The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28
THE NATIONAL ERA.
THE PEACE CONGRESS-.
LoNroN. august 9, 1851

! think every careful phllantbrOPiO VoS0i'0i VI
passing events, especially Of those which project
their shadows farthes into the future, musttakean
interest in such gathering as that of the Peace
Congress on Tuesday, July %, and the three
days following, in Exeter Hall. 1t was, indeed
magnificent demonstration, the most imposing |
ever saw, or ever expect to see, on the subject
Of peace For three days in succession, that vast
hall, the largest in London, continued through
sunshine and storm, even amid some Of the worst
weather in London ITSELF to be filed to its utmost
capacity through session after session, each FIVE
hours long | think | never saw the interest OF
so protrscted a meeting so well sustained to its
close Indeed, the enthusiasm was at its highest
pitch the last half day, and the vast audience
seemed fain TO linger even after the final vote was
taken
IL is difficult, even now, to ascertain the precise
number of delegates present but they could not
have been less than 200, besides spectators still
more numerous making an assembly Of more than
5000, nearly all men, and most of them men Of
some rank in their respective and widely distant
localities There was upwards Of 900 delegates
from Great Britain alone, some Of the best and
ablest men in the nation, all selected for their
personal worth OF local Influence; among them
nearly thirty members Of Parliament, more than
200 ministers of the Gospel representing believe,
every Protestant denomination in the land, and
not few distinguished other professions, in
literature and science. From our own country
there were upwards Of sixty delegates from six
teen States probably still larger number from
France, some of them men of high distinction at
home; about forty were from Germany; and
smaller deputations from Holland, Belgium,
Sweden, Spain Italy, and some other countries
IL was beautiful sight to gaze on that molly,
yet most harmonious assembly Of 600 or QUO per-
sons gathered from two hemispheres, Protestants
aud Catholics MOnarchsts and Democrats, to
deliberate on questions OF common and vital I'M
portance to the whole human race; TO hear them
Interchange the noblest, most fraterna sentiments,
and gee them coming at last to conclusions entire
ly unanimous on all the topics they discussed.
Surely there is, after all, some hope of ultimate
"unity and fraternity" among the widespread
members of the human family.
The Congress had Alright TO congratulate them
selyes "a tNey did on their election of Sir David
Brewster for their President q man of very rare
mental and moral worth, Scotchman by birth,
~ a. l~ZsvA'.,&a mo ChVreksoIsG ~ ,h7s5-
his old age adherng for conscience sake, to the
eIiled Free Church; a very patriarch of science,
now in his seventeen year, confessedy one Of the
most eminent Swans aud philosophers in the
world His steady, if not rapid rise by the force
Of his own genius and industry, is very remarka-
ble-even when q boy at the University of Edin-
burgh, admitted TO the friendship of such men as
Playfair and Dugald Stewart honored by the
University Of Aberdeen, with the degree Of LII. ID.
at the age Of twenty-six, in 1907 from 1915
to the present time loaded with successive medals,
prizes at honorary appointments from Royal Acad
emies in Great Britain, and all over Europe, with
the distinction Of knighthood from King Will
liam ~, in 1892
have not time, if you have space, to charac-
terize Is speakers. They were nearly all good
and certainly gave this proof Of their excellence
of power, that they kept up for three days in
succession, an unfinohing interest through ses-
sions each five hours in length. If few were high
ly or overfowingly eloquent, they were, with
scarce an exception, earnest, quite to the point,
and full Of strong, practical thought, and forcibe
argument. From the House Of Commons were
Golden, the real lion Of the day, Charles Hindley
William Ewart and John McGregor, all of
whom spoke well and besides these, we're Henry
Vincent most remarkable orator from the bosom
of the people, and the Rev. John Angel James
an admirable speaker, William Breck and Drs
Aspinal Beaumont, and Massie, from four or FIVE
denominations in England From the United
States only three spoke, occupying, however, all
the time fairly due to the Americans-Rev. H.
Garnet, once slave, Ehu Burritt and Rev Dr.
Beokwth, all well received and quite q strong i'm.
preston made on the thoughtful friends Of peace
here by the encouraging facts which the latter
stated respecting the progress Of the cause in
America From Belgium M Visschers, man of
note, holding high Office under his Government;
from Germany, DIR. Creirerach, LEARNED Jew
from Frankfort, with one or two more from
France NM. Cormern, GARNER, Coquerel,
Girsrdn, and others Of distinction one even
from Austria, Dr. Sherer, of Vienna, man of
sweet spirit, that won all hearts; with several
speakers from some other countries
will not attempt TO sketch on details and topics
dscussed-the contrariety of war to revelation,
reason and the best interests Of mankind the
special obligations Of Christian ministers, of teach
ers and editors, to the cause of peace the substi
tuition of arbitration in place of the sword Con-
gress Of nations the reduction, of standing arma-
ments condemnation of war loans the interven-
vention Of country in the internal politics Of
another, as a source of bitter and desolatng wars
and the duty Of selecting in all constitutional
countries, peace men for rulers. On all these
topics, and some others, the Congress were per-
fectly unanimous.
or other points should be glsd to speak especi-
ally the excellent Christian spirit that pervaded
the Congress from first to last, but have space
and refrain. Take it all in all, it was grand and
most successful demonstration, SURPRISING the ex-
pectatons of its most sanguine promoters.
Let us all bid God.speed to such efforts. IL will
take a vast multitude of them, we all know full
well, to uproot such a hoary, inveterate abuse as
war has become all over the Old World, the pat
ron, the lynx-eyed and hundred handed guar
dian Of all the worst forms of despotism and op-
preston that are now grinding the millions of
Europe in the dust Its removal is, at this moment,
the first great want of the civilized world God
speed every honest, earnest effort for such an
object; and let all the people say amal