The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-11-29
PEACE.

but u 10 only faint echo from defiant land, !
The number Of the dead aud, wounded are
officially reported the names Of some Of the
most distinguished officers are recorded, and
the effect o. tho struggle on the eoniending
parties, 10 exhibited in the change Of govern
ment or Ia the different policy which prevails
in their public measures But 10 realize all
the horrible and heart rending evils attendant
on the savage custom Of war, we must see Il
Ia our midst Should two contending armies
make Vermont the theatre of war, a multi
tudo Of our own citsens be ranged on either
eide should we see the country Allied with
foragng parties, scizng and approprlatipq
ptfr- ..,asEiy iar- the puhllc AerXcc anl olen'
lfuIEIos5iy burning our bufiidTuE- au'i 'ir-trcy
ing our homes should We hear the sound Of
battle, the distant booming Of the cannon or
should wo draw nearer and see the smoke Of
the connct-thc blood flowing ipm a thou
sand wounds, the anguish depicted in the aces
of the sounded aud dying aud hear the
groans, the cries Of agony, mingling with the
savage shouts of triumph aud should we rec
ognize among tbs mangled bodies Of the dead
and dying our own ncighbors aud lriendsour
brothers aud sonsi or should our own sweet
homes and cheerful Grusdea be invaded, Rnd
our wives, our sisters, our daughters Subject
ed 10 the brutal insults Of foreign soldiers,
while we were powerlosS 20 render any assis-
lance ia answer 10 their cries Of distress, or
to revenge their injuries; in short should We
SEQ the whoiv structure OF society Ia our State
dissolved, our civil institutions overthrow,
the nooC gates Of vice aud crime thrown open,
aud every species ofguilt and wickedncss tri-
umphing and gloaiing in unrcslraincd indul-
genee-'we might then form some correct con-
cepGon OF the hidedus and terrible realities
ofTar Still it'Tould he impossible for us
To count up all the aggregate OWLS. How
great the grief aud sorrow experienced by one
family from which father, a son, a brother,
has been torn by the ruthless hand Of war
How many cherished hopes have been blast
ed-how many brightAnd nattcring plans for
future enjoyment have been Frustrated -how
many ties Of warm aud tender affection have
been severed and when We count up the
thousands Who PCFtsii. IN evCry war, HuJi the
thousands of families who are thus plunged
into the deepest distress, where can we limit
iho baloinl miscries OF war But over
whclming AS is the physical and social suffer-
ings produced by this barbarous practice, the
shock which it gives to public morals brings
on a train of evils which in their results are
sill more dcpiorabic aud destructive to the
social fabric.
Because war has Of late years only been
heard at a distance, are we sure that the A.
bove picture may not yet be realised in our
own StateY The recent contest with Mexico
and the still later movements with regard 10
Cuba, show US that the war spirit Is still
rife in our land, and the occasion only is
wanting to call il into active exercise There
is little doubt, If an effort should be made %
revolutionhze Canada or to forcibly annex il
To thellRion.but that multitudes Of our young
men would rush to the conflict, aud Join one
or the other Of the contending parties. There
is fascination in the cockade, the uniform.
the concourso Of military officers and soldiers
In the days Of military trainings and musters,
what cnchantmcnt did these scenes possess
for our youth, and even for those of matiircr
years. The same public sentiment which made
those occasions so attractive, would operate, I
together with vivid impression that one or
the other of the eontending parties is deeply
wrongcd, TO call into the conflict multitudcs
who are now intent only on the pursuits of
peace. This shows the great Importance that
public Sentimunt should be corrected, and at
tcntion turned TO some more rational and huI
name method of tettling national controversial
--soaAe method more in accordance with the J
spirit Of the age. II is with this view that
the friends peace have PROPOSED TINT peti- !
tons should be circulated in every toyn, and
sent TO the member of the House of Repre-
sentatives in whose district the Town is stu
ated.
Below is copy of the form Of petition pro-
posed by the Sect. of the Am Rcace Society. |
If some benevolent individual in each town
will circulate this ora similar petition for sig |
natures and then forward the same by mail |
to the Hon. Thos Bartlett, jr., or TO The Hon
VIM. Upham, or Hon. Solomon Foot, Senators
he will have the satisfaction of aiding cause
which is designed to do much for the welfare
and Happiness of all communities.
FRANKLIN.
To he Honorable Senate and House of Rep.
reSentdtiues Of he Unted States.
The undersigned, citizens of in
the State of deploring the great
and manifold evils Of war, and believing il
possible to supersede its alleged necessity, as
an Arbiter of Justice among Nations, by the
timely adoption OF wise aud feasible snbsti-
tutes, respectfully petition your Honorable
Bodies to take such action as you may deem
best for this most desirable end. by securing
IN our treaties with other nations, n, pnoyis-
on for referring to the decision OF umpircs :
Nj misunderstanding that cannot be satisfac-
orily adjusted by amicable negotiation"
81 The canvass for Governor in Virginia {
$ becoming interesting and animated MIR :
summers, the Whig candidate, is admitted on q
m hands to he the ahlpet man Ia tho C,a,a !