american-advocate-for-peace-183427886775.pdf

7/27/2019 american-advocate-for-peace-183427886775.pdf

1/8

World Affairs Institute

REPORT OF THE CONNECTICUT PEACE SOCIETYAuthor(s): T. H. GallaudetSource: American Advocate of Peace (1834-1836), Vol. 1, No. 2 (SEPTEMBER, 1834), pp. 89-95

Published by: World Affairs InstituteStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27886775 .

Accessed: 04/10/2013 02:16

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of

content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms

of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

World Affairs Institute andHeldref Publications are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend

access toAmerican Advocate of Peace (1834-1836).

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 209.6.206.232 on Fri, 4 Oct 2013 02:16:08 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=waihttp://www.jstor.org/stable/27886775?origin=JSTOR-pdfhttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/stable/27886775?origin=JSTOR-pdfhttp://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=wai


2/8

1834] Report o/ the onnecticuteace Society. 89

Article IV.REPORT OF THE CONNECTICUT PEACE SOCIETY *There isno doubt that the direct supportersof the princi

ples of Peace, and of organized Peace Societies, are increasingthroughout all civilized countries. Let any one examine thesuccessive numbers of "The Herald of Peace," published inLondon, and of "The Calumet," published in this country, andalso the last Annual Reports, of the English and American" Societies forthepromotion ofpermanent and universal Peace,"and itwill be seen that the progress of this cause, though gradual, is sure. It is securing a constant accession of those whowill continue tobe its irm friends,and whose influencewill beof the most lasting and productive kind ; and it is diffusingsuch an increasing knowledge of the evils ofwar among thosewho are still itsadvocates in some one of itsmodified and palhated forms, nd of theguilt ofwar,?guilt always attachedto one or the other, or both, of the parties,?that the spirit ofpeace breathes more purely and freely,through all ranks andconditions ofmen, and the whole moral atmosphere of Christendom, partakes of this life-givingpower.A year ago, therewere twenty-eight auxiliary Peace Societies in England, the list of subscribers towhich, and to theParent Society, with theirrespectivedonations, shews that thefriendsofPeace in that country ought tobe encouraged in theirlabours.

As appears from the last Annual Report of the LondonPeace Society, they adoptmost cordially the plan proposed bythe fri?ndsof the cause in this country, to endeavour to bringabout the establishment of some tribunal towhich national dis*We have omitted a paragraph or two of thisReport, respecting theAdvo?

cate, and the distribution of tracts. The entire Report will be printed by thaSociety, inanother form, Ed.

http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsphttp://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp


3/8

90 Report of theConnecticut Peace Society. [Sept*p?tes may be referred nd finally adjusted, without an appealto arms."The Society of Christian Morals" in France, has, fortwelve years past, been a genuine Peace Society. It corresponds with those ofLondon, Geneva, and America,* and reckons within its ranks some of themost influentialmen of itscountry, connected with thegovernment and engaged in theadministration of its affairs. Here is another germ of publicopinion on the same subject.In Switzerland, the same plan is ripening under the auspices of theGeneva Peace Society, with the philanthropic andindefatigable Count de Sellon at itshead. Indeed he has attempted the actual application of it to the affairs of his owncountry. In consequence of some political disturbances amongthe cantons, he addressed theFederal Directory, and the Supreme Diet, proposing that they should summon a mediatorialconference, to restorepeace to the confederation. It is stated intheLondon Herald of Peace, forOctober, November, and December, 1833, that these efforts f the Count de Sellon, weresuccessful. "The Helvetic Federal Directory addressed to allthe diplomatic agents of the Swiss Confederation at foreigncourts,a circular,dated Zurich, September 18th, 1833, inwhichitgave a succinct view of the public afiak? of Switzerland,and stated that a solid peace was restored throughout Switzerland, and that the legal relations between the cantons and thzConfederation, and also between the several cantons, with regard to each other,had been established." "Blessed are thepeace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God."If a single individual, through his personal influence,and thatof a Peace Society, ofwhich he is theFounder and Head, canthus allay the conflictingpassions of his own countrymen, andprevent a civil war among the confederated cantons of theSwiss republic,what may not the friends of peace yet hope toaccomplish, by their united strength, throughout thewholeworld? Let this

exampleboth guide and animate them iui?eir efforts,



4/8

1834] Report of theConnecticuteace Society. &tWe rejoice to see that the subject of a supreme tribunal, towhich national disputes may be referred, is still kept so dis

