Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-22
From tho n. Y Evening Post.
WAR WITH ENGLAND.

FROM INC ~ T. Evening Rost
WAR WITH ENGLAND.
We are shocked at the Indifference with which
the prospect of War seems to he regarded 10y
the public press and the community. We should
have thought that the bare mention OF the event
would have been met by n universal burst of in
dgnntion and horror. W0r is n state so full Of
evil, ant-democratic in its tendency, so fraught
with injustice, rage cruelty and rapine, aud 81
fruitful in widespread aud lasting distress that it
can only be looked upon the greatest of curses.
1t is curse to she commercial prosperity, to the
public honor to the domestic peace, TO the moral
feelings oil the parties toll 1t is Il brutal and
barbarous resort, below the dignity of human ma
ture and disgrace to civilization.
| This nation, of all nations upon earth, should be
the last TO think Of going to war. It Processes
superior degree of intelligence and refinement
Ii boasts greater advances in policy aud the sci
ence OF government than the rest OF the world.
| II is proud of institutions founded in justice and
designed to extend the benefits Of civil and Te-
gious liberty to every human being. The esIief
glory of such nation should be the establish
incnt of friendly feelings mutual sympmhies,
concord aud good will Its brightest distinction
is not the triumph of IFS arms, but of its arts; not
the enforcement cf force. but of moral power
and right; not the destruction Of life and happi-
ness, but the security and elevation of The mass OF
men. But war is opposed 10 all this. It's first act
| is an invasion of human rights, It's discipline is
that of despotisun, its inevitable effects are crime
and wo. HERE is no democracy nor republican,
ism i'll war it is Il condition of unrclieNed vio-
lence; an alteration Of force and fraud, which
crushCs free action and whcrs high, ust, and
generous sentiments. How hard would il be for
people accustomed To the discipline Of soldiers, 10
resolve itself into nation Of ireemen.
! And OF all wars, war with England is most to
| he deprecated The offences Of that power, we
admit, have been great. Her rapacity, her njus-
tce, her insolence, are hard to be BONE but The
wickcdness and misery of conflict with her
would be no less hard She is a power that
do lis immense harm. She can sweep COM
merce from the seas, arrest our industry, excite
nelnal connections, desolate ourcoasts, stop our
career OF improvements, ind lOnd us Tor long
generations, with taxes and debt. 1t is true. we
might return the injury; we might destroy her
ships, seize her colonies. and reduce the mass Of
her popuInlion already on the brink of Aalvation
10 unuterable wretchedness and death. But
vengeance repay us for the loss of 80 much
urc, and happiness, and moral feeling, as would
| spring from IT'S iuflicton2 Would tie murder of
millions of Englishmcn recompense tie wrong
our own acts would bring down upon aions of
Americans? Or would the euormity Of the crime
swell with the amount ot suffering inflicted, until
the combined mass Of iniquity would provoke
upon both nations the severest and most protracted
| relrilmlinHs Of Providence?
Nor would the evil stop with the people direct.
ly concerned. a contest between two powers,
each OF such extended relations, would bring along
with it, nighiier and more terrible commissions.
1t would drag into the strife the powerful dynas-
Ties OF Europe, which only need the occasion IA
fall upon each other with destrutive iury. Whal
would he the result of his no man can conceiv g
What battles, what carnage, what "a scverina -
domestic lies, " hat waste oil life, what ferociiy
OF manners, what degradation of feeling, wlla
disruption of order, what understandable iurn
what agony not 10 ne assuaged! How it wotho
pat back the peace of the world arrest the spread
of liberal principles, and palsy the deuocruait
; principles of the nations! Let those whose fan.
cIes delight in horrors, complete the picture.
We do not believe, that war in the present con
dion of mankind, is at all times to he avoided
; Yet we believe it becomes moral aud Intelligent
people to strive 10 put it of as long rs it mays
Is III the best dangerous and desperate resort
The United States aud England haze reached
point of elevation where they should throw aside
the savage spirit and practices of ther ances ars
There are noher conqupsts than those of the
sword, and higher and hoer aims than natipna
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and glory. better era is be.
ginning 20 duwn upon the hearts of she peopleand
upon the councils oil theirrulers. New nGuen-
ces are making themselves felt in the workings o
government aud society. Brute force is resrina
before the energy Of enlightened intellect Owe
all casses of men, spiritual illuminate OH i
!; spreading; they commence to recognize the Sal
perior worth Of mind and virtue; and are adjust
ing their relations and habits to n better order o
civil existence. Shall their hopes go out dream
Of the morning? Shall theswelns stream whcl
is bearing the nations on TO n tuture of gloriou
Developments he turned from lis course o. pu
:, back for many dreary years?
~ Considerations of this kind, though they caDno
avert war; must teach us the splrit i'll which it i
;. to be contemplated. 1t would be a Fad sight in
deed, to see two great nations, equally illusiriou
: as pioneers in the cause of enterprise, art, sci
ence and religion fall to the plunder and butche
ny of each other, for differences which IN oment'
lorbcarance may reconcile remove.