which exists that war, in all its branches, is ever accompanied with delusion and gross moral blindness, would it not be wonderful that Christians should have so long and so uniformly censured the conduct of Bucaneers, Algerines, and unauthorized pirates, without reflecting on their own customs, and becoming convinced that all the maritime powers of Christendom are truly chargeable with just such acts of rapine, violence, and injustice, as they condemn in others? To every ruler who censures the Bucaneers and still practises or authorizes privateering, or depredation on the property of the innocent, with what force does the following language apply! "Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?" And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them that do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God ?"

In the foregoing comparisons it has not been our aim to insinuate, that there have been no better men in the warring nations of Christendom than among the Bucaneers. The contrary we readily admit. Still we are deeply impressed with a belief, that even good men in general have been grossly deluded by the influence of custom respecting the character of public war and those acts of rapine and injustice which are its never failing concomitants;—that they have also been mistaken in supposing that rulers have a right to make war on innocent subjects for the alleged offences of their rulers, and to sacrifice thousands of their own people in projects of ambition or revenge. We are also fully convinced that, during the last thousand years, in by far the greater number of conflicts between Christian nations, and between them and other people, the principal agents in producing and conducting these wars, have been men of no better dispositions or principles than the Bucaneers, and that they really deserve no higher standing in public estimation.

"I admit," said an Indian Chief, "that there are good white men, but they bear no proportion to the bad; the bad must Vol. II. No. 6

4

be the strongest, for they rule."

There has been too much

ground for applying this remark to Christian nations in general, and in this way we may account for their innumerable

wars.

ATROCITIES ALLOWED IN WAR.

From Mr. Fuller's speech in Congress on the Seminole war.

Many barbarous practices are still allowed in war, which are not conducive to effect its objects, and are, therefore, mere abuses of military power. A garrison taken by assault may be put to the sword; a city taken by storm may be pillaged, and the inhabitants consigned to the fury of an unbridled soldiery. Nothing can be more abominable in the sight of God and man-nothing more completely wanton and unnecessary. It is not yet settled that a commander of a fortress, who bravely defends it to the last extremity, may not be put to death by his conquerors, for his cour. age and fidelity.

"The execution of spies is universally admitted in the code of civiliz. ed war. The case of Andrè is in point; none have ventured to censure his execution, who have admitted that he was a spy. Our great and humane Commander gave him over to execution, no doubt, with great reluc tance, in consideration of his uncommonly interesting character: but he seemed to consider the sacrifice of the victim as necessary for the preservation of the army. I must be permitted to say, Mr. Chairman, that I deeply regret the execution of Andrè. If he had been an ordinary man, I should still have regretted it. The preservation of any army cannot in any degree depend on the punishment of spies; for the danger of this fate will never deter officers and soldiers, and even those of the most established courage and honor, from engaging in this service. It is not considered immoral or dishonorable, and, therefore, the extreme danger incurred increases the merit, and the honor, and the reward of success. Hence, it is demonstrable that, to treat captured spies like ordinary prisoners of war, would not increase their number, nor the danger of any army from their enterprises.-Let us then examine, without fear, any existing practice which militates against the rights of humanity, and, when. ever it shall be found substantially unnecessary, let us boldly explode it, and not doubt that our example will be approved and adopted by other nations."

It is gratifying to find members of Congress possessing so much independence, reflection, and magnanimity, as to call in question the principles and usages of war. The "many

* Historical Account of the Indian Nations, p. 64.

barbarous practices" which" are still allowed in war" among professed Christians are a reproach to our species. Those which were named by Mr. Fuller are truly barbarous, and the list might have been greatly enlarged. Indeed it is difficult to mention any branch or usage of war, which is not barbarous. There are some noble and generous actions occasionally performed by men engaged in war. But, generally speaking, war is barbarous in its origin, and in its progress -in its motives, its principles, its usages, and its results. It is made and conducted, even by professed Christians, on the principles of barbarity but little modified, and not on the principles either of religion, civilization, or humanity. In its least barbarous forms it calls on men to engage in mortal combat, who have no cause to be offended with each other; and it sacrifices the innocent for crimes, or pretended crimes, of which they were not the agents. Such a custom must be barbarity in its very essence.

