Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-07-29
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added TO The political armament. Rather,
We should say, a star has been newly dis
covered, for the advocates OF the Higher
Law doctrine clam that this principle has
existed over since the creation Of the world.
We know there is implanted in the breast
OF civilized Humanity TN innate desire to
OBEY Go lrather than man.The laws Of divine
cnactmen. are superior in wisdom to those
O. human egislation. But the laws of ON
impotence are as likely to DO misunderstood
.ss those Of human enactment, and we ask
who is to be the judge? Shall each iudi-
d.7idaal DO his own, interpreter? That
would be giving to erring man a most dan
gerous power. Clothc man with such pow
ers and national legislation would BE USE
less appendages to republican institutions.
That would be deplorable state Of affairs'
when The people Of our own country ac-
hno@ledged the right of each person to sup
port the national constitution rs he under
stooi il. Sa;h q right would dissolve the
gov. rnment whenever single State became
dissatiiea with our national Legislative pol
icy Every person that is conyersant with
the working Of our government can see in
Il moment that such an acknowledgment
would be utterly impracticable and danger
Gus to the we'll being Of any community
that desired TO be governed by human Wis
dam. This would lead to tie formation Of
monarchial governments, by placing all pow
I,,s IN de- = a. Il, 4
give any single State the right to stand out
against the vii! Of the remainder, and that,
too, under the most frivolous pretences.
State notification, that certain forerunner
Of national dissolution, would be the sure
and inevitable consequences.
We can distinguish no difference--when
We come to the strict construction las far
rs recorded laws are concerned. between
divine and human wisdom. Indeed there is
Infinitely more wrangling and tisputing
about the signifcation of Scriptural law
than Statutary law. Ii people misunier-
stand the laws Of the commonwealth. by
roso!ting to remedies always provided they
can Obtain such explanatory information
ns VIII insure them the means Of rghtfully
Interpreting the same. But on the other
heni, if ointment theologians aud distin-
gaishai biblical commentators disagree
rs regards the meaning of passages of sa-
cred writ, we have no remedy wherewith to
base our opinion as to the truthfulness and
correctness of either party, except the die
tates OF eur own reason. Each man then
being his own interpreter of sciiptural
meaning, the utmost con usion must always
attend those who undertake to decide wheth-
e. human legislation conflicts with divine
enactment Un.ess the conflict is so plain
AMI palpable upon its face as to meet uni
rersal acquiescence, the lws Of man should
he held inviolate.
The institutions Of this Republic will be
in critical condition when it shall be left
optional with unprineipled men to obey OF
disobey wholesome and necessary laws,
provided they can but point to some mex
p!icab.e passage of Scripture upon which
they, in their wiiful ignorance, might plead
divine authority for their illegal conduct.
We see no reason why such miserable apol-
ogies VIII not be nil powerful when the
higher las doctrine shall prevail, and each
individual be the acknowledged interpreter
NJ the law. Nigh and not righi would
thea WELD the sceptre over the self-inter-
preting nations Of tho world, and man
would be sank to level with the brute Gre
alton. In these days Of Christian ciyilza-
ton, especially ia our own country, it will
be very difficult to fad majority of the
legislators Of the nation who would so far
forget their God as to enact laws that were
IN violation Of his teachings. And, there
fare, when men, dis5atiied .Tith the laws of
their country, shall cry OUT for the higher
law, YOU mag rest assured they are indvid-
uais who advocate the right Of interpreting
both divine and human laws, as they under
staal them. The advocacy Of such q right
is a gross ana wilful violation of all the
.stcachngs of reason and common sense, and
ia open rebellion to the Christian religion.
But there is higher law with which th e
feeble and infe.ior powers Of national leg
islators can never conflict. liz is the law
that formed worlds from chaos, ana said,
'.i.et there be light and there was light,
which Immediately illuminated the nui-
verses that never yet had felt the breath of
created intelligence. 1t is the law that
hrcsthci into the cold and inanimate clay,
in . second of time, long years of exist
eaos, and made words to shake with the
tread OF mortal man. |. is the law that
holds the planets in the heay rs and gov
erns thcir motrons and revolutions. 1t is
the law tina. bids the king Of day march
across the blue vault Of ETHEREAL space with
towering majesty, and cause the hearts OF
nations 10 pulsats with life and action.
7. is the law that darkeus the heavens with
tuuols cloais, and sends forth streams Of
ire cnannting from the very throne of jeho-
Taa. |. is the law that urges on the whir,-
Wind 10 uproot the Elicstlc oak that has
grown s.FoGg While embrecing the storms
Of centuries. IL is The i.w that governs
tie eaYtscsas IS awful roar, and the vol a
noes moaptain lungs. Il is he law that
watchrs the Glib and iow Of ocean streams,
aud seals 9Th ils light breath, ships OF
merchandise across tleir bosGms. Ii is the
law that causes the blade of grass to shoot
FOR y fro.n tha-SsGS6s1lz sailuuiAad fusniSAss