Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-27
Boston, March 8.
PEACE SOCIETY.

TEaOE SoSAS
We lay before our readers to day.
he memorial Of the Peace Society OF
/ his Commonwealth. which, was on
Saturday last before the Senate OF the
United States.-Repertory.
To the Honorable the Senate and
House of Representatives OF the u
nited States in Congress assembled.
The memorial of the members OF
the Peace Society Of Massachusetts,
respectfully represents:
That the society which now sollcits
the attention of the national rulers,
was Instituted for the single purpose
of diffusing pacific and hsnevolsn,
through this country and
through the world. Impressed with
a deep and sorrowfui conviction that
the spirit of christianity, which is a
spirit of mercy, peace and kind affec-
ton, is imperfectly understood al
Hicted by the accumulated miseries
and extensive desolations which war
has lately spread over the fsirest,
most fruitful, and most enlightened
regions of the earth {; and at the same
time encouraged by many decisive
proofs of the revival of purer, and
more benevolent principles among the
Christian nations, your memorialIsts
have formed this association with the
solemn and deliberate purpose of CO.
operating with the philanthropists of
every country, in promoting the cause
of peace and charity ; in stripping
war of its false glory, and in uniting
different communities in the bonds OF
amity ana mutual good will. We are
sensible that from the nature of our
object, it is chiefly to be accomplished
by silent and gradual influence on
the minds of men, and accordingly
we have limited our operations to the
circulation Of useful treatises, in which
the pacific spirit of our religion has
been exhibited with clearness, and we
hope with success. We believe, How
ever, that the pre- ent moment de-
mands a departure from our usual
course, and we cherish the hope, thai
by an application TO the government
under which We live, important SER
vi mar be rendered to the cause OF
humanity.
The present memorial is founded
OH two occurrences, which We hail as
to the pacihcation of tie
world. The first occurrence to whicn
we refer, is the well known and un-
piecedented union Of several OF The
most illustrious powers of Europe, i'll
declaring before 1.-THE universe, then
Iunwavering determination to adopt,
for the only rule of their conduct, both
i'm the administration of their respec-
tive states, and in their political rela-
ton with every other government the
precepts of Christianity, the prccep
of justice, of charity, and Of peace"
The second occurrence to which we
refer, is the decided expression ofpa-
cific sentiments and anticipations in
the conclusion of the late message Of
the President of the United States, in
which his parting wishes for his cOun-
try are expressed with tenderness and
power. In this remarkable passage
worthy the chief magistrate OF a
Christian community, he expresses
his conviction that "the destined Ca
reer of his country will exhibit 60
which, whilst it rcincs it
domestic code from every ingredient
not congenial with the precepts Of an
enlightened age, and the sentiments
Of a yirtuous people. seeks, by appeals
to reason. and by its liberal examples.
10 infuse into the law which governs
the civilized world, spirit which
may diminish the frequency, or cir
the calamities of war, anu
meIiorate the social and ben ficent
elations of peace ; a government, in
4 word, whose conduct, within and
may bespeak the most noble
If all ambitions, that Of promotingI
,eace on earth, and good will TO man.
On the occurrences now stated,
four mcmorialists respectfully beSl
cave to found the following sugses-|
ions a2d solicitations:
First, We respectfully, solicit lift
10 consistent with the principles Of
he constitution, that the solemn pro.
ession Of pacific principles lately
made nv several distinguished SOL