The answer to this question will necessarily affect the rights of three million fellow-citizens held in slavery among us.

If I am asked--as advocates of Peace are often asked--whether a robber, a pirate, a mob, may be resisted by the sacrifice of life, I answer, that they may be so resisted,--mournfully, necessarily.

If I am asked to sympathize with the efforts for freedom now finding vent in rebellion and revolution, I cannot hesitate to say, that, wherever Freedom struggles, wherever Right is, there my sympathies must be.

Waiving, then, these matters, with their perplexities and difficulties, which do not in any respect belong to the cause, I come now to the precise object we hope to accomplish,--The Abolition of the Institution of War, and of the whole War…

Much is always gained by a clear understanding of the question in issue; and the cause of Peace unquestionably suffers often because it is misrepresented or not fully comprehended.

But the Law of Nations,--and here is a point of infinite importance to the clear understanding of the subject,--while anticipating and providing for controversies between nations, recognizes and establishes War as final Arbiter.

As Slavery is an Institution, growing out of local custom, sanctioned, defined, and established by Municipal Law, so War is an Institution, growing out of general custom, sanctioned, defined, and established by the Law of Nations.

Only when we contemplate War in this light can we fully perceive its combined folly and wickedness.

In the event of controversy between these different jurisdictions, the Municipal Law establishes a judicial tribunal, and not War, as arbiter.

War is the institution established for the determination of justice between nations.

Recognizing the irrational and unchristian character of War as established arbiter between towns, counties, and states, we learn to condemn it as established arbiter between nations.

If wrong in one case, it must be wrong in the other.

Not bodily infirmity or old age could exempt a litigant from the hazard of the Battle, even to determine differences of the most trivial import.

The proceedings were conducted gravely according to prescribed forms, which were digested into a system of peculiar subtilty and minuteness,--as War in our day is according to an established code, the Laws of War.

Thus do violence, lawlessness, and absurdity shelter themselves beneath the Rule of Law!

The Church, to its honor, early perceived the wickedness of this system.

At last, this system, so wasteful of life, so barbarous in character, so vain and inefficient as Arbiter of Justice, yielded to judicial tribunals.

The absurdity of Trial by Battle may be learned from the instances where it was invoked.

In the development of civilization how can the literature of War expect more honor than that of the Duel?

If the judicial combat was impious, monstrous, and unchristian, then is War impious, monstrous, and unchristian.

The whole complex system of the Law of Nations, overarching all the Christian nations, has but one distinct object,--the administration of justice between nations.

Would that with tongue or pen I could adequately expose the enormity of this system, involving, as it does, the precepts of religion, the dictates of common sense, the suggestions of economy, and the most precious sympathies of humanity!

Would that now I could impart to all who hear me something of my own conviction!

We see the desolation and death keeping step with the bloody track; we look upon sacked towns, ravaged territories, violated homes; we behold all the sweet charities of life changed to wormwood and gall.

Let us at all hazards prevent the extension of Slavery and the increase of the Slave Power.