of his capscious mind
plans of future devastation and ruin -
Prisons crouded with caprives. cities
emptietl of their inhabitants, fields desc.
late and waste. are among his proudest
trophies. The fabric OF bis fame is &C.
mented with tears and blood and if his
name is waited TO the ends Of the earth
it is in the ill CRY OF suffering huma-
nifty, in the curses and imprecations of
those whom his sword has reduced to
despair"
1t is delightful TO contemplate the
progress of al that elevates and beauti-
fees the condition of man In those scenes
which stand remote from the turbulence
of war, he cepceives with plenitude Of
magnanimifv, and acts with steadinsss
of virtue, that seem to give him claim
to brilliant station amongst exalted ma
ture. But, in reviewing the events Of
war, we discover how soon the miidness
of this lustre has been obscured-How
sin and death
"Their course through thickest constel-
tatiooe held