The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-05

IA r
n scls Of Congress and provisions Of the constitution
hey are the law OF the land and II is solemn
iuy faithfully TO execute them In the words OF the
a6 which you have lost taken, you are 10 do This
usssnng things truly ~ they come TO your knowledge
pSsodns 10 the best Of your understandins." -
Hs,s might close; bat ~ great efforts have been made
convince the public thai The recent law cannot be
acsd with good conscience. but may be
resisted and an impression may have been made on some
d your number thus presenting obstacle to the dis
hdeAy TO the moral aspects Of the subject
In this part oil the country, the convictions Of our un
Outstanding, our moral sentiments, and our religious opn
ions are adverse to the institution OF slavery Hence
ome are ready 10 conclude, the first place that the pro-
vision OF The constitution for delivering up fugitive slaves
mist be morally wrong and, in the place. that laws
made carry II into effect are TO be disobeyed and re.
Neither of these propositions legiiimately follows from
The premises - .
would be to each other foreign nations. The fret duty
Of every nation Is The preservation and protection OF
rs own citizens, 1t is for lhis primarily, that political
societies are formed and their restraints submitted TO- IT.
hen any nation finds that hospitality to foreign fugiuves
Inconsistent with its own peace and safely, has
right refuse such hospitality, and TO say TO az such
foreigners We cannot receive you amongst u.s. and you
come we must deliver you up to the dominion OF your
own government and ], may rlghlfully make compact
with such government for such delivery whether the
teace and safety OF the nation do in fact require or au
horze such compact il is Tor the nation itself to decide,
faithfully performed ,..
Those therefore, who have the strongest convictions
AZ the immortality of the institution OF slavery are net
hereby authorized 10 conclude that the provision for de-
Iyerng up fugitive slaves morally wrong, or that our
fathers Massachusetts, did not act wisely, justly, hui
IN 70 Nose wSo 90 he
ondemnng the constitution, and the laws made under il,
as unjust and immoral cannot, even upon such an as
SUMPTION, justify resistance. In their view, such laws
are inconsistent with the justice and benevolence, and
sgains, the will OF the Supreme Law giver; and they
pHatcally ask, Which shall we obeyhe law Of man
The will Of God answer obey both. The incompati-
hiy which the question assumes does not exist Unjust
and oppressive laws may, indeed be passed by human
governments BUTT Infinite and lnscrutabe Wisdom per-
ms political society having the power of human egsla
Inrutable Wisdom permit and require the individual
who has no such power to obey them
Can you say that II is his will that shall rise up in
Iorcbe resistance overthrow the power OF the govern
nent and instead OF the peace and security OF organized
society," introduce the dominion Of anarchy and violence
Are such the appointed means for their abrogaton! IN
lust laws have always existed Until recent period
oo and honest debtors were even here oppessiveIy i'm
soned; and IN England, stealing to the value OF more
than shilling punishable with death, and their code
numbered more than hundred and fifty capital Of
fences The wise and the good that these laws were
cruel and unnecessary. They did not rush to arms.
counsel disobedience. But by the diffusion of knowl.
edge by reason and persuasion, they changed The public
mind, and the laws were peaceably amelioratcd.
The fruits OF justice and benevoence, like those of the
natural world to be matured by mild and genial in
huences
The punishment of death is still inflicted BY our laws
Many good men firmly believe that society has RICH,
take the life Of one OF its members. With them cap
a punishment is the highest injustice and the greatest
wrong that can be inflicted But they do not counsel
sance to convulse society and overthrow the govern
nnt bu, quietly and conscen,iousy submit TO the peace
iul execution Of the law.
But we are told by some that the law being morally
wong, conscience tells them 10 resist it
Conscience, indeed, is 10 be reverenced and obeyed
but still we must remember that is tabe, especially
where the rights OF others concerned and may lead
s 10 DO great injustice Some have impression thai
it's the divinity within them-an unerrng and inallible
guide Hence they cannot believe conceive that oppo
alton 10 their views be conscientious. 1t is this Turk
hg aacy this taclt assumption OF personal nalibty
that makes them inolerant toward others, and inacces-
sble to argument.
speak not of those who believe thai they have special
inspiration from above--that miracle has been wrought
or their guidance Such beyond the scope OF humar
reason, and 1T subjects either OF conservation mad
house. according as their belief is founded reality OF
telusion.
But with those who are under the dominion of the
established laws Of The moral and intellectual world con-
science is ialble The annals of the world abound with
aormlles committed by a narrow and darkened con-
ssnce man may incur great moral guit-not indeed
following his conscience but by negecting the
isc'ylng and enlghening II. Its dictates varied
no only according 10 the moral constitution but the in
sleelua power and extent OF information of the indi
Tdual The purer the motive, the extensive the
owedge and the greater the mental ability. the
enlightened will be the conscience and the more correct
decisions
The moral faculty moral judgment being thus fall
pc mere may be conflict OF consciences Let me pre-
gu an Illustration. ship arrives with sick passen-
Isfs One class OF men insist that the disease is
Rous and that they shall no, be permitted land and
Nsad general pesence. Another class insist that il
not contagious, and that would be cruelty TO compel
aen 10 remain on shipboard, ageravaiing Their suenes
na men danger With both IT is question OF human
Y--oi conscience.
Asan, certain strangers seek en- asylum amongst us.
e GAS OF our citizens in them only ugitives from
pession whom We can easily and securely receive and
10y. Another class believe that they bring with them
arPuyscai, but moral contagon that their presence
endanger the public peace and individual safety that
may tmoroil us with other States, and bring upon
y sunerln2s and horrors OF external and internal war
CONFUSION The one class urge the obligations OF
yspuaiy and benevolence-the other the obligations oil
PIeservaon, and the sacred duty of preserving those
non nature and society have committed TO their pro-
1uon Both are equally sincere conscientious, and
eoue Which shall yeldi Is there no appeal but 10
~. les And the arbiter must be socie,y-organzed
-Ponouncing It's decision through its regularly
su,u'ed agents. This is the moral judgment, the i'm
snea conscience o: the political community To this
ony IS each individual bound TO submit, but it is a
and controlling element in forming his own moral
~smeni An act which before may have been innocent
now criminal, and its commission not only opposed 10
'wl, but sqbversive oil the order, peace, existence
OBEDIENCE IS moral duty This is as certain a. tina,
Ireater made man a social beng and designed tina, he
.a hve, nov IN perpetual anarchy, but in peace and
,sn, ,or human government IS the only means which
mute GOODNESS has provided for preserving us from
easlDg conflict and violence To obey the law of tbe
400 IS, lheD, to obey the will OF God
may be asked, Ia resistance never justifablep Is
,.sn no exception answer, Yes When oppression.
sem and prospective is great as TO Justify 10
uumale night OF revolution. But this is moi 10 be
from rom impulse or feeling, but from the calm and
Nv consideration OF the dangers and difficulties OF
rl. rDpoe.u iemeoy. wise man will reflect that
-tea, eviis-must exist under every human govern
sneht That perfect fabric cannot be made OF inner