Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-08-15
From the HoHesdale az. ~ Democrat.
James G.. Birney,

The abolition candidate for President, in q letter
written on the 18th of Dec, 1874, though but recently
published, makes The following extraordinary decla
ration:
The objection that appears so insurmuuntable to
you, against swearing to support the Constitution Of
tho United States, does not present itself in The came
light to me. Such parts
of the Consultation as are opposed to the law Of God,
to common justice, TO humanity, TO good morals, | re.
ject as no part of that instrument. | should have no
hesitation 10 affirming to support the constitution of
the gorernmeat, whilst | should be prepared, indeed
consider myself bound to disregard any immoral pro-
visions lat might be found in it,"
What is this but a virtual justification of perjury?
If the Constitution Of the United States, in Mr.. Biz.
ney's judgm ent, is opposed, in one or many particu.
lars, ''o The law Of God, to common justice, to human.
ity, and TO good morals" that is good reason why
be should not swear to support it. But, his notionioi
swearing to support the Constitution, with a mental
reservation TO disregard such portions of that lnstru-
ment as, in his opinion, conflict with strict morality,
is mohstrous. That he should make so infamous an
avowal is astonishing. If a man may take an oath
TO perform the duties of a public office according to
law, with a mental reservation TO regard only so
much of the law as he thinks to be right, why may
not another man adopt the principle of mental reser.
Walton in giving testimony in courts of justicef
If MIR. Birney's party should be successful, and
elect himto the Presidential office, what a spectacle
he and it would present to The world! On The day Of
his inauguration, he would stand up in the presence Of
a great multitude of his fellow countrymen, and
swear to supportth Constitution, in all its parts and
particulars; TO support it not as she understands i" bat
as the authorized eXpounders of The Constitution, the
judiciary, understand it. And the next day, perhaps,
he would be found violating the plain and unequVo.
cal requirements of tho Constitution, and j~ustifying
his Conduct with the plea that he reserved the right to
co 80 when he took the oath!
Ii Mr.. Blrney believes any part of the Constilu.
hon immoral he cannot swear or affirm to uphold A.,
and be an honest man. At the commencement of his
present career, he put himself at the head of what
was prolessed to be a great moral movement for the
liberation of the slaves. To that move
ment, he aud his associates declared tina; they would
use no other means than argument and persuasion.
But, soon they discovered, or thought they discovered,
IN the strong religious sentiment and feeling that per.
vaded the country in favor of emancipation, a pow
eriul lnstrumentality which they could turn 10 politi-
cal account. Forthwith they seized upon it, and eel
at work to secure to themselves all the offices of the
Stale and General Governments. Previously Ia this
last movement, however, they had denounced the
Constitution as an immoral compact, entered INTO, IN
part, for purposes at war with justice and humanity;
they had thus denounced il SO frequently and so
olntodIy, that they could not recede from tina, posi-
ton without being exposed to differences discreditubIe
to :heir integrity. Having considered the difficulties
in which they were involved, they determined to main.
tain their stand, and avOw the intention, ia case they
should be successful in their political scheme, to sci
the Constitution al defiance, and take credit TO them.
selves for it, under the pretence that they were too
conscientious to support such an instrument. Their
plea for forfeited oath and violated Constitution, is to
be-conscience-lhe plea that great villains have set
up in all ages for their unnumbered crimes. The
buseness of these men is last developing. This dec
laralion of Mr. Blrney is the most cool and i~mpudenl
confession of fagitious purpose that has been made
10 modern INES.