Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22


the law of the land and is most solemn duty fath
fully to execute them In the words OF the oath which you
have just taken, you TO do this without fear favor a
lection, or hope of reward presenting things truly they
your knowledge according the best Of your under
Standing"
Here might close but great efforts have been made
convince the public that the recent law be enforced
with good conscience but may be conscenousy resisted
and an impression may have been made Of your
NUMBER thus presenting obstacle to the discharge Of
plain legal Duty deem tproper TO advert briefly to the moral
aspects of the subject.
In this part Of the country the convictions Of our under
standing, moral sentiments, and religious opinions
adverse the institution Of slavery Hence
ready conclude in the first place. that the provision of the
constitution for delivering up fugitive slaves must be morally
wrong and, in the place, that laws made carry
into effect are to be disobeyed and resisted.
Neither of these propositions esiimaey follow from the
premises. t
As to the first The States without the constitution,
would be to each other foreign nations The first duty Of
every nation the preservation and protection of its c
II Is for this, primarily, that political societies ere
formed and their restraints submitted to- IT, them any
with its own peace and safety, il has rgh. refuse such
hospitality, and TO say TO all such foreigners, we cannot re-
ceive you amongst and you must deliver you
up to the dominion of your own Government; and may
rghtfuly make compact with such Government for such
delivery Whether the peace and safety OF the nation do in
fact require authorize such compact it for the nation it.
self to decide and its decision is be submitted to and its
engagements faithfully performed.
immortality Of the institution of slavery thereby
hozed conclude that the provision for delivering up ug
tive slaves morally wrong. that fathers in Massachu
sets did wisely justly humaney in acoeding to the
compacs Of the constitution.
But, secondly, those who go the extreme of
demning the constitution and the laws made under
just and immoral cannot even upon such an assumption
justify resistance In their views, such laws Inconsistent
with the justice and benevoence and against the will Of the
Supreme Lawgver and they emphaicay ask, which shall
obey the law of man the will Of God answer, obey
both. The ncompatibiy which the question does
not Unjust and oppressive laws may indeed be passed
by human Governments. But infinite and inscrutble
dom permits political society having the power Of human egs
aon, TO establish such laws may not the infinite and
nscrube wisdom permit and require the individual who has
no such power TO obey them
Can you say that it is his will that shall rise up for
chile resistance overthrow the power Of the Government and
instead of the peace and security Of organised society, intro
duce the dominion Of anarchy and violence Are such the
appointed means for their abrogaton Unjust laws have al
ways existed Until recent PERIOD poor and honest debtors
even here oppessivey mprisoncd and in England
stealing, to the value of than shilling punishsbe
with DEATH and their code numbered more than hundred
and fifty capital offences The wise and the good that
these laws cruel and unnecessary They did not rush
to counsel disobedience. But by the diffusion of
knowledge by and peuason they changed the pub
lie mind and the laws peaceaby ameoated The fruits
ousce and benevoence like those of the natural world are
s be maured by mild and genial influences. The punish
ment Of death still inflicted by laws Many good
firmly believe that society has right to take the life of
highest injustice and the greatest wrong that be inflicted
But they do not counsel resistance convulse society and
overthrow the Government but quietly and ccnscientously
submit to the peaceful execution of the law.
But told by that, the law being morally wrong,
conscience tells them resist it Conscience, indeed
be reyerenced and obeyed, but still must remember that
is aibe especially where the rights of others
ed and may lead to do great injustice Some have inn
preston that it is the divinity within them, unerrng and
nfable guide Hence they believe conceive that
opposition to their views be conscientious II is this
lurking aacy, this tac assumption Of personal inalhity
that makes them ntoean towards others and inaccessible to
argument speak of those who believe that they have
specalinpaion from above that miracle has been wrought
for their guidance. &s.
Such beyond the scope Of human reason and ct sub
ecis either Of conservation mad house, according their
belief founded reality deusion But with those who
under the dominion Of the established laws Of the moral
and intellectual world conscience is fabIe. The annals Of
the world abound with enormes committed BY and
darkened conscience man may incur great moral guilt
not indeed by following his conscience but by negecting
means Of rectying and enghenng it. Its dictates
ned not only according to the moral constitution, but the in
tellecua and extent Of information of the individual
The purer the motive the extensive the knowledge and
the greater the mental ability the enlightened will be
conscience and the more correct ills decisions. :.,..,
Again certain strangers seek asylum amongst One
class Of citizens in them only feitives from oppres-
son whom easily and securely receive and protect
Another class believe that they bring with them physical
but moral contagion, that their presence will endange
public peace and individual safety, that may embroiI
with other States and bring upon the suerngs horrors
OF external and internal and convuson The class
urge the obligations Of hospitality and benevoence the other
the obligations OF representation and the sacred duty
preserving those whom nature and society have committed
their protection.
Both equally sincere conscientious and resoute
Which shall yield Is there appeal but to force Yes
ANA the arbter must be society," organized society,"
ing its decision through its regularly constituted agents This
the moral Judgment the embodied conscience of The poll
ncal community To this not only each individual bound
70 submit but it is and controlling element 10 forming
MS own moral Judgment An act which before may have
peen innocent is criminal and its commission not only
opposed to the will but subvesve of the order peace
isence Of the political society
Obedience is moral duty. This is as certain as that the
Creator made man social being and designed that be should
Ve not 10 perpetual anarchy but peace and security for
human government the only means which Infinite Cool
ness mas provided for preserving from unceasng conflict
and violence 10 obey the law Of the land h them TO obey
the will of God
The moral faculty moral judgment being thu. falible
there may be conflict Of conscences LIE, me present an
illustration ship arrives with sick passengers One class
OF insist that the disease is contagious and that thew
shall not be permitted to land and spread general
Another class insist that it contagious and that i
would be cruelty to compel them remain on shin board
aggravating their sueings and their DANGER With both il
is question Of humany-of conscience.
II may be asked, is resistance jusifabe Is there
no exception answer yes When oppression present
and prospective, Is great to justify the ultimate
right of revolution. But this is 10 be done from impulse
feeling, but from calm and careful consideration of the
dangers and difficulties OF the proposed remedy wise man
will reflect that evils great evils must exist under every
imperfect materials and that whatever he may attempt
musf hv and