to effect an object of such vast importance to the world. And can we for a moment doubt of success when we look to the promises in the gospel? And if where two or three are agreed in asking, they shall receive-shall not the thousands who are daily presenting their petitions to Heaven for peace on earth, be answered in due time? It is a worthy remark, that the ministers of the gospel can have the greatest influence on the public mind of any class of people whatever; but let it be remembered that in union there is strength. May gainsayers no jonger have reason to say, that disunion has its rise and advocates among the teachers of the religion of Christ. War and bloodshed have had their rise and support too much among professors of religion But we trust and believe that the day is near-if it has not already come, when the children of the same family will no more join in the diabolical practice of murdering one another, because required so to do by unsanctified national rulers; and that in God's Holy Mount, which is his militant church, there shall be none to disturb or hurt-especially with carnal weapons of death. Therefore we will from henceforth consider ourselves as a PEACE SOCIETY, and endeavor to be so as much in fact as in name-hoping and believing that the united efforts of the friends of peace, by the grace of God, will yet render at least the church militant a praise in the earth. By order of Conference at their Annual Meeting held at Springfield, Oct. 15th, 1818. JOHN COMSTOCK, Clerk of said Conference. The foregoing Declaration has been recently received for the Friend of Peace. The name of the state, in which the Annual Meeting was held, was not mentioned; but from the Post-mark we presume that the meeting was held at Springfield, in the state of New-York. The example of this denomination of Christians, in avowing themselves as a Peace Society, is worthy of imitation, and we hope it will be followed by every denomination in Christendom. Too long have the greater number of professed Christians been unmindful of the distinction between sheep and wolves, and of the fact that sheep is the metaphorical name by which the Saviour designated his followers, and intimated their harmless character. SIR, LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF HAYTI Republic of Hayti. JEAN PIERRE BOYER, PRESIDENT OF HAYTI.. Port au Prince, June 9th, 1818, year of Independence 15. I HAVE received, with your letter of the 18th of December last, the eleven first numbers of the periodical work published by the Peace Society of Massachusetts. The present of them, which you were directed to make to me, is a highly gratifying attention on the part of the Society, for which I request you to return to them my thanks. The object, which this honourable Society proposes to itself in the publication of its pamphlets, is so laudable and so eminently philanthropical; the sentiments, which animate it, are so conformable to the spirit of religion and the dictates of reason, that its efforts cannot fail of receiving the approbation of all reflecting men, of whatever rank and condition they may be. To seek to propagate the avowed maxims of public morality, and the principles of justice and equity, with the design of uniting men of all nations, and maintaining among them that spirit of peace and harmony which should make them a great people of brothers, a single family, is a work of the highest merit, and which must procure for those, who undertake it, the esteem and admiration of all future generations. :i Deeply penetrated with these sentiments with regard to the respectable Peace Society of Massachusetts, it is pleasing to me to announce to it, that the principles, which it endeavours to spread abroad for the happiness of mankind, are those, which have always guided the conduct of the Republic of Hayti. Will you, sir, be pleased to accept for yourself, and to present to your honourable Society, the assurance of my high consideration! J. P. BOYER, To the Cor. Sec. M. P. S. BRANCH SOCIETIES, AND MEMBERS OF M. P. S. When the last No. of the Friend of Peace was published, but three Branches of the Massachusetts Peace Society had been reported. Since which two other societies have been added to the number : HOLLIS BRANCH, N. H. was organized Aug. 4th, 1818. It consists of 12 members. The names of the officers only will now be given, as the names of the whole Society, with all its Branches, will probably soon be published with the 3d Annual Report. Daniel Emerson, Esq. President. ROYALSTON BRANCH, Mass, was formed Nov. 4th, 1818. And consists of 13 members. Capt. Isaac Metcalf, President. Rufus Bullock, Treasurer. The name of Benjamin Allen, LL. D. of Hyde Park, N. Y. was undesignedly omitted in the last No. Twenty-four new members have been reported, besides those who have joined the Branch Societies. The whole number of subscribers to the Society, whose names have been returned; including the Five Branches, is 512. By a letter from the Corresponding Secretary of the NewYork Peace Society, containing extracts from the Society in London, and by a letter from the Auxiliary Society at Dundee, in Scotland, it appears that the cause of peace is rapidly gaining ground, in Great Britain, that a considerable number of Auxiliary Societies have been formed in different parts of the kingdom, that liberal donations have been made to the Society, that Ministers of the gospel of different denominations have engaged in the cause, and that the prospects of the Society are now "highly encouraging." TESTIMONY OF A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. THE following testimony has been furnished by one in whose veracity we place the most perfect confidence. For the Friend of Peace. With pleasure I have perused in the 13th Number of the Friend of Peace the article signed "Anonymous," on "the condition of Soldiers under a Republican Government," and also the pertinent observations in the succeeding pages. But the subject does not appear to be exhausted. Referring to the cruel severity of officers, very much might be said on the miserable situation of soldiers, even in a republican country, when professedly fighting for "liberty and equal rights." Happily for me my experience in witnessing such scenes has been very limited, compared with that of many others. I was not fourteen years of age when the revolutionary war commenced in 1775, but I served four short campaigus; the three first in an early part of the war when the severity of discipline and the inhumanity of officers was trifling compared with what I witnessed in 1780. In the summer of that year I enlisted for six months, and joined the army at West Point. Very soon I saw two men shot to death for desertion. The next morning another was hung in the same place, accused of being a spy. I soon joined the division of infantry commanded by the Marquis de la Fayette-spent most of the campaign in NewJersey. Here I saw another hanged. One run the gauntlet; and I conversed with another three months after he had received the same punishment. He was at this time unable to lift his right hand to his head; the flesh was so whipped and bruised that the bone was laid bare. These and many other things which I witnessed were probably by order of Courts Martial. But very many punishments, which I saw during the campaign, were inflicted without any trial at all, but only at the will and pleasure or caprice of officers. At the order of my vere. own major, who was a Frenchman, nine were tied up and whipped at one time; at another, a sergeant was first reduced to the ranks, then tied up, and he received, I think, forty lashes, by order of the same major without any trial. At another time I saw this major, while on parade, order a man under guard for no other crime than brushing off a moschetto; at another, for turning his toes to remove a pebble which lay in his way. Nor was our adjutant, who was an American, much less scOne morning he severely caned three men of our company off the parade for having a trifle of rust on their gunsthe day preceding having been very stormy and the regiment on march the whole of the day. Happily for this adjutant we were not afterwards called into battle, as one of the men he had abused swore revenge, and impatiantly waited an opportunity-insisting that if ever they should be in battle together, the adjutant should certainly die. Another man I saw cruelly caned for not happening to step according to the music. The above is a part of what I have been an eye witness to, and is given as a specimen of the treatment which Republicans may expect to receive, when enlisted as soldiers, fighting for their country, and for their own" equal rights." I have stated facts, I leave it for an abler pen to add reflections. Does it not behove the friends of humanity in this favored land to pause and consider, whether our martial laws are not the relics of a savage state, and a reproach to a Christian people? and whether these laws are not, to the extent of their operation, perfectly inconsistent with the rights of man? Ought not our free citizens unitedly to raise their voices and demand a repcal or amendment of this barbarous, inhuman and despotic code ? But as though this code were not sufficiently cruel, the military officers are permitted to indulge their passions and to punish soldiers without even the forms of trial. This species of tyranny ought to be abolished by the voice of public censure and detestation. The officer has no more right to strike a soldier, than the soldier has to strike him and every officer who thus violates the laws and outrages the rights of man |