Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-17
ID y MI IL s L 4 e..

h'1 - ~ u Ne
a society has been established in Massa
cease'ts, bv some christian philaathro-
pists, to discourage war Whatever
opinion may he entertained of the utility ]
oil thus institution, no doubt can exist a
bout the purity of the motives Of the res
pectable individuals who compose it.
One oithe strongest arguments for war
IN Europe, a crowded population, can,
not be found In this country for long
period of time. The following letters
were received by the founder Of this So
ciety, In arswer to an application to the
writers Tor their support of its views.
Any letters coming from such eminent
men as Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Jeaer,en.
must be int. esting; but these are high
ly characteristic. We copy them from
the 4th number of /" the Friend of
Peace" work published under the
auspices of this society.
Mn. JErrERsoN's AaswuR.
.Uoaticetl0, January %, 1916.
SIR--Your letter, heasing date October
IS, 1915, came only to hand The day before
Yesterday, which is ne',,i,nel to explain
the date of nine. l have in thank you for
the pamphlets accompany my it, To wit. the
Solemn Review, the Friend of Peace, or
Special Interview, and the Eriendo of Peace,
No. 2. The first of these had received
through another channel some months ago.
l have not read the two last steadily
through, because where one assents to pro-
positions as soon as announced, it is loss
of time to read the arguments in support of
them. These numbers discuss the first
branch of the causes ofwar, that is to say,
wars undertaken for the point Of honor,
which you aptly analogue with the act of
duelling between individuals, and reason
with Justice from the one to the other. I'm
doubtedIy this class of wars IS, in the ge-
neral, what you state them TO be, 6 need
less, unjust and inhuman, as we'll as anti
christian.
The second branch of this subject, to
wit, wars un,, >ytaken on accuunt of icroRg
done, and which may be hkened to the act
of robbery IN private life, presume viii lie
treate, OF in your future numbers. Oh
serve ibis class mcnti,ned in,the Solemn
ncricw, p. 10, and the question asked,
% Is it commUn for a natinn to obtain re-
dress of wrongs by war - The,answer to
tbs question: you will of course draw from
history in the meat, time, reason will an
swer it on grounds Of probability, that
where the wrong has tten done by Il weak
CT nation, the stronger Que has generally
been able 10 enforce redress bat where
By stronger nation, redress by war has
been rcittrr obtained nor expected by the
weaker--on the contrary. the loss has
been increased by the expenses Of the war,
in blo9d and treasure; yet It may have OBJ
tanned another OBJECT, equally securing it.
self from future wrong. 1t may have re-
taliatel on tie aggressor, losses CT blood
and treasure, iar beyond The value to him,
of the wrong he had commtted, and thus
have made the advantage Of that too dear
a purchase in future; in tbs way, tho loss
by the war ,nay have secured the Meaher
nation from l.ss by future wrong.
Tie case you state Of two boxers, both
tf wnoui get a {. terrible bruising," is APP
posile to This he, OF the two who commit
tod tie aggression ON the other, although
victor in the scuffie, yet probably finds the
aggression not worth the brusing it has
cost him. 80 explain this by numbers, it
is alleged, tliat Great Britain took from us,
before the late war, near 1000 vessels, and
that daring the war, we took 400 : that
before The war, she seized aud made slaves
of GOO u ouc citizens, and that in the
war VIC Killed more than 5000 ct her sub
.iects, anG caused her to expend such sum
as amu,mted 10 4 or 5000 guineas a head
and ob;aiet; character Of justice which
j. rs valuable n anatiOn as an individual.
These considerations, leave her,withoat
inducemcnt 10 plumber property, aud take
menin future on such dear terms. | nei-
Tier a:Iirm nor ,Iciy Tie truth of these ale
gaiioiis, utn. is tleirtruth material to the
ques ion; they are possible, and therefore
present case to your consideration, in a
discussion Of the general question: Whe--
ther any degree Of injury can render
recourse 10 war cxpcdient ? StiIl less do
propnse, to draw to myself my part in
this discussion.
Age, and It's effects both on body and
mud has weaned my attentions from pub
iic subjects, aud left me unequal to the la
bors of correspondence, beyond the limits
Of nv personal concerns. retire, there
fore, from the question, with a ST cere
wish, that your writings may have effect in
icsscning this greatest Of human evils, and
that YOU may retain life and health, to en-
ioy ihc contemplation Of ibis happy spec
toc'e and pray you to be assured Of my
great respect
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Mn. ADAds' ANSWER.