The republic., 1851-07-15
From the Boston Transcript.
The Peace and Dignity OF the Common
weaith.-N0. XXX.
Let US present another passage from the fast

Let us present another passage from the fast
day performance Of Mr.. Theodore Parker:
"They tell US that we must keep any law, con
stitntonsi or not, legal not just or unjust frat
that we must submit passiyely, and let the Gov
ernment execute II; next, we must actively obey
il, and with alacrity when called upon to execute
il ourselves. This doctrine is the theory advanced
in most Of the newspapers of Boston. II is preach
ed in some of the pulpits, though, thank God, not
in all.
ssThs doctrine appears in the charge of the Judge
of the circuit court TO the grand jury. believe
that judge to be good and excellent and honora-
bic man. l never heard word TO the contrary,
and am glad to think that it 10 so. have to deal
only with his opinions, not with bic theoretic
doctrines OF law, of which latter profess 10 know
nothing; but with the theoretic doctrines of moral
ity he lays down. OF morality do profess TO
know something"
OF morality do profess TO k,lolu something!
1t is TO be regretted that Mr.. Parker will not
bring himself within the category of those de-
scribed in the good old spiritual distich--
"Who know what's right. not only So
But always practise what they know"
OF his morality have given the reader a
few specimens already. Mr.. Parker's know
ledge of morality is rather theoretical, fear, a
word which he so ignorantly applies to those
legal principles and rules presented by Judge
Sprague, for the present and practical direction
of the grand jury.
But let us plunge, at once, IN medias res
let us probe into the very marrow of this man Is
morality. Is he not notorious preacher of
perjury2 Certainly he is. Has he not, again
and again. not merely cast forth the opinion,
but grayely maintained the doctrine that ju-
ryman, having solemnly sworn to decide a
cause according to the law and the evidence,
Is perfectly justifiable in violating that oath,
and deciding that cause according to his con-
scierace, however unenlightened or scared that
conscience may be? Is there doubt upon this
point? None at ALL Had he been permitted
10 interrupt Mr.. Curtis at the Faneuil Hall
meeting, he would have supported this afro
cious doctrine, then and there. In the Report
of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society for
1851, page 80, are these words: ..Mr Parker
also examined the question, whether Juror is
in all cases obliged to find verdict in conforni-
| ty with the facts proved; or, whether in case
where he believes justice and popular rights
require it, he may not give verdict contrary
| to the facts, without being morally periured" !"
On page 100 of the same report are these
words: 1.-The resolutions before the meeting
were further discussed by Edmund Quincy,
| George w. Putnam of Lynn, Thomas Russell
of Plymouth, and Wendell Phillips, who con-
| troverted the position of Mr.. Parker respecting
| the jurors right to shape his verdict according
to his own ideas of Justice" Even the Aboi-
tlon lawyers would not consent to learn these
doctrines of perjury from this teacher Of piety,
who does profess to kloac something Of morality.
The villanous proposition was rejected even
by his peers
"ln Bedlam stiffness reignd the mnniacs ceased
To clank their chains, and skunk in silent dread
From him whose marvellous frenzy caus' ID their own
To wear the type of mildness."
II is impossible to pass on without the mere
expression of a wish to comprehend the distinc-
ton between the juryman's perjury, which APP
pears perfectly righteous in the sight of this
teacher of piety, and the perjury of a counsellor
at law who, having taken solemn oath to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States,
urges the good people of Massachusetts, on Bos-
ton Common to trample that very Constitution
under foot, and to the commission Of high trea-
son.
A person cultivating such abominable prin-
ciples may be expected to keep an intellectual
hot -house--a forcing -house-for the rearing OF
similar exotics. We need not be surprised
therefore, to find this teacher Of piety broaching
coxcomical fancies in theology, and separating
from those whose religious opinions he at first
espoused. The brain Of such being is the
very matrx for the breeding of theological and
| all manner of maggots. With such an insight
into the character Of this man, how little sur
| prise we feel when we find him in the Anti
Sabbath Convention, an active partner In that
infamous speculation with Garrison and the
| Wrights, Pillsbury and Mott.
1t may seem needless to proceed farther.
But infatuated worshippers are reluctant to part
with their idols, whether they are stone images
| or stone jugs. 1t may not, therefore, be unwise
| to dissect this subject little more thoroughly
that the attendants upon the Melodeon may see
with their own eyes whereof their .Magnus
| .apotto is made, and that after all he is but
| dust
| In the passage quoted this teacher Of piety
says: g They tell as that zoe mast keep any
[atc, constitutional or not, legal or not Just or
u'ijusf" Parker seems to proceed upon the
| supposltlon that there is no remedy for unjust
or unconstitutional legislation, but immediate
| disobedience. There is not lad of fifteen, OF
common understanding, who does not perceive
| at once that such construction leads to anar-
| chy and treason. If there were no other RENE
| dy our social condition would be no better than
that of savages. 1t required no prophet to fore
see that laws, with the very best intentions
might be enacted now and then which would
| prove unequal, unjust, and even unconstitu-
| tonal A foresight of this possibility led, in
| the construction Of government, 10 the appoint
menL ola special tribunal to settle the question
of constitutionality; and it was readily foreseen
that unjust and even unpopular Legislation
would intallibly be corrected by the ballot-box
When these questions are settled by the legiti-
mate tribunals, there is, of course, an end o
| the unconstitutional or the obnoxious law. Is
there any tyranny in this2 Clearly not. Does
any mortal believe that the teacher Of piety ana
preacher Of perjury, at the Melodeon. could
| help us in this matter Let me here present q
short passage from the charge of Judge Sprague:
! .Is there appeal but to forces Yesl And the
| arbter must be society, organized society, pro.
nouncing ts decision through its regularly consti
tuted agents This is the moral judgment, the en-
bodied conscience, ofthe political community. TIC
| this not only is each individual bound to submit
| but it is new and controlling element in forming
his own moral judgment. An act which before
| may have been innocent is now criminal, and its
commission not only opposed to the will, but sub
verve of the order peace, existence of the political
| society.
"Obedience is moral duty. This is certain
| as that tho Creator made man social being, and