Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-24
POLITICAL.

II Rerie,o ofMc Proclamation of President Tack,o0 D,
the ION Of December, 1892; in a series Of numbers
originally published in the NOrfoik and Portsmouth
No X.
(By LITrLEToN WALLER TAzEwELL, Esouire late
Senator of United States)
Although | have contendcd that the several States
which compose this Union Free Sovereign and indie
pendent yet, let suppose even for an instant that
Ia asserting their supremacy, | 10 deduce from
thence, their emancipation from any Obligation A State
must be constituted by rational and accountable beings;
and although but an ideal creation yet only think
and act through its menbers it their character
IL so becomes moral and accountable being itself bound
by every moral obligation which attaches to man as an in
dividual; and even ina higher degree.
certainly do not concur with the learned author of this
Proclamation, in the new precepts OF Ethics of public
law which he announces therein when he saws ssa
binding obligation that has no sanction NAV be hro
with no other consequence than moral gut''-Or when
ne liners from that pouate that ga league betw
independent nations, generally, has sanction other IN
moral one; or, il it should contain penalty as there
no common SUPERIOR it cannot be enforced My error Ol
one) proceeds, probably, from my utter ncapacy 10
comprehend what is meant by moral Guilt or by moral
sanction 10 my dull apprehension moral guilt appears
very like true alsehood, and by moral sanction must
beiieVe is meant physical morality. doubt not however
that all those who understand what this State paper
MEANS when ii speaks of "aggregate character or of ga
nation Tor certain purposes, will easily discover what
hintends by moral guilt and moral sanction. Nayas for
merry we have been taught TO understood the possibility
OF constructive Journey and of moral Treason we may
expect 10 near in some commentary upon this psndec
constructive and unaccountable and of
the transfer OF moral allegiance.
According to my oidiashioned notions Morals and of
Law there Do human obligation without sanction whe-
Their such obligations attach individuals or to States: nor
does the existence OF the sancon depend upon The X
ence oil any common superior to enforce it. To inc it
seems soccism to speak Of Obig cations that 10 not
and that which obges the Observance of an obligation is
Its sanction, be that what may Nor would be less
solecism to suppose, that the sanction of any human obi
gauon was TO be lound in the prcccps of morality
for, as these precepts constitute obligations them.
selves one obligation would become the sanction of ano.
Their In such case, IT might probably puzzle the acu.
he of
moral guilt TO decide which the ohga alton aud ich
the sanction And II the existence OF common su-
peT,0T, necessary give validity TO sanctions fine
obligations contracted by STATES could he rigtly
enforced by other Sies, so long The equality of States
is conceded. fel before this author has ever
doubted the existence Of such right
Ii would be foreign to my present purpose 10 enonire
what IS the sancIi'n OF national Obligations by whom
how, or when, these may he applied aud enforced
may, perhaps 10 this subject hereafter. Al present
it will be only necessary say that il s not mora inv
merely but the Law that gives the sanction all human
obligations Which deserve tla name This law must lac
administered by human agents. who employ none other
than human means. In The case of individuals il is the
municipal law Of their country which gives The sanction
OF al their perfect obigdons This law is administers
by Magistrates only but its sanctions although declared bv
them alone must be cnofcod when necessary, by the
power Of ia ihc case OF States il is the uu b.
lie law Of the civilized world which gives the sanction OF
the obligations OF nations. This law j., administered by
States alone and the sanctions declared by it, be ap-
pied and enforced, when necessary 10y the physical pow
ero elr suyeci' "ho rs ~ The IOmer case, are mere
Thus IL occurs that in all cases the preservation
OF human ghs, must be entrusted 10 the hands OF hu-
man Power. But, until this guardian becomes his own
ward, power and right wiz not be conoundcd any more
than the obligation with lie sanction, either with tho
physical force that may posbly become necessary TO an.
ply the one or 10 enforce the other.
III state az moral being nay contract obligation
AZ an accountable being II j. Obliged to Keep its faith and
70 observe the promise o. las given. Should refuse IA
do 30, incurs the guilt OF violated faith, aud renders IT,
self amenabe 10 the punishment Of such guilt which may
then be TighDmig inflicted upon it, BY whom or when
or how, viii hereafter enquire Whether Ibis sanction
prove efcaciOus sanction canno alter ein,ei
the guilt or The light The unknown or fugitive male.
face, who escapes "u0Whipt NJ Justice cannot thu.
sonyer ,,s cnmc in'" VIA" i'1' 'uho would perhaps call
moral guilt m0., uo po",rii subject, who success.