ROYALSTON, Nov. 4th, 1818.

Capt. Isaac Metcalf, President.
Thomas J. Lee, Esq. Secretary.
Rufus Bullock, Treasurer.

13 Members.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H. Nov. 19th, 1818.

Joseph Haven, Esq. President.

John W. Foster, Sec'y & Treas'r. 18 Members.

EAST HADDAM, Conn. Dec. 15th, 1818.

Rev. Elijah Parsons, President.

Rev. Solomon Blakslee,

Rev. Will. Lyman, D. D.

Chevers Brainerd, Esq.

Vice-Presidents.

N. L. Foster, Esq. Secr'y and Treas'r.

Josiah Griffin, Esq.
Isaac Chapman, Esq.
Col. Jonah Gates.

Directors.

Joshua Cone.

Capt. R. Hungerford, Jun. 36 Members.

SHELBURNE, Dec. 29th, 1818.
Rev. Theophilus Packard, President.
Mr. Amos Allen, Vice-President.
Mr. Giles Lyman, Treasurer.
Dea. Israel Childs, Secretary.

28 Members.

PLAINFIELD, Jan. 29th, 1819.

Rev. Moses Hallock, President.
Dr. Jacob Porter, Secretary.
Dr. Barney Torrey, Treasurer.

12 Members.

The whole number of names in the M. P. S. which have been reported to the Editor, including the Branch Societies, is 640. It is supposed that a considerable number remains to be reported.

THE CONCESSIONS OF GENERAL RIPLEY.

JUDGE TOULMAN having written to Gen. RIPLEY, on the conduct of a military officer in a case of "supposed resistance of the civil authority," the General replied in a letter dated, "Bay of St. Louis, July 1, 1818." The following paragraph of the letter contains important concessions:

"The young officers, possessed of zeal, gallantry, and aspiring ambition, too often commit indiscretions similar to that complained of in the present instance. Accustomed, themselves, to see principles of military law ope rating upon those within their immediate sphere of action, they make an easy and improper transition in their application to the person or property of the citizen. They do not reflect that rules of conduct necessary to impart to any army its impulse, its discipline, and its subordination, become acts of tyranny when applied to those who are not within the defined limits of military authority. Indeed they do not seem to be aware, so fully as they ought, that a vital principle of our free institutions is, to place the civil superior to the military authority; and that were this principle to be exploded, our social institutions, which they as well as all good citizens hail with so much veneration, would degenerate into a military despotism, enforcing its edicts at the point of the bayonet."

While these concessions are honorable to the character of General RIPLEY, they are adapted to remind the freemen of our country of the dangers to which they expose themselves and their posterity by encouraging the spirit of war, and military and naval establishments. The General implicitly admits the facts which in a former Number we attempted to illustrate; namely, that soldiers are deprived of the rights of freemen, and reduced to the condition of slaves, and that our military system is perfectly inconsistent with republican principles, and is, in fact, a " military despotism" in respect to our army and navy, our soldiers and seamen.

If the laws or "rules of conduct necessary to impart to any army its impulse, its discipline and its subordination, become acts of tyranny when applied to those who are not within the defined limits of military authority;" it follows of course, that those who are within these "limits," are deprived of their natural rights, and are the subjects of " tyranny."

May it not then be truly said of our rulers and of our citizens in general, that they do not reflect" on the injustice of subjecting one portion of our countrymen to a state of degrading servility and "military despotism," under the pretext of supporting republican principles, liberty, and equal rights? Have a free people the right of enslaving one another? If they have, why may not the enslaved retaliate the wrong, and in their turn enslave those who enslaved them ? Should any occurrence place it in the power of our army and navy to effect such a revolution, as that of overturning our institutions, resuming their own rights, and subjecting the present freemen to slavery; on what principle could they be blamed for so doing, which will not condemn the policy

that has deprived them of the rights of men? Excepting the greater number which might be enslaved, the right or the wrong of enslaving would be the same. But if it be just for a million of men to enslave a thousand, it may be just for a thousand to enslave a million, whenever it shall be within their power.

As the "principles of military law" are in fact the principles of military despotism," and as the officers of our army and navy are "accustomed" to the exercise of despotic power, we can hardly wonder at the improper conduct complained of in the young officers," or even in General Jackson. We should rather wonder at the indiscretion and inconsistency of a free people in establishing such a system of "military despotism," as a defence of republican institutions. As a nation we boast of our army and navy, in which many thousands of our countrymen are as completely deprived of the rights of man, as the slaves of an Asiatic or European despot; and the officers in these establishments are "accustomed" to the exercise of a tyrannical power. By increasing

our army and navy, we multiply the numbers both of tyrants and of slaves. We also multiply the probabilities of frequent wars, and the dangers of a total subversion of our republican institutions. We may then ask, whether such an overthrow of our liberties would not be a righteous recompense for the injustice of the nation towards those who have been deprived of their natural rights; and a just retribution for cultivating the principles of war, instead of the benign and pacific princi · ples of the religion we profess?

