wholesale murder and depredation-who call into the field vast armies of men and excite them to butcher one another, and who spread desolation and ruin among innocent people who never did them any harm? Will not posterity deny the right of rulers in these cases, as enlightened men now deny their right to make human flesh an article of commerce? Will they not also apply the term piracy to all maritime depredations, the term robbery to plundering on land, and the term murder to the homicides of war? Will not the abominations of the War-trade and its promoters be held in more abhorrence in fifty years to come, than the Slavetrade and its agents are at the present time? Does it not then behove those who are anxious for posthumous fame and the grateful respect of posterity, to adopt some more excellent way, than either trafficking in human beings, or promoting the games of public war? As the inhuman Slave-dealer is now regarded with horror, as an enemy to the best interest of his species; so it will fare with the boasting War-dealer in a still more enlightened age of the world. In respect to the fame of all barbarous and sanguinary customs, old things will pass away, and a more philanthropic scale of glory will be established,—a scale by which the promoters of peace and happiness will rise, and the promoters of war and mischief will sink in public estimation.

AUSPICIOUS OCCURRENCES.

I. By a late act of Congress the Slave-trade has been pronounced piracy. See the article on the Progress of Public Sentiment.

II. "An act was passed by the Legislature of New York, at the close of the late session, exempting all persons, having religious scruples against bearing arms, from the performance of military duty in time of peace, without requiring from such persons the payment of any fine or commu tation whatever in lieu of such service." The Reformer, June 1820.

We sincerely regret that Massachusetts, the boasted cradle of civil and religious liberty, is so far behind her sister state in this important affair; and that peaceable men, by her laws, are still exposed to fines or imprisonments for conscientiously declining to learn the art of killing their brethren! Can there be greater folly than that of punishing men for pacific principles and dispositions?

III. News of important events in Spain had been received prior to our last Number-which we forbore to mention as favourable occurrences, lest the next news should be, that the horrors of the French Revolution had been revived in Spain. But such moderation has been displayed by the Spaniards, that we now hope they are destined to enjoy the blessings of liberty and to give an example of Revolution which will be glorious to themselves and beneficial to the world.

IV. A Ladies' Association has been formed in England to aid the "Society for Promoting Permanent and Universal Peace." We believe this

This article is given as we found it in THE REFORMER-we have not seen any confirmation of it in any Newspaper, but we hope the statement is correct.

example will be imitated on an extensive scale in every country. Were women in general to combine and employ their influence in favour of peace, they would soon free themselves and their brethren from the perils and calamities of public war, and thus become the CONQUERORS of the world and the GLORY of man. For men will cease to fight when women shall cease to smile at their sanguinary deeds. In the "Historical Account of the Indian Nations," Mr. Heckewelder says that, "among these nations wars are never brought to an end but by the interference of the weaker sex."—And that "they, by their moving speeches, persuade the enraged combatants to bury their hatchets and make peace with each other."-What then may not Christian women do by their powerful eloquence to preserve the peace of nations!

V. Every new and well written publication on the subject of war or in favour of peace, may justly be regarded as an auspicious occurrence. Besides the British publications and American reports which have already been mentioned, we have the pleasure of stating that a very good Address to the East Haddam Branch of Massachusetts Peace Society, by the Rev. S. Blakslee, has been published in Connecticut; and an article on Privateering, occupying thirty pages, has appeared in the last Number of the North American Review, which deserves and will doubtless receive respectful attention from intelligent politicians and philanthropists in the United States and other countries.

VI. Since the last Number, several new members, of respectable stand. ing, have been added to the M. P. S.—and we are informed that a Branch or Auxiliary Society is about to be organized at Sackets Harbor, in New York.

NOTICES TO MEMBERS OF M. P. S.

IN conformity to a recommendation of the Committee of Finance, approved by Board of M. P. S. " the Treasurer is to use his exertions to collect the subscriptions for each year within the year, and as early in such year as is practicable; and he is authorized to employ such person or persons as may be necessary to collect such subscriptions, and also arrearages, at the expense of the Society." At the Annual Meeting in December he is to present a Report to be published, exhibiting not only the amount received, but "the number and amount of outstanding subscriptions."

It is hoped that the Members of the Society will be so punctual as not to suffer any delinquency to be published, or much expense to be incurred. The present state of the funds of the Society do not permit the Report of the Committee of Inquiry to be published at present as a separate Tract. The Report is now under the consideration of a Committee who wish to make the best use of it to promote the objects of the Society. It contains the fruits of much investigation.

Any person may become a Member of the Society, entitled to the Tracts for the present year by paying one dollar; or by paying three dollars he may become a member, entitled to a copy of the eighteen Numbers of the Friend of Peace prior to 1820, and to copies of all the Numbers and Tracts of the present year.

Copies of the Solemn Review and of all the Nos. of the Friend of Peace are constantly for sale at the Boston Bookstore, by Cummings & Hilliard, and by J. W. Burditt, No. 94 Court Street, Boston.

J. W. Burditt is assistant Treasurer, and will receive subscriptions and deliver copies to any who wish to become members.

THE

FRIEND OF PEACE.

Vol. II....No. X.

THE CASE OF MICHAEL POWERS REVIEWED.

"THE right of self defence never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and is alike necessary to nations and individuals."-President's Message, 1818.

Such is the ambiguity of language that men of opposite opinions may often adopt the same propositions. The "right of self-defence" is admitted by all; still there is a great diversity of opinion, as to the temper which may properly be displayed, and the means which may justly be employed in the various cases of injury and aggression.

The language of the President of the United States, which we have selected, as the motto for this article, was probably understood by the lovers of war, as importing that, in 1818, our government had just grounds for commencing a defensive war on Spain. But 18 months subsequent to that message, the President recommended still longer forbearance. In the mean time, he exercised the right of self-defence" by negotiations, arguments and remonstrances. If instead of this course, there had been an immediate resort to arms, many thousands of our citizens and as many Spaniards, who are now alive, would probably before this day have been hurried into eternity; and a lamentable train of crimes and miseries would have been entailed on the people of the two nations. In this case every philanthropist will approve the forbearing policy which has been pursued by our gov ernment.