The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-23
THE REPUBLIC.

| should really like to know where these
worthy editors have discovered the evidences
Of that ''nIost fatal position" which appears to
have alarmed their fears. If any person has
"erpresSly declared" or "Dirttlally assumed /"
that the law of God is not paramount, know
notthat person among the writers and speakers
in @ this great coRtrouegsy"
1t would be delightful thing if these wor-
thy editors and all others, whether in favor of
hierarchy or otherwise, and who deal in i'm
practicable sublimities, would come down from
their high heaven of invention, and be practi-
cal for day. What would they have2 All
who prefer government to anarchy must
submit to control, under some modification.
In government like ours we elect our rulers.
and those who, by our common voice, shall
make laws for the people. All human agen-
cies are imperfect. Bad laws will occasional
ly be made. Systematic opposition to the law,
by force, carries society back to anarchy. II a
question arise, does this human law conflict
with the law of God-who shall decide this
question If every individual for himself,
then we are In state of anarchy. No: there
must be some tribunal of universal resort. Such
a tribunal forms part of our system of govern
ment. The presumption is, of course, in ia
vor OF the Constitution and of the laws, in a
Christian community, that neither conflict with
the law of God. Should it appear, however,
that, IN any instance, such a conflict does ex-
list, the remedies are at hand, revolution or the
ballot-box. Should body of men arise, and
declare that they are for "higher la,c." and
that their conscience" will not suffer them 10
obey the laws of the lard they have the world
before them-they can emigrate-and, if they
will not, but prefer to remain, and availing,
some of them, of their sacred offices, prefer to
disturb the repose of the communicable by
some process or other, the Government must
put them dotcn, or they must put do,gn the Coz
errnlentl
When member of civil society pulls forth
his conscience" as one pulls forth travelling
certificates sort of priUiLegi,n clericale--and
thereupon claims exemption from his civil obi
CATION to obey the law, then, and in that sense,
it is that conscience" becomes byword and
a reproach--a word of well-deserved ridcue
For this liberty and equality is practicable of
the conscience of every citizen. This portable,
personal tribunal in every mans breast is abso-
Lutte, finite, interchangeable.
The editors of the Christian Register have
quoted passages from Edmund Burke, Richard
Hooker, and Daniel Webster. Fine passages,
from high authorities, they are. | shall refer
to them more particularly. If am not mis-
taken, there are in Hooker's Ecclesiastical Pol
ity some other passages touching the duty of
obedience to the law which may prove useful
for the edifcaton of those who mistake their
own ''persuasiOns" for the law of God. If |
err not also in regard to Burke, there are, either
in his letter on the Regicide Peace, or in his
Reflections on the French Revolution, some
exceedingly applicable structures on the imper-
tinent interference of clergymen in political af-
fairs. The editors of the Christian Register
cannot run before me in their reverence for
these exalted authorities. For the benefit of
our clerical and other friends | will look them
up. SIGMA.