Year: 1861

NO friend OF peace can look without anX
iety upon the alarming aspect of the times
On every side are seen, both at home and
abroad, omens of a gathering storm whose
fury may, ere long, sweep and shake the
world. Seldom has there been crisis so
eventful, and the passing hour may strike
the keynote of long ages to come. Impress
ed with such views, the Committee of the
Peace Society regard the threatening indi-
cations Of war in Europe the coming spring,
and the existing difficulties in our own land
pressing to the same disastrous result, as
loud and imperative call upon the friends of
peace for increased energy and activity in
disseminating those gospel principles which
not only demonstrates the crime and folly
of war, but also suggest wiser and more
satisfactory solution of all national misun-
derstandings by Christian means.


Such a solution we believe to be possible;
and it is chiefly for this reason that the
Peace Society, embracing men of every
creed in religion and politics, would lift its
humble voice to dissuade the parties from
all thought of attempting in any event a
settlement of their controversies by an ap-
peal to the sword, as mutually suicidal. -
Of what possible avail could such an ap,
pSoi pC W ouio II d ouS VI
the points now in dispute any nearer to
satisfactory solution? Would it change at
all the convictions or preferences of either
party? Would not the North still cling to
Freedom, and the South to Slavory, just as
resolutely as ever. Is it possible for the
sword ever tc settle such controversy p
Never. Unkennel the dogs of war all over
the land, kindle the fires of battle on every
hill and in every valley; let our lakes, our
rivers, and our vast sea coast be crimsoned
with fraternal blood; and would not the
parties still be obliged, as their last resort,
to sheathe the sword, and betake them.
selves to the very same methods of peace
full adjustment that we now urge them to
adopt at the start?


We say this in no spirit of either dictation
or partiality. As friends of peace, we plead
merely for bloodlcss issue of the contro-
verSy. 1t is not ours to decide OIL what
terms it ought to be settled; we only ask
that it may, in any event, be brought in
some way to conclusion by peaceful, legal,
rational means. Have We not such means
already at hand? Does not our general
government, by its Constitution and its
laws, contain provisions designed and adap-
ted to meet such cases as this Here is the
proper remedy and We're there disposition
on both sides to use such provisions Alright,
we see not what occasion there ~ould ever
be for war among ourselves on this or any
other issue.


In this pleading for peace, we are far from
abetting rebellion in any form. Under
government like ours, all the work of our
own hands, and always under our control
through the ballot box, what shadow of cx-
cuse can there ever be for violent resistance
of its authority? True, it may occasionally
bear, or seem to bear, hard upon our inter
ests; but the remedy is still in our own
hands, and pretty sure in time to redress
our grievances. Wemay have to wait; but
SO we must in any case. In this way we
certainly can obtain redress far better than
we could by rebllion. Our government is
designed to secure the rights Of all, and if
any are dissa isfed, their only proper
course is to wait until the expedients, pre-
vided in our Constitution and laws, can be
duly applied to the case


The enforcement of the law is the RENE
dy in which all parties are hound to acqui-
esce but even if they refuse, the way would
still be open for a peaceful solution In no
event can there be any need whatever of
of fraternal blood. Ii our laws
are wrong or inadequate, change or repeal
them. Ii dissatisfied with the Constitution
itself, take the steps prescribed for its |
amendment What excuse can there be |
for war in any issue of our pending difficult
ties? We already have in our government
the best possible provisions for peacefully |
righting all the wrongs. Let the parties wait
to try these experiments in good faith
Should the worst come, there would still be
no need of civil war, that concentration and
climax Of all social evils. Tho way, after
Ill, would be open for peaceful solution.


II the parties cannot, or will not, remain
united under our present or any other com.
mon government; if there is confessedly
such an inevitable conflict of principles, in
and interests in different sections,
rs to forbid the hope Of ever living together
n harmony; if on the slave issue neither
party will yield its settled convictions or
preferences; il the South is irrevocably bent
IN demanding what the North is equally re.
'ol7ed not to grant, the adoption Of slavery
IS national institution, to be nursed and
guarded, extended and perpetuated in every
part Of the country, through all coming


lime; then let US, in a peaceful, orderly way,
AXE the steps requisite for such a change