The republic., 1851-10-31

nounco that act criminal which conscience dictates
as according with religious duty We answer,
conscience is as changeabe as the chameleon, and
religious duty has many interpretations there
are minds that think that If society were To yield
te such dogmas civil liberty would be at an end,
punishment for crime would be impossible and
the murderer would murder as an act OF con-
science.
The incendiary would burn the temples of G cd
on earth as a matter Of religious duty, and social
order would no longer exist. Brutus, when plung-
ing his dagger into the heart of Cpsar-7Jaques
Cletiient, when he assassinaed Henry lll.-and
Henry H., when he caused the murder of Thomas
a'Becket-were ready with the plea OF conscience
Justification, but they were none the less muir
derers. The mob which overthrow Lovejoy, as
well as that which took from Cassius M Clay his
press, were justified the plea Of conscience, and
| yet million of human voices proclaimed the out
RACES desecration of the most sacred principles of
human liberty.
Fanatics have their horrible hallucinatons and
dreadful convictions-but mob violence is the
height OF their insanity Syracuse has been the
theatre OF their propagation IL mas been mere hat
Garrison and Wendell Phillips have hurled the an
| athcmas Of their madness against Washington and
his associates, and il has been here that May and
Thompson, taking up the cry have prolonged the
echo OF their insanity. But the citizens OF Syracuse
have neither assented to their phrenzy, nor been
responsible for the lcentious insolence of their
principles IL is true they have known OF their de-
famations and of the llagtious nlamy of their fan
attic zeal, but they and for all time dscaim
any affinity in doctrine or any coincidence in SEN
Iinen with mob preachers or Constitution haters.
They proclaim themselves in open opposition TO
their reckless fury and will yield to part OF the
State Union in veneration for the inheritance CT
| liberty bequeathed to Us by the deathess patriot
lem Of our foreiathers, and secured to US by the
wisdom OF a Constitution which has elevated us to
| the apex of national honor and civil liberty.
Mr.. Comstock, from the committee resolu-
tons, reported the following, which were unani
mossly adopted:
WHEREAS, rigid observance of the Constitution
thnl aua afaA on1 xrinrf
sion of all attempts at their violation. have ever
been Justly regarded essential to the mante-
nance of civil liberty; and
| WHEREAS, on the lst of October instant, law of
the United States, enacted in strict conformity with
a requirement of the Constitution. and subsequent
ly affirmed by the proper judicial tribunals, was
deliberately violated by mob assembled for that
purpose in this city, the officers of the United States
Government assaulted and manned, and their pri-
soner rescued by violence from their custody,
whereby the power OF the Federal Government was
set at Defiance the sanctty OF court OF justice in
vaded by armed rioters, and the peace and order of
the city temporarily suhverted; therefore, be it
Resoloed, That we, citizens of Syracuse and the
county OF Onondaga, deeply regret the commits
sion of the aforesaid outrage upon the law, and
would express our unqualified adherence of the
infamous transaction.
Rssoiped, That while we unreservedy condemn
the conduct of those who actually participated in
the riot of the lst of October, repe the
ton that any large number of the citizens OF Onon-
daga engaged in that dsgracefu affair.
Resolved, That we will steadfastly adhere to the
obligations imposed upon all the citizens of the
United States of America by their adoption of the
Constitution, that we will yield obedience to all
laws constitutionally enacted, and faithfully abide
by the decision of all legally constituted judicial
tribunals.
Resolved, That we regard with extreme abhor-
renee the counsels of those misguided, infatuated,
and seditious persons, who have repeatedly within
the past year. in their convocations in this city and
elsewhere in this section OF the State, promulgated
| the most rebclious and reasonable doctrines
blasphemous, in many cases, both in language and
sentmcnt-n their tendency, promotive OF hos
tlity TO the Constitution and the laws -subversive
of the Union and destructive of the glorious her
tage of free Government which our fathers be-
queahed, as they hoped, to the American people,
tor possession, forever and ever.
ReS0ired That the recent resistance to the law in
this city is the natural consequence of the teach
ngs of these preachers of sedton; that they should
therefore be held morally responsible as accesso
res before the act, and in consequence OF such par
ticipation, morally guty,of violation of the
law, and as such deserving of the severe reproba
tion of all good men.
The meeting then adjourned with three cheers
for the Constitution and the laws.