Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-14
PEACE DEPARTMENT.
From the New England Spectator.

From the New England Spectator.
How Mothsrs support the Custom of war.
The fame of Sparta has filled the
world but how did she become such a
nursery Of bold and desperate warriors ?
Her sons were all trained to war as their
business, their duty, and their glory
Every citizen was soldier by birth the
war-spirit was carefully infused into the
mind Of every child, so as to become if
possible his ruling passion and the Spar
tan mother as she parted with her son on
his going forth to battle, gave him his
sword, and babe him if he would not for
felt her displeasure, and disgrace the fam
lily, bring it back in triumph, or be bro't
back upon It.
Such mothers we have, it seems, even
in this Christina land and there are pa
pers Gnti-christian enough to commend
these savage viragoes. A Tennessee pa
per not long since gave an account of such
"a western mother" and applauded her
'"as a model Of patriotism and pious
trust IN GOd!p 1--WE talk and read
d much" says the writer, "of Roman and
Spartan mothers; but here is an instance
OF an American, a Tennessee mother,
which may be proudly Q) placed by the
side of any example that ancient history
can present"
We will givethe substance Of the story.
Gen Gaines had called for volunteers 10
guard pur frontier bordering on Texas
and this western m other willingly gives
up her son for that expedition, and writes
a letter to inspirit him in his anticipated
work Of carnage and devastation Yes
terday, she says, my hope was firm that
you would be at home next month; to-
day ! am following you in my imagina,
ton TO the borders Of Texas, to battle a.
gainst the mighty power of Santa Anna.
Go, my son and if called on, fight val
iantly in the cause Of libe rty. And when
you grid on your armor, grid on the gos-
pei armor; take the shield Of faith and the
hflmet Of salvation. and you will have
nothing TO fear. Should you fall in bat
Gle, (which may Heaven forbid. it will on
Y be a quick passage to the realms Of
bliss and glory
-" Fight valiantly" Kill as many as
you can of husbands and fathers, sons and
brothers. Spread as much misery as pos
sible amoug the Mexicars. Be valiant,
my son, in this glorious work. "Gird on
the gospel armor." Take with you the
principles of the gospel, and bear princi-
pally In nindi its cheering precepts-'thou
shalt kills whenever an offi.er bids thee)
"whoso smiteth thee on one cheek, stab
AIM" "avenge yourselves, and never
give place TO wrath hate your enemies,
and pray against them and curse them :"
"whatsoever We would that others should
not do to you, that doye to them -" return
evil for evil, and overcome evil with evil"
"seek war, follow war with all men and
as much as lieth in you, wage war against
your enemies - since blessed are the
war-makers for they shall be called the
sons o." cannot finish the bias
Phemy Of such instruction as this mother
gave her son.
In the cause Of liberty" Liberty
70 hold slaves liberty which the re-
preached Mexicans had forbidden in their
constitution and would not yield to the
Texans.
Nothing to fear."' Just as if "a God Of
peace and love would protect this young
murderer in his work Of bIoodshed and
devastation As if such a God would
smile on what is tantamount to a viola.
tion Of all the leading precepts of the Cos
pei 60
"A quick passage to the realms Of
bliss and glory" as a reward for DISC.
bsying God, and butchering his erea-
turesi A sentiment worthy of NOLAN.
medans and Cloths; yet one which has
been repeated thousands of times by our
patriotic orators
This very mother is extolled as mani
iesting a.remarkable esprit of Christian
devotion and faith in the Lord of HostsI"
There have been too many such mothers
even IN Chris,endom; and no wonder
thai the war-spirit is still rife among us.
Under such On influence the young must
grow up TO the lovesnd practice Of war
and 50 long as public opinion will for a
moment tolerate such abominable senti-
ments Is are 90 highly commended in this
case, pence can never prevail. Such
mothers are the very patrons Of war, and
deeply responsible for its atrocities and
horrors. ~ lyea PBAcE GLEANrn
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