Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-03
From the New York Observer.
LAW AND ORDER.

The better sort Oh people III syracuse nave
indicated the name of their goody town, and
have done their part toward sustaining the gov
eminent under which we live, by holding pub
lie meeting, in support OF law and order. The
violence Of the mob, although sanctioned and
stimulated by some who claim to be men of
responsibility and standing; is condemned in
emphatic terms, and strong resolutions adopted
to maintain the integrity of the laws, and secure
their faithful execution.
In the meantime the proper authorities are
steadily pursuing their prescribed line of duty,
and it is believed that the issue will fully estab
lish the power Of our government to execute its
laws even in those districts where the opposi-
ton is the most violent.
At the same time It is to be regretted a few
still reiterate their early and rash advice respect
ing armed resistance to the law. Some of them
qualify their counsel with suggestion that
shows how crude and immature were their opin-
ions on this subject when so unfortunately CON-
mitted. They now distinctly teach that the flu
gitive slave may resist unto death, but his friends
must not interfere to help him This advice,
they hope, will prevent such scenes as occurred
ut Christiana and Syracuse, while it leaves the
single fugitive at liberty to kill his master or
sheriff, if he cannot otherwise get out of his
reach. On the principle involved, a man may
not love his colored neighbor as himself, may
not do for another what he would do for his
own life and liberty, but if his wife and child
are seized to be carried away into slavery, he
may not lift hand to save them; certainly he
may not offer violence to those who would tear
them away.
The necessity of taking this ground arises
from the fearful consequences that have resulted
from the former advice which these "highe:
law" papers gave a year ago. The blood of
those who were shot down at Christiana, is at
the door of those men who advised armed re-
sistance to the law of the land. t may be that
conscience has begun to do its work in the
breasts of those who counseled rebellion. 1t
may be that they do not like the smell Of blood
US we'll as they expected. Perhaps they have
had dreams, and are compelled to cry out, +" Is
this dagger that see before me :" They
sowed to the wind, and now are reaping the
whirlwind. 1t is a fearful load that they have
on their souls, and we do not wonder that they
begin to cry out. One at a time is now the
word Not all at once, that will be riot that
will be treason but if one of you is in danger,
kill the catcher if you must but those who are
near enough to help must be careful not to in
terfere.
To such miserable shifts are men driven when
they get off the soundings of truth, into the o.
cean of error. Tossed about without helm or pi-
lot they are driven at the mercy of winds and
waves. Their distresses excite the pity of the
humane, but their obstinate refusal to get right
when the way is made plain, cuts them off from
any claim to compassion.
Still it is one Of the compensations Of Provi-
dence, that such storms as those at Christiana
and Syracuse serve to purify the moral atmos-
phere, and let the sun shine with more clearness
and strength. The public mind is now more
thoroughly enlightened than before, as to the
real intent and the necessary tendency Of the
higher law" preaching of the Independent peo-
pie, and the Christian community are able TO
Judge of the probable future influence of such
doctrines upon the stability of free institutions,
and the general order and happiness Of society.
The world is governed nowadays by the pri1,-
ciples which are believed by the masses. Hence
the power of the printed Bible, and the preach
ed gospel, and the omnipresent newspaper
These 60 to convey principles, which are the
basis of mems action. Thrones are upset, Re-
publics are founded and Empires are divided
by the power of principles. And such doc
trnes as those of the Independent school would
make red-repubicanism, or revolution the order
Of the day, in any government Of imperfect
men, where they should be adopted by Il decent
minority Of some able-bodied men.
Such is not the doctrine Of the gospel
" Law and order" are incucated by the Apost-
les, and by our blessed Saviour, even under a
government of severe oppression; and if sub
mission was taught as duty then, when despot-
ism ruled with a rod of iron, how much rather
should it be inculcated by religious teachers
now and here, under government Of laws en-
acted by the people, and to be repealed when
ever the people please. Surely we will not as
a nation rashly despse the priceless gifts of
Providence, in our form Of Government, and
make wreck of our blessings, by teaching the
minority to take up arms against the law, and
to spill the blood of the officers of justice,
when the law that appears to that minority to
be in opposition to their views of light. Let
this principle once be settled, as it is taught by
the "higher law" party, in church and state, and
there is an end to all government. The word
Of God is already set aside by many of this
school, because its precepts are not according
to their views Of what is right in ITSELF and the
laws of man are condemned in their daily prac-
tice. Evil, and only evil, is the result of such
preaching.
The Lake Superior Journal will be publish
cd at Detroit, Michigan, during the coming win
ter and the first number will be issued there on
the lst of December. We should much prefer
to publish our paper in the mineral country,
but with the present mail facilities ii would be