Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-07-19
The Higher Law in the French Assembly

in this county. The world may well feel hope
full when legislators comes forward and boldly
assert the supremacy of conscience over civil
enactments and military authority. We believe
nome of our American statesmen have ever
though of its applicability in case of the soldier
They uniformly, while condomning the Mexi-
can war as unjust and wicked voted supplies
and conferred honors and lands as rewards Of
obedience upon those who obeyed the un-
righteous rcquisitions.
"Thc conviction of Charles Hugo, aud his
sentence to six months imprisonment for
simply writing n strong editorial in the EUen-
ement in condemnation of Legal Killing IS
making profound sensation here. ] think
il will hasten the downfall both of the gull
lotine and the party of Order which thus
assumes the championship of that yenerated
institution. The Times Paris corr espon-
dent perceive, takes>up the tale of llugo's
article having been calculated to expose the
ministers of the law TO popular odium, and
nuively protests against line of argument
by which those who execute the law are
stigmatzed as executionors.' / suppose we
must call them executors hereafter to obvi-
ate the hardships complained Of How sin
gular that those who glory in the deed
should shrink Indignantly from the name
American attention will naturally he
drawn to the recent debate in the Assembly
| involving the principle of the Higher Law.
| The subject was bill recognizing the Ma
tional Guard, with the intent of sitting it as
clean MS possible of the popular element, and
thus render it either n nullity or an accom-
! plico in the execution of the monarchicnl
cOnspiraccs now hrcwiDg. II is but n few
| IaVa giupa (tpp (flunUurttinr gnlppnplv in
formed the Assembly, in reply TO President
Bonnparto's covert menaccs at Dion, that
the army could not be made TO level its mus
kets and point its cannon at the Assembly
Wherefore, Representatives of France, de-
libernte in peace" Following logically in
the same train, Red saw fit to affirm that
the army could not he brought to use its bay
onets against the people who should take up
arms in defence of the Republic. No stick
thrown into n hornets nest ever excited such
commotion as this remark did in the camp
of Order In the course of n violent and
tumultuous debate, it came out that Gen.
Baraguay Killers, n leader on the side of
Order refused in 1913 to take the profler-
ed command of the troops fighting on the
side of Order in the deplOrable street com
bats of June. This was excused on the
ground of his being Representative as well
as general! The champions of Order
having said all they wished and allowed
their opponents to say very little, hastily shut
down the gate, and refused 10 permit further
discussion. No matter the truth has been
formally proclaimed from the tribune that
no one has moral right TO do as soldier
| that which il would be wrong for him TO do
ns a man-that, no matter whit human rul.
ers may decree, no man may excuse his
violation of that law by producing an order
to do so from any funclionnry or potentale
whatever. The idea is a fruitful one, and
France is now pondering it,"
Nj. Arnaud-The Report of the Commit |
tee reduces the duties of the armed citizen
to a single one-obedience to his officers |
(1es. True! on the right.) You hive forgot. |
ten the duty of the citizen toward the law I; |
you have forgotten his duty toward his own |
conscience. (Protractcd expressions of iro-
ny on the Rightly
NJ. Estancelin--lIis conscience is his cor
pofal. (Oh oh on the Lett
NJ. Arnaud-By what right will you tell !
me, "Iou shall be what command with |
out examination, without control, you are
passive instrument, obey!" (Yes, yes, on
the Right A provision like this is mon
slrosity, It is anti-demOcHtic. Good Good
on the Leit.) No military commander can
impose his will on my own; if he requires
violation of the law, whether ms soldier,
or as one of the National Guard, will DISC
hey. Prolonged sensation. Agitation
Protests on the Right.)
Voice OH the Right-who shall decide?
answer, my conscience. Ironical smiles
and protests on the Right. Prolonged ap-
plnuse on the Left
Under any government, | know nothing
SiInprIDr IN the Voipa of nv nnnscianan
[Good On the Left. This is not ALL What
have said of military commanders, say
also of the Govcrnment,-I say it of the
law. | owe no obedience TO the law, but
within the limits Of justice. New and ve-
hement Interruptions on the Right. The
Left: Good Excellent! Great agitation.
The Left to the speaker-Go on Go on
The President, in the midst of the conill-
sion, addressed some words to the speaker
nj. Arnuud-The President reminds me
that my words nre contrary 10 the Constitu-
ton. IL is but few days since, that mem
bcr of this Assembly, M. dc MontaIonbcrl,
said, that if any Constitution whatever should
infringe on either of the great principles of
the family, of religion, or of property, this
Constitution would be null and void in it.
self
Nj. Denjoy-lIe was right Smiles and
eXclamalions. lronicul applause on the
Left
NJ. Arnaud-The case is serious one
All the citizens are called to serve in the
National Guard or in the Army, and ought
to know their rights. speak then not only
in my own name, but in the name of all.-
And | say that if a law commands an act
which would violate one of the rights prior
to and above the Constitution, | would not
obey it. [Movement.l
If law commands an act contrary to the
family principle, l would disobey it.
If law commands an act which would
be violation of my religious faith, or if it
assaulted the religious faith of my brothers,
whom | respect, whatever it might be, ]
would disobeV IL