The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-02

duties snjoiusd BY the constitution. may Il not also Be
with reference 10 I'll duties prescribed BY the constitution
and laws and by the regulations Of every community and
socetyi Do not such vicious doctrines unoose all obi
CATION to duty and strike at the very foundations Of So
cia orderi II individuals to be the judges in all
cases Of the obligation OF laws and the requirements OF
duty what security will there be for property or even for
life itselfs
twill be well for those Of the community who have
stake in sound and efficient administration OF whole
some law-and we gratifed to know that nearly all in
this country have such staketo ponder we'll the nature
and the consequences Of the rules Of action which
Mr. Seward and his compeers have prescribed for the
government OF men. IT, according TO this new school Of
political ethcs men may violate the duties enjoned BY
the law Of the land with regard to fugitive slaves. on
the preence that those duties interfere with the dictates
Of their consciences may they not violate those
duties which the law epoins with regard to the rights Of
persons and OF properly May not Fourierte OF
socialist rise up and like Pudhon the Frenchman, enun.
cate the sublime axiom, that "a property theft. And
would there not Conscientious be found in every
muny. who would believe il to be their duty to view
an property holders as thieves and punish them for their
crimes, by taking il away And would they not find
ample iasfACAon in the principle enunciated by the free
sellers with regard to fugitive slaves And. possibly,
may not conscientious man come to the conclusion
that the law which protects his neghbo against whom
he has grudge in the enjoyment Of life. is not bind
ing upon him. and. thus concluding, would he not deem
il his dsy to put his neghbor out Of the way BY focbe
means!
And how will ii be with the interests of religion itself,
il this arfu appeal to religious pejudices shall receive
the countenance Of religious Does it not strike
blow as fatal to the cause Of religion and to religious in
situons as it does the safety and well being OF socie
ty. Men properly educated, with mature and cul-
tvated reason may perhaps take conscience as guide
in determining their duty in reference to their obedience
Of the civil laws and regulations Of society Such mems
consciences will direct them to obey the laws of society
even ii they do meet with their appreciation They
will pay the tribute Cesar, if they think he is not
susy entitled to it. il its payment is enioined by law
And in this country, such will appeal 10 the people
to repeal bad laws, instead of hunting up in their con-
sciences excuses for violating them But let the perni-
cious and vicious principles enunciaed by Senator Seward
and his CONDUCTORS be adopted the rule and guide Of
mems conduct in all the duties Of e and would not be
long before all law would be nullifed the foundations Of
trnes if carried out their extremes would reduce soci
to chaos and subveri religion by driving men to infde
iy as the only Of roofing up and extrpatag the
vile precepts preached in the name of religion.
We would, therefore, invoke all who are inclined to
favor the plausible principles of moral duty put forth by
the free. soil agiaors the guides Of human action o
ponder well their remote consequences upon society
now constituted This matter should command the Sc
rious attention Of every who has life, liberty, and
property at stake in the community, and il should ALSO
arrest the calm consideration Of the friends and teachers
Of sound morals and true religion II Stewards conscience
principles are to be adopted cannot what objection
can be made to Greeleys communism The axiom lying
at the bottom Of the is. law is yrant and that
lying at the bottom Of the other is property is theft
Thus there is strong affinity between the two systems
a there Is between their two champions.