Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-03-17

| members in the moments OF calm, and
kdclihersse examination, endcavorina.
with the best OF motives tn place their
country on high, commanding, and sta
BILE ground, if it appeared to them con-
sistent with the principles # rational IL
berty, that there should exist a moral
necessity in the citizens to aid in tho VIZ
eoreus prosecution Of war Of conquest
that they should have left the perform
aace OF the obligation to the convictions
| of the whimsical, timid and disaffected,
| and relied for support upcn the con-
sciences of those, which single para
graph of the constitution might so Ell
| fectoslly have secured.
Tue silence Of the constitution a.
| mounts to demonstration that Our WISE
| men believed such a. power IN govern
ment, was incompatible with the liberty
intended to be secured by that instru-
npent, and by such silence lefttha' pow
or as denied. Ifsuch were their views
| thev bespcak the sonndness oil 'he'r
minds and goodness oftheir hearts; ioc
| il is foIly to talk ,f free goreromeh''
| so long as the whole, or any part o. uee
male population Of the country are COM
| pelied to embark in any ambitious pro-
| ;ac at the nod Of proud executive, or
CO. u ut majority ofths Legislature. Me-
| We lie, your country be pocsed win 'ne
| lite Of fee, il the enioyments aud en-
! nl 1,ments OF domestic life are ever piac-
ed in the hands u any group OF errinS
| aud perhaps wicked men.
TIE exemption in this respect from
| the power of government, has justly
heen considered as a glorious earnest oil
freedom Thaa which, none could DC
more captivating.
| The argument .sen is preposterous,
thu, notwithstanding the liberty, constl-
| tutiopaily secured to the citizen, TO act
or forbear as he pl ased, be must throw
his weight into the scale OF the majority,
whenever they Think fit to declare war,
whether Just. or usjust or be morally
guilty of treason.
Secondly. A practice under the creed
Of the honorable gentleman, would bs an
alarming encroeehaient upon the prero-
sa,iges of religion and thereby blot a.
mother feature of liberty from the constl-
tuition.
A man really pious, believing that OF.
fensiye war. originate in the vilest pas
.ions of the deprsved human heart aud
that he shall incur guilt of a serious kind
if he contributes to their prosecution,
would suffer mar'yrdom, before he
would stain his soul with the blood of
slaughtered folio u-being. Shall 1t tben
| be justified that such a man, shall stand
| condemned as guilty OF an odioos viola
ton of moral obligation, because he o.
beys the dictates OF conscience! Shall
he have the liberty of Judging for him.
se.s. f ON the lights of reason and vista.
ton; or shalI he be Compelled to sub.
init hi. conscience, his religion and soul
to the arbitrament of majority, who
may scout the ties and obligations OF To-.
two former, and deny the existence OF
the latter
| That there are people whose religious
| feelings are opposed 70 q war OF revenge
. cannot be denied. Indeed. there is
| sect of christians, who deny the right OF
m N 10 shed blood for any cause, TO the
taking of lie, This society ofsfrisrds,
not exceIled if equaI!ed. for purity OF
morals. industry and the practice OF the
4 mos, anliable virtues by any class OF CT
,jzena, would not contribute 20 the pro-
secntioo Of any war, to save their lives.
! And those who know them viii not
doubt their sincerity. unless charity Is
frozen from their hears. Yet this whole
society, notwithstanding their high de-
.erts. mn.t all be subject to toe gentle.
mans braaa "MoRAL TRAITOR.
Sir, will it be sad that majority is
the best Judge what is morally right and
wrong, on this subject; and that those
vino are conscicac'ously opposed to a
war of retaliation are squeamish,. that
they are deluded by education, that they
have erroneous notions and opinions, and
that an act Of Congress, can absolse them
from gull, and Justify their conduct!
The rood man never can be MADE ea'
50 inf,his way. The crime OF q multi
mde is no ,sss heinou. in his sight than
of an individual--of man in office than
i men out ofoffice. To his breast the laws
tnf G cd are superior to the laws OF men,
and when he finds them opposed, ne o.
bsys the eermcr and disregards the lot.
4 ter. He reads" ghon shalt ''ot knf
| in the former, and "Ihou shait Kill in the
latter" He views tho former as sacred,
| the latter as impious, and feels that he
would rather wrap his soal in single
leaf of that book which SAYS Blessed
is Tire feGce-nloker," than to DC snei"eu
against the vengeance OF INSURED oaini-
potence, with al the statutes that were
ever made by man. =,
Sir, it is knocking such man, to tell
rim he is safe to shed his brothers bisod'
ifhe ha. statute to plead in Justification