LETTER FROM HON. AMASA WALKER.

PARIS, Sept. 1, 1859.

DR. BECKWITH, Dear Sir, -My last letter to you was dated in London, July 27th. I left that city soon after, in company with three American gentlemen, and proceeded to Belgium; from thence passed into Holland, and visited the interesting city of Amsterdam. From thence we went to Cologne, where we took a steamer for Mayence. This gave us a fine opportunity for observing the beautiful scenery of the Rhine, its vineclad mountains, studded with castles of every period from the days of the Romans to the present. From thence we went by rail to Basle and Geneva. Thence we passed up the valley of the Arve to Chamouni, and satisfied our curiosity by gazing upon that greatest of European wonders, Mont Blanc. Leaving Switzerland and the Alps, and passing through the southern part of France, we came to this place.

Throughout the whole tour nothing impressed my mind more deeply or painfully than the terrible fact that all the countries we skirted seemed crushed to the earth by the terrible oppression which the war-system engenders. We found soldiers everywhere, in the small city of Mayence above 8,000. We were awakened in the morning, while at that place, by the heavy tread of armed men. On looking out of the window, thousands of fine young fellows were seen passing through the streets on their way to the place of their morning drills. How melancholy a sight! Throughout our whole tour in Germany, we saw very few men engaged in labor in the field; the women, young and old, were employed getting in the harvests. Where were the men? No small share of them were playing soldiers. I am quite sure that the war system on the continent has the same effect in making labor disgraceful that slavery has in our slave States. Drudgery and toil are fit only for women, old men and invalids who cannot perform military duty. Such seem to be the sentiments of the people, as shown in their conduct. And it is certainly a natural result. Nothing can have a greater tendency to make men dislike and despise labor than to spend a few years of the early part of their lives in the idle and dissolute habits of garrrison or camp.

One of the most melancholy illustrations of what actual war is, we witnessed in seeing the shattered remains of the French regiments returning from the bloody fields of Magenta and Solferino. Wretched, haggard dirty, they were generally, though, as we are assured, "covered with glory." Most of them were mere boys, who had been dragged away from their quiet homes by the conscription.

Here in Paris we have another instructive scene. In order to render his great feat of arms illustrious and memorable, and amuse the Parisians (and as long as he can do the latter, he is sure of his throne, and no longer,) the French Emperor had, as you know, a splendid reception pre pared for the entrance of the army of Italy into the city. On this pageantry millions on millions were lavished; and in accordance with French

taste, the whole city were put in tinsel. It is over now, and we see the workmen engaged from day to day in demolishing the temporary pillars on which were placed statues that held in each hand "a wreath for the victors." These pillars were of great height; were made of plaster and highly gilded. The dragomen are now employed in carrying off tons and tons of this "plaster of Paris" covered with gold leaf. It is a shabby sight, and a painful one too, when we reflect that all France must be taxed to pay for such a useless and senseless expenditure. But this is the game Louis Napoleon is playing, and with wonderful success, so far.

And what is the next great act in the drama of war? The plains of Italy will probably soon reply to that question; in the meantime the nations of Europe, aye of the whole world, are to make another great stride in military armament. The artillery and ordinance of Christendom must be recast; must be rifled, made into Napoleon and Armstrong guns. If one nation commences the operation, the rest will follow; on the principle, "in time of peace prepare for war," all must follow. And then, when uncounted millions have been expended, and rifled cannon are universal, what has been attained? Why, more terribly effective engines for human destruction. Men may be killed at a greater distance, and torn to pieces more shockingly; "for it is one of the grand results" of Minnie rifles, and the improved cannon, that the balls they send tear the flesh and bones a great deal worse than the old fashioned instruments; so much so, that where used in the late contest, only one fourth part of the wounded were saved, while formerly three fourths of the wounded were saved. Besides all this, the nations of the earth will, when this mighty and beneficent work is accomplished, stand relatively just where they did before the change had been commenced; just as defenceless as ever, and ready to undertake another grand effort at improving cannon, vessels of war, and fortifications.

This great fact seems to indicate that the present is a peculiarly auspicious time for the friends of peace to exert themselves to arrest, if possible, a movement so terrible in the taxation it must impose on the people, and so perfectly fruitless in any useful result. There has never been any period in the history of our race when so good an opportunity has been afforded for assailing this absurd system as the present. The utter folly of it stands out in such bold relief, that every person of common sense can see it, when once presented.

