Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-26


cd Shall the sword devour forever? Who can
contemplate the loss of property by war F.
The cost of the whole system in Europe alone,
in time of peace, including interest on the
whole debts, exceeds 81 900, 100000 annual
". This nation has actually paid, on ac-
count of war and Notifications, 100000
600, and this nation has actually paid out of
the treasury, for naval incorporation, more
than half that sum, besides the immense cost
of the militia.
The debts of nation are mainly war
debts. There are no assignable limits to the
accumulation. So long as war is deemed
necessary, so long will there be wars, and so
long as wars are thought to be honorable, it
will be considered to be unjust to repudiate
war debts, let the burthen be ever so oppres-
siye from age to age. Such is the command
inc influence of war, and worldwide senti-
ments created in favor of it. No debt was
considered more sacred than a war debt, and
vet 50 far from a war debt being sacred and
obligatory, it is most uniust-and it is an
imperative duty to repudiate it. No doctrine
should be more Indignantly secuted than that
one generation should lay claim to the earn
ings, and mortgage the industry of the COM
ing generation.
Nothing was more common among the
states of Europe than that the very life
blood of the people should be squeezed out
to pay the annual. interest. Reputation of
such n debt must take place before the peo-
pie can rise. The remark is common at this
time, Europe needs revolution. She needs
revolution, but reputation more, and there
never will be wholesome revolution that is
not folloyed by reputation. So far as Eng
land anu Holland are concerned, there is be-
tween 5000 and $500 to each person, to pay
which the people are bound to dig out of the
earth.
The people of those countries are misera-
bly, bounl to toll, to pay both principal and
interest. While they continue to dig they
cannot enjoy the blessings of life, and exer-
else the rights of manhood, and cannot fulfill
the purposes of human existence. In addi-
ton to the loss O. life and property by wars
he would extend his inquiry to the more i'm
portant loss in morals and religion. 1t was
enough to say, that war has corrupted the
world, that even good men are shocked by it.
The strongest argument against war is the
fact, that war has had the power to conform
the world to war
The doctrine, that war is necessary, is the
greatest libel on mankind. There was no
blood shed in Pennsylvania in its settlement.
The savages were shamed by the peaceful ap-
proach, without weapons, of the founder, and
he believed, were America to disarm herself
even to the extent of abandoning her whole
policy and practice of war, and cast herself
for protection on the worlds heart, we could
find the heart worthy to be trusted. Nations
would be ashamed to take advantage of her
being unarmed. He admitted that this ma
tion in common with others, is bound to
maintain, both by land and sea, a large force
to be welded against the enemies Of the hui
man race scattered over the face of the
earth, the pirates looking for innocent prey
but these armed forces should be Of moral
and intellectual character.
With this view, he was in favor of militia
ry and naval academies-not those which
prepare people for war, but which look to ma
tional armed police. After further elucidat-
ing this point, he said: We have been
carried along in the progress of civilization
of the world for the last forty years. Why?
Owing to comparative exemption from war,
more than all other causes together, our coun-
try has done well in the main in the cause of
peace. Now and then we have taken step
backward, as in the Mexican war. God grant
we may take no more. We should have on
one side of our standard, as John Hampden
had, "No steps backwards" and the other,
"God with u.s." Adopt this policy, and
there will be joy on earth, and JOY in Heav-
en-. Let this policy succeed, and we shall
contribute to remove that deep stream of sin
and sorrow which war has sent down through
all ages of the world.
The military bill was passed, under the
operation of the previous question; also the
bill for che payment of invalid and other pen
sions.