Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-28
For the Waterman and journal.
Mr.. EDIroR =

Mr.. EDIroR:--
How must the 'pomp and circumstance the mar
tal glory and national honor connected with war;
appear in the light of such facts and suggestions
as the following -(gleaned from late number of
the christian Cizen,) especially when we con-
slider the practcaJitHy Of universal and perpetual
peace
In relation to the retreat of Naooleon's army
from Moscow, Labume says from wilma to the
banks of the Niemen the route was covered with
soldiers, who no longer retained the human form,
and whom the enemy disdained to make prisoners
Some had lost their hearing, others their speech,
and many by excessive hunger aud cold, were re-
duced to state of frantic stapidity in which they
roasted The dead bodies of their comrades for food
and euen gnalred their oicn hands and arms Some
were so weak, that, unable to lift piece of wood
or roll stone towards the fires they had kindled,
they sat down on the dead bodies of their compan-
panions, and, with haggard countenunce, gazed
steadfastIy upon the burning Goals. No sooner was
the fire extngushed than these living spectres,
unable to rise, fell by the side of those on whom
they had been sitting. We saw many who were
absolutely Insane. To warm their frozen feet they
plunged them naked into the middle of the fire
Some with convulsve laugh threw themselves
into the flames and persisted in the most horrible
commissions, and utterng the most piercing cries,
while others followed them, sharing the same fate"
Truly the words Of st Paul were earfully verified,
/" Destruction and misery are in their rays"
Let the reader bear in mind that all the nations
engaged in the campaign exhibiting such scenes
y 1 al,
religion of the Prince of Peace" who stepped So
many acres in human blood, and, as competent au-
thorty will show, swept uncalled into eternity,
100000 rictims during that single campaign :
What fact to be presented to the bar of that God
whose Gospel is "peace on earth and good lciH to
men" o. the sanguinary career of the Cgsurs,
Alexanders and Nupoleons, unfolding the conconi-
tant wrong rapine. sorrow anguish and death, could
be laid open to full view before the eyes and heart
of humanity, it would seem that the civilized world
must reco from all participation or even toleratron
of such beautiful game as war! Yes-that they
would fly to the arms of Peace-bespeaking hel
gracious interposition for the deverance of sub
iect millions now exposed to the havoc which the
cory monster, war, stands ready to let loose upon
them
What materials for speculation does war furnish
See the following from Buritt's paper. "Dr. Dick
of Scotland, estimates the number of human beings
who have persisted by war at l4000,000,0C0. Sup
posing these persons averaged four feet in stature
and had been stretched along in line, at length, OF
the ground, how many times would their bodies
reach round the globe, allowing it to be 2l,00t
milos in circumference?
The average weight OF blood in a man is IS lbs
and its quantity 3 , gallons. What would be th'
circumference of circular lake. ten feet deep
which would hold all the blood Of these l40C0CC0,
000 human beings
There arc about three cubic feet in common
sized person. what would be the diameter OF tina
globe of solid flesh, which might be formed out
these l4000CO0,0G0 Of dead bodies, itthey WERE
compressed into one solid rotary mass OF liiees
humanity z"
What human being, of ordinary susceptlbilities
has nerve enough to sit down over such materials
to work out the problems? And if common nerve
cannot do this without recoiling, what instinctiv
shuddering should any and every feeling, sensitive
any human heart, experience in the encourage
ment or countenance even of that horrid system
which, in simply one of its operations, supplies Suc
terrible facts?
FRIEND OF PEACE.