The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-20

and Thought would give him another, though il might
be less efirctual a4a u 5lta ,s1a.a 3'ia I'M
pictures, and i The editors think The piece Of place
or unworthy, they can give the go.by. IA .F64e
l1e' Truly, your friend 81
Hon, GEORGE W JONES.
~l .da5aBae Communicated.
..FuGlTivE-sLAvE Law" ny "A fa
Having noticed in the public prints some extremely oh.
ectonabe sentiments, in reference the subject ndi.
Gated BY the title above, from the Rev, Henry Ward
Beecher, OF brooklyn propose briefly 10 reply To one
of the sentiments expressed by tho reverend gentleman
most heartily assent: s.."t sRa *sHa
:. Let stand unco, ed doduiilg between da
light and dark on this val principle" s4t stSFi
This is manly advice. This is time when the coun-
try expects every man 10 do his duty" Let him do
not under the dca,on OF another mind, because il may
be holder than his own for that mind may be in error
not under the light OF another mans because
1t may be perverted conscence-not under another
mans construction Of the peces Of The Gospel for that
consructon. though daring. may be false This is
subject in reference which every stands or falls to
his own Master so far as il is question Of conscience
Tie Rev. Mr. Beecher may be very confident that he is
right, and that confidence will do the foundation OF his
own action; but II il should turn out thar he is wrong
i will not cure the evil Of wrong action my part,
scfeen me nom my responsibilities make these re-
marks because OF the high tone which he assumes and
which is so well calculated to lead astray weak con-
sciences am notd disposed 10 dwell his sstaiernen
OF facts and his evident intention TO iname by his au
sons to the fahfaness OF the devoted wife fleeing join
In the name OF the lowest humanity, feed the one. though
she be on the wings of The pd and protect the other If
she be in dangeror the law iorbids yon do neither
Should the hawker and pedle of mechanically which
he did not come honestly--soct nights lodging with
the gentleman, he certainly would not be indicted for
secreng stolen goods because he suffered them TO remain
night in his house IN the possession OF him who brought
them there. Our author says: # l..a
e You must give direction fugitive, though his
b. W, %f e and his old limbs reveal half century Of
This is pathetic fancy. The act says no such thing
Should the " old limbs Of such fugitive carry
him to the hospabe mansion Of legal commentator
do doubt be might answer such questions should
be asked him without being subjected 10 prosecution
He need not know that he was fugitive. Every old
black not fugitive and should the direction be
given under the sumlse that he might be, why perhaps
the personal salts faction would be greater, at the
time that there would be entire absence Of danger
And them again. there is point made Of the unrsqued
fD.t The point might be good one, and then again II
might not be: Ii, alter fifty years OF toll when the head
becomes white and the limbs old the servant should
main with his MASTER he might be fully equed for his
toni care, susienance and kindness Tor the remainder OF
his life. Really, think Il poor time Tor servant to
turn fugitive after his head is white and his limbs
Old andl do not hink such cases are frequent enough
TO make a picture Of This is all OF very little import
ance though il be worth the effort to paint may be
worth the effort TO erase. fa
Further, our commentator says
the mnis,er Of Gospel. peacefully walking the
Sabbath sounding bell. turn aside, and help
scoundre hiieling down his save Il the marshal
| command him. or break the law
NOW, QOuOt Wnclutt Vi lHc 1Ospei
bound TO serve in the posse eomtatus At all events,
the reverend commentator should have that point
well examined before should consent 10 serve, or un
duly yex my conscience. And. moreover think IL fair
10 pres ae thar no high executive officer OF the
would so far forget what due TO propnety TO
summon minister OF the Gospel Gods holy day espe
cally while the Sabbath bell was Sounding 10 aid IN
| such work. ifa tar $50 Elf ars
Our commentator asks is the citizen bound to obey
every law and answers no. with confidence that puts
| distrast al defiance. But what says The authority:
| ! o mi
Lords sake, whether be to The king supfee or unto
governors a. an,o hen ,sa, are sem oy ,aa s AZ @
For is the will OF God, that with ~edong ye may pat
| 70 siIence the ignorance OF foolish men.
Now the inspired apostle does not say that he who
seeks right under the law OF the land is scoundre but
he does say that those who resist the supreme power are
both ignorant and foolish But may be asked, II
portion OF The word OF God " not 10 be construed by
| another! Undoubtedly il is But can single precept
be found which either connsels toerates resistance
10 law, unless that law inefered with the right or
duty TO worship God forbade TO teach the doctrines
of relgionl Such the fact when Peter said we
ought 10 obey God rather than men, Such was
the fact when Paul awarded indignation aud
wrath unto them that contentious, and dad not
obey the ffuh"-tbat s, The doctrines taught BY
Christ and the apostles Such the fact with Daniel
"when he knew that the writing was signed and he
went into his house and kneeed upon his knees and
prayed. and gave thanks TO God, as he did afofehme
Because the Almighty would not suffer inpious king,
with his mpous councillors, 10 legslae him from his
throne and oi bis empire, does II therefore follow that
every may choose VIVA, law he will obey, and what
he will annul
Let it be remembered that the point is not whether
slavery right wrong but whether II IL allowable to
resist every law which any Individual may deem 10 be
morally wrong, Independent OF efforts 10 repeal H. This
is the true question, though oar commentator states II
some what different He says: No citizen is bound to
obey n law which commands him TO mild injury upon
anohermaking the OF the law 10 depend upon the
fact as 10 whether he shall be required TO make direct
and active efforts to sustain IT, Is not this both narrow
and sophistcal view OF the subject 1t is as much as to
say that those who believe the law right are bound 10
sustain H. and those who do not bound, but are
justified in open ressiance for TO tbs the position leads
II comes TO this, then, that law may be binding upon
ons-half OF communlty, and not upon the other The
apostle them was wrong in his injunction, Obey srsry
ordinance Of man. for the Lords sake" II should have
been obey such ordinances OF you may think
not wrong and the rest resist for conscience even
though that conscience be weak orperyeried s-., ~
Christ commanded 10 render to C@su the things That
were yCasar's. He commanded the performances OF
mirscle 10 pay tribute where twas not justly due, but
which he chose TO pay rather than offend.
Our commentator says "that law which enloins the
commission Of crime is dissolved in the courts oil God
the moment il is enacted"
Is moi this begging the question Who has proved II
TO be crime TO uphold this law Some things are
crimes by the common consent oil sll mankind other
things declared TO be crimes by the revealed word
other things still made crimes BY the enactment o.
law; but does II GENE within aihe condemnation Of
either to sustain this law He says.he sacred right OF
disobedence law which violates the cnnstence was
the parent OF civil and religious liberty The parent
OF civil and religious liberty may be thing and the
charter OF rights the fountain OF power another he
ssance OF rannica laws caused the Puritan fathefso