The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-10-01
Higher Law" Doctrines and their

higher Law OOCLruled anu tneu
Results.
The recent massacre in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, of which we
| published very full accounts in our last,
| from a source evidently partial To
the " hi cher law side, rather than other
wise,j suggests some reflections which
should be strongly impressed on the
mind of every sincere friend Of morali-
ty and good government. In spite Of
all attempted shifts and evasions, the
fact is undeniable, that the inhumon
and reasonable occurrences at Chris,l>
ana are the direct and legitimate fruits
Of the doctrines preached by the Free
Soil and Higher Law agiiators,
who have zealously la5ored, for a year
past, to bring a plain legal enactment Of
the Federal Government into con-
tempt, and to render it a nullity, or,
much worse, the occasion of overt and
forciblc rebellion. What they have
preached, what Theodore Parker and
other Aboiionists have openly coun-
selled. tho blacks and certain black
hearted whites of Lancaster County
have practsed. -
There has been a lawful and consists
enl opposition 10 the Fugitive Slave Law
an opposition which, while it has ad,
vocaled modification OF repeal has INSIST
ed on obedience To laws in force. To
such opposition, whether prudent and
wise or not, no such objection lies as
that we are considering. We alude to
those individuals, and those presses,
that have counseled resistance to
plain requirement Of the constitution,
whose hostility has been directed a.
| ganst the constitutional provision itself
,, demanding the surrender of fusiiires,
and that have counselIed the slave, and
his friends, TO arm Themselves, and TO
, resist the officers OF the law-assuring
them that such is their RIGHT in the
sight OF Heaven, and under the inHu>
ence Of a higher law than any nus
( man enactment. These, and these alone,
must bear the terrible responsibility Of
' Of the Chrisliana murder and treason.
The enormily of this offence, Of this
insligation TO the commission OF crime
of the darkest character, we leave to be
estimated BY every mans own sense Of
right and morality. 1t is enough, and
more than enough, for us to establish
the truth of what we have asserted, and
which many Of these asita,ors are now
anxious TO deny.
TIE circumstances attending the cap
ture and return Of Sims are too fresh in
c the memory of every one, to need more
u than a general reference to the open
. bold, and urgent advice Of Theodore
e Parker, Elizur Wright, aud ether "a
. natics in and around Boston, 10 fugitive:
G and their friends to arm themselves tc
d the teeth, and to oppose the execution
q Of the Fugitive Slave Law TO the ut
n most. We need waste no words or
such appeals They are 100 fragrant fol
% comment. and we pass to other. some
&c what less wanton, though perhaps, fol
r. this reason, more dangerous indictments
e 1t is less than year since severa
y citizens Of Bartlett township, 'cifhi,
10 thrte miles Of Christina. adopted, at
, public meeting, the following resolu
10 ton:
RI ReSoiced THAT we consider n.
x individual or individuals have right Il
keep any other individual or individual
10 in bondage; and TINT arc wiH hnrbor
ut ctoihe, ffed, and aid in the escape Of fl
f. gifice slares, IN OPPOSITION TO TN
+ LAW"
Such poisonous seed has brough
d. forth its deadly fruit no sooner than wa
IN to be expected. The similar resou
re tons, passed elsewhere at the North
y y and even by profcssediy religions bodie.
of Of men, can have no other legitimate ei
re feet.
nd Tbs course Of the New York 7rib
IT, une mot to mention other papers in tn
= same city has had The same dlsorgan
~ izing and fatal tendency. What tina
NJ course is. aud has been, will be inferre
: with sufficient correctness from The 70
IN lowing language, after the occurrence
II in question
G. +" 1t the massacre is an occurrenc
in which all must deplore, and yet IL is III
81, legitimate fruu Of the ia,o which author
VI izes the men>hunters 10 pursue the
- prey on the soll of Freedom. III
" icOnder is that hitherto so little resis
anee has been made TO its 1recmtion." -
Tribune, Sept. 10.
A And again;
G. For our part we are q
90 deeply shocked at the boodshed whic
'r rr has taken place as any one, but zoe ca,
,al not hOh The negroes guilty of the erin
ed Of murder. They acted against on
ne law, 1t is true, but they had.mother G
NJ their side, and that iaw august an
in diUinc in orig in. uaaeIu the Inn of AZ,