Christians of this country have been delighted in hearing that the inhabitants of Otaheite had "burned their idols,” and become worshippers of the living God. Would it not however be matter of still greater joy, if such a reformation should occur in Christendom? The trophies of victory, preserved by Christian nations, encourage a species of idolatry, as immoral, inhuman, antichristian, and fatal, as was ever practised by the barbarians of Otaheite.

Let no one imagine, that the general consent of nations to the practice of preserving trophies is any evidence in its favour. In former ages there was a general consent of nations to the custom of offering human sacrifices. Both customs are, we believe, an abomination in the sight of God, and utterly unworthy to be associated with the name of a Christian.

Some apology may perhaps be made in favour of a people so barbarous as not to be acquainted with any better means of obtaining a subsistence, than rapine and violence, or so profoundly ignorant of human nature and of right and wrong, as not to know a better method of settling controversies, than the appeal to arms. But, excepting the delusive influence of custom, what apology can be made for those who are blessed with common sense, the means of instruction, and the light of the gospel?

THE WAR-MAKING POWER.

"IT is sufficient to say, that the executive authority of the United States, and much less a subordinate officer, has no power to change the pacific relations of the nation. The President of the United States is bound constitutionally to preserve the peace of the country until Congress declares it in a state of war: he can only, while thus in a state of peace, use the military forces of the nation in three specified cases, that is, to execute the laws of the Union, to suppress insurrection, and repel invasion." Report, of the Committee of the Senate of the United States on the Seminole War.

The principles here asserted by the Committee of the Senate we believe to be strictly conformable to the Constitution

of the United States. We copy them into this work, with a desire that they should be generally understood; and with a hope that they will not again be violated, in making war on the Indian tribes. Had they been heretofore duly observed, they would probably have prevented all the crimes and miseries of the Seminole war. As there was no act of Congress authorizing that war, at whose hands will the blood that was shed be required? This is a question which demands the serious attention of the government and the pcople of the United States.

FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE M. P. S.

ANNUAL Reports of Philanthropic Institutions are official Records and Memorials of divine benignity in favoring the exertions of men, for advancing the welfare of their species. When they faithfully exhibit what has already been done, and the present aspects of Providence, they furnish incentives to persevering zeal and activity. With such views of the design and use of Annual Reports, the Executive Committee proceed to the duty now expected of them.

As the great object of the Society is "Peace on earth," in a Report for 1820, it would be ungrateful to overlook the mercy of God, in granting to our country a year of uninterrupted peace, and in causing a remarkable abatement of those party dissensions which, in some former years, were not only hostile to the progress of pacific sentiments, but even threatened the ruin of the United States. Such a time of tranquillity is peculiarly favourable to the exertions of Peace Societies. From a season so promising, much fruit might naturally have been expected; and the Committee have occasion to refer to the scantiness of the funds under their controul-to the embarrassments of commerce and the scarcity of money in various parts of the country, as furnishing reasons why more has not been effected in the course of the year. These causes have probably deterred

many well disposed men from joining the Society, suspended the organization of several Societies in different states, and in some degree paralyzed the exertions of Societies which had been formed. Such obstacles being duly considered, it is hoped that the following exhibition of facts will be both satisfactory and encouraging.

In the course of the year there have been distributed in behalf of the Society and its Auxiliaries:

Of the various Nos. of the Friend of Peace

Of the several smaller Tracts

In all

In addition to these there have been sold of the
Friend of Peace

Increasing the aggregate disposed of to

7155

8935

16080

2860

18,940

It is also proper to state that two valuable Addresses have been published by Branch Societies-one by Hingham Branch, delivered by the Rev. Daniel Kimball; the other by East Haddam Branch, delivered by the Rev. Solomon Blakslee.

In making the distributions, the Committee have sent upwards of 500 copies of the Friend of Peace, and many smaller tracts, to foreign states and countries ;-to the four British Provinces in America-to Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia in Europe, and to Calcutta and Ceylon in Asia. The other distributions have extended to the greater number of the United States.

In regard to the influence of these Tracts and the manner in which they have been received, it may be sufficient to give an extract from a recent Report of the Raleigh Peace Society-in which it is said- All who had an opportunity of reading them, seemed to feel the importance of the subject. None, we venture to say, have attempted a refutation of the doctrines or principles therein contained. Aged ministers of the gospel expressed their astonishment and regret, that they had never before viewed the matter In its true light. Others declared that they had often been

impressed with such sentiments, but so indistinct, and so variant from sentiments that are generally deemed patriotic, that they never ventured to express them."

On this extract, the Committee will only observe, that similar effects have occurred in many other parts of the country, and that these being duly multiplied and extended cannot fail to excite a universal abhorrence of war.

Since our last Anniversary three new Auxiliaries have been reported-Byfield, Boxford, and Andover-and a report of one at Sackets Harbor is daily expected.* The East Haddam and Billerica Branches have been greatly enlarged; other Branches have received some additions, and many members have been added to the original Society. In all societies, the individuals are liable to pecuniary embarrassments, and to death. It is not possible for the Committee to state the precise number of members at the present time, but including the fifteen Auxiliaries, it is supposed that the present number of members exceeds one thousand.

Two of the early members of this society have in the course of the year become Life Subscribers. Jonathan Thompson Esq. of Natchez in Mississippi has also presented a Life Subscription; and J. N. Mooyaart Esq. of Ceylon in India has presented a donation of twenty dollars, in addition to his former donation of twenty five. The value of Mr. Mooyaart's donation in Tracts was delivered to the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commis-sioners for Foreign Missions to be forwarded to India, that the cause of the Society might be promoted in that quarter of the world.

The Reports which have been received from the independent Societies in this country, afford evidence that the cause of peace is advancing in Maine, Rhode Island, New.. York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana.

An Association has also been formed at Stanstead, L. C. on the plan proposed for Reading Peace Societies, and Tracts have been procured for the same purpose by a gentleman of Shirley in this state.

The Committee have received no accounts from the Societies in Britain of later date than the Herald of Peace for March, 1820. At that period the principal Society in London had been greatly strengthened by the addition of many subscribers and several important Auxiliary Societies. Besides having published more than 150,000 Tracts in their own language, that they had caused 5000 copies of the Solemn Review to be published in Germany; 5000 copies of another Tract in the Dutch language, were in the press for Holland and its colonies; arrangements were making for publishing in the Welch language; and one hundred pounds sterling had been granted to promote the objects of the Society in France. These facts may dispel all fears that the Peace Societies in this country are too rapid in their advances for the public safety.

Some of our countrymen probably imagine that Peace Societies are, and ever will be, composed only of members who can have but little influence on public opinion and the policy of states. To correct such a misapprehension, it may be proper to observe, that many important characters belong to the Peace Societies in Britain, and also to sev eral of the Societies in this country; that the Massachusetts Peace Society, with its several Branches, contains upwards of 140 public teachers of religion and many respectable characters in literary Institutions; that it has at the present time, two members in the Congress of the United States, and that in the Convention for revising the Constitution of this state, the President of that venerable Body, and THIRTY THREE other Delegates are members of this Society or its Auxiliaries. This is perhaps as much as could have been reasonably expected of a Society which commenced its course but five years ago with only twentytwo members, and having the prepossessions of a world to

encounter.

Since the Society was formed, it has increased in a ratio greater than that of doubling its number annually. Were