The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-28

and scoundrel,
Mr. North.--Oh, for shame Mr. South Keep
cool-don't you see am perfectly eooll / am
prncipled against getting into passion it isn'l
according to christian humility. Mr.. HALE and
Mr. SEWARD never get into a passion. But
you may call me what you please thank heaven
am accountable only to my conscience, and care
not for the opinions of others. appeal to a
higher law.
Mr.. Southland so you mean to be gov
erned by your conscience, and cheat me Of all
the land. .~.
Mr.. North.-Evcry foot of it. here swear
no never swear--but have made a vow
that every acre shall be free soil, and always
keep my oath--except it goes against my con-
science. '
Mr.. South.-Very we'll sir--very good-ex-
ccllent. / never knew cheat or rogue, that
could not find reasons for his actions. You
have got the land, but by Heaven .... .
Mr.. NorA.---Dont swear-I beseech you not
to swear-lt goes sgainst my conscience.
= Mr.. Souh-Your conscience! Pooh it is
nothing but cheatery disguised under a fanatical
dogma Twill appeal to the laws of any coun-
try. .~a st. "r' 49, ..s-.. ~.
Mr.. Norih.-Pshew a fig for the laws of
your country. There is the Mexican law, and
there is a higher law than that-the law of phil
anthropy. .~#a.. .... ..... NJ. .' ~. .
Mr.. Sonah-I will appeal to the Consultation.
Mr.. North-Pshaw! there is higher law
than that too. Besides, if it were ever so high,
it will soon be hurled down and tramped under
foot. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON and Senator
SEWARD both say SO.
Mr.. South.-Well then will dissolve the
partnership and set up for myself l won't be
cheated any more. ...-,
Mr.. North.-My inestimable friend. You call
things by the wrong name, and every thing de-
ponds on names. For example, were to take
away another mans property without his con-
sent, merely from coyetousness, should be
called a cheat or a robber; but, as do it to
quiet scruple of conscience, and for the gene
raj welfare of the entire human race--yourself
excepted am acting in strict accordance with
the higher law. MIR. CLAY says so. So does
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABBY Folsom and
all the Free-soilers.
Mr.. Soath.-Plague take them all, say
They all belong to that class of people who are
mighty fond of being benevolent at the expense
of their neighbors, but never at their own.
Mr.. Norh-My dear friend, you are at least
hundred years behind the spirit of the age, and
know nothing of the new system of morality
and religion, which scars above all morality and
all religion. Don't you know, my excellent
friend, that when man does a good action at
his own expense, he is very apt to repent of it,
and thus cancels all the merit of the deed but
this is not the case, when he does it at the ex-
pense of others, and consequently there is no
drawback to the purity of his first intention.
Mr.. Soulh.-So then, l suppose if a man picks
my pocket and gives the proceeds to the poor,
the intent sanctifes the deed.
Mr.. Norh.-Most undoubtedly. All that we
can answer for, is the goodness of our motives
the consequences Of our actions are beyond our
jurisdiction, and therefore we are not account
able for them.
Mr.. Souh.-Then, suppose, you have nc
faith in the immutable principles of justice and
equity in directing the conduct of mankind.
Mr.. Norh-Immutable principles? Why
there is no such thing as immutable principles.
They are modified by peculiar circumstances
they depend on the march of mind and what in
the dark ages was considered duty, or at least
quite innocent, is now the greatest of crimes,
and the greatest crime that ever fell on the heads
of mankind. My inestimable friend, it is a
great pity you were not educated at one of our
colleges, where you would have been taught
the new system of Ethics and Theology.
Mr.. Somh.-Very well-very we'll, sir
see you and can't agree in our modes of doing
business, and the sooner we separate, the better.
I am resolved to dissolve partnership and set
up for myself.
Mr.. North.-O, no! you won't, my dear friend.
Recollect our partnership is for life, and can
only be dissolved by mutual consent. l hold
you to the contract, and am resolved that no.
thing but death shall part lis.
Mr.. Souah.-But you have already violated
the contract, by taking to yourself all the profits
of the firm, and it is settled principle of law,
that the breach of contract by one party
releases the other from his obligations.
Mr.. North-Pooh, Mr.. South you talk nom
sense. There is no such thing as a settled
principle of law, or gospel either, in this age of
progress. The march of mind is not to be
arrested by such frivolous obstacles as law, or
justice, or equity. In clearing new field, we
must cut away everything as We 60, and if any
of these obsolete ideas of the obligations of
law, justice or equity, stand in our way, they
must be thrust aside or trampled under foot
The progress of the age must not be arrested
by such antiquated scruples.
Mr. Somh-You are too deep for me, Mr..
North. can't comprehend your system of
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