Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-03
INC Ounkers and the war.

The Meeting for SufferiDgs" representing the
Baltimore Yearly Meeting of Friends for the West
ern shore of Maryland and the adjoining parts of
Pennsylvania and Virginia, has issued address
setting forth the well known sentiments of that re-
lgous society in relation to war and the bearing of
arms. We subjoIu few extracts:
Our religious testimony, upon which is based our
unwiingness TO take up against the lives of
our fellow creatures, arises from disposition to
be disobedient disOyal TO those in authority,
from any fear of death or perso al sutfsring-far
from it-but from fear of offending our God
whose express commands we feel that we should
thereby break. Whilst, for fear
Of offending the Great Author of our being, we
thus cannot take up arms against our fellow crea-
lures let us be mild, meek aud patient towards any
VITO may urge Us thereto; and if they should even
abuse US, and induce personal suffering STILL in the
conscious innocence OF our hearts. and integrity of
purpose. let prayers be. Father, forgive
them, they know not what they do"
The testimony OF our religious society against
war and everything connected there with is CUevsl
with it, existence religious association, and has
been steadily maintained, all times and under all
Governments wherever the society has existed
and although. in periCGs Of excitement some of our
members have occasionally forssken our peaceable
princIp-s and engaged in military strife, such
duct has invariably been testified against by the
ciety and its authors regarded not in religious
fellowship with And we, therefore, most
0eSuy anu duCGlOIhNtly CdullOD Ill our IuemDefs,
and especially the precious young men, to ia Ike no
part whatever on either side, in the deplOrable
strife which now so unhsppily exists nor be drawn
away into q violation OF this, our ancient and i'm
portant Christian testimony, by any appearance and
preteXt, however plausible, but endeavOF TO abide
firmly and constantly, under the feeling of uHiUsrsG
love.
A question of great Importance and upon which
in all probability, diversity of opinions will exist
amongst Erie nds, will soon be presented for ouI
gNd FIxy fbo%o
may De prepared to meet it IN Christian meekness
and fOrbeAraDce one towards another. We allude
TO the taxes imposed for deiTaying the extraordl
nary expenses OF the General and State Govern
ments. According to the light in which the subject
Is viewed, will be formed the opinion Of the cOn-
sisiency inconsistency of paying the taxes with
religious principles and testimonies.
We are all united in the belief that as we are
opposed war; in all its aspects and uences
and cannot perform military services of any kind
we therefore cannot, consistently conscientious
ly, pay any fines imposed punishment for non
performance OF these services" or any thing con
nected herewith. But in regard 10 the taxes
alluded TO, some will view them as imposed for the
express purpose of war" and therefore believe
that the pay ment of them would infringe upon our
testimony gainst this horrible ba-barity.
While others will take the view, that In the pres
ent condition of civil society, government is indis
pensable for the security Of life and the preserVa
lion of property, and that, therefore all no enjoy
the benefits of gOveTnm5 should contribute to de
fray the expenses Of us administration conducted
in such way those selected for that responsible
duty shall think it right and proper to administer it
If every one were to contribute to the expense Of
those acts only which he approves the Government
could be maintained, and anarchy aud confusion
with Oh their hurtful consequences, must necsssa
rily ensue.
Iue =, ue position of friends in the civil communi
~ to be quiet peacesble citizens under whatever
government is established over them, CheerfullS
Ubeying all laws with which they can conscien
tiously comply; and as they are found to do this
greater respect will be paid to their scruples fol-
incompetence with those laws which they eanno
obey and against which the grounds of their testl
mOny can be made more obviously manifest.