reduced to the greatest subjection, without even a charge of offence or injury. War.makers thus resemble the wild beasts of the forests, who devour the innocent and unoffending.
"The profession of a soldier is in all respects, so contrary to every principle of reason and justice, that it admits of no vindication. Power has sanctioned it, but nothing can change the eternal nature of things, and make the murder of innocent victims either just or honourable; for in every instance, in which war has been undertaken, the men, who, by their ambition and intrigues, have pushed things to extremities, have decided the contest by means of those who were innocent of the quarrel, and finally unconcerned in the event; by men whom ignorance or necessity had compelled to be their dupes, and to betake themselves to fighting, because they were vicious, or indolent, or could find no other employment. Let any man coolly and impartially examine the history of the past and the present times, and say, whether every dispute between nations might not have been settled by negotiations, if the parties had been disposed to listen to common sense, to reason, and justice; and whether every thing should not be resorted to, rather than force; for whoever is the cause of shedding man's blood, except positively to save his own life, is guilty of murder. The fact, however, is, that mankind have been so long accustomed to this barbarous mode of decision, that they think not of any other. Yet, notwithstanding the force of custom, the appearance of necessity, the sanction of time, the power of example, the danger of delay, the strength of our enemies, and the urgency of the case, no war can be justified by that party which has not exhausted every means of conciliation, and proposed every scheme of
