The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05

to each particular period Of time Thus, it was
correctly said OF kings, &c. existing when the
Apostles wrote, the powers that be are ordained
of God !" /. e., they exist now Just as they are
agreeably to Goods determinate counsel and
foreknowledge." The sacred penmen do not
affirm that the state of things or orders of men,
then in being, was to last forever unchangeably !;
much less do they inculcate the idea of special
sacredness or divine right inherent in any class
of men. Yet on this notion the whole theory
of these d. Dis. is based
2. These sticklerS for " the powers that be, 4"
take little notice of the great end of their ap-
potntment--namely, " for good )" c., for the
welfare of the people /. BY encouraging the
good members of society For the praise Tor
commendation) Of them that do Well !" not for
their injury. encouragement and annoyance
:" that We may lead quiet and peaceable lite,
in all godliness and honesty" and not to
be terror to good works" 2. By dscour,
aging the bad members of the community
| for the punishment of evil doors y not to en-
courage, uphold, and reward them but I" to be
a terror to the cyil,' "a revenger to execute
wrath upon him that does evil" instead of ia
king sides with the wrong. doer Now, this end
is fully as much regarded and ordained as
is the instrument for etfecting it and if that
end is condemned or frustrated by the officer in
trust divine right or ordination" ought not
cannot DO plead in his behalf There is no rea.
son why he should experience more respect
than himself shows to the object of his appoint
ment
| 3. Quiet submission to the operation of I'M
just, laws which they cannot remedy, is the ut
most extent of the Apostles advice to Chris
tlans but this view is condemned and rcproba
| tod hu thax,
strcnuously insist on our approval of, and per-
sonal aid in executing, whatever our magistracy
may please to order as being taught by Rom.
XIII ?; but which, so far from intoxicating &C
the cooperation, only denOunce open resistance
or rebellious opposition. The Friends under
stand the Apostle much better than the ID. DIS.
4. Our great teachers in this age of pro-
gress " entirely overlook the essential differ
ence between governmental institutions then
and now. Then, no other than kingly authority,
of the most despotic character, was known and
Christians could not consistently and wisely
be exhOrted otherwise than they were. Were
the New Testament writer's living nop, in re-
publican America, they would doubtless have
somewhat qualified their language; which,
nevertheless, AZ it stands is so prudently word
ed as TO suit Christians in oil times and crcum-
stances, when not perverted by designing men
s. In the United States, 81 tho powers that
be- and "are ordained of Godn are the
people--not the President, the Congress, the
judiciary, &c. All these are but the servants
of the people, delegated by them to electuate
their views and wishes they are, therefore,
properly and strictly speaking, ordained" of
the people, and can only be considered as or
daned of God in limited and lower sense
The people of the United States are the sovc-
reign power consequently to inculcate to them
as a religious duty, non-resistance to any act
of their servants without questioning its right
fulness or constitutionality, is both absurd ant
trsitorous; much mere to require their persona
exortions in behalf of unrighteous laws. 'Twer'
more proper and loyal to instruct the people,
delegates in the sacred obligation Of recognis
ing and calculating, in their official acts, th'
will Of their constituents.
: From the above premises gather
/. That neither the President of the Unite
n States, nor Congress, nor the Supreme Cour
nor any other republican, officer, is to be cor
: sidered as ordained of God" in the sam
: sense in which the sacred writers apply tn
0 term to tho autocratic rulers of their day no
? in the sense urged by our oligarcbical instruct
0rs
2. That if the end of tho ordination of abso
lutte powers was the "good of the people who
vet had no voice in their appointment, and tC
whom they were no wise responsible, how much
more obligatory is that end on those who hold
Office at the will Of the people, and to whom
they are highly responsible! If it was wrong
in those despots to make their subjects disobey
Gods commands much more is it wrong in
republican officers to compel their constituents
to violate the laws of God.
g. That though the enacting of unrighteous
laws do not justify Americans in acts Of out
rage and rebellion, yet inasmuch as they con-
sttute the sovereign "powcr" in the United
States, they are fully competent. and clearly
warranted to disapprove of the unjust, uncon-
stitutional acts of their servants; and orderly
to cOntravene their enforcement to refuse per-
sonal assistance, and to seek yea demand, their
repeal
4. That "to obey God" the eternal Supreme
Sovereign, is n duty infinitely more binding
than to obey men, clothed with temporal dele
gated power by their fellow.citizcns
s. That Religious Instructors who teach US
unquestoning active cooperation and non-re-
sistance to all or any acts Of our Government
appointees, caro- not Of God" and instead Of
being accredited AZ Doctors of Divinity they
deserve to be viewed rs Devils Deputies to
perpetuatc tyranny and unrightcousncss.
| MRS H. b. STOWE
| VIII this lady allow an humble individual TO
| throw out suggestion Something seems
wanting in the shape Of an Appendix, Sequel,
| or a Companion to Uncle Toms Cabin having
for its object the depicting of the evil effects OF
slavery on the uhites, in their varied relations
of masters, 0verseers parents and children,
husbands and wives, church ministers and men,
| Inw tba 81 h nd tl.a tho nd hn
| old, manufacturers and workmen &c. A volu-
minous subject, truly! but ono which Mrs s.
can do justice to, il any one can.
| True, Uncle Toms Cabin gives some cxbibi-
lions OF this kind and the public prints occa-
sonally reveal little, but they are 80 isolated
and far between, or no surrounded with other
matter, that they seldom have moro than u
| transient effect. Were they embodied in u
continuous narrative wrought up in the style
of Mrs Stoves popular work, they would toll
with hundrcd-fold effect. The general belief
that slavery il as frsught with evils TO the
| whites IA 10 the blacks reduced into u tangible,
practical bearing, would be Of incalculablc VAL
no to the interests OF humanity, and seems n
| dcsideratum. Mono can so we'll supply this
vacuum ~ the authorizes of Uncle Tom and
| lest she should hesitate for want Of materials,
| would suggest TO your readers to forward to
Mrs Stove at once (post paid such authentic
facts, anecdotes, narratives, &c, Us they may
possess. Never fear, friends to trust Mrs
Stowe with your communications and your
names she will use them prudently and eff.
GENTLY for Truth and Humanity
THE "NORTHERN FARMER"
! was truly glad to see your exposure Of this
masked concern. Some days before, was ask.
ed to subscribe for il, and late number hand
ed me TO examine. In addition 10 its pro-sla-
very character, tho editor in the young mems
department insisted that the masses OF Europe
were like the socialists Of France, unfit for lib
eral institutions, and needed the strong arm Of