The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-04

utterly deny, speaking in reference 70 the cond-
ton of man established by God himself in the
world that in country there is, OF can be, any
" higher duty" in conflict with the Constitution,
than that of main tanning the Constitutions and this,
for the simple that the Constitution is Gre
alton by the people, and contains within itself a
provision for its alteration and improvement. No
government in the world has been or can be
established on any higher principle than our own /;
and therefore it is plain contradiction to say that
its overthrow can be justified by an appeal to any
principle whatever.
No mans conscience is answerable for any evil,
if evil exists, under the existing Constitution, for
the evil is not "purposed" (the argument is Shaks-
peare's) by those who purpose to maintain the Gov
eminent. Ifany man supposes an evil exists un-
der the Government, be can find ample scope to
clear his conscience by laboring, under the Con-
sttution, to change. and, as he may imagine, to
improve the Constitution, BY the means pointed out
in the instrument itself; and that may be done
without the sin of intiicting upon the country the
greater evil of disunion, anarchy, and bloodshed,
with the possible result of fastening upon the peo
pie an absolute government.
address only the conscientious of my coun-
trymen-the honest and the conscientious--who
may be in danger Of delusion from this illuso-
ry and somewhat fascinating principle of the
"higher duty" and point out to them field for
their labors, if they feel called upon to labor
under sense of duty arising under the Con-
stitution; field in which they may honestly labor
without committing the enormous sin of endeavor-
ing to overthrow the government of the country;
for maintain that while the Constitution provides
within itself means of change, by which any sup
posed evils under it may be avoided, it is the "high-
est duty" of every citizen desiring change to re-
sort only to those means, and if he cannot succeed
he is bound to regard the voice of the country
pressed through the Constitution, the voice OF
God.
While was abroad found-and appeal to all
Americans who have been in Europe for the truth
Of what ! say-that the people OF what are called
the middle classes everywhere full OF curiosity
and hope in respect to country and its institu-
tons; and the opinion is just now becoming uni
versa in spite of every effort to keep it down. that
we are a prosperous and happy people, under q
legitimate and permanent Government. This is tc
mutitudes of them source Of inexpressible joy
| serving to encourage them in the "higher duty
of endeavoring to establish among themselves the
blessings of government like our own. 1t is easy
to that this "higher duty" cannot be one thing
there and another here. The higher duty both here
and everywhere is to labor for the good of the
whole; but this is to be done by the limited ano
human means ny WHICH inc pToNlueuCe u Oou, IL
the affairs Of man, is always realzed-not by an
archy and civil war.
While abroad explained, over and over again
for was often questioned about it, the true state
things in regard to slavery in this country, anc
why the General Government has no power to abol
| ish it. never failed, at proper times and places
to explain what called the compromises under
which the Constitution formed, and never
failed, far as could judge, to satisfy my hear
ers that no man in this country is especially re-
sponsibe for either the existence continuance o.
| slavery in part OF it.
There times when it is the duty, even the high
duty, of every good citizen who feels that he hal
something to say, to declare himself, and to take
! his stand by the Governmental and the Constitution
Under the persuasion that am within the exercise
of this duty, send you this letter for publication
| and am,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
| f. A. HITCHCOCK,
Colonel United States Armu.