Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1851-07-16

the citizens when it iorbids us helping man to lib
erty say, God do so to me, and more also, If do
not help him ffeedOnward lGreat applailse.l ! say
this was not good brotherhood in the South--iliis
was not kind, the course of Christian policy was got
to rrtatc feelinaait was their duty TO be iorlecr
ing it was duty 10 be iorbearng-for the sake OF
the Uuion-and do not say this in the miserable
cant Of the Union Safety Committee, who arc uphold
ing mere union of sclfinterest, but mean the go
rious Union that was made by our fathers for liberty
the Union for freedom, the Union for Chrisanity
But this law was fred right in the face of The Morrill,
in the face of the moral feeling OF the North il was
n bombnrdng Of the North park after park of artI-
lery--and the cannoneer alas was one who fred ut
his own hearthsone and this great man. not many
years ago, made prediction at Nlblos Garden. lie
said in effect that this subject of sayeryahnd arrest
cd the religious feelings of The country that it had
taken strong hold on the conscences OF men, that it
is not to be trihed with despsed, and that any
tempt TO it into silence, 10 compress and con-
fine it, warnl as it is would assuredly cause an ex-
plosion which would endanger the Constitution aud
the Union itself Ali how soon has he forgotten
his own great words Ii was spoken as only Web
ster can speak; and when remember that predic-
ton and turn this law, cannot but cry out in the
deepest sorrow Oh, Luciler sun of the morning,
how art thou fallen | would not speak harshly of
Daniel Webster-the time was when there was no
man ] so much revered and for statesman's genius,
for stature of understanding there is no man on the
globe, since the death of Robert Peel who is his C.
quAl. No, would not cast stones at him. / would
rather do as did the sons of Noah, going backward
cast cloak over his nakedness Aud yet when, in
these times every has step over, OF through
o around Webster, cannot but aude TO him, and
] say that much as revere him, much as am proud
of him--and am proud of him for his noble intel
lect, encased in such noble frnne-yet Liberty ia
dearer, Truth is dearer, Christianity is deafer
My sixth objection is that bad laws are treason to
good government. know of nothing that has so
promoted disregard of authority and contempt
of all law, us the enactment of this Fugitive Law.
] | n he M Is
Bad laws always bring bad sequences; the evil does
not always stop with the law itself its enactment.
And the first bad sequence that of it that
impotent, empty thunderbolt of Safety Committee,
whose members read their ledgers for their duty and
feel in their pockets for their consciences Great
applause) But there must he scarecrows suppose,
in every large field though men do not usually feel
like elcctng themselves TO that Office. (Laugher)
Another objection to the law is that it brought in
to vogue style of reasoning thar, if believed in,
would overthrow all human gOvernment.-Tle high
err Invite law of conscience, the law of God, The
law upon which obedience to all law is based, has
been cried down and secuted, not by politicians only,
but by ministers. Ministers of Jehovah have cast
scorn the higher law of jehovah and preached
up the lower law doctrine; and very low they have
got too, should Judge, from their sepulchra tones
in the present Nay more, they have taken this OPP
portunity to show their l-bood against rival de-
nominations, and even 10 vent their ill-w against
individuals, mixing up private wrongs with public
WRONGS and personal lcnds with national questions
And documents teaching this doctrine have been sent
by tens of thousands through the groanng mails all
our land, through all the valleys and over all the
R a9ts Ana qpdb afqSff the da s ocne so taught and
so sent, is nothing else than the doctrine of kings
and despots of the divine right of rulers of non-re-
sStance TO power however oppressive 1t is moth
ing else than dressing up of the old doctrine of
laud and the Stuarts in modern suit. II that is
the doctrine TO he taught and believedand adopted,
then there is no chance for republican institutions.
Why is it that France has no firm republic after all
its revolutions? Why is it that ltaly-groaniug la-
". striving and struggling for republic, does not
rain it? Why is it that llungary-blecding, pros.
trate Hungary, failed in her attempt? 1t is because
the common people are trOdden down, because they
have given up their consclences TO priests and mag
strates and if this comes to be the case in Aner-
Gu then all hope of freedom is lost Human nature
is poor affair-man is bur pithy-porous -fabby
substance, till you put conscience into him and
for building republic on men who do not hold tC
the rights of private conscience, who will not follow
their own conscences rather than that of any prizes
or public, you might well build the Custom House
in Wall street foundation of cotton wool! Blu
the nation that regards conscience more than any
thing else, above all customs and all laws, is like
New England, with its granite hills, mmovuble ant
inyincible and the nation that does not regard con
science is u mere base of sand and quicksand too
at that If You want this country to be like Turkey
or Egypt or Algiers why, give up the rights of pri
vatc conscience and you will have il so, soon enough
so ordained and so commanded and tell you tina
, if You do not follow your own conscience God vii
hold YOU accountable Now this law is held up h
the principle that we must not follow our own con
sciences that the public conscience, the consclenc
of the majority is our rule of action. But tell yol
nv friends this is not the doctrine of New York
is not the doctrine of Massachusetts it is not til
: doctrine of Ohio, nor of Vermont, nor Connection
y nor Maine, nor New Hampshire, nor Rhode lSlant
c nor Indiana, Illinois, nor Wisconsin, nor Iowa
a. axyl,a
n of Mammon aud Politics, will find no place in III
! freed and ransomed world. Yes the tine will con
l. when, reading the epitaph of man, which II
1t cords that here lies A. b., author Of learned con
! mentary this or that book, aud defender of Il
doctrine that people must give up their conscienc'
), to magistrates and priests, the people will lift
o their hands in asonishment, and eXclam, "God lu'
1t mercy on his soul % (Cheering.)
e My friends, if have had the appearance of seve
e ity in these remarks have not meant TO be severe
~ ] have only wished to say frankly and fully what
"a most deeply aud truly believe, and if should me
A, a stakeholder in conversation should say Just Il
ia same lie might reply, don't believe all you d
but you say what you Think and like you you Il
v no doughface.-l Laughter.f don't ask yoh to i
Or eve Just what say, but do ask you TO think of
oil think of it with the bible in your hands, think of
es on your knees think of it as patriots, as philanthI
II psls, as Christian men, as interiors of immortal
IL aud if you will think of it, oh ii you will think
" it, you will find the TRUTH and the end Of my spec
1I is gained.
th OBEDIENCE TO LAw.-Was not the mother
hit Moses q rebellious woman when she refused
drown her according to the law of the ar
tn Did Moses deserve to be executed for killing d
he Egyptian who was beating of his sldue brethre
lily Were not Shadrach and his fellows Justly C
into the furnace and Daniel into the den of lion
hat They suffered only the penalty of the law VIII
his the Ne0 York Observer, that grandiloquent ad
zen cate of law and the Constitution, the Journal