Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-03-13

people nave not inc power 10 amend or mod
ify the laws, such results may excuse or even
justify evasion, resistance nnd open rebellion.
But not so in this country. Here the yast
body of our laws are humane, just and Who'll.
some; and if there exist any of a different
character. they constitute exceptions to the
general rule and not the rule itself. And
besides, if bad laws do exist, they may be
modified, amended or recalled at our pleas
ure. The power is with the people to do as
they will.
But may be asked, is it the duty of citi.
zens, courts and juries to observe and en-.
force laws which they believe to be errooe-
Gus or UNJUST? Most certainly. No other
rule can be adopted which will not lead d.
rectly to anarchy and The nbrogarion of all
law. Who is to judge whether law is er-
roneous, unconstitutional, or unjus, Eve
ry citizen for himself? Then abolish your
courts, and dismiss your jures, for you NAV
rest assured that the "repeaers" will be SO
numerous that the entire fabric of human
law will be abrogated almost instantly
Murderers, robbers, thieves, forgels, 'swind-
lers, and criminals Of every grade will have
one universal holiday, each one appealing to
his "higher law" Of force, cunning or corrup-
ton as the rule of his conduct. Where then
is The honest, the peaceabe, the aged, the
infirm, the helpless citizen to find protec-
lion?
! No, gentlemen, there is but one safe rule
oi conduct in relation 10 this matter, and
tina; is TO obey and enforce the laws as Mey
erist, ,chile they erist, and until declared void
by the constituted authority Of the country.
Aud the observance Of those which seem to
bear with peculiar hardship even upon inno-
cent persons, will operate as an example of
great value, where others Of different char
acter are called upon to submit. Indeed, il
were better that individual instances of
hardship should occur, by faithful and i'm
partial enforcement o'!aw, than by partial
execution of its provisions 10 weaken its
moral power, and encourage resistance to its
behests. II must be observed as a whole.
and in all It's parts, for
| - Whatever link You break,
Tenth, or ten thousandth, breaks the chain alike
il may be saId that these remarks are so
obviously true, that all men, in this country,
at all times, act upon them, and that there
fore there can be no necessity for their en-
iorceEent, here or elsewhere. Happy would
it be fer us, if it were so. But experience
and observation teach us that however pal
pable are the truths here uttered, and to
which | doubt not we all assent, theoretical.
ly at least, still the universally of the rule i.
not inlrequenty practically denied.
Even in the law abiding community in
which we live, we lave seen laws which
were supposed to bear with peculiar hard
ship upon certain classes openly resisted, and
officers of justice who did moi discharge their
duties in manner altogether acceptable to
those who were amenable 20 these laws, or
their personal friends, assaIed with open vi
olence. We have seen, in other parts of our
country, mobs and tumultuous assemblages
OF men rise up to resist the laws and consti.
tuted authorities. We have heard nulfica.
ton and disunion proclaimed and highly
commended. We have even heard from the
pre;eusions, doctrines OF insubordinalion and
resistance inculcaied, which, il followed out,
would involve US in bloodshed and civil war.
say, gentlemen, we have seen and heard all
this in this free country Of ours, where, as
have before remarked, the PEOPLE enact thei:
o,rn la,cs, and may construct or modify them
as they please.
On first view such facts may strike US
with surprise or astonishment. That any
portion Of people, enjoying such rich bles-
sings, should for moment entertain propo.
sitions which. if put in successful operation,
would bring upon themselves swift destruc.
tion, may, indeed, excite our special won
der But ambitious and wicked men have
not, at all times, the best interests Of their
race before them. Unthinking and over ar
dent men are, often times, incautiously led
into schemes designed for their own destruc>
lion. We are all prone to appreciate more
keeny the ills we suffer, though small, or on
Iy imaginary, than the privileges and bles-
sings We ENJOY. Even superior intelligences
in far happier abOdes than ouIs, have expe.
rienced dissatisfaction and rebeIled. Why
then, should we be surprised when feeble,
ignorent man, falls from his proper sphere,
and, for a time, under the influence of pas
sion or predjudice, loses sight Of his true in
terests, and the path of duty?
That men who indulge in revolutionary
vageries, either north or south, will be able
to produce any very serious commotons in
the country, or induce our citizens in any
considerable numbers, TO enlist in schemes
for resisting the laws Of the land, do not
believe. That they may, however. carry
away captive: by their defamation and un-
sound doc rines, weak minded men and silly
women, and, for time, render them unhap-
py and dissatisfied, may be true. But the
sober reflection Of our people, will soon cor.
rect the public sentiment when it has been
given a wrong direction. Or, at The worst,
if from these in6ammatory appeals, popular
tumults should arise, men occupying your
stations, possessed Of firmness and discretion,
and detes,ing anarchy and confusion, will
soon convince all that obedience 10 law are
among the first duties Of the good citizen.