POLICY OF KINGS.

NEAR neighbors, as Edson and West,
Held commerce, professing good will,
With daggers at each other's breast,
To show themselves ready to kill:
Can men of sense expect to see,
The fruits of love from such a tree?

Ye nations of Christendom, hark!
I tell you a sorrowful story;
Your Princes are yet in the dark,
Though they in this policy glory:
The way of peace they little know,
But still the seeds of mischief sow.

By treaties, professions, and forms,
They mutual Affiance proclaim;
While open Dependence on arms,
Says, Friendship is only a name :
If we may judge from what appears,
Kings deem each other Bucaniers.

By weapons of death in their hands,
Each nation announces to others,
'We view you as robbers in bands,
Disposed to make war on your brothers: '

This is the princely martial style

Thus Kings by deeds do Kings revile!

While Rulers such insults pursue,
Proclaiming each other as knaves,
And arming as banditti do,

Poor Soldiers are treated as slaves:

How great relief would subjects find,
Were Princes prudent, just, and kind!

Were Monarchs but Christians indeed,
Esteeming each other as just;
No longer the nations would bleed
By avarice, ambition, and lust:
Oppression's hand would cease to grind,
And Love and Peace would bless mankind.

How shameful if Kings are so vile,
As they of each other declare,
That subjects are fleeced all the while
Their mischiefs to' check or repair!
States surely need some better things,
Than princely robbers for their Kings!

THE

FRIEND OF PEACE.

Vol. IV.....No. 1.

REVIEW OF ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

In the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, formed by the American Congress in 1776, two of great importance were introduced, which were afterwards omitted in forming the Federal Constitution. Each of these articles. was obviously designed to save the states from being rashly involved in ruinous wars. The first was intended to prevent war between any two of the thirteen confederated states. The following paragraph will exhibit the plan, and the substance of the article:

"The United States in Congress assembled shall be the last resort on appeal in all disputes and differences now subsisting or that hereafter may arise between two or more states concerning boundary jurisdiction, or any other cause whatever, which authority shall always be exercised in the manner following:Whenever the legislative or executive authority, or lawful agent of any state in controversy with another, shail present a petition to Congress, stating the matter in question, and praying for a hearing, notice thereof shall be given by order of Congress to the legislative or executive authority of the other state in controversy; and a day shall be assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed to appoint by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter in question. But if they cannot agree, Congress shall name three persons out of each of the United States; and from the list of such persons, each party shall alternately strike out one-the petitioner beginning, until the number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less than seven nor more than nine names as Congress shall direct-shall in presence of Congress be drawn out by lot; and the persons whose names shall be so drawn, or any five of them, Vol. IV. No. 1.

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