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"If you resolve to keep the lands in question," answered Mentor," you must suppose that your claim to them is good: if the Sibarites insist upon a restoration, they must on their part suppose their right to be incontestable. Your opinions being thus opposite, the difference must either be accommodated by an Umpire mutually chosen, or decided by force of arms;— there is no medium. If you should enter a country inhabited by people who had neither judge nor magistrate, and among whom every family assumed a right of determining their differences with a neighbouring family by violence, would you not deplore their misfortunes, and think with horror of the dreadful confusion which must arise from every man's being armed against his fellow ?-Is not justice yet more sacred and inviolable as an attribute of kings, when it has whole nations for its object, than as a private virtue in an individual, when it relates only to a ploughfield? Is he a villain and a robber who seizes only a few acres; and is he just, is he a hero, who wrests whole provinces from their possessor? If men are subject to prejudice, partiality, and error, with respect to the trifling concerns of private property, is it probable that they should be less influenced by such motives in affairs of state? Should we rely upon our own judgment where it is most likely to be biassed by passion? And should not error be most dreaded where its consequences will be most fatál?

"The mistake of a prince with respect to his own pretensions is the cause of ravage, famine and massacres of incalculable loss to the present generation, and of such depravation of manners as may extend calamity to the end of time. If he leaves his differnces to arbitration, he shows himself candid, equitable, and dispassionate; he states his reasons upon which his claim is founded; that Umpire is an amicable mediator. Though his determinations do not compel implicit obedience, yet the greatest deference should be paid to them. He does not pronounce sentence like a judge from whose authority there is no appeal; but proposes expedients, and by his advice the parties make mutual concessions for the preservation of peace."

Adventures of Telemachus, book 23.

Such was the project of the amiable Fenelon for preventing war, and such the advice which he gave to a young prince. That these sentiments are the dictates of benevolence, few will deny. To say that it is impossible for rulers to carry such a plan into effect, is to represent them as the most ignorant or most depraved of the human race. Nothing but the will not or the depravity of those in power, can, with any reason, be urged as an obstacle to the adjustment of national disputes by an Umpire. As soon, therefore, as the nations of Christendom shall be blessed with good rulers, some method of this amicable nature will be adopted to prevent the calamities of war. And so long as the appeal is made to deadly combat, it may justly be inferred that deluded or unprincipled men have the management of public affiairs.

"Should, however, any question arise, where principle and not passion is involved, there can be no objection, in a just government, to submit it to the decision of an independent tribunal.— If the object of a national claim is sincerely justice, friendly discussion and the mediation of a third power are the natural modes of promoting it. As long as these can avail, no nation that has been sufficiently enlightened to abolish the trial by judicial combat in the litigation of individuals, can offer an apology for resorting to arms in its own cause.'

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CAIN'S CLUB.

IN former ages persecution was vindicated by arguments from the Old Testament, as war is at the present day. While the spirit and practice of persecution were popular in New England, Dr. Increase Mather was an advocate for the sanguinary measBut he lived to experience a remarkable change in his views on that subject, and to bear testimony against his former opinions." He became sensible that the example of the Israelitish reformers, inflicting penalties on false worshippers, would not legitimate the like proceeding among christian gentiles.

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See the late Address of the Honorable Andrew Ritchie to the Massachusetts Peace Society, p. 13.

He saw that until persecution be utterly abolished out of the world and CAIN'S CLUB taken out of Abel's hand, it is impossible to rescue the world from endless confusions. He that has the power of the sword will always be in the right, and always assume the power of persecuting. In his latter times, therefore, he looked upon it as one of the most hopeful among the signs of the times, that people began to be ashamed of a practice which had been the mother of abominations, and he came entirely into that golden maxim-Errantis poena doceri."

Belknap's Hist. of N. H. vol. i. pp. 81—s.

Such a change of sentiment was experienced by others as well as by Dr. Mather, and the majority of our ancestors at length raised their voices against the principle of persecution; and then the horrid work of religious butchery was abolished. No valid reason, however, can now be given, why it is not as reasonable to employ the sword to settle disputes relating to religion, as those of a political nature. But in either case "Cain's Club" ill becomes the Christian.

