towards each other, and for the long and black catalogue of wars?

If sentiments like these are always to prevail in the world, what better is to be expected than perpetual quarrels between military men, or between them and other people, and frequent contests between nations?

But, after all, what are these sentiments, but the relics of barbarism and paganism, or the effects of military fanaticism and delusion? In what portion of the Word of God, or of the dictates of sound reason, do we find any class of rational beings exempted from obedience to those pacific maxims and precepts which are obligatory on "a Citizen, a Gentleman, or a Christian ?"

N. B. The preceding paragraphs were written prior to the late battle of the Commodores. In that, battle and in the irritating Correspondence," which led to it, we have a striking and practical illustration of the fatal and sanguinary principle which has been the subject of discussion. The "Correspondence" between these duellists clearly displays the principles, the passions, and the process for rendering duelling and war necessary; and no one, we think, who reads it impartially, can question the justice of Providence in the result of the battle,-or any longer imagine that duellists, in office, are a safeguard to their country. Are they not in fact a dangerous class of men in respect to the peace and welfare of a nation ?

THE BATTLE OF AMERICAN COMMODORES.

BE it remembered, that on the 22d of March, 1820, at the American Golgotha, near the seat of government, and during a session of the National Legislature, a battle was fought between two American Commodores, Decatur and Barron, having for their aids, Commodore Bainbridge and Capt. Elliott; that on this occasion the combatants displayed their usual skill and bravery in the art of manslaughter.

Their skill appears in the severe wound of Barron the con queror, and in the mortal wound of Decatur. Their extraor dinary valor was displayed not merely in the intrepidity with which they met in the field of battle, but in the circumstances under which they fought. These brave Commodores engaged in the work of murder, not only in the presence of God their maker, in direct violation of his laws, and contempt of his authority; but in the presence and in defiance of the Legislative and Executive authorities of their country! -How justly may such men have their names blazoned in history as heroes-as patriots-as stars of the first magnitude as the defence and glory of the nation!

Yet such are the men whom the friends of war delight to honor! To multiply the number of heroes, who can thus bid defiance to the laws of God, and the laws of their country, we have the prolific nurseries of military schools, acadmies, fleets, and armies!

Some severe censures, and some pathetic lamentations, have appeared in the news-papers in regard to this great battle. But we are of opinion, that there has seldom been a public war between two nations, or a civil war in any country, which was more just and necessary, or more strictly defensive; and seldom a battle more bravely fought, or fought on better principles, or with purer motives, or one less injurious in its results, or more adapted to the real benefit of a nation.

We deeply regret the wantou sacrifice of a single life; we sympathize with the surviving relations of the murdered Commodore, and we blush for the barbarism of our country, which permits such atrocious crimes, and gives celebrity to the perpetrators. But we indulge a hope that the late battle will lead our countrymen to reflect on the principles and passions of war which have been so clearly displayed in single combat. Should such be the effect, and should such reflections be properly extended, the victory of Barron and the fall of Decatur may result in the saving of many hundred thousands of our countrymen from a violent and untimely death.

There are many who seem to regret that the life of Decatur had not been sacrificed in the "service of his country But what is meant by this? Do they regret that he had not been killed in a former war? Or do they regret that another war had not occurred in season to give him a more "splendid opportunity to die?" Perhaps the time will come when the progress of light will have shown, that public war and duelling stand on equal ground, as to necessity, justice, and glory; that both originate from the same vile passions and principles; that both might be avoided by the same meansthe display of benevolent dispositions, and due preparations for peace.

GENERAL ORDER.

Navy Department, 25th of March, 1820. THE Officers of the United States Navy are directed to wear crape upon the left arm for the period of 30 days, as a testimony of respect, for the late Commodore Stephen Decatur, deceased. National Intelligencer.

REMARK.

With others of our countrymen, we lament the untimely death of Commodore Decatur; but we should have been better pleased had the " General Order" been of the following import :

"The Officers of the Navy of the United States are directed to wear crape upon the right arm for thirty days, as a testimony of" the abhorrence of the American Government for the black and barbarous practice of duelling-in which the late Commodore Decatur" wantonly sacrificed his life, brought distress on his family and friends, and deeply stained the character of his country.

Such a General Order" would probably have been of more real utility, than a thousand eulogies on the character of a man who voluntarily exposed his life in a combat declared to be murderous by the laws of his country, and by the laws of Heaven.

REFLECTIONS ON A DEATH-BED TREATY OF PEACE.

THE Georgetown Messenger gives the following account of the late Treaty of Peace between the two Commodores, Decatur and Barron :

"It is said that a perfect reconciliation took place between the parties on the field, after they had fallen, both wounded, as was supposed, mortally."

How much better and more honorable for these Commodores, had the "perfect reconciliation took place between the parties." prior to the battle! In that case they would have avoided the crime and reproach of murder, and the sufferings which each of them has endured in consequence of the disgraceful and disastrous combat. They would also have precluded the severe distress, which the battle has brought on their relations and friends. Had they been governed by the principles of peace, instead of the principles of war, the "reconciliation" might have been as easily effected before the combat, as afterwards. But indulging warring passions and principles, they were hurried on from step to step, till such injuries had been inflicted, as no "reconciliation" could repair. Having fought and done what they could to destroy one another, and each imagining himself about to appear before an offended God, they then reflect, and make peace with each other. It does not however appear from any account we have seen, that concessions were made on either side. In that serious hour the ground of their contest might appear to both, too trival to be named. After all, this reconcilia

tion" bears a strong resemblance to a death-bed repentance at the close of a vicious life-doubtful in respect to its genuineness, and of no avail in regard to healing the wounds or repairing the damages which vice had occasioned.

The recent occurrences, however, furnish a striking, though not a full length portrait of human folly, as it has been exemplified in the histories of warring nations. Like Decatur and Barron, governed by hostile passions and false

principles of honor, the rulers of one nation fancy or fabricate a cause of war against those of another. Instead of displaying the true spirit of peace, the diplomatic correspondence is so managed as to increase irritation till war becomes inevitable. Then the parties fight and do all they can to distress and destroy one another, till each is greatly crippled and injured; and after having sacrificed many thousands of human victims, on the altars of ambition and revenge, a Treaty of Peace is proposed by one of the parties, and accepted by the other. Perhaps too this treaty is formed without any concession on either side, unless it be implied in a total silence respecting the original objects and causes of the war. Such a Treaty as they might have had without the guilt, the sacrifices, and the sufferings of war, they both afterwards gladly accept,-and then console themselves for their respective losses and injuries, by the imaginary honors, acquired in bravely fighting and murdering one another.

The two Commodores have proved, at great expense to themselves, that they could fight bravely in a foolish quarrel, which might have been easily avoided. In the public wars of nations there is in general a similar result. In both cases, if peace be made at all, it is made when each party has far greater grounds of complaint than either had when the contest began. But after the injuries have been multiplied ten thousand fold, they can make peace, though prior to these additional injuries, they imagined a war to be just and necessary!

Such are the advantages, the folly, and the madness of duelling, and public war-both resulting in misery and ruin, or a Death-bed Treaty of Peace.

SCIPIO'S PRAYER FOR VENGEANCE.

SCIPIO AFRICANUS was the commander of the Roman army when Carthage was destroyed; and the following is his horrible prayer on that occasion :