Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-10-17
The London Peace Congress-.

The London Peace Congress.
We copy the following interesting letter of
our learned town'man, Prof THOMPSON, from
the JermJm CiuOnicie:-
BuRLINGToN, Aug. &c, 1851
REV. II. A. MEnRiLL-Deai Slr,-llaving
be N admitted TO Il seat in the recent Peace
Congress in London as Il Delegate from the
fri .nds Of univcrsa! Peace in Vermont, it may,
perhaps, be expected that shall furnish to the
Peace Committee, Of winch you are Chairman.
some account of the doings OF that Congress.
But since a much more full report OF Its pro-
ceedngs than can give, has already been pub
lishpd under the direction Ut the able and ei-
ciont Secretaries Of the Congress, think de-
t,lied account OF the doings OF the meeting
now to be unnecessary. | may, however, be
D permitted to oilcr few general remarks res
pactn q the Congress, Its dolngs, and the spirit
OF pcaca and brotherhood by which tley were
characterized.
The Peace Congress assembled in Exeter
Hall, on Tuesday, the 22d Of July, and contu-
uel its session through that and the two follow
ing days : and on the evening Of Friday. tie
25th, the British delegates gave .Souce for
the spcclal reception OF the delegates from
abroad.
In the morning Of the 22d, reached Exeter
Hall at about half past ten, and found large
number OF the delegates and spectators already
there and at |, the time Of opening the Con-
gress, the immense hall, which will seat 1000
persons, was entirely filled, even to overflow
ing, NJ to the close of the session on the 2ith.
AT II o'clock. the asscmblagc was called to
order by Mr.. Richards. the British Secretary
and Sir David Brewster was unanimously cleo
ted President OF the Congress. He took the
chair in the midst Of the applause of the audi
once and proceeded 10 deliver an inaugural ad
dress, which ubounded in sound and noble SEN
timants, expressed in the chaste and beautiful
STYLE which is characteristic of all his writings
Before further proceedings, a short pause was
very properly devoted to silent prayer for the
Divine blessing upon their labors, after which
the business OF the Congress was commenced
by the reading of sundry communications from
distinguished individuals, expressive of their
firm adherence to the cause of universal peace
and brotherhood, and of their deep regret that
circumstances would not permit them t. be
present at the meeting, Among these were the
Archbishop of Dublin, Thomas Carly le, ,~Blron
humboldt. Lcbg the Chemist, Victor Hugo,
and many Others IN France, Belgium, and Ger,
many who have held, or still hold, important
Offices in their respective governments.
After III reading of several letters, the dis
cussion of resolutions WAS commenced, and
constituted nearly the entire business Of the
Congress during the three days il continued in
session. The resolutions discussed were sew.
en- or eight in number, and embraced the fol-
lowing subjects and principles -
The Importance of the pulpit, the school and
the press in promoting and diiiusing peace prin-
cpes.
The settlement of national difficulties and
disputes by arbitration.
The mutual and general reduction OF nation
al arnaments.
The evils and immortality Of loans for carry
ing on wars.
The non>interference of one nation in the
internal affairs of another.
The wrongs perpetrated by civilized nations
upon uncivlllzed tribes.
The formation Of an authoritative code of III
teruatonal law.
These subjects were taken up very nearly in
the order in which they are here arranged -
wee very fully and ably discussed and the
resolutions embracing them were all passed by
a unanimous ,and hearty response. In these
discussions, delegates from France Spain, BEL
GUM, Germany, and even belgerant Austria
participated as well as those from the United
States and Great Britain and nearly all the
speeches evinced talents OF a high order and
hearty zeal in the peace cause The greater
number of speeches was made by British dele
gates, bnt while many of them were eloquent
aud strong in argument, the speeches OF none
of them pleased me more than those Of the Rev
J. A. James, and Mr.. Richard Cobdcn, mem
Der Of Parliament. Only two Americans ad-
dressed the Congress. These were the Rev.
q. G., Beckwith and Mr.. Il. Burrltt and their
speeches were highly creditable and elected
general applause. Some eight or ten of the
continental European delegates addressed the
meeting, some n French and some in broken
English. Among these may be mentioned the
names of DR.. kreutznach of GERMANY, Dr.
Scherner of Austria, Don Mariana of Spain,
aud NJ. Grnler, GerardIn and Cocquerel, o;
Paris.
While listening to these several speeches,
in winch the evils and wlckedness and horrors
of war were SO vIyldy portrayed-in which
were get forth tie exposure of the sodory to
cold and hunger and disease and death, either
by sickness or mortal conflict, together with
the mlscrcS inflicted upon wives and children
and relatives, or enalled upon themselves in
case their shattered carcasscs survived the pc-
rod of their enlistment speeches in which
were exhibited the great losses which the conf
monweath sustains by the withdrawal of so
many able bodied men from productive indus
try to serve on the tented field and be fed by
the llbors of othcrs-ln which were shown m
revolving colors the degrading and demoralz-
ing nilueuccS oi the blrrack system,-of camp.