The republic., 1851-08-12
THE REPUBLIC.
From The Boston TSanscrips.
The Peace and Dignity OF the Common
vwo@INh.-NO. xxxyi.

''Nossas to the fact that there are great princi-
Piles OF natural justice which underle all rghtful
legislation, and which give force and stability to
laws in every free community, we had supposed
there could be no question. Laws do not make
what is right, bat must conform TO the superior
authority OF its great original principles. They
may In the language of Edmund Burke, alter
the mode and application, but have no power over
the substance of original justice Law, he adds,
sic mode OF human action respecting society, and
must be governed by the same rules OF equity which
govern every private action In another grand
passage where this great conservative moralist
and statesman recognises at once the supreme
thority OF justice and of conscience, he says There
s one thing, and one thing only which defes all
mutation; that which existed before the world, and
will survive the fabric of the world ITSELF mean
justice; that justice which, emanating from the Di-
vinty, has place in the breast of every of u.s.
given US for our guide in regard to ourselves and
which shall stand, after this globe burned to ashes
our advocate accuser before the Great Judge,
when he comes to call upon us for the tenor OF
well-spent life.'''
Nothing can be more Just and true, with
common sense for our interpreter; how it may
appear through transcendental spectaclesI do not
know. Does not the first part of the paragraph,
nevertheless, SAVIOR a little of farcical sOlemni-
ty! These worthy editors "had supposed" Sc
Who ever doubted that there were great prin-
ciples of natural justice which underlie all
rightful legislation2 There is no question about
this. The first question is, if the Pugitipe
Slace lao be an exception; and the second
question, admlSfng it to be 50, is, what shall
we do about It2
The editors have quoted a noble passage
from Edmund Burke. am glad they have
quoted Burke. | mean to quote Burke myself,
and very freely, and am pleased to find the au-
thority in such high odor with these reverend
gentlemen, who over and above their ,appro-
pirate gospel duties, in preparing us for Para
disc, have SO much leisure for politics and law
This passage, quoted from Edmund Burke,
is of universal application. No man will gain
say its truth and excellency. But it has no
more pertinency to the FugitiUc Slaue La,o than
to any other law, or, indeed, to all of life and
conduct.
| Can it be possible that these worthy editors
| would convey the idea that Edmund Burke
was man to step forward and, with his ma -.
tural '.justtce emanating from the Diuinity,"
without resort to the milder measures of re-
peal or modification, either oppose or refuse
obedience to law of the land2 Not man,
since the flood, has ever been born, less suited
to such wild occasions. Read his letter on the
Regicide Peace-read his Reflections on the
Revolution of France, and see what manner of
man he was.
1t will be remembered that, in connexion
with the French revolution, Richard Price, a
non-conformihg minister, preached furious
and highly infammatory sermon at the Old
Jewry, in November, 1899. All those who
reverence Edmund Burke sufficiently to quote
him, will do well to read his commentaries on
this vile, incendiary sermon of this political
priest. He preached" says Burke, sat the
dissenting meeting house of the Old Jewry, a
very extraordinary miscellaneous sermon, in
/ Al.
sentiments, and not ill-expressed, mixed up in a
sort of porridge of various political opinions and
reflections but the revolution in France is the
grand ingredient in the cauldron. ."-Barke's
Works, Lond, 1928, vol. r., page 4O
For my part,' says Burke, /" looked on
that sermon as the puolic declaration of man
much connected with literary caballers and in
triguing philosophers; with political theolo-
gians and theological politicians, both at home
and abroad y That sermon
is in strain which ! believe has not been
heard in this Mngdom, in any of the pulpits,
which are tolerated or encouraged in it, since
the year 1913, when predecessor of DR.. Price,
the Reverend Hsgh Peters, made the vault of
the kings own chapel at St. James's ring with
the honor and privilege of the saints, who with
the high praises of God in their mouths, and
two-edged sword in their hands, were to exc
cute judgment on the heather and punishments
upon the people. Ibid, page AZ.
There are some other words of Edmund
Burke's, which, as the authority is favorite
with the editors of the Register, | am sure
they will be pleased to have me cite:
Politics and the pulpit terms that have little
agreement. No sound ought TO be heard in the
church but the healing voice of Christian charity.
The ofcivil liberty and civil government gains
little that of religion by this confusion of duties
Those quit their proper character toassume what
does not belong them, are, for the greater part g-
norant both of the character they leave and Of the
character they assume. Wholly unacquainted with
the world, in which they are 80 fond of meddling,
and inexperienced in all it's affairs on which they
pronounce with 30 much confidence, they have
nothing of politics but the passions they excite
Surely the church is place, where one days truce
ought to be allowed to the discussions and animos
ties of mankind. Ibid, page 40.
How truthful are these words of Edmund
Burkel How very pertinent to the present oc
casions of not few of our clerical friends, who
seem entirely to forget that they are "set apart"
to preach the gospel. 1t was very judlcious
thing in the editors of the Christian Register to
put us upon citing from the pages of Edmund
Burke
OF late we have heard great deal about the
a,o Of nature, and natural rights, and the rights
Of men, Such has ever been the case in the
hour of sedition, and when the tide Of unquiet,
popular sentiment is rolling onward in the
direction of anarchy and civil war.
Such was the case when there arose in Eng
land body of disorganizers, who were of
opinion that the revolution in France was
worthy of imitation. The law and other secu-
lar callings, doubtless, sent forth their full pro-
portion Of incendiary spirits. But then and
there, as here, of late, almost the earliest sig
nal was given by the tap of the "drum eccle-
siastic" "The signals for rerol,ttions," says
Burke, Ibid, page IS, "have often been girep
from pulpits."
1t is delightful to know that have the sym
pathy OF the worthy gentlemen of the Register,
while multiplying quotations from Edmund
Burke. A Single example of effectual resist
ance to the laws tends Of course to encourage
the foolish and fatal fancy that the mere will
of body of unruly men may successfully strug-
gle with the General Government at any time.
III the strong common sense of the value Of Sc
curity, among the whole people, prove less than
match for this revolutionary sentiment, the
social compact is rope of sand, and it is poor