Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-08-12
peace Department,

BY VIM. C. wHITCOMB.

Would wear forevermore the curse of CAIN
In this connection | feel it duty to bear a
decided testimony against the existing war at
Mexico, have already alluded to it incident
ally and now let me add few words MORE
The subject demands attention, and am one
ofthose who believe that the puIpits of the land
ought to speak out upon it. Did Christ and his
apostles those first preachers of Christianity
continue their public teaching to the divinity Of
the schools, mere technical theology, and alb
stract doctrines! Nay verify, They aimed
much of their preaching to the sins of the ma
ton, the existing evils of the times And with
reference to the whole dark catalogue of present
evils there are none which so richly merit earth s
scorn and Heavens Indignation as the war with
the MeXicans. | speak not as partisan, but
as a friend of peace and minister of the Prince
Of Peace.
Are we indeed living in the 10Th century, in
a civilized community, and on the very eve Of
the Millennium! What means that murderous
spirit Of war now rife in our land, which puts SC
much stress on physical violence and mere brute
force! Has this most cnlinghtened nation on
the face of the earth at last severed in twain the
golden chain that linked her to the throne oil
God, and cast off all allegiance to the Almighty
setting at nough every rule of right, being de-
termined to rush heedessly and rtckIessly upon
the thick bosses Of Jehovah's buckler in her
mad thirst for increase of territory! and shall
not voice Of honest indignation 90 forth from
the lovers of truth and Justice! Shall the church
furnish covert for men of blood, and shall mi
nsters of the gospel Of peace volunteer to be-
come chapIalns in an unnecessary and most ac-
cursed war? God forbid! For one would
raise my voice against wars in general and the
Mexican war in particular. II would be treas
on to the church and my Lord not to do it.
they are the traitors to their country, to man
kind, and to God, who fail, to contend for the
right. The conscience of the world, and the
high court of heaven, are in array against the
present war, and bitter woes will betide those
who are accessory to its prosecution
Now the inhabitants Of Mexico are our neigh
bors-our brethren-and there is no reason in
the world why we should STAY them Will it be
SAID that we are engaged in an unhappy broiI
and that if we do not approve and sanction the
measures recommended by the rulers Of the ma
ton we are traitors and tories, that we are enc
mics to our country and guilty of moral treasonl
Mark yea man may be true friend to his
country, and anxious to do all in his power to
promote her veal, and still be opposed to the
course pursued by the administrators of the gov.
eminent.
In almost every direction has the cry been
raised, Oar country right or wrong But this
is patriotism perverted 'Tis a principle that
every true Christian can but abomnate We
should never strike hands with those who are
swift to shed blood because of their belonging
to our own party, or family, or nation. We
should never extend fellowship to wrong-doing
whether done by our own country, or anybody's
else country. When Cassins NJ. Clay descend
ed from the distinguished elevation he had beer
occupying as a moral retormer, and laid aside
his pen for the sword, he became completed,
shorn of his strength to accomplish good, al
much so as was Samson after the treacherou:
Delilah had shaver him of his locks. ooh 'wha
fall was that, my countrymenn He, like man,
others who denounce the war as unjust, is act
ing on the wicked principle Our country, RICH
or wrong
1t is no more right for our government to au
thorlse or allow its soldiers to Ieyel in the ha
Of the Montezumas' than to revel in the princely
halls of Boston, or to reveI IN your dwellin!
houses, and ravage and plumber there If war
in general are wrong, THEN this war in particula
must be SO, for it is war that might easily hav
been prevented. Some contend that it is benz
carried on for the sake of peace If it be 70
any peace at all, t is probably for piece O
Mexico But were we to get possession of tn
whole Of that territory 1t would not pay for tn
sacrifice Of single life. We do not prize our
selves enough-we do not value according to it
worth the undymg spirit, Who that puts a sui
icicut estimate upon himself would voluntar
give up his life for all the land on the globe!
Afer reoding impartially whatever cou
lay my hands on that has been published respect
ing the present war, after examining the argu
ments pro and con, am forced to the conclu
SlOh tHdt IL 10 dll dSSISoolf0J uh"o'J, hSlutlou'
and damnable war on the part of our govern
ment. There's no redeeming quality about i
And if we are successful in such a contest it wi
prove a curse and not a blessing. Disgrace an
infamy will follow in its train. The Lord lrow
upon us. What says Inspirationl 'Becaus
thou hast had perpetual hatred, and hast she
the blood of the children of men by the force {
the sword in the timn of their calamity, there
fore, as live, saith the Lord God, will pre-
pare thee unto blood and blood shall pursue thet
since thou hast not hated blood, even blood sha
pursue thee 1t is no trfng matter, my friend
to array ourselves against every attribute of De
ty. We might as well undertake to separat
cause and effect as to separate the curse of hea
) en- from such course. What God hath ioine
together cannot be sundered. will not Il
Lord be avenged on such nation as this?'
With what impiety and blacphemy are tho
chargeable who presume to offer prayers to Il