Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-09-22
M ISON u IL A NEo


a RELIGIOUS AND PATRIOTIC OBEDIENCE
TO CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY, PRINIA
RY OBLIGATION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.
We copy with much pleasure the ensuing
extracts from a most admirable address deliv-
cred by the Rev. ii. V. d. Johns, at the inau-
guration of the President of the Miami Univer-
sity. The remarks Of this pious divine are
peculiarly appropriate at the present time,
when tire exercise of the greatest forbearance
is rcquisitet to repress the feelings of indignant
sorrow that invol1ntarily spring up in every
bosom at seeing the interests of the people
rrampled on and disregarded by those to
whom the people look for protection and
safety:
"The season is favorable for considering lust
such topic as has been proposed, for the We
fy air which we breathe, as it watts TO us from
every section of our land the tidngs Of the
day, tells the humlliating story of outraged
rights, growing INSTRUMENTATION, and popular
disregard for the salutary restraints of law
In times like these, how necessary is it to lift
the voice and proclaim that a religious and
patriotic obedience to duly constituted author
styis primary obligation of an American
citizen
stay not to prove the proposition which is
now proposed to you; should as soon
think of attempting TO demonstrate any one of
the plainest aXioms of science. The sentence
an which our subject is couched, contains
truth which shines with self evident bright
ness, as clear and vivid as the stars of our ma
tional banner. We, as citizens, have entrust-
ed the sacred deposit Of our civil and religious
liberty, not SO much to the sword, the bayo-
net and the cannon, as TO the guardianship of
written laws, divine and human. Obedience
10 these laws, and to the authority by which
they are duly executed, is manfcstly prima-
nv religious and patriotic obligation of Amer
lean citizenship an obligation the sacred
ness of which, can only be estimated by the
linspeakable value of the interests at stake
What other nations have struggled for and
shed torrents of blood TO secure, we profess
to nave obtained, and proclaim to the world
mat we are free, that is self-governed peo-
pie; living with an charging national pros
Perty nnder the broad arch ofjust and equal
laws, derived from God and our own elective
Legislative assemblies. But what is the kew
stone of this arch? ] answer, a yirtuons.
healthy, and intelligent state of the national
conscience, tenderly sensitive to the obliqa-
ZION oil prompt and cordial obedience to duiv
constituted authority. So long as this lives in
me breasts OF our fellow-citizens, we are safe
nor snail we ever blush atdiscovering that our
commence In republican institutions has been
misplaced. But with waning public v;r,ne
and lax and easy conscience, in regard To- tho
universal obedience to law which we should
render, the keystone of the arch of American
freedom crumbles; ruin follows, and we are
crushed as nation,
Religion and patriotism, therefore. bind this
ooiigaslon OF obedience to duly constituted au
tiority upon the honor and conscience of ev-
cry cluzen. we should drink it in with our
mother's milk, and cause it to grow will, orr
growth, and strengthen with our streno,b. In
It's preservation are involved our dearest rights.
our most valued possessions, and hence the
man who directly or Indirectly, either by fail
ing to execute; evadiDg or insulting the laws of
tne land,conrl6utest to the weak enipg of this OBJ
i'gation, should not only be viewed as a traitor
70 his country, but an enemy alike to God ard
man: In tramPling law, he invades the general
welfare and IN spurning the restraints of duly
constituted authority, he assists either in dr;v-
ing society backward to state of nature. or
IN urging 1t recklessly into dcspotsm. These
a'e Tue alternatives to which mankind must
nave recourse when divine and human laws
ana aulhority iaIl In protecting their dearest
ilsh's' society oissolves, or evokes the iron
SP.0'0 VI h,.i'diy ueSPotlsm--eIther of these
extremes, odious as they are, being Justly &c
teemed preferable to government of law in
name, but of brute violence in fact
The time has come when religion and pari-
otism must awake to the duty under consider
auon' The Christian patriot must ask what
are MS responsibilities under the scriptural
Charge, the "powers that be ordained are of
Oou -.render unto Caesar the things that
are Cesar,sj !" "honor all men love the broth
erhood fear God honor the kinon Tic
republican paraphrase of which is .eRonor the
Government" And what are his bounden
obligations under the great charter of the
American Constitution Has he no work 70 do
when spirit of evil import stalks through the
land, and threatens the very foundation of