In this view of the matter, I believe our English friends engaged in the Peace cause fully concur, and are making arrangements to do what they can to bring the subject before the people.

A very encouraging circumstance is, that several of the most efficient members of the present Parliment enter warmly into the measure of putting a stop to the idle and wasteful system which has so long oppressed the peoples of Europe, and involved them in almost hopeless bankruptcy. Two of the most distinguished members of the House of Commons, and

members of the present ministry, have taken an ative part in the Peace Congresses that have been held within a few years past, and will do all in their power, at the proper moment, to bring the subject effectively before Parliament.

Only one thing seems to stand in the way at the present moment, and that is, that almost the whole attention of the British people is turned to the great Reform Question, as brought forward by Mr. Bright. This consists mainly in three important propositions: First, that the constituencies shall be so far equallized, that the members when chosen shall represent something like a majority of the nation. At present, so much of the Old Rotten Borough system prevails, that about a fifth part of the voters choose a majority of the House of Commons! An old borough of two or three thousand inhabitants now sends two members, while Manchester with its 400,000 can send only two! The great manufacturing towns, like Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, &c., with 50,000 to 300,000 each, have no representative at all proportionate to their population.

Another change proposed is, that more persons shall be allowed the right of suffrage. Mr. Bright's proposition would give an extension of about double what it now is; and then it would be very limited compared with ours; but it would invest with the right of a citizen a vast body of intelligent men, well qualified to participate in the government of the country.

A third reason is the Ballot. At present, voting is done viva voce; of course every body knows how each one votes. The consequence is, a great part are compelled to act contrary to their wishes and convictions. The landed aristocracy have the means in their own hands of compelling the return of a majority of the House of Commons. This is felt to be a great oppression; the greatest obstacle in the way of all useful reforms. Of course the liberal party will struggle hard to obtain it,, and the conservatives will never yield it, except at the last extremity. The great battle, as all feel, is on this point. The ballot will allow men to vote as they please, and that is just what the Tory party most dread. An American gentleman was describing to one of this character the operation of the sealed Ballot Law of Massachusetts, which allowed voters to deposite their votes in envelopes. After listening attentively, he exclaimed with an expression of horror and disgust, "Good God! under such a system a man's own tenants might vote against him."

Now, although these reforms absorb the attention of our friends in England at the present time, it will be seen that the attainment of them will be the surest guarantee of the final triumph of the pacific policy in British legislation, because the war system has its strong hold in the British aristocracy. They live by it, fatten on it. And while the people by an ingenious and villianous system of indirect taxation, are made to pay the greater part of all the expenses, the nobility and upper classes monopolize the profit and glory it affords. To give the people power in England, is to strike a death blow at the war system throughout the world; for when England ceases to lead off in the absurdities and follies of continually in

creasing armies and armaments, other nations will be but too happy to follow her example. Such is my strong conviction, after a long consideration of the subject; so that, although the attention now bestowed by all classes on the great political reforms proposed, may prevent in some degree immediate efforts for the diffusion of Peace principles, I am sure it renders their ultimate success more certain.

Yours ever and truly,

AMASA WALKER.

GLANCE AT THE PRUSSIAN WAR-SYSTEM.

EVERY Prussian subject, on attaining his twentieth year, is compelled to serve in the ranks of the army. Those who have received a military education, and who are intended to follow the pursuit of the army, pass their examination after a service of some months, and become officers; but the great mass, all the private soldiers, serve in the ranks for three years, and then join the reserve, in which they remain for two years longer. By a curious condition of the military organization, these reserves can only be embodied when the Landwehr are called out. Having completed his services, the soldier doffs his uniform, and resumes his peaceful pursuits as a citizen; but he cannot beat his sword into a ploughshare, nor his spear into a pruning hook, for he remains in the Landwehr until his fortieth year, and must devote fifteen days annually to military exercise.

The Landwehr is divided into two classes. The first contains all between the ages of twenty five and thirty-two, the second those between thirty-two and forty. Even at forty the Prussian subject has not completed his military allegiance to his country; for he remains in the Landwehr until the age of sixty, and his services are called for in case of foreign invasion. Such, in a few words, is the Prussian military system, and it is sufficient to show the enormous results attending a mobilization of the

army.

Mobilization means, in European or Prussian parlance, bringing troops into actual service, or putting them in motion for war; and in this case the reserves are called out, and all Prussian subjects in the first division of the Landwehr- viz., the whole male population under thirty-two years of age are brought into active service. The army is thus increased to upwards of 300,000 men, and when the second division of the Landwehr is summoned, to upwards of 400,000.

