The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
For tho National Era.
TO THE FRIENDS OF PEACE.

Those who are familiar with the proceedings
of the late Peace Congress in London must
have observed with how much satisfaction the
more thoughtful friends of peace there received
the report Of efforts made in this country to
bring before our rulers the great practical
question of supersedng the alleged necessity
of war by peaceful substitutes and our success
in securing their favorable attention, especially
to our plan of STIPULATED ARBITRATION or n
definite provision by treaty for the settlement
of all future misunderstanding between our
selves and other nations by reference to
umpircs mutually chosen.
Here is the simple and feasible measure
which we wish to press now on the attention
of Congress and the Executive Not few
anticipate, sooner or later, the establishment
of n CONGRESS OF NATIONS, as the grand ulti-
matum of thoroughly Christian civilization
applied TO the intercourse 0fnations; but stipu-
lated arbitration is probably all we can secure
for long time to come and will doubtless
prove if adopted in good faith, equally effect
i've in preventing actual wars and eminently
useful in preparing the way for some form of
an international tribunal analogous to what
has been provided for themselves by our Con-
iederacy Of thirty-One sovereign States. The
war-system il upheld rs an arbiter Of justice
between nations for the accomplishment Of
objects clearly important; and they will ofcourse
retain and use il until its supposed necessity il
in fact obvatcd by other means that shall
peacefully secure its legitimate purposes far
better than the sword ever did or ever can
Such a substitute IN stipulated arbitration, or
a provision in treaties for the settlement Of nll
International disputes by reference TO umprcs
Now, we wish to urge this Christian measure
on the attention Of our rulers by petitions. We
can expect them TO take hold OF il in earnest
only in response IN a strong, general demand
from the people; and hence we would request
the friends Of peace through the whole country
without distinction Of sect or party, TO unite
with us in petitioning both Houses OF Congress
Permit us then, TO solicit your prompt and
jealous cooperation for this purpose. Having
no agents TO send forth on this errand, we are
obliged, ms indeed we choose 10 depend almost
entirely on your spontaneous efforts in obtain
ing the requisite number Of petitions. II you
will Just copy the subjoined form of petition
and either yourself solicit or get somebody
else 10 procure signatures 10 it in your place
IL can all be done up mt once with ease and
success There should be fpo petitions, one
for each House Of Congress, both subscribed by
every petitioner, and then forwarded-the one
for the Senate 10 Senator from your own
State, and the other TO the Representative
from your district, with n letter requesting his
prompt and special attention TO the subject II
you prefer, however, some other one, you can
send it 10 Hon. J. X. UNDERWOOD w. II. Sew
ARD, or CHARLES SUMNER, Of the Senate, or
AMOS Tuck, J. r. GIDDISos, or o. FOWLER,
either of whom would cheerfully attend to 1t
Alright.
AZ we are obliged in the cause of peace 10