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In relation either to war or persecution, the weapons employed may justly be represented by Cain's Club ;" but why the professed christian ruler, who employs this Club," should be called "Abel" is not so clear. The spirit of war and persecution is the spirit of Cain and not of Abel. Men of Abel's temper may have been so deluded as to imagine that they were "doing God service" in wielding "Cain's Club" for the destruction of their brethren; but this fatal “ Club " has more commonly been found in the hands of Cain. If it could be wrested from Cain, it would not be long before every Abel would say, Amen to the abolition of sanguinary customs. In the business of persecution, this Club has already become unpopular; it remains to render it so in respect to war.

When Cain's Club" is used by a private individual, and the murder of a brother ensues, the transgressor is consigned to the gallows. But when it is used by a man of rank, it is called an affair of honor." When employed with success by a nation, or a "great gang," and thousands are murdered, this is heroism, patriotism, and glory.

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In despotic governments "Cain's Club" is at the disposal of an individual, with millions at his command to wield it. In our country this Club is unfortunately in the hands of a bare majority of congress and the President. Thus by the influence of party passions, to which the weak and the wicked are most liable the people of this country are perpetually exposed to the evils of war. If a majority of one in each house of congress shall say, Let Cain's Club be put in requisition, and the President shall approve, the work of horror and vengeance immediately begins. Thousands of innocent people of another country are doomed to slaughter and misery; and by the rebounding of the Club, an equal number, perhaps, of our citizens will share a similar fate. Besides, it costs enormous sums of money to keep this Club prepared for use, and men prepared to use it; and the people throughout the land are continually taxed with "the price of blood."

What a saving will there be of property and life, when "Cain's Club" and Cain's temper shall lose their popularity? To effect this should be the aim of every man who.regards the welfare of his country, or the future happiness of his own soul; and it is one of the most hopeful signs of the times, that people begin to be ashamed of a practice which has been "the mother of abominations," and the curse of every country.

How happy it would have been for our red brethren, had "Cain's Club" never been wielded by professed Christians! Happy too would it have been for many thousands and tens of thousands of our fellow citizens.

Let it then be the care of every Christian parent to impress on the minds of his children these awful truths,-that it is the spirit of Cain which the promoters of war wish to excite,-and that it is "Cain's Club" which they put into the hands of men, when they call on them to revenge wrongs and murder their brethren. Whatever varieties there may be in the weapons of war, or however they may be polished or decorated-whenever they are employed in the work of vengeance and manslaughter, they are but the varied forms of "Cain's Club ;" and until something shall be done to render the customary and wanton use of such weapons disreputable, it will be "impossible to res

cue the world from endless confusion." For he that has the power of the sword will always be in the right," and always assume the power of making war. In every war which can be named, each party has professed to be in the right;" and the contests of nations, called Christian and civilized, have been decided, not by reason and justice, but by Cain's Club," violence, and murder. Thus millions after millions have been murdered in christendom in wars, which were as perfectly needless and unjustifiable, as Cain's murder of Abel. And may we not add, that every man who seeks to involve a nation in war is as really deserving of the name of a murderer, as the first man that slew his brother? Alas! how many Cains are to be found in every country.

COMMODORE PERRY AND CAPT. HEATH.

AN unfortunate contention between these naval officers has, in months past, excited considerable interest in the United States. Early in the dispute, while abroad, Commodore Perry violated the laws by striking a commissioned officer. On their arrival in this country, Captain Heath demanded satisfaction by a challenge to a duel. The duel was at first prevented by the civil authority of the state of Rhode Island. In consequence of this interference, Perry went to Washington, and there, at the seat of government, made an arrangement for meeting his antagonist :

"The parties," say the seconds," accordingly met, on Monday, Oct. 19th at 12 o'clock, on the Jersey shore of the Hudson-where Commodore Perry received the fire of Capt. Heath without returning it; when Com. Decatur immediately stepped forward and declared, that Com. Perry had come to the ground with a determination not to return the fire of Capt. Heath-in proof of which, he read a letter from Com. Perry to him, which he had written soliciting him to become his friend,and therefore he presumed the party was satisfied. Capt. Heath having expressed his acquiescence in this opinion, and that the injury he had received from. Com. Perry was atoned for, the parties returned to the city.

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