The last sentence which we have quoted from Mr. Fuller's speech is truly admirable: Let us then examine, without fear, any existing practice which militates against the rights of humanity, and whenever it shall be found substantially unnecessary, let us boldly explode it, and not doubt that our example will be approved and adopted by other nations."

This philanthropic gentleman has opened a spacious field for inquiry, which perhaps we shall in future Numbers more fully explore. In this place we would call the attention of our fellow citizens to one “practice” only, in addition to those mentioned by Mr. Fuller :

Does not the "existing practice" of privateering and maritime depredation on unarmed vessels in time of war, not only" militate against the rights of humanity," but against the claims of justice and the laws of Heaven? And is not this practice" substantially unnecessary," a wanton, as well as unjust invasion of the rights of the innocent? If so, "let us boldly explode it, and not doubt that our example will be approved and adopted by other nations."

LETTER FROM THE HON. ELIAS BOUDINOT.

Reverend and Dear Sir,

Burlington, July 21, 1819.

I CAN scarcely find language to acknowledge in a suitable manner your very polite and flattering letter of the 25th ultimo.

The elegant manner in which you communicate the undeserved attention of your respectable Society, and the unexpected honor they have done me, by appointing me an honorary member, fills me with gratitude and respect.

I should have immediately answered your letter, but my very infirm state of body and mind prevents me from doing what would be both duty and pleasure, as I could wish.

My great age and weakness leave me but little hope of aiding the Society, but by the most cordial and hearty approbation of their labours of love to the great family of mankind. So long a confinement as I have suffered has prevented my taking a part in this all-important union of Americans for the real happiness of the world. I acknowledge it a most delicate as well as invaluable subject, which at the first blush appears big with insuperable difficulties sufficient to appal the stoutest heart; though unhappily they arise from the abominable and inhuman practices of those who call themselve the children of one universal Parent, the constant expectants of death and judgment.—Indeed it is a most melancholy consideration, that even the civilized, and I may almost justly say the christianized world from the beginning, should have adopted and still continue to adopt the military life as an object of eager desire, and do not shrink back from educating the rising generation in the love of war and strife, and cease not to instil into the youthful mind, that it is highly honorable to shed a brother's blood. It is with pain that we see at the present moment whole communities, nay, even respectable cities, who, disregarding their christian character, do not discountenance, but highly applaud and reward, with public honors and emoluments, those who are foremost in and best calculated for butchering their fellow heirs of immortality.

Our own country, after all our boasting and great experíence, are not free from this dreadful contagion. Schools are forming throughout our land, to rear up children in the knowledge and love of arms.-The wilderness for thousands of miles is explored for the purpose of building forts and places of military strength, at a most intolerable expense,for carrying on a spirit of avarice and speculation, influence and patronage; and not the least among the rest, to aid in extirpating the only true and absolute proprietors and lords of the soil, from that inheritance which God in his mercy has provided for them.

The present mania for another Indian, if not foreign war, ought to be highly alarming to the people of the United States, and if no other obstacle can be raised against so great an evil, at least the ardent prayer of every christian should be incessant at the throne of grace, and join as one man in that earnest petition, "Give Peace in our time, O Lord."

I have great confidence in him, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, that the time is drawing nigh, (though much distress must first come,) when all the nations of the earth shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and the earth shall be covered with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the seas, and every nation, language, and tongue shall hail the coming Immanuel. Present me, dear Sir, in the most respectful manner, to your worthy Society, and believe me to be with great esteem and the most fervent prayer for their sucecss,

Reverend and Dear Sir,

Yours most affectionately,

ELIAS BOUDINOT.

NOTE. The foregoing letter will command the respectful attention of the serious and benevolent Christian. Dr. Boudinot is so well known, that it is hardly necessary to remark, that he was once the President of the American Congress, the highest officer then in the United States; that he has been the President of the American Bible Society,