Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-11-07
"Higher Law

We hear much, in these latter DAYS, of a
higher lac than the law Of the land. Certain
moralists, in justification for opposing laws
that conflict with their opinions of right or JUS
tice, appeal to what they are pleased to call a
higher lao. Now what is this higher law =
The highest law of the land, or of our land, is
the Constitution-all laws being derivative and
based upon this But we are told that dirine
ldrcs are higher than human laws, and when
the latter conflict with the former, they must
YIELD Well, let us see if this position is ten
able-confning our view to our country, of
course. Every citizen of the United States is
law maker, and should be law-enforcer-
presuming the object of all law to be the well
fare of the community When found to ope-
rate otherwise, the remedy-a speedy repeal
is always at hand.
Little fear need be apprehended, under such
a system as ours, of any mal-administration of
the laws, and as the law is the product of no
one man, but the combined wisdom of many.
how much power is arrogated when any one
man assumes the right to sit in judgment upon
law. Even the opinion of the Judge upon
the bench, who administers the law. is subject
to reversion, and how utterly futile and insir-
nificant is the attempt to test the equity of a
law by the crucible of any one mans opinion
of right and wrong. The pith and substance,
then, of the "higher law'' creed is. that all
other laws and constitutions are invalid. if sup
posed to be at variance with its dictates. Thus
conscience is set in opposition 10 the law, and
religion made to sanction its violation. What
can be more dangerous. The following brief
and comprehensive article, from the Phiadel-
phia Ledger, is pertinent
CLAW AND MORALS. When Scion was ask
ed what made a great people, his answer was
worthy of great man-for he Immediately re-
piled, obedience TO the laws The American
people have many virtues, but obedience to aud
support of the laws can hardly be cassed
among them. This must arise from the prev
alence of sentiments incucated by the nulifi-
cation oracles-those .damnable heresies' OF
the day, which, pleading reserved rights and
higher obligations, have done so much to I'M
hinge the moral standard, and SOW licentious-
ness broadcast over the land. Obedience TO
the laws, instead of being cultivated as sacred
duty, is too often met BY doctrines that make
anarchy virtue, and transform confusion into
| order. If obedience was not one of the funda-
mental conditions of civilization, without which
government is at an end, and life and property
the sport of every individual whose nntamed
passions riot in blood and exult in plumber the
daring doctrines now in vogue, that inculcate
torclble opposition TO law might pass without
| censure; but when all that makes life valuable
depends on obedience TO the laws, it would be
worse than treason not TO rebuke the spirit OF
instruction that may at any moment produce
a sanguinary conflict throughout the country.
No single interest, no isolated question of poll
icy or sentiment, can justify disobedience to
the laws, TO sustain and enforce which is the
highest duty of the good citizen. Render
unto Caesar the things that are Caesars. is a
precept that fell from hallowed lips, warm with
| the fire of truth and what Pagan virtne con-
| secrated as Duty can Christian piety spurn
without crimination9 The pervading vice OF
the day is want of respect for the laws; and
until this vice is extirpated from among US, we
must expect to pay the penalty which all vice
sooner or later, exacts from those who encour-
age it by a cowardly passiveness, or selfish
impuuity."