The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-28
is most solemn duty fai.hluIIY 10 execute them

"a ffect nr
hopc Of reward" presenting 'things truly as they
come to your knowledge, according TO the best Of
your understanding"
Here might close; but as great efforts have been
made to convince the public that the recent law
cannot be enforced with good conscience, but
may be conscentiously resistcd and an impression
may have been made on some Of your number.
thus presenting an obstacle to the discharge Of a
plain legal duty, deem it proper to advert briefly
70 the moral aspects of the subject.
In this part OF the country the convictions Of
understanding, our moral sentiments, and our
lgious opinions are adverse to the institution of
slavery Hence some arc ready to conclude, in the
first place, that the provision Of the Constitution
for delivering up fugitive slaves must be morally
carry it into effect to be disobeyed and resisted
Neither of these propositions legitimateiy follow
from the premises.
As to the first. The States, without the Constitu-
ton, would be to each other foreign nations The
first duty Of every nation is the preservation and
protection OF its own citizens 1t is for this prma
restraints submitted to. II, then, any nation finds
that hospitality to foreign fugitves is inconsistent
with is own peace and safety, II has right to
fuse such hospitality, and 70 say to all such foreign
ers, we cannot receive you amongst US. and If you
come, we must deliver you up to the dominion OF
your own government; and It may rightfuly make
q compact with such government for such delive-
ny. Whether the peace and safety of the nation
do in fact require authorize such compact, it is
for the nation itself to decide, and its decision is to
be submitted to. and its engagements faithfully
performed. M
Those. therefore, who have the strongest convic-
ions of the immortality of the institution of slavery,
are not thereby authorized to conclude that the
ally wrong, or that our fathers in Massachusetts
did not act wisely, justly, humanely, in ncceding
to the compacts Of the Constitution.
But, secondly, even those who 60 to the extreme
Of condemning the Constitution, and the laws
made under it, unjust and immoral, cannot,
even upon such an assumption justify resistance.
In their views, such laws are inconsistent with the
hama a,xakt No. n.fl
Supreme Lawgiver, and they emphatically ask,
which shall we obey, the law of man the will Of
God answer, obey both. The incompatbility
which the question assumes does not exist. Unjust
and oppressive laws may indeed be passed by hu
man governments. But If infinite and inscrutable
wisdom permits political society having the power
of human legislation to establish such laws, may
not the same infinite and inscrutablc wisdom per-
init and require the individual, who has such
power, to obey them.
up in forcible resistance, overthrow the power Of
the Government, and, instead of the peace and Sc
curity Of organized society, introduce the do
minion of anarchy and violence? Are such the APP
pointed means for their abrogation? Unjust laws
have always existed. Until a recent period, poor
and honest debtors were even here oppressivey
Imprisoned; and in England, stealing. to the value
and their code numbered more than one hundred
and fifty capital offences. Tho wise and the good
saw that these laws were cruel and unnecessary.
They did not rush to arms, counsel dsobedicnce.
But by the diffusion of knowledge, by reason and
persuasion, they changed the public mind. and the
laws were peaceably ameliorated. The fruits OF
Justice and benevolcnce, like those Of the natural
world, are TO be maturcd by mild and genial in
fiuencc5.
The punishment of death is still inflicted by
laws. Many good men firmly believe that society
has no right to take tho life Of Of its members.
With them q capital punishment is the highest in
justice and the grcatcst wrong that can be infict-
ed But they do not counsel resistance, to convuse
society and overthrow the Government, but quietly
and conscicntiously submit to the peaceful execu
| ton of the law.
| But we arc told by some that the law being NOR
ally wrong, conscience tells them to resist it, Con-
science, indeed is to be reverenced and obeyed; but
still we must remember that tits fallible, especially
where the rights of others concerned, and may
lead US to do great Injustice Some have i'm
preston that il is the divinity within them,
erring and infallible guide. Hence they cannot
believe or conceive that opposition to their views
can bo conscientious 1t ia this lurking fallncy this
tacit assumption of personal nfability, that makes
them intolernnt toward others. and inaccessible
argument. l speak not Of those who believe that
they have special inspiration from above, that a
miracle has been wrought for their guidance.
Such beyond the scope of human reason, and
fit subjects either of consecration or a madhousc.
according as their belief is founded reality or
delusion. But with thosc who are under the do
minon Of the established laws of the moral and in
tcllcctual world, conscience is fallibe. The an
mails of the world abound with enorrnites committed
by narrow and darkened conscience. A man
may incur great moral guilt, not indeed by follow
ing his conscience, but by neglecting the means Of
rectifying and enlightcning it. Its dictates are
varied only according to the moral constitution
but the intellectual power and extent Of informa.
ton of the individual. The purer the motive the
more extensive the knowledge, and the greater the
mental ability, the more enlightened will be the
conscience, and the more correct its decisions.
The moral faculty or moral judgment being thus
fallible, there may be a conflict of consciences.
Let mo present an illustration. ship arrives with
sick passengers. One class of men insist that the
disease gious and that they shall not be per-
mitted to land and spread general pestilence.
Another class insist that it is not contagious, and
that il would be cruelty to compel them to remain
on shipboard, aggravating their sufferings and
their danger. With both it is a question Of hu-
manity-of conscience.
Again, certain strangers seek an asylum amongst
US. One class of our citizens in them only fu-
gitives from oppression, whom we easily and
securely receive and protect. Another class believe
that they bring with them not physical but moral
contagion, that their presence will endanger the
public peace and individul safety, that il may eni
broil with other States. and bring upon US the
| sufferings and horrors OF external and internal
war and convulsion. The one class urge the obi
cations Of hospitality and bcncvolencc; the other
the obligations of self preservation. and the sacred
duty Of preserving those whom nature and society
| have committed to their protection.
Both arc equally sincere, conscientious, and reso-
lutte. Which shall yield Is there appeal but
to forcel Yes! And the arbiter must be socicty,
organized society pronouncing its decision through
it's regularly constituted agents. This is the moral
Judgment the embodied conscience, Of the political
community. To this not only is each individual
bound TO submit, out II Is n new anu controlling
element in forming his own moral Judgment. An
| act which before may hav. been innocent is now
| criminal, and it's commission not only opposed to
the will, but subversvc Of the order peace, exist
encc of the political society.
Obedience is a moral duty. This is as certain rs
that the Creator made man social being, and de
signed that he should live, not in perpetual anar
chy, but in peace and sccurity for human govern
ment is the only means which infinite goodness
has provided for preserving us from unceasing
conflict and violence. To obey the law of the
| land is. then, to obey the will OF God.
Il may be asked, is resistance never justfablc'
| Is there no exception. / answer, yes When op-
preston present and prospective, is so great "a to
Justify resort to the ultimate right OF revolution
But this is not to be done from impulse or feeling,
but from the calm and careful consider alton of tho
dangers and difficulties of the proposed remedy.
wise man will reflect that evils, great evils, must
exist under every human government that perfect
hric cannot be made of imnerfect materiala md