The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-19

DANGERS OF THE REpUBLIc.-On Thanksgiving
Day, Nov. 26th, discourse on the state Of the
Nation was delivered at the Melodeon, in Boston,
by the Rev. THEODORE PARKER, and subsequent
" published entire in the Chronotype, as phono-
graphically reported for that paper. The follow
ing extracts We give as sample Of the whole dis
And now, word OF our DANGERS. There seems
no danger from abroad from any foreign State,
unless we begin the quarrel none from famine.
The real danger, in one word, is this, that WE
SHALL TRY TO ENACT INJUSTICE INTO LAW, AND
WITH THE FORCE OF THE NATION TO MAKE INIoUI-
TY oBEYED.
See some of the special forms of injustice which
threaten us, or are already here. shall put them
into the form Of ideas.
l. One, common amongst politicians, is, that
the State is for portion Of the people, not the
whole Thus it has been declared that the Con-
stitution Of the United States did not recognize
the million slaves as citizens, or extend to them
any right which 1t guarantees to other men. 1t
would be sad thing for the State to declare there
was u single child in the whole land to whom it
owed no protection. What, then, if it attempts
to take three millions from under Its shield In
obedience tn this false idea, the counsel has been
given that we must abstain from all "political aei
tation' of the most important matter before the
people. We must leave that to masters, for
the State is for them-it is not for you and me.
They must say whether we shall "agtate" and
"dscuss" these things or not The politicians
are our masters, and may lay their fingers our
lips when they will.
9. The next false idea is, that government is
chiefly for the protection OF property. This has
long been the idea on which some men legslated :;
but on the nineteenth Of this mon:h, the disn-
guished Secretary Of State, in speech at New
York, uses these words 1.-THE great object of
government is the protection of property at home,
and respect and renown Abroad You see what
hn ,hara thau Il
protection Of the hat, and only takes care of the
head so far as it serves to wear hat. Here the
man is the accident, and the dollar is the sub
stance for hich the man is to be protected.
think notion very much like this prevails ex.
tensivey in the great cities Of America North and
South. think the chief politicians OF the two
parties are agreed in this that government is
for the protection of property, and every thing
else is subsidiary. With many persons, politics
are but part Of their business the State House
and the Custom House are only valued for their
relation to trade. This idea is fatal to a good
government.
Think of this, that the gre,t object Of govern
inert is the protection OF property Tell that to
Samuel Adams, and John Hancock and Washing
ton, and the older Wnhrops, and the Bradfords
and Carvers Why! it seems as if the burieb
majes Of Massachusetts would start out of IN,
ground, and, with its Bible in its hand say, this is
false!
3. The third false idea is this 2: that you are
morally bound TO obey the law, let it be never sc
plainly wrong and opposed to your conscience
This Is the most dangerous Of all the false ideas
yet named. Ambitious men, in an act of passion
make iniquity into a law, and then demand thai
you and |, in our act OF prayer, shall submit to it,
and make 1t our daily Life; that We shall not try
to repeal and discuss and az tate it. This false
idea lies at the basis Of every despot's throne, the
idea that man can make right wrong, and wrong
right 1t has become to be taught in New Eng
land, to be taught IN our churches Though sci,
dom there, TO their honor, be it spoken,-that il
wrong is law, you and must do what it demands
though conscience declares it is treason agains
man, and treason against God. The worst doc
trines Of Hobbs and Elmer are thus revived.
have sometimes been amazed at the talk o
men who call on us TO keep the Fugitive slave law
one of the most odious laws in n world Of odous
laws-a law not fit to be made or kept. have beer
amazed that they should dare to tell us the law OF
God, writ on the heavens and our hearts neve,
demanded we should disobey the laws Of men -
Well, suppose it were so. Then it was old Dan.
iel's duty, at Darius's command, to give up his
prayer {; but he prayed three times a day, with his
windowsup. Then it was John S and Peter g dutytc
forbear TO preach of christianity but they said
whether il be right in the sight of God to hearker
unto you more than unto God Judge We; then twas
the duty Of Amram and Jochebed to take up their
newborn Moses and cast him into the Nile, for the
law OF King ,Pharoah, commanding it, was 'con.
stitutional,' and political agitation was dscoun
tenanced as much in Goshen as in Boston. Blu
Daniel did not obey John and Peter did not fai
to preach christianity; and Amram and Jochebet
refused passive obedience to the king decree =
think II will take strong man all this winter &c
reverse the judgment which the world has passed
upon these three cases. But it is innocent to
try. However, there is another ancient case men
toned IN the Bible, in which the laws commanded
one thing, and conscience just the opposite. Here
is the record Of the law Nov, both tie chief
priests and the Pharisees had given command
merit, that ifany one knew wh're he, Jesus) were,
he should show IT, that they might take him. OF
course, 1t became the official and legal business Of
each disciple who knew where Christ was, to
make il known to the authorities No doubt
James and John could leave all and follow him,
with others of the people who knew not the law
Of Moses, and were accursed nay, the women,
Martha and Mary, could minister unto him of
their substance, could wash his feet with tears
and wipe them with the hairs Of their head. They
did It gladly, Of their own free will, and took
pleasure It ereln, | make doubt There was
no merit IN that-'any man can perform an agree
able duty But there found one disciple
who could perform "a disagreable duty He
Went, perhaps, with alacrity,' and betrayed his
saviour to the marshal Of the district Of Jerusa-
lem, VINO was called centurion. Had he no af.
1ecuon TOT jesus No doubt but he could CON
quer MS preJudices,' while Mary and John could
not.
JUDAS lscarlot has rather bad name in the
C"t WIN ne IL called the son of perditiOn
in the New Testament and his conduct ;s recloned
'transsression' ;nay,lt is said the devil entered
into him, to cause this hideous sin But all this il
seems, was a mistake certainly, il we are TO be.
lieve our republican lawyers and statesmen. Is.
CARROT only fulfilled his constitutional obligations,
IT was only on that point, of betraying his Savior
that the constitutional law reqired him to have
any thing with Jesus. He took his thirty pieces
OF silver about fifteen dollars-a Yankee would
10 IL Tor ten, having fewer prejudices to conquer
II was his legal fee, for value received. True, the
CHRISTIANS thought it was the wages Of iniquity,
ano even the Pharlsees-who commonly made tn,
commandment of God Of none effect by their ira
nIeons-dared not defle the temple by this pric,
o, o'ood'-but it was honest money; il was a.
honest Tee as any American commissioner O,
deputy will ever get for similar service. How
mistaken we are! Judas Iscario, is not traitor
d ne was great patriot; he conquered his preiu.
dce' performed dsagreeable dutv:' ms m of.
heer OF high morals and high p.ncipIe;' he ken,
me law and the constitution and did ali he
could !" save the 'union;' pay. h. was a saint, u,