The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-28

sobristy; not with broidered hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly array;
"'But which becometh women protesting godl
ness) with good works.
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjec-
ton.
"sBut suffer not a ,ronox to teach, nor to usup
authority oveT the man, but to be in silence.' %
Judge Irwin On tho Fugitive Slave Law.
The Hon. THOMAS IRWIN, Judge of the dis
trct court of the United States for the western
district of Pennsylvania, has recently delivered
avery able charge to the grand jury at Williams
port on the subject of carrying into effect the
Fugitive Slave law, which we much regret our
present inability to publish centre. After a
lucid examination of the constitutional guarantee
in regard to fugitive slaves, and of the present
law passed in conformity thereto, Judge IRWIN
remarks:
"Such, gentlemen, ebrefiy the po visions of the
last act Of Congress for the reclamation of fugitves
from labor. That il has been grossly misrepre-
sented through every channel by which information
il usually conveyed to the people, and in such
manner and spirit to excite disaffection to the
Union. and opposition and resistance to the law,
il known to you all. Examine, then. with impair
lth article of the Constitutions upon which both are
founded, and if you have not already traced the
cause from the effect inquire why the act Of 1880
has given rise to much opposition, agitation, and
resistance, smong people alien to the southern
States regards their institution of slaverya peo
pie whose rights and interests, State and individ
ual political and social have not been, and cannot
be by that Law injured, compromised, or in any
manner injuriously affected; and If the problem
should not then be solved, inquire further why a
law indispensable in fulflment of a compact to
which that people, in their political capacity, be-
came voluntary parties, should be Yepudiated, and
what principle justce, morality, any other rule
Of action known to civilized and christian commu-
mites, Influenced them, and prevailed over both
Constitution and law.
"Much of the opposition and resistance 70 the
law may be ascribed to new discovery in ethics,
that there are obligations and duties depending
upon the dictates of conscience of higher nature
than the laws of our country, and to which obc-
dience 10 due when in opposition to the laws 1t
teaches that no human laws are binding, butshould
be disregardsd and resisted whenever contrary to
religion and morality. History is not wanting in
examples Of this kind, to prove that the most OBJ
vious truths and the soundcst maxins Of govern
ment and jurisprudence which declare and main
tain the essential rights and interests of society,
require ut times to be taught and rcestablished
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the
vital objects for which men unite in society, are
dsclaratory in the Constitution of natural rights;
and laws are made to secure them, which laws
there 10 an implied mutual contract and pledge to
respect and obey by all who compose the society
This il tho foundation of moral obligation to
support the laws, without the Observance of which,
thsir force, efficiency, and effect would be greatly
impaired, if not entirely disregarded-
at was to guard against the infraction Of these
rights by such N in all communities use the name
of liberty for license to act without restraint, who
acknowledge no social ties and interests, and who
can only be controlled by fear force, that made
punishmcnts and penalties, the sanctions Of law,
necessary. For all others composing the great ma
jority of sosety the restraints of law were not
cessary; what it commands or forbids is enough to
insure general obedience.
sThe social ties and interests are secured by the
social Union, itself sustained by moral as we'll as
legal force: 20 that there can be no antagonist
moral duty or obligation binding upon the con-
science in opposition to the laws. In the social
state, every man knows, without law to teach him,
that to take from another his property, forciby
secretly, without his consent and without compen-
sation, is contrary to natural right, dishonest
and criminal. 1t il the moral principle which,
in all such cases. creates the guilt il is the pro-
vince of the law TO punish it. The moral sense
is the ntuitive perception Of right and wrong, writ
ten upon the heart by the Creator Of the Universe:
and all the fundamental laws of civilized and free
people are but an emanation embodiment Of
moral duties. Such laws are confrmatory of natu.
raj rights, and their moral is not less than their
legal force; yet the impress and force ascribed TO
them must from necessity be extended to all other
laws organic and positive, which are 90 interviewer
in the frame Of society and it's interests to render
any distinction between them, in regard to their
obligatory character, in the highest degree dan
gorous.
''One law may be regarded by some men az wise,
good, and salutary, and by others useless or un-
just, az they may happen to differ in intelligence,
capacity, or in interests motives, and prcudices
There is in all such but one safe rule for
ciety-to regard practically all laws, however they
may differ in character and Importance, as equally
entitled to respect and obedience"