Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-02-18

No. XII.

On earth Peace, good Gill to5gards Men.
The eth number of the Friend of Peace
| commences with Rerie,c Of military martyrdom.
That the idea or dying in war, as martyrs, is a
deluson the author shews from considerations, Of
which the following ere mere abridgements, viz,
First. II is an iiea which operates on both
sides of military contest; *#* on both sides the
honour of nartyrd6n is claimed, while, according
to an acknowledged principle, on one side if not
| on both, the war is strictly murferous'
Second Comparing the conduct of the supposed
martyrs with that Of the Prince of Peace the wri-
ter says The Messiah laid DOZEN his life for the
BENEFIT Of others He died the just for the unjust,
that he might bring unto God s** not breathing
out threatning and slaughter and heaping death
and misery on Others, to revenge the injuries he
had received
Third. AS to their moral tharGcier--s How many
men whose vices rendered them infamous IA home
*** have Joined an army, and fallen in battle. Yet
without any change Of character, except for The
worse, have they not been praised as marty,s
Fourth The word martyr originally sisaified
'Fdness $50 and was afterwards used 70 signify, such
as suffered for their testimony in the cause of Christ
According to Wather its present meaning il one
who, by his death, bears witness to the TRUTH
Now what is the truth to which military mar
tyrs bear witness when they die in attempts to kill
their brethren? They indeed bear witness to one
deplorabe truth, namely, that protested follow
81 of ChriSf havo all oil
direct hostility TO the Gospel Of Peace
To prevent msapprehensions the writer observes
that he is far from being disposed 10 ascribe TO all
military men uicioas charlottesville doubts not
that many good persons have exposed and sacrificed
their lives in war-but still thinks that had such
men been correctly informed as TO The nature of
war and its opposition to the Gospel they would
have chosen to die as the Saviour did, praying for
enemies, rather than in attempts TO destroy them
The next article is Repierc Of the case stated By
mr.. JEFFERSON whether any degree of injury will
render war expedicnt.'-rhis fills seven pages
to give even a concise view of the arguments,
would take up more room than was contemplated
in these cumbersome clause only shall be inserted
va ~ 'AohS q HioiO IttGCt CStitldtC GUUi-
rarison of the loss and gain by the late war, either
TO Great Britain or tie United States, it behove
individuals of each nation to take into view tn G
rGts life, and the eorih o immortal souls capa-
bic of endless happiness misery"
The next is Reriew Of some passages IL DR..
lh'Leod's fire discourses' on the late ioar.
This takes up above sixteen pages and Is very
interesting.-It contaias remarks on the arguments
of DIR. M'Leod in favour Of War and suggests some
thoughts as to the different opinion Of Christians,
and introduces several passages Of the old Testa-
ment, upon that important subject, but the length
OF them forbids an attempt to give the reader such
ideas az they convey.-He would be better in
structed and entertained to read the whole.
Then follows q serious question proposed.
Suppose the slaves in our Southern States
should thoroughly imbibe Dr. M'Ieod's principles
of the lawfulness of making defensive war; for
any violation Of rights or actual injury inflicted
or aho1t to be inflicted when 1t can be done with
a rational prospect OF success. hat shall hinder
them from slanshtefing the whites as soon as tue
force to be applied, shall. in iheir vieM be s.le-
qua.a 10 the object ~ sSs As much Is I lament