As a free people we have sown the seeds of " military despotism" in a republican soil; and, as might have been reasonably expected, these seeds vegetate, grow up, and multiply like thistles. These noxious weeds already threaten to overspread the whole land, and to extirpate the goodly plants of liberty and equal rights. Their rapid and luxuriant growth however, may be easily accounted for :-They have been cultivated at the enormous expense of fifteen or twenty millions of dollars annually, and they have been manured with the blood of myriads of our brethren!

THE IRISH SOLDIER.

SOMETIME before the breaking up of the British headquarters at Cambray, an Irish soldier, a private in the 23d regiment of foot, was convicted of shooting at and robbing a French peasant. He was in consequence sentenced to be hanged. On arriving at the gallows, he addressed the spectators in a stentorian voice as follows:-"Bad luck to the Duke of Wellington! He's no Irishman's friend any way: I have killed many a score of Frenchmen by his orders, and when I just took it in my head to kill one upon my own account, by the powers, he has tucked me up for it."

Boston Weekly Messenger.

The admonitory lesson in this speech is worthy to be echoed throughout the world. By some irresistible" stentorian

voice" it should be made to reach the ears and heart of every man in Christendom. It exposes the barbarous policy of Christian nations. Military establishments, war and privateering are the hot beds for raising robbers, pirates, and murderers.

AUSPICIOUS OCCURENCES.

THE New-York Peace Society has been lately reorganized and its con cerns placed under the direction of a large Committee. The Annual Meeting of the Society was held on the 25th of December; a valuable Report has been published, and the prospects of the society are flattering.

The Ohio Peace Society is also in a flourishing state; its numbers increasing and its exertions very considerable. This Society has republished eight numbers of the Friend of Peace, and has proposed to repub. lish the remainder of the first volume.

Since No. 14 was published in Boston, four respectable Auxiliaries have been added to the M. P. S. Portsmouth, N. H. East Haddam, Connectieut, Shelburne, and Plainfield, Mass.

Two new Peace Societies in the state of New-York have also been recently formed; one in Schenectady, the other in Albany.

A proposed Constitution for a Vermont Peace Society has been publish ed in the newspapers of that state.

From the late discussions in Congress and in the newspapers, relating to the Seminole war, it may be inferred, that the long and barbarous age in which glory could be acquired by war on the Indians has closed; that it is now strongly suspected that “ American avarice of Indian lands is equal to Spanish avarice of Indian gold ;" and that so much light exists on the subject of wars in general, as to preclude all reasonable hope of acquiring renown to our generals, our government, or our nation by future wars on our red brethren. "Let all the people say, Amen."

In the Treaty, just published, between Great-Britain and the United The two "contracting States, a principle of peace has been adopted.

powers" agree to refer a remaining question of dispute to "some friendly sovereign or state," and "engage to consider the decision of such friendly sovereign or state to be final and conclusive on all the matters referred." A glorious example and a happy presage of better times!

NOTICES.

In a review of the success of the FRIEND OF PEACE, the Editor finds occasion to acknowledge the mercy of God, the patronage of friends, and the candor of his fellow citizens. Perhaps no periodical work, so novel in its character, and which had such strong prepossessions to encounter, was ever more successful, or obtained a more extensive circulation in four years. No's 1, 2, and 3 have already passed through seven editions in this country; and the seventh edition of No. 4 is now in the press. Several other numbers have had 5 or 6 editions, and the whole of the first volume has been reprinted.

The Editor has lately relinquished another employment, that he might devote the remainder of his days to the Friend of Peace. From its commencement, the work has been published entirely at his own risk-but with an unwavering confidence that its objects were agreeable to the dictates of revelation, the nature of the Deity, and the designs of his providence, and therefore attainable ;—also with a full belief that the day is approaching when benevolent exertions in this cause will cease to be regarded as fanatical, and will command the approbation of the wise and the good in heaven and on earth. Having now disengaged himself from other cares and labors, he hopes, if he should be favored with health, to render the work still more worthy of its all-important objects, and of the patronage of Christians of every name.

Copies of each No. of the Friend of Peace will continue to be sold to Peace Societies, Booksellers, and benevolent individuals, who may wish to purchase for distribution, at the moderate price of ten dollars per hundred.

The subscription to the Massachusetts Peace Society is one dollar annually. Each subscriber is entitled to the value of half his annual subscription in Tracts at the wholesale price—that is, five copies of the Friend of Peace or other Tracts equivalent.

Mr.J. W. Burditt, No. 94 Court-street, Boston, is appointed to receive subscriptions for the society, and to deliver Tracts to those who may wish to become members. He also has on hand the several No's for sale.

If any Boston member of the M. P. S. shall fail of otherwise receiving his copy, in any quarterly distribution of Tracts, he may obtain it by applying to Mr. Burditt.

The Solemn Review and all the No's of the Friend of Peace will be constantly for sale at the Bookstore of Cummings & Hilliard, No. 1, Cornhill. The parcels directed to the members of the M. P. S in different towns, and to the several Branch Societies, will in future be deposited at the Bos TON BOOKSTORE, No. 1, Cornhill.

Errata.-Page 1, line 11, for adopted,' read adapted-p. 10, l. 13, for the son,' r. her sonp. 12, l. 13, for sll,' r. all—p. 12, l. 18, for practice,' r. pretence-p. 26, l. 11, for our,' r. one.