Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-26
The Higher Law.
XAVIER.
worship.

The Washington Union of the 18th inst, has an ad-
mrale article President Simpson and his higher law
from which we extract the lolowing
In the Advocate of the 18th of November the editor
writes in the following strain:
christianity does not require her votarics to obey
laws that conflict with Gods law. She docs
aIloc her disciples to conform to the mandates of anu
earthly poer the peril OF death in its most rightu
forms, II those mandates directly opposed to Gods
IrOrd. But she teaches resistance Suffer, il
needs be, but resist Ii any law be in opposition TO
the word of God the Christian may pass by UNDECIDED
but he must be prepared for all its penalties. If it
mand him to worship idols to aburc Christ, let him
die at the stake did the martyr, but let him not resist
Resistance not only unchristan, but in democrat
lc country 1t IS wholly unwlse. Ii the majority are dis
satisfied with law, they have the power to repeal it,
If the aoty satisfied it is in vain for the minor
" resist Let opinion and expression be ree let any
enactment be rgidy and critically examned let argu-
ments be heard and weighed: and then, if the majority
desire the enactment let the minority submit, whether
with or without personal injury.
''Wc earnestly counsel prudence and forbcarance
Above all Others antsavery men should be abiding
men. The system which they oppose is of might
against right Its overthrow will be accomplished only
by the spread of right feelings and right sentiments
Every violation of right wcakens their cause, and will
tighten the fe tiers of the oppressed.
.Thc Christian however, needs counsel from erpe-
dicncg. To him the iac of God is clear and Imperative
He is submit himself to those in authority and if he
suiicr IN well doing, he Is to commit his cause into the
hands Of Him who udgeth rghteousy. Let the Chris
tian pray for guidance and direction; let him all
moral influence change the odous features of excep-
tionablc laws let him speak freely by the tongue the
press, or the baliotbor but nerer let him resist
There is odor of sanctity about this paragraph
which might almost 'deceive the very elect" 1t is
worse in its influence than the open and abhorent doc
tnes of those Evolves in shceps clothng who counsel
TO direct violence Do not resist, says the author. But
Gods law orbids obedience human lawsto this lu-
man law Die rather than yield. Oppose it by speak
ing writing PRINTING! in the of conscience and
lieion but do not resist This is very ingenious mode
of defeating law by not resisting it, Suppose fugi-
tive slave applies for relief and conceament from his
suppose the officer be resisted by violence unto
death in executing the law: what thenl Suppose the
editor of the Advocate hear evidsposed persons advi-
sing the reckless and the disordery-who have such
scruplss he appeals toto evade the fugitive slave
law and to dceatts operation what thenl In all these
cases, what would he advise what would he do2 DO
not resist But the law is odoust is forbidden by the
law of God to obey it. Die rather than do so-the
higher law commands you; obey it, but do not resist
Such would be the of the writer-such would lie
his advice. He would nculcate resistance to the
law, but notification The result is the
would be produced by downright violence. The law
defeated in both We confess Of the methods
think that by "strong hand' is the manly and
creditabe.