Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-02-25


not Justly bind ourselves 10 pay even the
penalty. If it is willingly submitted to, we
are but shifting obedience from one bad law
to another. II by our actions we declare
that the penalty is right, we acknowledge
that we have done wrong in disobeying the
law. But, | ask, is submitting to the penal
ty supporting the law? II we say that it is,
we must be driven to the singular conclusion,
that If the penalty were removed we could
not vote. For if the law simply %enjoined a
duty ,and we promised to discharge that du-
ty we would have no alternative but TO do it.
Nor would any rational, considerate person
say that the moment the penalty is affixed,
Chat which is designed to insure obedience)
they are released from the necessity of obey
ing the lawl 1t is true, tho law may give
us two alternatives, but the difference be-
tween this, and a law and a penalty ia too
clear to need an explanation. To sum the
matter up in few words, the law takes this
position you shall do a certain thing, and
in case of failure, you shall be forced to do
it by the inniction of a certain punishment.
When you obey the law, you preclude the
necessity of punishment. If this be not ac-
knowledged, there is no earthly use in any
promise whatever.
The oath or affirmation which il admins
tered when men are indicted into office is
wholly useless. They may bind themselves
to discharge their official duties, and consult
their own pleasure afterwards whether they
do it or not.
All secdrity derived from law must at once
be destroyed. All confidence which we have
in one another must cease. Promises will
have so much latitude that they will loose
entirely their efficacy. We must regard eve
ry one with a suspicious eye, and he regard
ed by all with d%istrust. But such a state as
this every one would wish 10 avoid. Hence
we have to come TO the conclusion that by
the act of voting we promise obedience to the
law, and if we do not fulfill this promise,
we cannot, by any course Of conduct whatey-
er, in relation to the penalty, redeem our pro-
mise, and especially not by that kind Of sub
mission, which those. who talk so loudly
about submission, have reference to.
They mean to submit, when they can no
longer help it. 1t is the same sort Of sub
mission that is practiscd by the thief, the
robber, the murderer, and the pirate, with
,Ii. ,.nant;o-. Ill.,. yr;n IT. ro,;,,,-zo L.,
physical force, they will not use this means,
but will employ secrecy TO avoid indictment,
or a counsellor 10 twist and misconstrue the
law in their favor, or to pick some trivial flaw
in the indictment through which they can
creep. Now if physical resistance is right
In sorne cases, as some of them contend, |
see not why it is not as UNSUITABLE in this
case as in any other.
Therefore the only way for him who is de-
termined to do what God requires of him,
any law of the government TO the contrary
Notwithstanding, is to take no part in the GO
vernment. But it will be commended that il
we do not vote. the government still requires
submission of us Just as much as though we
did-that it does not release US npon the con-
dition that we will not vote. This is true
but if We offer our resignation, and it is not
received, we are in justice released from any
farther obligations. We have given up our
citizenship, we have withdrawn all %volunta-
~ support, and the government will do just
as it ~pleases, for which we are not accounta-
BILE. We are not ~blanable for things that
we cannot help.
But it may be objected, that if We cease 10
vote we cease to exert an influence in the GO
yernment.
This is not true. The effect Of our vote is
but little, but our influence over others may
be very extensive.
We know that the influence of our vote
in changing public opinion is but a trile at
most, and we also know that if public opin,
ion is changed the laws mus, change in some
way or other to correspond with it. Hence
all that is to be done is to change public
opinion.