THE EFFECT OF MOBILIZATION - is instantaneous and startling. It reaches everybody and almost everything. Its demand is like the call of fate. No excuse avails; every man must obey the call. The banker leaves his money bags, and the lawyer his briefs, the merchant his books, and the farmer his crops. The farm horses are taken for the cavalry and artillery. All peaceful pursuits are abandoned, commerce languishes, and, while the harvest is plenteous, the laborers are few. The expense is also a serious matter to a poor country like Prussia, as it adds from $60,000,000 to 75,000,000 per annum to the budget. Increased taxation becomes an inevitable necessity. The price of all the necessaries of life is augmerted, and the youthful manhood of Prussia debarred from all other pursuits save that of arms.

INCREASE OF PRUSSIAN ARMAMENTS. The general spirit of competition to prepare for war seems to have lately seized Prussia. It is said the Prince Regent has signed an order for re-organizing the army. The object is to proportion the means of national defence to the population and resources of the country. It is determined to return to the original system,

by which every man capable of bearing arms, is bound to serve, so that in case of necessity, the army will number upwards of 700,000 men. This arrangement offers a reduction of the time of service from three to two years. The Prussian Government have adopted the most recent improvements in arms, and display great vigor in increasing and perfecting their artillery. She seems to be hot in the race of preparation for war, as if it were really a question of life or death, and is said to be manufacturing cannon at the rate of one in two days.

WHAT IT TAKES TO CARRY ON WAR.

On this point we have from the war department of France some curiously instructive documents touching the Crimean wai. The whole force sent by France to the Black Sea, was 309,268 soldiers and 41,974 horses! Of the former, 70,000 were killed or died in the hospitals, or were otherwise missing, while 93,000 were wounded and survived. Of the horses, only 9,000 returned to France. The great guns were 644, besides 603 furnished by the navy. The light artillery for field service furnished 500 guns more, and in all there were 4,800 wheel vehicles for cannon sent from France. The missiles of death, too, were fearfully vast; 2,000,000 of shells and cannon-balls, 10,000,000 pounds of gunpowder, and 66,000,000 ball cartridges! One hundred batteries and fifty miles of trench were constructed, besides ten miles of defensive works, and five miles of subterranean galleries in the solid rock.

The food sent from France, besides items of smaller quantities, was 30,000,000 pounds of biscuit; 96,000,000 pounds of flour, equal to 450,000 barrels; 7,000,000 pounds of preserved beef; 14,000,000 of salt beef and lard: 8,000,000 pounds of rice: 4.500,000 pounds of coffee; 6,000,000 pounds of sugar; 10,000 head live cattle; 2,500,000 gallons of wine, and nearly 1,000,000 pounds Chollet's preserved vegetables, were among the larger items of supplies. The horse feed, too, was immense: 170,000,000 pounds, equal to 85,000 tuns of hay; 180,000,000 pounds, (90,000 tuns) of oats and barley; 20,000 tuns coal, charcoal and coke. There were 150 ovens to bake bread, and 140 presses to press hay.

The clothing was another branch of large supply, comprising garments in such hundreds of thousands that it would be tedious to enumerate them : but, as some clue to the matter, the number ranged from 250,000 to 350,000 of each article of clothing, For the piercing cold of the Crimea, there were 13,000 paletots, 250,000 sheepskin gaiters, and tents for 250,000 men. The harness and farriery departments present an immense quantity of supplies; among them were 80,000 horse shoes, and 6,000,000 horse shoe nails.

For hospital arrangements, they sent 27,000 bedsteads for invalids, as many mattresses and coverlets. There was the material for ambulances for 24,000 sick men, and 600 cases of instruments, and 700,000 pounds, (350 tuns) of lint, bandages, and dressings of various kinds. Then for the sick there were the most liberal supplies for their sustenance, such as concentrated milk, essence of boullion, granulated gluten, etc.

There were, also, vast maritime preparations for conveying the army and its supplies over the sea. Among the vessels employed between France and the Crimea, were 40,000 tuns of American shipping, embracing some of the finest and largest clipper vessels, as well as some steamers of the American mercantile marine, and for whose services a liberal compensation was made. Taking the totality of all the voyages made by all the men, horses, and materials, there were conveyed by the French government, during the two and a half years of the war, 550,000 men, 50,000 horses, and 720,000 tuns of materials.