Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-21

suCh suoJeCtS do tlis. II 10 HiucH W w
tleplo"cd, that such opinions as those con
tained in this letter. should proceed from
All aged protesting christian, professed
imitatm' of HIM, who pronounced to his
followers the heavenly benedie ton
:. BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MA.
.KERS, FOR THEY SHALL INHE-
.RIT The EARTH"
A Society has been established in Mas
sachusetts, by some christian Phi!an
throrists, to discourage war. What
ever npinio may be entertained. Of
the utility of this institution, no doubt
eau exist about the purity Of the mo
tives of The respectable individuals
who compose it. One of the strongest
arguments fot war in Europe, a crowd :
ed population, cannot be found in this
county for a long period of time,
The following letters were received by
the founder OF this society, in answer
to an application to the writer's for
their support OF It's views.
Any letters coming from such eminent
men as MIR. Adams and Mr Jefferson,
must be interesting: but these are
highly characteristic. We copy thrm
from the 4th number of the Fsieud
of Peace work published under the
auspices Of this society.
MR.. JlFFERsON's ANSWER.
.Nomicelio, Jar. 90, 1916.
Sir Your letter. bearing date October
10, 1915. came enly to hand the day be
fore yesterday. which is mentioned to ex
plain tbe date OF mine. have to thank
you for the pamphlets accompanying it..
to wiz, the Solemn Review, the Friend Of
Peace, or Special Interview, and the
Friend Of Peace, Nc. Q. The first of
T. csc I had received through another
channel some months ago. | have not
reaA tie two last steadily thfo' because
where one asseDts to. propositions as soon
as announced. it's loss of time to read
the a, gument> in support of them These
numbers discuss the first branch of war,
that is to say, wars undertaken for the
point Of honor, which YOU aptiy analogue
with The act OF duelhng between individ
ua!s, and reason viii justice from one to
the other. Undoubtedly this class of
wars is, in the eefejal, what yen state
them to be, needless, unjust, and inhuman
as we'll as anti-christian.
1he second branch Of this subject, to
wit. wars undertaken Oh account Of
u-rong doRp, and which may be lkened
to the act Of robbery in priva'e lie, l
presume will be Gated of in your future
numbers. observe this class mentioned
IN the Solemn Review, p 10, and the
question asked, g Isit common for ma
ton to obtain redress of wrongs by
war 20 The answer to this question
y0uwill Of course draw irom history
~ the mean time, reason Will answer 1t
on grounds of probability. that where
The wrongs has been done by weaker
nation, the stronger one has been able
o enforce redress but where, by a
tronser nation, redress by war has been
neither obtained or expected by the wea-
|kcr-ou the contrary the loss has been
decreased by the expenses Of the war, in
olood and treasure /; yet it may have OBJ
tanned another object, equally securing
elf frou future wrong. 1t may have re-
atiated on the agsressor. losses OF blood
and treasure. far beyond the value to him,
f the wrong he had committed, and
rus have made the advantage Of that too
ear purchase in future /; in this way
e loss BY the war may have secured the
weaker nation from loss by future wrongs.