Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-28
ALLEGIANCE TO LAW ESSENTIAL TO THE PRE-
SERVATION OF LIBERTY.

1t is gratifying to observe (says the Journal of
Commerce. that in these days Of popular commo-
ton the press is almost without exception, fearless
and frank in advocating support of the established
forms of law and order without regard to sectional
or partisan prejudices The st. Louis Intelligencer
makes the following just remarks
I" There is nothing which ought to be firmly and
deeply fixed in the mind Of every true American whether
adopted than that every manifestation of
the spirit of mobocracy must be put down at all hazards
This is matter about which there be doubt and
be hesitation faterng for if bodies of
allowed to follow their sndscipned impulses, and wreak
their vengeance upon obnoxious individuals classes,
and undertake to redress their real imagn Try griey
ances without authority Of law it, say, any part OF
population be allowed to manifest awless spirit
with impunity then liberties at end, just
God is in heaven. .... >.' ..r#
n is absolutely excuse for awless
proceedings The press free the legislative assemblies
and judicial tribunals open to all, every is at
berty by writing and speaking publicly and privately
to point out defects in the laws and their proper
dies. full and fair hearing is given to all sides and
then the people decide in that regular manner which is
best adapted calm expression of their deliber
ate will Law thus formed and modified, ought to be and
must be sacred pass through the evils ofanarchy
and social disorganzaton to despotism like that in
which poor distracted Mexico has lately sought refuge
Let every American feel in his hearts that the ber
ties and future destnes of glorious country aked
upon maintaining tic supremacy of the law at all times
and under all circumstances.
Had the effort mob BEpISI at Cincinnati been sue
cessu and the perpetrators of the outrage been allowed
to escape the legal consequences of their guilt there is
telling how deep and dreadful would have been the wound
inflicted republicansm in America and the of
liberty throughout the world Nothing could have served
more efectualy that party among which is inclined to
the despotc what they call the conservative system
which prevails in Europe. Such doings these Gin
cinnah and Erie if not sterny and promptly put
down by the insulted majesty Of the American people,
will be fulfilling to the letter the predictions of the dis
dainfu leaders and organs Of the anRepublican party
in the old world The articles which years ago read
in Backwoods Magazine, with stronger inclination to
the writer than Christian ought TO indulge
so arrogant and self sufficient his predictions of the
downward course of democracy through awessness to
despotism-wl look like history inspiration, and
will have to bow heads in shame and bitterness of
heart while we listen to the exultng peans of the cham
pons of aristocratc and herarchical domination. oh,
God avert from us such fate, and keep alive in the
hearts of people that allegiance law country
and Thee which guided our fathers in the establish
men Of free institutions and alone preserve them
to future ages the blessed heritage of people
and the glorious nsrumentaty ofa world
The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, speaking on
the same general subject, but in different vein,
says
SIN the early days Of the colony of Massachusetts,
religious feud in which the gallant and gifted Sir Harry
Vane bore conspicuous part distracted the sober fore
fathers OF New England The good people, animated by
his eoquence became fearful of infringement of their
rights and serious commotons would have followed had it
been for the authority and good Of their Governor
He addressed them in grave, earnest oraon in which
he insisted upon the right of free speech and reminded
them that the forced suppression of it destructive of
those privileges for which they had left their homes and
eheerfuly borne all the hardshps Of the settlement upon
unknown and inbospitable shore. Liberty without
law said the stout hearted magistrate, is anarchy and
not liberty. The whole address might be published at
this time with benefit to many Of our who
entertain the notion that under the idea of ber
ty is included the privilege of unbounded license The
sentiment prevails in the articles Of the editor Of the paper
in Cincinnati who nstgated the excitement there in
ference to Mr. Bedn the Popes Nunco which resulted
in such deporabe The articles, if correctly
published by other papers, were inammatory and unbe
coming and in any view totally unfit for the columns
of an American print While extend to Foreigners
the privileges of citizenship it is hardly be
peced that should become party to their old Euro
pean feuis They here American citizens and must
conform themselves the laws of the land If the bitter
feelings inulged in by the representatives of societies.
religious and POLITICAL who happen to take shelter in this
country from the evils of bad government in the old world
are to be adopted by and acted upon whenever the
opposing parties meet shall turn this land into pan
demonum Our condition will be than that of any
other people in the world and agtated by the horrible
passions engendered by such quarres unhappy people
will be ready to welcome any form of despotsm which
will relieve them from the bloody reign Of such tyrant
as liberty unrestrained by law"
few days ago serious land slide occurred on the
Virginia and Tennessee railroad. But few moments