lows shall meet the detestation they deserve, wars will be less frequent, and when military glory ceases to dazzle the world, wars will cease. NO. 32. EXTRACTS FROM DR. RUSH'S "PLAN FOR A • PEACE OFFICE FOR THE UNITED STATES." I have, at length, after much laborious in quiry, been so fortunate, as to find a copy of the above named able peace paper, written about the year 1790, while we were engaged in a war with the Indians. It is highly probable, that this is the first hint of a peace society, that ever appeared in any country, and falls not very far short of the plan at present pursued, to institute a Peace Society of the United States. This is not the only instance in which this great philanthropist anticipated the "march of intellect ;" though it is probable, he little thought, while he was penning. this able production that, in twenty-five years after, peace societies would commence their operations in this country and in Europe, and that, in thirty-five or forty years, a national peace society would be formed, in all things according to the spirit, and in many things according to the very letter of his plan. The Doctor writes as follows: 66 Among the defects which have been pointed out in the federal constitution, by its anti-federal enimies, it is much to be lamented, that no person has taken notice of its total silence upon the subject of an office, of the utmost importance to the welfare of the United States; that is an office for prmoting and preserving perpetual peace in our country." "It is hoped, that no objection will be made to the establishment of such an office, while we are engaged in a war with the Indians, for, as the War-office was established in a time of peace it is equally reasonable, that a peace-office should be established in a time of war." "The plan of this office is as follows." Art. 1st. Let a Secretary of the Peace be appointed, to preside at this office, who shall be perfectly free from all the present absurd and vulgar European prejudices on the subject of government: let him be a genuine republican and a sincere Christian-for the principles of republicanism and Christianity are no less friendly to universal and perpetual peace, than they are universal and equal liberty." Art. 2d. Provides for the maintainance of free schools and the principles of the Christian religion, "for it belongs to this religion exclusively to teach us, not only to cultivate peace with all men, but to forgive, nay more, to love our enemies." Art. 3d. Provides for the free distribution of the Bible at the public expense. Art. 4th. "Let the following sentence be inscribed, in letters of gold, over the doors of every State and Court house in the United States : THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT INTO THE WORLD TO DESTROY MEN'S LIVES, BUT TO SAVE THEM.' Art. 5th. Provides for the repeal of sanguinary laws. Art. 6th. "To subdue the passion for war, which education, added to human depravity, have made universal; a familiarity with the instruments of death, as well as all military shows, should be carefully avoided. For which reason, military laws should every where be repealed, and military dresses and military titles should be laid aside: reviews tend to lessen the horrors of a battle, by connecting them with the charms of order militia laws generate idleness and vice and thereby produce the wars they are said to prevent: military dresses fascinate the minds of young men, and lead them from serious and useful professions; were there no uniform there would probably, be no armies lastly, militia titles feed vanity, and keep up ideas in the mind, which lessen a sense of the follies and miseries of war.' Art. 7th. "In the last place; let a large room, adjoining the federal hall, be appropriated for transacting the business and preserving all the records of this office. Over the door of this room let there be a sign, on which the figure of a lamb, a dove, and an olive-branch should be painted, together with the following inscription, in letters of gold: PEACE ON EARTH-GOOD WILL TO MAN. Ah why will men forget that they are breth ren ?" This article also provides for ornamenting this room with appropriate emblems and pictures, and the performance of "odes and anthems in praise of the blessings of peace." "In order the more deeply to affect the minds of the citizens of the United States, with the blessings of peace, by contrasting them with the evils of war, let the following inscriptions be painted on the sign, which is placed over the door of the War Office. 1. An office for butchering the human species. 2. A widow and orphan-making office. 4. A wooden leg-making office. 5. An office for creating private and public vices. 6. An office for creating public debt. 7. An office for creating speculators, stockjobbers and bankrupts. 8. An office for creating famine. 9. An office for creating political diseases. |