The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-05-31
oBRDIEEcE TO LAW.

fiss took ooeasion ia addressing the jury, %
dye bis yiewstiton az duty Of citizens Ia re-
e4ft 70 tho laws N dieir Country, Any thing
eDming from the venerable Judge will be- read
by Yemontars with interest We give below
bis remarks upon this topic
There il much said upon the subject Of ODE
dience 10 law, more especially when law par
uo1lArly iobnoHious il promulgated hut the
number ~ people Ia our conRtfy who openly
refuse obedience 20 even such law, is small.
Tie great majority u american citizens re
bj,aet liB laws o. ne lana AVID rather tiihn o.
Tor direct opposition 10 their execution prefer
10 walt with patience the return Of that season
when they may seek their repeal Ia a eonstitu-
tional MANNER
There ia set Of men NJ the North aud an
other At the santh, who teach contrary doc
tIines The number u not numerous al either
point Thoae At the North ''nown ne Gar
risoniies those At the South a. ,;-,ll6en,--
They will never do mgch harm, The great
prepouderanre ofreheoune ahd prudent eid-
lens will be sufficient 10 hold them In cheek
and preventive evil they would do ifthey poe
sessod che power,
There Is, however, an important distinction
10 be kept always In sight Judge Prentiss
does not overlook 1.-THE right 10 seek the re-
peal Of an unjust law. Some men 10 our eoun-
Try have eens 30 iaT Ia tlelr seal feT a certain
law a. 10 avar that the repeal Of an odious law
Is not a proper subieet for diseussion. Such
al opinion is IL only TO be- secuted by rcpubli-
can citizens,
Judge ProntiaH remarks
aNeT,. extraordinary, iurtriucs have recent
" boon put forth 10 tho public, touching the
duty aud obligation Of obedience 20 law. These
doctrines arc new and strangely at variance
lgilL the principles we have heretofore been
taught 90 respect aud 20 take NJ our guide
They inculcate characterization and lawleaa
disobodieneo; aud those who teach them,
whether conscious OF IL or not, arc enemies ~
public order and the public peace and well
fare, la this country, under our irce repre-
sentative System Of government, obedience 30
the ordinances OF law has hitherto been con-
sidored an unquestionhhle and imperative du-
,ty; and tits very certain that IL must contn-
ne TO be 10 considered, " we would maintain
our civil institutions, and live IN the secure
enjoyment Of our possessions. For without
law aud law 90 bc obcycd or disobeyed AT the
option OF any and every one, II a. no law, VIZ
have no protection for life, liberty and prop
erty. .fHl
Ascitizona under she General Government
our rights aud duiiess our obligations and re-
sponsiblidcs, are measured and regulated by
| the Constitution and the laws passed in pur-
suanoc of IL Andso FAR M concerns our mere
civil relations aud duties ~ su,h citizens, or
NaRy questions Brifing out of these relations aud
duties, there no higher law.
/ when Law, authorized hy the COnslitu-
I ton, has been duly enacted. Il N obligatory
and binding mNon all and Il is immatorial
whether IL bad tbs appreciation and assent Of
more or less of the Representatives from our
own particular section ofthe uAion, or whoth-
or II was passed by greater or less majority
I an act passed by a majority OF one ~ ss.si
House Of Congress, and approved by the Elk
ceutiyc, is as legally and constitutionally biHd
ing rs II passed by unanimous vote in boil
I Houses. II " the law OF the land in the on,
case ns much ms il would be- In the other, ant
has the same force and effect, as rule Of con
duct, in all parts Of the Union. The will OF
the majority expressed IN constitutional
Gevrn- -rrs-rdi-
Considerations Of eNpcdicncy. policy. o.
justice, or any other considerations balong
ing 20 the subject may be urged against IN,
enactment OF law, or AFTER It's enactment
may be urged in favor OF its repeal. but thes,
considerations cannot be urged as roasona To-
refusing snhmlgsian aud 4l.s,lirirrs- 20 the inv
While il exists much less 10 justify disobedi
cnce and open resistance There can be bu
ono question raised ~ to he validity hnt
binding force of q law after It's enactment
andthat is its constitutionality. But this il
a question 20 bc decided and settled, not b,
every individual citizen, or collective body OF
citizens, according 20 his or their own win ol
sense of right but by the proper judicial tri
bnnal ; and TO these tribunals the appeal ma,
and should be made in regular and pcacca
bic way. These are the old, established, con,
stitutional doctrines; and any doctrines nd
verse TO these, are unconstitutional and disor.
zing--subyersiye not only Of the Just au.
thority OF law, but OF the essential principle,
OF ireo representative government.
i The true, constitutional doctrines on thi,
subject, admit 10 the fullest extent, both the
right OF opinion and the freedom Of discuss.
ION. The merits of every law may be fcel,
discussed, and opinions may be freely express
scd for or against Ratit H,,,st ht. remember
ed, that It is one thing 90 disapproye ola law
OF the general government and seek by con.
stituiional means TO procure its modification
orrepeal, and quite another thing 20 oppose
or encourage -feSistanee Ia H. or -unotF the
forms of local legislation to array the State
authorities against it's execution.
Every act OF Congress passed pursuant and
IN conformity to the constitution, is, by that
instrument, declared 10 be the supreme law
of the land, anything in the constitution or
laws OF any State TO the contrary notwith-
standing. Ofcourse, every State enactment
which authorizes any interference with or OBJ
struction to such general paramount law, be-
ing in conflict with IL, is imperative and void.
This is principle essential to the existence
OF the national governments and il may be
affirmed with truth and state it because IL
is a matter of the highest moment, that Il, l.
only under the operation Of this principle,
and by faithful observance, ON the part of
the States and the people, of the obligations
and injnnctions of the constitution, that we
can hope to preserve this Union, aud continue
its blessings to ourselves and our posteritv,
y ,.sz..s.-.-.zlazz-ls.l.l = ...ll-
TnE ExumTTIoN CATALoGuE.-The cit
alogue Of articles in the great London ExhibI4
ton occupies 500 pages, letter paper size, douA
bic columns, Great Britain fills 1856 pages