Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-18
SALEM coLU1IBIANA CO, ONO, SEPTEMBER IS, 1852


by each individual. Where the conflict is
open, as if Congress should command the
preparation of murder, the office of con
science MS final arber is undsputed. But
in every conflict the same Queeny office il
hers. by no earthly power can size he de-
throned. Eech person, after anxious cXami-
nation, without haste, without passion, sol
emnly for himself must decide this grent
controversy. Any other rule attributes in
ihllihiliiy To human laws,p places them beyond
any question, and degrades oil men to un
untllinking passive obedience.
According to st. Augustine, an unjust law
does not appear TO be law; Ter esse non
uidtiw qua jtsid non fiierii and the great
fathers Of the Church, while adopting these
words, declare openly that these laws are
not biuding. Sometimes they are called
abuses" and not laws; sometimes swollen.
ces," aud not laws. Aud hero ngain the
conscience of each person is the final nrbiier
But this lofty principle is not confined to the
Church. A mas,cr Of philosophy in early
Europe, name of intellectual rcnown, the
| eloquent Abelard, in Latin verses addressed
to his son, has clearly expressed the uuiver-
sal injunction:
Jussa protestatis torrcnG discutcnda
CpclestIs tlbi moN pcrhcicnda scias.
Siquis dvnis iubcat contraria iussis
To contra Dominium pactio nulla trahat
Tho mandates of an earthly power may be
diccusscd those Of Heaven must he at once
performed; nor can amy agreement coustrain
us again God. Such is the rule of morals.
Such, also, 10y the lips of judges and sagcs,
has been the proud declaration of the Eng
llsl law, whence our own is derived. In
this conviction patriots have learlessly BRAY
ed unjust commands, aud martyrs have died.
And now, sir, the rule is commended 10
us. The good citizen, MS he thinks of the
shiverng fugitive, guilty of no crime, pufSu.
ed, hunted down like n beast, while praying
for Christian help aud deIiyerancc, and as he
reads the requirement of this act, is filed
with horror. Here is dcspo,ic mandate,
TO aid in the prompt and efficient execution
OF this law" Again let me speak frankly.
Not rashly would | set myself against any
provision Of law. This heavy responsibility
wonld not lightly nssme. But here the
path of duty is clear. by the Supreme
Lnw, which commands tue 10 do no nius-
lice; hy the comprehensive Christian Law
of Brotherhood; JyMc Constitution ich'ch
hare stcorn 10 support, LAM BOUND TO DtsoBEY
THIS ACT. Never, in any capacity, eau |
render voluntary aid in its execution. Pains
aud penalties l can endure but this great
wrong cannot do. al rnnuot obey; but J
can suffer-" was the exclamation of the au-
thor of Pilgrims Progress, when imprisoned
for disobedience 10 an earthly stature. Bet
ter suffer injuslic tilan do it. Better be the
victim than the instrument of wrong. Bet
ter he even the poor slave, returned to bon
dage, than the unhappy Commissioner.
There is sir mn incident i'm history "a lticb
suggest parallel, aud affords fidelity
Under the triumphant exertions of that
Apostle Jesuit, ~. Francis Xavier, large
numbers of the Japanese, amounting to os
many as two hundred ihousand-among
whom were princes, generals, aud tie flower
of the nohiliiy-were converted Ia Christian
iiy. Afterwards, amidst tho frenzy of civil
war,rcligious prosecutions arose, and the
penalty OF death was denounced against all
who refused TO trample upon the etligy of
the Rcdccner. This was the Pagan law of
u Pagan land. But the delighted historian
records that scarcely one from the muidtude
Of converts WIS guilty of this apostacy.-
The law of man was set nj nnnght. lnIpris-
onmeni, torture, death, were preferred. Thus
did this people refuse 10 trample on the
painted image. Sir, nuliIudes among MS
will not he less steadlast in refusing 10 tram
pie on the living image of their Redecmer.
Finally, sir, for tho sake of peace and
tranquility, cease to shock the Public Con-
science for the sake of the Constitution,
cease 10 exert power nowhere gronicd, and
in defiance OF rights expressly secured. -
Leave this question where il was rlt by our
fathers, ot the formation of our National
Government, in the absolute control of the
States, the appointed guardians of Personal
Liberty. Repeal this enactment. Let its
terrors no longer rage through the land
Mindful of the lowly whom it pursues, of
the good men perplexed by It's requirements;
in the name Of charity, in The name of the
Constitution, repeal this enactment, totally
and without delay. BE inspired by the ex-
ample of Washington. BE sdnonished by
the words OF Oriental Piety-" Beware Of
the groans of tho wounded souls. Cypress
not to the utmost single heart; for soli-
tary sigh has power to Oyerset whole
world"