tinctly inview by ourAmerican Peace Society, and that thevery generous sum of one thousand dollars is offered s a premium forthe bestwritten essay to shew the importance andpracticability of such a project. This, as we urged in our lastReport, is, in our estimation, the great practical object atwhich Peace Societies should aim, and thus, in the shortestwaypossible, redeem their cause from the too frequent imputationwhich ismade against it,that itstheoreticalviews are excellent,but that itsoperations do not reach and affect the actual business and concerns ofmen. We must beg leave on this subject^to repeat the language of our last Report, because the sentiments which itexpresses cannot be too frequently addressed toour countrymen or urged upon their acceptance and cordialsupport." Suppose the entire population of these United States wereagreed in the opinion, thatwar has been thegreatest scourge ofman ; thatuniversal peace would best promote the welfare^both of individual nations, and of the whole human race ;that nothing but a strictly efensivewar is justifiable ; and this,not till all possiblemeans of reconciliation, and the adjustmentof difficultieshave been tried ; that it is better often to sufferwrong, thanhastily to resort toarms ; and that thegovernmentsof Christendom should do all in their power to cherish suchprinciples in their intercoursewith each other, and topromotetheir diffusionand observance throughout theworld.

Suppose that respectful petitions, embodying these sentiments, should be presented to our National Legislature fromall sections of the country ; suppose these petitions should request our General Government, through the medium of theExecutive, and theMinisters toforeign powers, tomakesuch sentiments-known to all the governments with whichours has intercourse.

Suppose these topics should come up for deliberation anddiscussion in the prosecution of this intercourse, just as theproposition tomake the slave trade piracy has ? Then let



5/8

92 Report of theConnecticut eace Society. [Sept*plans be discussed, and measures proposed, bywhich an impartial arbitration could be provided to settle international disputes ; and, at least, this principle be adopted in our treatieswith foreign powers, that no appeal should, in any case, bemade to arms, until all effort oprocure such an impartial arbitration had failed.

Would not thevoice of thisgreat, growing, free, and prosperous nation, thus speaking to the world in the language offraternal affection, nd of a magnanimous policy, be listened toand felt? Who can doubt it? Let the experiment bemade.It is safe. It is practicable. It is easy. Until it ismade, letnot Peace Societies be reproached as having indeed a praiseworthy object in view, but presenting no plans for its accomplishment which can be carried out intopractical , esults."Will it be said that this plan of a supreme tribunal towhich national disputes may be referred, s visionary, and itsaccomplishment hopeless ? Why so ? Have not as greatchanges as this plan proposes, already taken place in thepolicy and intercourse of nations ? Have not arbitrations, inmany instances, been resorted to,and prevented the evils ofa war ? Do not our own country and Great Britain furnish anexample of this ? Do not all assemblages ofmen who settlethe termsof a general peace after the appeal has been madeto arms, furnish an example of this 1 And what reason canbe given, why such assemblages ofmen fromdifferentcountries,might not convene, and such adjustments be made, before, as well as after, this appeal to arms ?The features of such a supreme tribunal are to be found intheAmphictyonic Council ofGreece ; in the iet of the oldGerman empire ; in an existing similar Germanic confederation, inwhich between thirty nd fortymonarchical states andfree cities are represented in a diet. They are to be found inthe combined cantons of Switzerland, which'maintained theirconfederacy five hundred years, and, although differing n language and religion,preserved peace among themselves ; in theUnited Provinces ofHolland, which provided for the adjustment of disputes by a Congress that lasted twohundred years ;



6/8

1834] Report ofthe onnecticuteace Society. 93andin theCongress of theseUnited States, itself, orcertainpurposes, a supreme tribunal to adjust, in theway of conciliation and compromise, the conflicting interests of twenty-fourdistinct political bodies, claiming, in several important respects,to be sovereign States, and independent of each other.With such precedents and examples to e&courage the exertions of the friendsof peace, let them go forward in theprosecution of thisproject, arduous as itmay seem. Will not thatGod who condescended to call the peace-makers his own children, and who is wonderful in working, prepare the waybefore them by the openings of his Providence, and let it beseen that faith and prayer can put forth efforts and produceresults, the anticipations ofwhich mere worldly wisdom-mayregard with incredulityor disdain ?We would urge it, then,with respectful earnestness, uponthe American Peace Society, to follow up the exertionswhichhave already been begun, to procure petitions to theCongressof theUnited States, of such a nature as to induce theNational Government to instruct ourforeign ministers, thattheymay make itmatter ofdistinct conference and n?gociation with thegovernments which they visit, to see if theyand we cannot unite in some project for the adjustment ofint. r ational disputes by a competent tribunal, without anappeal to arms.Let such a discussion commence among intelligent statesmenwhose respectivegovernments are sustaining a friendly intercourse with each other; and, learningmore and more distinctly,during every stage of this intercourse, that peace is the truepolicy of nations ; and finding out, by an accumulating massof experience, that theunrestricted commercial interchange ofeach others' commodities, the result of this state ofpeace, is thetrue source of national wealth and prosperity ; and thus,having themeans and the leisure forcultivating the arts ofpeace,and shedding new aspects of refinement and intellectual enjoyment over the face of society ; and, above all,?as we fervently praymay be the case,?discerning the signs of the times,and perceiving that the spirit an'd precepts of the gospel, the12



