The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-06-30

British Government will doubtless ac-
cept it, our Senate will readily confirm
it, and thus will be started, under the
best possible auspices, a measure likely,
if adopted in good faith, to ensure per-
petual amity between these two coun-
tries, and eventually throughout Christ
endom and the world for the vast ad-
vantages of such security against war
would be sure in time to bring all civ
ilized nations into the measure, as a
simple, yet effective league of general
and permanent peace. This whole
question now turns on the popular will
in the United States. Our Government
will propose such treaty whenever the
mass of our people shall unequivocally
demand it; and we have the best reason
to believe, that the people of England
would receive it with acclamation.
Shall we, then, lose such a golden
opportunity to- bless our country and
the whole worldi If not, we must
seize the passing moment; for it will
soon be too late to secure this provision
in the pending treaty. England and
America must start this measure and
now is the best time they have ever had,
or perhaps ever can have, to start it with
success. And it can be done, if the
people will it. Say you the people do
wish it So we think; but our rulers
do not know it, and will not act till they
do. The President himself is merely
an agent of the people, and will move
in such matter only in accordance
with their wishes; and hence, if they
really desire him to take this important
step, they ought as body to say so in
ways that shall leave no possible doubt.
The whole people should lift their voice
to him in earnest, simultaneous entreaty
for this great measure of peace. 1t is
an object clearly common to them all !;
a movement that knows no North or
South, no East or West question on
which no issues of party, sect or section,
can possibly be made. The whole coun-
try need it alike !; and we should take
means to satisfy our rulers, that the
people as a body desire it, and will ap-
plaud the men who shall secure it for
them.
Hence we propose, l. To get up
petitions for it to the President from all
parts Of the land, large State Memo
rial from every State in the Union -
2. TO enlist our leading presses in zeal
Gus advocacy of this movement ;-3. To
scatter broadcast over the country our
society's publications, particularly on
this and some kindred topics a. To
take such steps as may be necessary, in
conjunction with our English friends, to
secure the concurrence of their govern
ment in carrying this important measure
into effect We shall be obliged not
only to use the press extensively, but to
send forth number of well-qualifed
agents, and to ask the spontaneous, en-
ergetic cooperation Of our friends
throughout the land.
For this movement, we expect to need
some $4,000; and, if successful, it
will be worth in its results ten thousand
times this amount For a similar move
ment, our co-workers in England have
just raised $50,0 900; and will not the
friends of God and man in America con-
tribute one-ffth as much for an object
SO immensely important' Can they in
any other way give their hundreds, or
even their thousands, to better purpose
The full success of this measure will,
We verify believe, draw after it, in the
long train of coming ages, results more
important to the temporal and spiritual
interests of our country, of Christendom
and the world, than the whole amount
Of good that has yet been accomplished
by all the united enterprise of Christian
benevolence and reform during the last
fifty years.