Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-09-22
Vol. xix.

| '''A~' NiSS may respect OF not, out one winch
Is bound upon their individual virtue and honor.
We are all interested in these inquiries; as il is
conceded point, that in our country, the sta
bility and efficiency of our institutions DEPEND
under God, on the state of public sentiment
the aggregate tone Of the thought and feeling
| of the nation
| Can we name principle, which, ifgenerally
d'iiused aud rightly apprehcntlSd, will be of a
sufficient energy to ensure the success of the
great scheme OF government under which we
i've "A principle SO energetic and conserva-
| i've as TO render government of law every
| where, IN our schools, our sanctuaries, and in
the state, safer protection for the rights of
person aud property, than a government of
iorce: ] believe that we have named this
| mr. a.f.,- when VIC announced the ,iiysh~ "
our aouress; and that il nc round IN the
| conviction, which should be lodged in the
mind OF every American youth and citiien, that
It is his duty as religious patriot to render a
cheerful obedience to every form of public au-
thority duly constituted and not only to o.
hey, but TO aid in Sustaining such authority.
The state of our country, and the great ex-
pertinent of government which is here being
made, calls for the union of the wise and good
OF all names and parties and for concentra-
ton OF their influence, in sustaining this prin-
clple, and Ill placing it ON its true basis, reli-
gion and patriotism. Our whole frame Of
government, and the entire structure of Amer
lean society, proceed upon the supposition
that our citizens will virtually respect tircir
own laws and be ready To vindicate them
when abused. We have soemnly assigned the
power of making laws TO our State and our
national legislature,-the exposition of these
laws TO our judiciary, and the execution of
these laws to the executive officers of our
State and general government; and here may
observe, that these remarks are equally rele-
want TO our ecclesiastical and literary ihsti,uA
tons.
lhe people OF our common country have
so decreed, but of late their solemn decree has
been scorned and insu,ed. A doctrine has
been promulgated i'll the high places oroflicial
power, and hastily espoused by the enemies
OF republican liberty, which virtually recalls
these grants ofpower from our LegisIatures,onr
Judiciary and executive ; confuses and DESTROYS
the division and distribution of power, and
bids each private citizen, whenever he feels
himself aggrieyed, take the law into his own
hands and interpret and execute it as he deems
proper fatal, deadly doctrine This, specious
and fascinating as it may at times appear, and
defended by pleas drawn from the fancied ne
cesslties OF the times -; doctrine dear TO the
heart OF despotism, but over which, if allowed.
the star spangled banner cannot long wave IN
peace.
| 1t is not TO be denied, that for some wears
past the spirit of lawiess INSTRUMENTATION has
been on the fearful increase through our bor-
ders, and that all the officers of public author
| ity in institutions of civil or literary charac-
ter have been conscious of growing Difficult
ty IN the discharge of their public duties-I
Witness the impotency of the speakers chair
In our halls OF national legislation the con-
fusion and tumult, and gross personality in
debate. Mark the effect of such example in
our legislative bodies Behold tile subjects of
public justice torn from our jails, and execu-
ted by the populace; an important CONNER
clal city east OF the mountains, for day at
least abandoned to the fury of the mob
whole body of singulary deluded men it is
true, but not for that in the eye of our laws to
be outlawed, expelled from the state in
which they lived. Recall the anxiety felt
by the lovers of peace and order, on the eve
of the elections of the last Autumn. multitudes
of citizens going armed to the polls. Suffer
me 10 point you to the unhappy relations of
our Governments to the greatest maritime pow
{ er of the world, arising entirely from the dis
| regard of handful Of our citizens for the
sanctlty OF law. What are all these things
but signs OF evil import--symptoms of growing
want OF respect for the guardianship of law,
and for existing public authority? And hence
I the remark, which may be too often heard
from Maine TO Georgia, that :the time has
come when we want Il stronger government
! There is throughout our country, humiliatng
as is the confession, all increasing sense of
insecurity in every right. Disrust is written
upon the national countenancc and the a.
merlcan citizen IS more respected and safe
abroad in foreign lands, than in many sections
of his own home.
! Such is the state Of our country at this hour.
and the evil originates, where but in criminal
abandonment Of the obligation alike of reli-
glon and of patriotisn,, to respect and obey duly
appointed public authority Our laws, what
are they but the ordinance OF God? And our
public oflicers--dare we, with the Bible i'm
our hand, regard them in any other light than
as the ministers of God to us2 Official sta
ton, the will of God to the contrary notwith-
standing, is less and less respected every day
and the love Of order and Of law is giving way
before the hydra spirit of liberty, so called,
but OF righteousness in fact,
The hopes of freedom rest upon the expul-
sion OF these odious principles and practices
and upon the diffusion of religious and pa
triotic sense Of the obligation of every rood
citizen to render ready and generous ODE
dience to duly constituted public authority for
the national conscience seems to have become
scared upon this subject.
! AS we are the most free people on earth,
we need more than al. others, a lofer than
roman virtue In our devotion TO the sacred
L g.