France made war against
one another; and he expected to see the day arrive when that which took
place with respect to the provinces of one country would mark the whole
of Europe; and that, as Normandy and other provinces formed one France,
at peace with itself, so the different nations of Europe could dwell in
harmony as one country. Then would be no longer war, but civilisation;
and cannon would only be seen as curiosities shut up in museums." M.
Hugo proceeded to descant on the vast expense of keeping up standing
armies, and the great advantages that would arise if such money were
thrown into the channels of labour, by which commerce would be promoted
and intelligence advanced. M. Hugo concluded by announcing that 500
francs would be given for a peace essay, and 500 francs for the best
collection of facts showing the horrors of war. The Archbishop of Paris
gave his adhesion to the objects of the assembly. The president of the
republic looked coldly upon the gathering, having no cordial feeling
to the chairman. The meeting was got up by the English peace party, and
chiefly under the auspices of Mr. Cobden. They regarded it as peculiarly
well-timed, whereas it is almost inconceivable how any number of men of
ability could suppose the occasion suitable, or that the state of
Europe offered the smallest hope of producing any influence by such
a convention. The resolutions submitted to the congress show how
impracticable they were at that juncture, and events in Europe have
since proved how uninfluential was the congress itself, and the opinions
it expressed. Tire resolutions proposed were adopted, and were as
follow:--

"1. As peace alone can secure the moral and material interests of
nations, it is the duty of all governments to submit to arbitration all
differences that arise among them, and to respect the decisions of the
arbitrators whom they may choose.

"2. It is advisable to call the attention of governments to the
necessity of entering, by a general and simultaneous measure, upon a
system of disarmament, for the purpose of reducing national expenditure,
and of removing, at the same time, a permanent cause of disquietude and
irritation from among the nations.

"8. The congress recommends all the friends of peace to prepare public
opinion, in their respective countries, for the formation of a congress
of nations, whose sole object should be to frame a code of international
laws, and to constitute a supreme court,