7/8

94 Report ofthe onnecticuteace Society. [Sept.harbinger ofuniversal peace on earth and good will tomen7afford the best security forman's temporal as well as eternalwell-being :?let thisdiscussion but commence under such propitious circumstances ;?and may we not indulge thehope thatthey are already ripening formaturity ? and why should webe faithlesswith regard to the result? One stepwill lead toanother. For when men begin to feel right, and wish toactright, and are trying tofind out theway, Providence will openthat way before them, and %emove from it all the obstacleswhich might impede their course.

Already, we are assured, thisproject of a supreme tribunal toadjust international disputes, has received the sanction of fourPresidents, twenty-nine Senators, thirty-four epresentatives,and thirty-nineGenerals of theUnited States, besides others injudicial stations, and ofhigh respectability.Let intelligent and accomplished agents traverse thewholecountry, and state thisproject fully to the citizens, and solicittheir signatures topetitions. Such a course is indispensable forsuccess. This is the simple, the practical course. All willthen see that Peace Societies can do something and are doingsomething. Let us begin. Let us reach our own governmentin the way proposed. Let our own government move, andChristendom will move. Remote fromEuropean politics andperplexities, at peace with the world, and shewing in all ourintercoursewith other nations, thatwe desire topreserve withthem the most friendly relations, isnot thisnation strikinglymarked out and called upon, by the Providence ofGod, tobethe instrument in his hands, of these signal blessings to thefamily ofman ? Who, among our Christian statesmen, highin station and in influence,will discern these signs of the times,and move, and act, and secure forhimself and his countryaglory, beforewhich that falsely so called,??he splendor ofmilitary renown, of conquest, of national aggrandizement, of unhallowed ambition in any of itsforms,?would fade away intospeedy and utter forgetfulness

The Society's means fordoing the work of the Prince ofPeace, are yet limited,and its efficientsupporterscomparatively



8/8

1834] Cox on Quakerism. 95few in number ; but such has been the incipient condition ofnearly all great benevolent enterprises. Its friendswill not bediscouraged. They will look toGod forwisdom and strength,and to the announcements of his own prophecies, and thepromises of thegospel of his Son, foran unshaken confidence thattheir labors shall not be in vain in theLord.

By order of theDirectors.T. H. Gallaudet, Sec'y.Hartford, June 16th, 1834

Article V.CRITICAL NOTICES.

BY THE EDITOR.

i??Quakerism notChristianity orReasons for Renouncing theDoctrine of the riends. In three arts. By SamuelHanson Cox, D. D. Pastor of theLaight-streetPresbyterianChurch ; and for twenty ears aMember of theSociety ofFriends. New York : 1833. pp. 686.This is every way a most remarkable book. It is remarkablefor itssize, (consideringthe subject,) for itsdedication,for itsstyle,for itsmethod and logic,and forthe spiritwhich its language seemsto breathe. As to its ize :?-it is book of six hundred and eightysix octavo pages. As to its dedication :?it is inscribed to twenty

five, or,?if we reckon one who, it appears by a note, would havebeen included in the list, fhe had happened tohave been alive,?to twenty-six clergymen, to each of whose names is appended aD. D., and tomany of them an S. T. P., or an LL. D., or both, inaddition ;?to whom also is addressed a dedicatory " IntroductionMiscellaneous," of two hundred and fifty-ninepages ! As to itsstyle :?it would be exceedingly difficult,onsistentwith our space,to characterize itfully ndprecisely. It is entirelyunique ; a truenotionof it an be formedonly by thosewho have heard theauthorpreach in his most exalted moods, or have read his inimitable" Journalof a Visit toEurope," or finally,have attempted toreadthis book. It isundeniablya specimen of the" curiosa," togo no farther. To speak in general of themethod and logic ofthiswork, and of the spiritwhich its language seems tobreathe,would carry us too far. In regard to the latter point, we shallonly say thatwhile thepassages produced by thereviewer of this

This content downloaded from 209.6.206.232 on Fri, 4 Oct 2013 02:16:08 AM
http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

american-advocate-for-peace-183427886775.pdf

Documents