The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-07-02

gradually operated upon the worid, ant
that shall raise itself in tones too earpes
and under a mien too imposing, " be des'
pisedS
Public opinion is law--and law supreme
fundamental principles, that can bssAr q
gainst il. As wise philosopher said
SLot me make the ballads OF a nation, ant
who will may make its laws, $50 say ]
give ne the formation of public opinion, or
any question, and there is no other law thai
can stand before il, and no king that car
decree against it. And here J take the
lioerty OF adyerting to principle, advanc.
ed by myself in the outset of these obser
vations: that pnblic opinion is ever more
inclined to the right, than to the wrong
when the Influences brought to bear upon
il, from either quarter, are equal.
And here is the only hope that 4 car
entcrtain Of an early reformation OF OH
world on The. subject Of war. Christianity
] accept from heavcn--from God--us the
only infalible record Of morality and reli-
gion, aud designed by its author, to restore
this disquietcd and unhappy world to uni
yersal peace and happiness. And the fun-
.damcn,al principles Of Christianity, ! ac-
cept, as utterly ut war with rar. And be.
cause they are truth, and because truth Is
I1icaty,-giyc them adgocates-yes, give
those principles advocates, competent advo-
Gates, through the worId-atd as belleyc
in God, in his providence, and in his word
ns certainly believe they shall prevail.
+. Yes, they are competent TO detbroHc that
public opinion, which now sits dominant
over the circle of the earth, and sum
mons the nations to conflict, whenever the
ambition or reseptments Of princes and po'
]itical cabinets shall please. II did rot
believe this, would throw my Bible away,
rs mere inockery of human hope.
never yet talked with a map, who did
not almost INSTANTLY make confession on
She Bible, that the Genius Of Christianity
81 utterly opposed to war--that its precepts
are altogether inhlbi,ory. But a, the same
tinlc, immediately after this confession ls
eXtortcd, most men VIII turn, aud say
yc are fools, TO imagine, that the custom OF
war can DC abolished Ny only reply to
such an argument, is--lf argument II de-
serves the naDe--Ie oiGO are FOOLS. And
If this reply be called WAR, it ia Just such
war as VIC wish 70 provoke, and 10 carry Oh.
along with all the reasons which sustain it.
. Yes, we wish to carry this war into every
Hand, and over the face Of the earth--a war
of opinion--an actual and hard conflict
until all the reasons, which bciong To the
question, on either side, can be heard and
weighcd--an and force the public mind to one
inevitable result say one inevitable re.
sult--becausc DO not believe there can
be q division Of opinion, when the whole
ground is fairly surveyed,
: The question ofthc right Of Siarery,wben
al came 10 be agitated, found a public opin.
ION abroad in the world, as unprincipied, ,us
that which now tolerntes war. say Rn.
principiea, and might add, yecfieSS--so
far as conscience il concerned. For that
Is precisely the character Of the present
public opinion of the world on the subject
ofwsr- --nnp'rncipied. And how easy aud
great has been the change of opinion on
the subject Of slavery? Slavery indeed
still exists. But opinion has changed, ond
il is fast melting it away. And that opin-
ion ID every day growing siIoDgcr aud
stronger, and its energies more and more
efficient, and 4 doubt not il viii yet make
one great aioneing sacrifice, and cleanse
our land and Christendom Of is crying
guilt. .,~
Bot who shall atone for tho guilt Of war
--patronized BY public opinion The
world shall atone for it, as il ever has done,
Jv the blood Of its sons, and the dcsolation
,i its iairest scenes. And that atoncment
,ha. DC meted out in the exact measure Of
Inc responsibility. Until the world shall
,c,tle this question on the giound of moral
md religious principle, they shall continue
o suffer for their neglect. IL is 4 shame,
Is wei as guilt, that question of such
nomentous interest cannot be forced upon !
he public mind. Ii has been talked abou,
talked cLoui, aud that is oil
And here we ure taking about il this ev !
nniug. And thisis all ice shall probably do.
And I verify believe there Is something !
hopeful even in this. When it saall have |
been talked about q little longer kept !
floating on the surface of Il to'erable de !
gree Of interest, some discerning & mighty
spirit shall pick it up, and give it wing
and currency, aud power;--and other dis
corning ana mighty spirits shall pass i,
from hand TO hand, aud thunder it from
mouth to nouth--and make the press grodn
beneath It's urguments--un,l the cabinets
aud thrones of princes shall irembie under
the responsibility Of mediGting conqucsts
bythe sword. And why should they trem-
bic. il il sarcnstically demanded, when no
artillery can be levclled against thcn?-
Trernhle at the irowns Of public indigna
ton. And what of fthat?--What OF that p
I am abssed- tumbled to be obliged to
meet an adversary, whose spirit would not
sciiher before the bar OF q virtuous public
sentiment. And bow, il is demandcG,shal!
such public opnion defend its own ndvo,
Gates against violent nggressions? Can
YOU raise an army in the taco OF public o.
pinion, out Of the subjects of,hat op'nionS
II would be moral impossiblhy. For the
reformation contemplated, is TO be uniyer.
sal. And suppose there be q faction Oh
olcontents, an army Of insurgents. OF