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


JOHN C. CALHOUN.
Born March is, l7s2. Died March 81. 1850.
They will be deposited for time in the vault Of the
Congress buryng ground to await the disposition Of ms
family 10 be transported to the soil Of his native State
las Mr. Winthrop styled it in his beautiful and touching
|address--.his adored and adoring South Carolina"
|Dem.~ogu,sm aud Fanatlcism. Their ConsequenceG
During the pending debate in the Senate Of the United
States upon the slavery question, principles have been
put forth by certain senators which will not fail to at
tract the attention Of the friends Of good order and Of all
who are in favor Of just and efficient administration OF
law as the best means Of securing the protection OF the
rights of individuals and preserving society itself The
doctrines to which we aude have thus far been enun-
caed only by those senators who profess to De OF the
Tree soil faction viz Messrs Seward, Chase. and Hale
Goyernor Seward first put forth the sentiments that when
Those duties which men regard as moral dutes-du-
lies enoined by the laws Of God as they understand
Them in conflict with the laws OF man, with con-
sutions or statutory enactments OF mere human legis
atues the latter were to be dsregaded, and treated as
|nules. To make practical application OF bis doc
trines Senator Seward took the position that an ind-
yidua believed that the provision OF the constitution Of
1.-The United States requiring the restitution OF fugitive
slaves was in violation OF the moral law, he was re-
eyed from the obligation Of enforcing or OF assisting to
|enforce that provision II we do not mistake the ten
dency Of the arguments OF the other two free-so sena-
TORS Messs Hale and Chase, they concur In the doc
|trines expressed by Senator Seward.
Therefore, it may be regarded the cardinal Prnci-
pe OF the soil PLATFORM that in all matters in which
slavery is concerned conscience to be the sole umpire Of
individual conduct that is to say il the constitution
and laws OF the country require certain duties to be per-
Horned respecting the subject of slavery every man Is
exemp, from the obligation Of those duties If they conflict
with the dictates OF his conscience, what ne under
stands to be the moral law, and therefore the will OF
IGod
Such is the strange and startling doctrine announced
by the leaders of the freesoi and abolition factions in
the Senate OF the United States That the expounden
Of such doctrines and principles believe in their sound.
ness we have too much respect for their intelligence to
credit for one moment Wedo not believe that Messs Sc
ward Chase and Hale are wild fanatics. unreasonng
enthusiasts who believe that the blind impulses Of NOR
Ibid sentiment are better guides for human action than the
deliberate conclusions OF sober reason. On the contrary
we believe that the principles which have been snun-
cated by the ree.so leaders are not those by which
they would themselves be guided, by which they
would have society controlled in any Of its great duties
land interests II Is the arfu demagoxues platform OF
faith addressed to the rel gous sentiment Of the commu-
ni,y to accomplish purposes and to induce action. which
the inventors Of il have no hope Of accomplishing by
sober arguments addressed to the reason Of men.
The scheming politicians who have devised the
system Of doctrines recently promulgated in the Sen
ate, know enough Of human nature to be con-
vinced that there are thousands upon thousands in
EVERY community who most earnestly desire to do right
In all hngs-to square their conduct in conformity to
what they conscientousy believe is Gods moral law re-
gardless Of the laws and regulations Of men, Ia the
abstract, this sentiment is most praiseworhy, and would
lead to no perncous results il human reason was itself
nfable and would unerrngy point to truth and 70 the
path Of rec,itude But, unfortunately for poor human
and for the interests Of human society the reason
Of man is not thus nfallibs And therefore, il sentiment
and impulse are to be the guides Of action. however pure
and conscientious may be who submit to the control
Of such guides immense wrong will be done both TO society
and to individuals. knowing this weakness OF human
nature, and that through it honest and conscientious
men may be induced TO do things which their unbiased
and uncouded reason would condemn. even TO the de.
xardng Of the rules and regulations Of government which
every civilized community is obliged to adopt for its
protection, the freesoil demagogues have seized nod
Of il to accomplish easily their purposes Of aqua
ZION.
We have deemed il necessary 10 call the attention OF
our readers and Of the country to the o. tue
real effect and tendency Of the doctrines OF the freeso
leaders, as lately expounded in the Senate that they may
be fully comprehended in all their enormity and in their
pernicious consequences The abstract principle an
oounced by the free soil leaders, stripped Of all disguise,
i this at no man is obliged to obey ats wtih ~ MS
he believes to be violation Of the iar Of God
I, makes every individual the interpreter Of the laws un
der which he lives and the Judge Of the extent Of the d
ties and obligations which those laws impose for the pro-
lection and we-being Of society Il strikes fatal blow
to all obligation to obey the laws. TO abide BY those
wholesome regulations which all societies and commune
ties are obliged to prescribe for their welfare and safely
To evade the duty Of obeyng the laws or OF regarding
the rights Of individuals conscience has only 70 be sum
moned in and the man is absoved Such are the en'cs
Of this new school Of politicians, who rejoice IN the a
peaiion Of free-soilers.
We would now ask, where are the effects Of sucn 'As,
and vicious doctrines to endi The free-solen wou.a
limit their application to the duties Of the citizens o. I'M,
country with regard to slavery But will this Dc the emo
Of their application II conscience. tutoed or untutoreo'
instead Of law, to be the guide with reference 70 ou