Gov. Slade On War
In hia last messnge to the Legislatura of Vernont, the Gov. says: "War is the greatest ol all the calamities thut ever iifil cted the human race; and yet the world, afier having been involved in ïts crimes; nnd feit the ternfijsweep of iis desolntions, for near six cen:uries, 6eeinsbut jusl awaking from the áelusion ihat it ia necessary, and consistent wilh the 6pirit and principies of a religión whose al pervading element is love. Our own country, more perhapr, than almosi iny oiher, needs this awakening infi'uence. The rreedom happüy enjoyed by our people, seems to jngender the restless spirit favorable to n war, while il receivesaddiiional impulse from the pop alar appeaU incident to our system of free suffrage, - appeals made, often, by men 7ho love distinction nnd excitemeni more than their couniry. while their appen'.s acts on minds in no con dition, frorn the associoiiou ol members and oth causes, to feel their true individual responaibility for the crimes and consequencea of war. The maxim - '.;In peace prepare for war," is moreover a B'.amüng exoiiement to va; - performing the doublé office of provoking oggresÃion, and promptinginconsiderate andrnsh resist anco to it. Tne state of sociery in the Sou'hern and South Western portions of our Union ia nn illustration, n private iüe, of the practical results ol this maxi ra - so apparenily just, and ye: so reajiy queationable. Thcre is, howcver, o prepsration fcr war which does not invite it. It Is tlio preparation of iniplc, open-hearted. uniform fairnea' anc justice. - the exhibition of a stronger eolicitndc 10 do right, than to exact it from nthers; ;md u sensibility, wliich habituully feels ihat the ciain ofdiuhonor ie inflicted, not by suffering wrong but by doing it. The nulion who shall cultÃvate :h8 spirit- who slull inirly ynin the reputation of The Just, will pos3ess a dofence, in an age ruled, as this is beginning (o be, by cnlighieneJ pubüc seruirnent, more 6ure and' eñVciive tlian ihe power of fortificatiuns, and armie, anJ nnvit8, combined, can give. But whilo ihe spirit of peace and a pcrupulous regnrd to justice, wil!, by their 8!ent infiueitce. check, if they do uot cntirely 6ubduo.. iho spint of aggression, they will not, neceïsarily, prevent ihe occurrence of intentional diflcrences,nor, in the present, if inany 'muro state of the world Ãupersede tbe i;e:e?sity of srome formal provisioi for their adjustinent. Tliis noces3ity suggnsts b reeort to the principio of Aibitration. and the inirotlucilon into ireities betwecn imions, o siipulations to that effect. "
Article
Subjects
Speeches & Addresses
Vermont
Anti-War
Old News
Signal of Liberty
William Slade