Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-03

race. Hence, we can allow no appeal to $
natriotism, to revenge any national insult a
or injury, The PRINCE OF PEACE, I'M !
der whose stainless banner we rally, came i
not to destroy, but to save, even the worst
of enemies. He has left US an example,
that we should follow his steps. Con
HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN {
THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS,
CHRIST DIED FOR US.
We conceive, that if nation has no
right to defend itself against foreign ene-
mics, or to punish its invaders, no individ-
ual possesses that right in his own case.
The uni: cannot be of greater import
ance than the aggregate. 1t one man may
take life. to obtain or defend his rights,
the same license must necessarily be grant
ed to communities, states, and nations. Ii
he may use dagger or pistol, they may |
employ cannon, bomb-shells, land and ma
val forces. The means of self-preserya-
ton must be in proportion to the magnI-
| tude of interests at stake, and the num-
Der of lives exposed to destruction. But
if a rapacious and blood-thirsty soldiery,
thronging these shores from abroad, with
intent to commit rapine and destroy life,
NAV not be resisted by the people or mag
istracy, then oughtno resistance to be offer
ed 10 domestic troublers ofIhe public peace,
or of private security NO obligation can
rest upon Americans to regard foreigners
as more sacred in their persous than them
selves, or to give them a monopoly of
wrong doing with impunity.
The dogma, that all the governments of
the world are approvingly ordained Of
God, and that THE POWERS THAT BE IN
the United States, in Russia, in Tur-
kew. are in accordance with his will, Is
) not less absurd than impious. 1t makes
+ the impartial Author of human freedom
| and equality, unequal and tyrannical. Il
cannot be affirmed, that THE POWERS
THArBE, in any nation, are actuated by
the spirit, or guided by the example of
Christ, in the treatment Of enemies there
5 fore. they cannot be agreeable to The will
0 of God and, therefore, their overthrow,
e by spiritual regeneration of their SUBJ
: jects, is inevitable.
We register our testimony, not only a
: gainst all wars. whether offensive or de-
fensive, but all preparations for war "a
gainst every naval ship, every arsenal, ev-
: cry tortifcation against the militia sys-
l. tenn and standing army against all mil
e itary cheftains and soldiers; against al
II monuments commemorative of victory O.
= yer a foreign foe-aIl trophies won in bat
teal celebrations in honor of military
or naval exploits; against all appropria
u tons for the defence of nation by fore,
10 and arms, on the part of any Legislative
A. body; against every edict of government
e requiring of its subjects military service
h Hence, we deem it unlawful 10 bear arms
:, or 20 hold military office
. As every human government is upheld
. by physical strength, and its laws are en-
r forced virtually at the point of the bayo
st net, We cannot hold any Office which i'm
to poses upon its incumbent the obligation Il
,e compel men TO do right, on pain of i'm
~ prisonment or death. We therefore vol
UNFAIRLY exclude ourselves from every lie
: gisative and judicial body, and repudat
V all human politics, worldly honors, an
: stations Of authority. If zoe cannot occu
Sc ply a seat in the legislature, or on tn
d. bench, neither can we elect Others to ac
% as our substitutes in any such capacity.
Ii follows, that we cannot sue any mai
!, at law, to compel him by force to restor
:, any thing which he may have wrongful
: ly taken from us or Others but, if he ha
70 seized our coat, we shall surrender up GU
L cloak, rather than subject him TO punish
~ ment.
a. We believe that the penal code of tn
& old covenant, AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AM
= TOOTH FOR TOOTH. has been abrogai
;. ed by JESUS CHRIST and that, unde
/" the new covenant, the forgiveness, instea
"a of The punishment of enemies, has been en-
IS joined upon all his disciples, in all case
n whatsoe yer. To extort money from enc
or mics, or set them upon pillory, or cas-
Of them into prison, or hang them upon
- gallows, is obviously not to forgive, but 4
: lake retributlon. VENGEANCE is NINE
l WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.
, The history humankind is crowded witt
evidences, proving that physical coercio
is not adapted to moral regeneration ; tina
the sinful dispositions of man can be sub
s. dued only bv love; that evi! can be exter
is minated from the earth only by goodness
le that it is not safe TO rely upon an arm o
ID flesh-upon man whose breath is in hi
e. nostrils, to preserve US from harm; tha
Sc there is great security in being gentle
h harmless, long suffering, and abundant il
a mercy; that ii is only the meek who shal
n Inherit the earth, for The violent who re
m sort to the sword are destined TO peris
Ill with the sword. Hence, as a measure c
e sound policy-of safely to property, lif
and liberty,-of public quietude and pri
to vate enjoyment-as well as on the groun
We Of allegiance to HIM who is KING o
,rt KINGS, and LORD OF LoRps,-we cord