Mr. Webster On Peace

1 he New York Chamber of Commerce reL-ently wuitcd uon Mr. Webster, ín that city. o expresa its higli eatimaiíon of liis services in tho negotiation of the Inte treaty with Great Britnin. That negotiation,' snys the President of' tiie Chamber. 'had lor its object, the final adjustment of the tong standing as well óa intiicate and important questions, atul this object has been süecessfully nccomplislied, on terina ihat are deenied alike honorable and salisfactory; while the spuit of ttuilual eoncession and concilintion that was manifestad on that occasion, have servet! tu enhanco the value ol the bencfits conforred, in the establishment ol friendly intercourse between two kindred nations, on a basis of assured conlidence and permanent tranquility.' 'Gentlemen,' replies Mr. Webster, 'in the progress of the civilized world, great changes have been wrought by commercial intercourse, by the general advancement in civilization, nnd, aboveall, by the benign inflnences of the Chris - lían religión. And these changes re nc cietirly ndicated by the subjectson which nations nowadays treat, as by any other maiks or p-oofs wh.aiever. In ages past, treatics were merelyalliance? made for purposes of war. or as defences ngainst war. or merely aa ompaets against the strong for the defenco of the weak, or against crowns and successful princes, and for preserving whflt wns considered in former days. tho 'balance of power.' Treaties in our own day, assume a new character. Not Ihat these subjects are excluded altogether: not that they are not often introduced; but a new class of subjects have nrisen frorh the influences ot Christianity, and have been inlroduced into the relations of Government. These are commercial regulations, and are for the adjustment of stich questions as arise fróm the intercourse of different nations, and es pecially are they of service, in preventing the crurlty and barbarism which were eo frequent tri former ages. Gentlemen, as I have said. treaties were formcrlv entered into. wars waged. immense treasures exliansted. and torrents of blood pourcd out, to maintain the balance of power among the na tions of the earth. ihat is, to keep the strong from oppressing the weak; and this secnnty against oppresston by the powerful, the weak sousht to obtain by alliancen, by armies, by foreign subsidies, and by military aid. But. thanks to the civilization of the aue. tbanks to the commercinl iniercourse of civilized nations, &. tlianks especially to the christian religión, which has beon so influential over the niinds of men, and tiie spirit of the times, anothe instrument sha been devised for maintnining this balance of power, far bevond, and infinitely nbove all the armies and navicsof the carth. That instrument is nor kI power - thejulgment of mankind: Ail the nations of the earth would view with indignution, now. dny such atteirfpt on the part of the strong to oppress the weak; nor in this age would any nation attemptsuch a deed as the partition of Poland. All the nations of Europc couid not eflect it. The nalious now lind security. not in their armins ar.d navies. but in the sense of general justice. the feeling of right which prevails in this civilized age, in which, if any in tent 8 perceived on the part of any to ïnjure the one, t is the duty of all to unite in resisting it. A general feeling of securit.v hae thus come to prevaii over the whole worid; bccausa nations now would not sit silent nnder any outrage of the kind - would not kei'p quiet. bu w.uld be loudly indignnnt vvhen any aggression by the strong is aitemptcd upon the rights of the weak.' Heré is a very important and mist anspicious change in the international policy of Cliristendom: and tl.is clrwne has rcsiilted mainly from ifie llshicr f tJotï v-pon the cffnrt.s made by the fiifíiidg of perrre. We have n ) room now, but are fully piepared to substanliate this statement. Fiere, too, is an argument for redonblecf zeal. Ifoljuis crowned with so much snecess, the few and feelile menns already used, shall wc ccase to relax our exertiuns? SIkiII we regnrd thissuccess asa proof "hatno more effbrt is necde'? No; it should onlv confirm our fai:h and