Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-03-12
From the New York American.

ffomer o. Paimer.--Agaln we are about
TO quote a sermon--an eloquent and well
timed sermon--on the evils. the wicked.
ness, and the desolation of wanton unne-
cessary War.
The reputation Of the preacher, the
topic it treats Of, now. alas not Of distant
and speculative interest to us, but one
that IS near, imminent, and coming home
to the business aud bosoms of us ALTO.
gether with the eloquent and Just views
expressed. render this discourse valuable
as II is welI.timed.
The subject is thus introduced.
ask your attention to the subject Of
public war. | am aware, that 20 some
this topic may seem 10 have policical
bearings, which render il unfit for the pul-
put; but 10 me it is eminently moral and
religious subject. In approaching il, no.
liiical parties and interest vanish from INV
mind. They are forgotten amidst the nn-
merous miseries and crimes Of war. To
bring war TO an end, was one of the pur.
poses oil Christ, and his ministers are
bound 10 concur with him in the work
The great difficulty on the present occa.
sion is TO select some point Of view from
the vast field which opens before US. AT
ter some general remarks, shall conline
myself TO single topic, which at present
demands peculiar attention
Public war is not an evil, which stands
alone or has nothing in common with 9th
CT evils Ii belongs, as the text int
mates, to great family. Ii may be said,
that society. through its whole extent is
defcrmed by war. Even in families we
see JafIing interests and passions, inva-
sions OF rights, resistance of authority,
violence, force and in common life, how
continually do we seem them struggling
with one another for property or distinc.
ton, Injuring one another in word or
deed, exasperated against one another by
Jealousles, neglects and mutual reproach.
All this is essentially war. but war res
trained, hemmed in, disarmed by the
opinions and institutions Of society. 10
limit It's rayages, TO gaufd reputation, pro.
perry and life, society has instituted gov.
ernment, erected the tribunal of Justice,
clothed the legislator with the power Of
enacting equal laws, put the sword into
the hand OF the magistrate, and pledged
its whole force to his support Human
wisdom has been manifested in nothing
more conspicuously, than in civil institu
tons for REFRESHING war, retaliation, and
passionate resort 10 force among the cili
zens of the same State. But here il has
stopped. Government, which is ever at
work to restrain the citizen at home, often
lets him loose and arms him with fire and
sword against other communities, sends
out hosts for desolatlon and slaughter; and
concentrates the whole energies of peo-
pie in the work Of spreading misery and
death. Government, the peace officer at
home, breathes war abroad, organizes il
INTO science, reduces it 10 system,
makes it trade. and applauds it as if it
were the most honorable work of nations.
Strange that the wisdom, which has so
successfully put down the wars Of individu
ais, has never been inspired and embold.
ened to engage in bringing to an end the
more gigantic crimes and miseries of pub.
lie war. But this universal paci6caiion,
until Of late, has hardly been thought of,
and in reading history, we are almost
tempted TO believe, that the chief end of
government, in promoting internal quiet,
has been to accumulate greater resources
for foreign hostii,ies. Blood shed is the
staple of history, and men have been
butchered, and countries ravaged, as if the
human frame had been constructed with
such exquisite skill only to be mangled.
and the earth covered with fertility only
TO attract the spoiler.
Passing, then, in review of the pretexts
IN which wars are generally undertaken,
and arriving at that called sensibility 10
national honor" the preacher thus exa
mines what constitutes this honor
The first elemen; Of a nations honor
is undoubtedly Justice. A people, to de-
serve respect, must lay down the maxim,
as the foundation Of IFS Intercourse with
other communities, that Justice, strict
regard to the rights OF other States. shall
take rank of its interests. A nation. with.
out reverence for right, can never plead ip
defence Of war, that this is needed TO main.
tain its honor; for it has no honor TO
maintain. II bears brand of infamy,
which oceans of human blood cannot wash
away. With these views, we cannot be
too much shocked by the language of
chief magistrate recently addressed TO a
legislative body in this country. '.No
community of men" The says) Tin any
age or nation, under any dispensation, po.
liIlcal or religious, has been governed by
justice in its negotiations or conflicts with
other states. 1t is not justice and mag
nanlmity, but interest and ambition, dig
nified under the name Of State policy,
that has governed and ever will govern
masses Of men acting as political commu-
mites. Individuals may be actuated by
sense Of justice; but what citizen in any
country would venture to contend for JUS
tice 10 foreign and rival community 10
opposition to The prevailing policy OF his
State, without foflei,iBg the character OF
patriot" Now if this be true of our
country, and to our country was applied,
then ! say we have no honor TO fight for.
A people, Systematically sacrificing justice
to It's interests, is essentially band of rob
bers. and receives but the just punishment
of its profligacy in the assaults of other
nations. But it is not true that nations