New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

| NEW PUBLICATIONS..
| THE HIGHER LAW, IN ITS RELATIONS TO CIVIL
GOVERNMENT By WILLIAM HosMER. Auburn
| Derby Miller. l2mo. PIP 2Oi
No man who has the slightest tincture
Of ethical science can claim the enactments of
human legislation as an ultimate authority in
morals. This pretense has indeed been set up by
despots in every age, and sustained by the para
sites who applied the principle that Knight makes
| right to the defence Of tyranny. The maxim
that kings can do ne wrong" may be very con.
venient screen for the atrocious or the contempt
BILE acts Of a corrupt monarchy; but to apply a
similar principle to the decisions of the majority
in q Republic is utterly hostile to the genius of
free government. II the acts Of a majority are
right in virtue Of their emanating from a majority
then they are right absolutely then they are right
not only now but always, and then the formation
Of new majority by the correction Of public
opinion would be superfiuous form. But the
fuctuaton of msorties by the free action OF pin
ion is inherent in the nature of Republican Gov
eminent. Nor, If the maorty is not infallible, can
any law OF constitution created by the majority
be nfallible. If not infallible, it must be subject
to correction, must be liable to comparison with
"HIGHER LAW" Every human Constitution il
subordinate to the Divine Constitution. 1t must
be in accordance with the Law Of God and the
Law of Nature or it is fasehood. Denial of this
is atheism. lie who calls it in question, whether
on the floor of Congress or in prostituted pal.
pit is so far an Atheist-he denies both God and
Nature. The opponent of the Higher Law vr-
tually takes the ground that a political convention
is wiser than God.
Such, in substance, is the argument involved in
the views advanced by Mr.. Seward in the much dis
cussed statement that "there is a Higher Law
than the Constitution" We have always won
dered at the ntee ctual temerty, or the ignorance
of ethical distinctions, which could lead any man,
with repu ation to risk to controvert this posi-
ton. 1t is merely saying that the provisions of
the Constitution are subordinate to the DEGREES Of
the Deity. Mr.. Seward, howe yer, did not assert,
as il is most .uniusty pretended, that in the case
alluded to the Constitution Of the United
States is in opposition to the Laws Of Heaven.
On the contrary, he expressly points out the coin.
eide nee between the Constitution and the Higher
Law. Nowhere does he intimate that fealty to
the one can be sustained only by the sacrifice of
the other. Speaking of the disposition of the
national domain he says, "the Cons titution de-
votes it to union, to Justice to Defense to welfare
and to liberty. But there is cher Law than
the Constitution which regulates our authority
over the domain and devotes it to the SAME NOBLE
PURPOSES The question at issue, then, bet ween
Mr.. Seward and his opponents is simply an ethical
Question-and one on which hi, position has been
sustained by the wisest morssts in every age from
Plato to Kant, Cousin, and Dugald Stewart the
other side being taken only by men avowiug the
extreme principles Of a skeptical and licentiols
school.
Mr.. Hosmer, in this volume, has discussed the
question Of Higher Law on the broadcast gro IN H.,
regarding it in connexion with ethics, theology,
and legislation. His analysis of first principles is
profound and lucid placing tbs question in 90 clear
a light as to silence the cayils Of sophistry. A
portion Of his work is devotedt to the consideration
Of slavery, in which the accordance Of that inst-
tuition with the Divine Law is subjected 10 strin-
gent critical examination. Viewing the character
Of slavery in three aspects, natural political, and
religious, he conyicts il Of injustice, inhumanty,
and a tendency to produce the most disastrous
consequences to the slave the STAKEHOLDER and the
state.
A more convincing discussion of the subject of
slavery is not to be found within the same CON-
pass. 1t is temperate without tameness-clear 10
its statements, and strenuous in it, appeais-de-
pictiDg the character Of slavery in colors Of truth
but not Dc aliDg in inIectiyes against the slave
holdeI-e MANNING the foundation Of morals and
pol tics with critical acumen, but in manner
leye to the common mind. We trust it will find
the extensive circulation which it eminently de-
serves, for none can read il without enlighten.
sieut.
IL The SPIRITUAL TEACHER" il the
tile Of work purporhDs to be written by Spirits Of
the Sixth Circle through the medium of K P. AM
pLHR 1t consists Of series OF twelve lectures on the
nature and development Of the spirit unfolding series
of theological and Psychological views 10 sntagonisn
with the pre- vsDg eeas of the Church and mainly In
accordance with the "rsvelsous Of Mr. Jackson Da-
via The manner In which these lectures are said to
have been composed throws ligh. the subject
o. spiritual Manifestations, admitting the authenticity
of the account which We have no to question
TIE medium, NJ, Amber, seated q, desk With
wiring Implements before hiui-hs hand and arm were
suspended during the tne Of The writing rot rest
tie desk manuicript- the pen sided soldly
over the paper without sny spparsn, thought
The part Of the writer, aud without any pause at the
commencement ofsentences or paragraph The whole
sees OF lectures written In about four days nearly
eleven hours day on the average being employed In
writing We nothing 10 this st.tsmsnt which leads
to refer the operation 10 the spiritual agency which
Il Is ascribed By Mr. Amber. rather to belong
b. the csss vlh tbs yet underlined phsnomsas Of
s7lnl ms % stku,, cidrvoyAnce and tbs Uts. Al eli