The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-17

testament taken up, and much discussion followed
upon amendments and upon the bill Without disposng
of the bill. tho House adjourned.
The Federal Constitution and the Higher Law"
II has been left for the wisdom of modern times to dis
cover that there law higher than the federal const
tuition to regulate the political of the States and
people Of this Union confded that great instrument OF
government Mischievous demagogues and uneasy fac.
tons have occasionally attempted to get rid Of its obga
tons, and cast of allegiance to for temporary
purpose but they usually have sought to effect their OBJ
jet by false interpretations evasons of provsons
There has grown out Of the contest about slavery and f
gitve slaves holder and more INSCRIPTIONS sect OF
assaiants They do not condescend to evade TO mis-.
interpret they trampe with contempt the plain pro-
visions themselves, in the and by The authority of
higher iaw" That higher law they profess to derive
from God and, in applying to their purposes they
arogate superior wisdom and purity to the patriarchs
of the Old and the apostles Of the New Testament
They make God himself proclaim law unknown to his
chosen people and they pevert the precepis OF
Divine Saviour to bring the apostles themselves, with
ST Paul and the fathers of the early church. all under
the ban Of sin and condemnation lis such construction
OF divine law be tolerated as leads these conclusions
Are such Interpreters of Gods word to be credited who
torture II TO attain these monstrous ends' We do
not believe there is any law higher than that an
nounced by the Father and the Som nor do we believe
there are any expounders Of these laws wiser or
mbued with the spirit OF inspiration than Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob and Moses than Peter, and Paul.
and JohR At all events not quite ready to sur
render the commentaries and the practices Of these early
lights OF religion the Abby Keys, Fred Doglasses
Theodore Parke, and Senator Stewards any others OF
these rday saints We lay before readers in another
column portion Of an article from the Democratic Re-
view for December. entitled The Higher Lsp" to which
we beg invite the earnest attention OF our readers II
is very clear and able exposition Of the scripual and
practical view Of this important subject II supersedes
the necessity OF saying anything further these points
| ourselves.
In connection with this matter we will offer few OBJ
servaons on some editorial articles which have recently
appeared in the "Wesiern Christian Advocate" paper
published in Cincinnati and exerting we have been
assured great influence in the Methodist church of the
West These articles are written with vigor and inge.
naty, and profess state the objections 10 the fugitive.
slave law which address themselves especially to the
conscience and religious principles Of the pious and the
cody They are generally replies TO some structures
which have appeared in the Indiana State Sentinel edi
ted by the Hon. w. ]. Brown, OF the federal House OF
Representatives We only intend to notice or answer
q few OF the points or grounds assumed. For in.
stance the stereotype objection Of suspendng or thi,
author has it, "rs,sng." the writ OF habsas eorpus-the
fee Of ten dollars for granting the certificate Of removal
and but FIVE for refusing il, and therefore giving
"bribe Of foe dollars for consgnng innocent free man
slavey-he allegation that all claimants Of slaves are
"kidnappers" and that the fugvesave law compels the
free citizens Of the North to become "save catehes
and "boodhounds." &C.. &c-hese are questions which
shall refrain from discussing. although they are dwell
upon with much zeal and earnesness by the writer to
whom we have referred. We have hitherto published
the arguments and opinions OF many Of the abest law
yers and most pious. vruous, and humane in our
country upon these topics, II the most conclusive and
unanswerable legal Arguments and the most liberal and
comprehensive spirit Of Christian benevolence,
ring in the conclusions settle anything OF legal
moral nature these things settled and at rest We
II -. - 49,. n