Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-04-30
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
S.TITRDtY MORNING, APRIL 81 1857.


|
SS,THRDtY MoRNING, APRIL "a. 1850
! ,s THERE "A POWER ABOVE THE CONSTITUTION,
co. d, o;,ce we freely INDUCED in some very severe
;,ures nnon the infamous and disorganzng principles Oh
Seward that prince of demagogucs and aooh'oh's'
diaries His organ The N Y Courier ana Enquirer pa
r ,h which We do not exchange flew 10 the rescue OF
its idol and, as learn from 'he hAples'' "a' INV
=, No in rcnlv We havo not seen the Couers article anu
m adon as our reply the following structures OF the
y Y Exnreo. Nhip) with which we in the main agree.
a for the concluding hit at ourselves, we nave ohiy " say
that our indignant rebuke of Seward was moi uh
bu the naked truth in every way sustained oy tue
own ARGUMENTS II is bad sign for the South however 10
see paper like the N Y Courier sustaining TIC anu
disorganizing doctrines OF se"alu
IT., r, i nd Enourer quotes from the Express CEN
NJ The senator Seward that there IA power above te
Constitution" with view % iepys ~ ~ n stdi tho
in oc and fact and for the purpose of defending inc
;i5n - 81 Senator 10 which took exception Inc
answer ~ NOT directly but TO the Richmond Enquirer
ND ~ srnnose we are consider ourselves whipped over
rho b,cs ri the Richmond Editors for giving uttcrance 10
the heresy of rejecting innovation as heerodox ana dan
gerous 1t is opinion heveriheiess una. no paG ;
man has right TO defend or proclaim any such doctrine
&c rbs Ir rhe Constitution is repugnant to sound morals
it is contrary TO spirit OF the Government IL Is 10 yo
on OF human rgS i then over the citizens and pre-
emineny over public men, II remains IN iu orce pup
lie man. like Senator in Congress win ms mana anu a a.
moi think any words within that Bible to which the Courier
refers can outweigh his oath before God even suposng e
CONSTITUTION 10 he rspugnant its worst enemies repre-
sent il The Oath both voluntary and necessary and no
abstract sentiment mans opinions OF policy or duty
changeit. Obedience TO H. IN me oischarse o. ms o
imperative Knowingly To violate II, Is knowingly 10 com
nit perjury If the Constitution contain acquisitions whch
the pubc obey his first duty as clear as
The light of day and that remove himself from as many
of its requirements possible by withdrawing nse from
The place which makes direct parctca and daily obedience
| rhn('
From Blackstone
"Ths law Of Nature being coeval with mankind and dc
taed by God Of superior in obligation 70 any other
binding all the globe in all countries ana nj all uncs
human lors any raday i contrary to tbs; and
valid derive all their force and authority
| mediately o. Immediately from this original"
| From Burke
law though made virtually but actually py
the peope not representavey but collectively would
op null void because it would be against the principle oil
superior law, which it is not in the power OF any commu
nity of The whole OF man, 10 alter mean the VIII
of Him who gave nature and, in giving impressed
| inyarable law upon II"
From Cicerol
"Thc and moral sense Of man prescribcs law In
harmony nature alpervadng constant eternal; which
10 duty by positive inunclons ana detes from vice
py positive prohibitions. 1t is not right 10 attempt enact
which weaken the force OF this law; II Is not right TO
deropae auoht from sanciionsno 10 possible 10 annu
it, By no action of Scnates of people we be ab
solved from obligations 1t Is its own expounde and In
tepreer. IL thing al Rome and another AT Athens
thing to-day and another thing to-morrow among all
/
changing Like God himself it rules over and controls all
The each and all of these declarations returns
10 the question: is bound by his OATH? We do not
stop consider whether the Constitution is repugnanI
10 the law naure but the fact whether the public SER
want bound 10 support it, and the whole Of it, at all times
and in all places in 1850 in 1S9 and in New ok az IN
South Carolina We hold there Isl for such one, no ex-
cuse dsobcdcnce right TO deny the bndngforce
Of sucha duty Of the authority under which the command
| is imposed. 49,,
The Courier says 'the South has uniformly proclaimed
the existence of law superior to inc Constitution o inc
United She has claimed and is even now claiming,
the right nudity that Constitution whenever IN her JIog
men rights and her own interests fail 10 be duly
protected by Her public do not hesitate to proclaim
floors VI Congress. Flor state Legislatures nave
| taken steps 10 act upon it,"
This with all respect is begging the question II is not
whether Intangible party State may refuse obedience
the General Government, which General Government
like the mother country in reference TO the coonies may
nave refused protection 10 lis offspring, but whether man IN
service Il" his country ghtuy obey or teach others
obey the doctrine that there is "a power higher than the
Constitution Nor is the question 10 be irtered away py
confoundng il with matters alien 10 il in kind and degree
The Constitution gives the States powers direct and Indirect
s when cuners upon all reserved powers those
specified belonging To the Federal Government The
States under The Constitution may resist any infrdcfion 81
their pripegcS but neither State nor public servant,
nor even CITIZEN enjoyment of blessings conferred
the Constitution that he superior TO IT, 50 long
is the supreme law of the land To this opinion we
have right 10 add, in support OF IT. That the Constitution
framed by wise and good men, and for great and holy
purposes Under it this Government has grown from three
10 nearly thirty millions Of people Under it religious and
civil freedom prosperedand under il have been
blessed and favored they been under other gov
eminent on the face ot the globe
We may be uering hcresy in the opinion Of many when
say that there Is 10 us no power above the
but if there is where does il exist Is ii in the Bible! We
answer the Constitution IL not repugnan 10 the Bibc and
if were though il is the foundation stone OF all sound law
pure morals, the Bible Is not civil code OF Jurspri-
dencc The courts do not know Congress does not know
IT, Legislatures do not know II AS such; though Judges,
civilians legislators and all men, everywhere ought hear
obey and cherish its teachings the pearl of great price
must conound the Church with the Senate house;
| l,..r rl hn of
the human authority for their temporal government We
do not put the Constitution above the Bible above the
lave OF They are independent and distinct subjects
and suppose may obey both without being
sary martyr Constitution LIBERAL intelligent, and
national We have not said that Senator Sc
ward has maintained any opinion contrary to ths and in
indicating him. we did, from the foul aspersions Of the
Richmond Enquirer did expect call down upon
the anmadvcrsions OF the Courier.
DEMOCRATIC AND WIG JUSrlCE.-A CONTRAST.
1t believed in this city Thursday night that Mr.
Mayo elected STILL proposed that the polls should
he closed al Hcnco house. where there MAORI
" of Democratic Commissioners.
At Sweencys Democratic stronghold the contrary
the Wing Commissioners, who had majority, closed the
polls on Thursday night-though il plain that all the
Wing spent, and the Democratic vote not al all
given This is one of the fragrant ourages know
Oft shows how the gallant stand Of candidate has
made the knees of the Whgsto embe. We appeal every
Democrat who has yet given vote 10 cast to-day for
Mayo. The polls open at the Court House.
At Swecney's, Ms majority is only lG; had the polls
been improperly closed il would doubtless have reached So
From the Short Pump we have nothing definite.
ssse--
! PETERSBURG.-We understand there number oil
Wing in this city who have yet gone
The ocos will be seen, and contemplated,
making desperate rush Mr. Syme, and though do
believe will succeed in beating him, yet they will pusa
him 10 the eyc-ashe He sc need all the help he get
We appeal the Wing therefore, in the of the
Wing party and OF the country which we all believe can on
" be saved from the disasters by the supcna
CIV OF lis principles forward this Time, when their