The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-15
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
LAW INDISPENSABLE TO LIBERTY.

New York contemporary the governor of Mas
sachuses for calling the military to enforce the
writ of repevn which the friends OF Burns the fugitive
slave sought upon the United States marshal Our
contemporary adds that If his excelency had but raised
his finger Fifty thousand men would have rushed forward
to sustain the writ
We are glad that the governor acted he did. We
glad of it honest friends of liberty. To have adopt
ed the violent recommended by contemporary
would have been equally illegal and mprudent 1t would
have been attempt the part of State to interfere
with prerogave soemny conceded to the federal govern
ment 1t would have sanctioned with official authority
popular outbreak to which, whatever its apparent noble
ness purpose history will give other than that
of mob Finally would have set example OF defying
the law which would have become precedent for other
violations augh with peril to not with
death itself
For if there is any one truth emphaticay taught
by history than another Ills that aw indispensable TO hb-
ery Whenever republic the passions OF the hour are
allowed to subyer the law, the decline of freedom has be
gun II in Athens il was so in ancient Rome; IT
in the Italian republics OF the middle ages and IT
has been So in times, with the South American
governments and with that of Mexico Alone these United
States have maintained their liberty because they alone
have revered the law. They have obcyed not the mo-
mentary excitements Of the hour not the wishes Of
portion only of the country but the viii Of the whole
Pile pronounced by the legislature after calm and COM
prehensive deliberaton They acknowledged no master
but the law but they acknowledged that first and last
Obedience the law is the Keystone ofrepublcanism hold
ing the varied parts of the federation together surmount
ing and cementng the whole France has yet
achieved lasting republic simply FROM the absence OF this
for law The French people cannot practically
understand that il sometimes necessary in political affairs
to submit a lesser evil in order TO secure greater good
They therefore rush first into anarchy and then glad
to take refuge in despotsm Let us still hold fast here TO
obedience the law the very anchor OF our liberties
We might stop here. But the occasion is one which
ought be suffered pass without further words
There is that the ngitvesaye law of 1850
is innovation the constitution This Is not Every
familiar with the formation OF the confedeacy aware
that the Union could have been made the rendition
of had been Of the stpulatons Of the
contract This is admitted by all candid men, whatever
their abstract opinions the subject of slavery Mr. Up
ham, of Massachusetts of the most prominent oppo
nents of the Nebraska bill acknowledged ii emphati
caly, during the late debates in Congress Senator
Douglas would, Toombs Stephens or Calhoun him
self II the latter living The act of 1850 only estab-
lshed the process by which this stipulation Of the consu
ton should be carried out IL Congress had given jury
trial TO the fugitive wel-mcanng people think
might have been done the result would have been prac
cal denial to render up runaways In other words the
people Of the North after having secured the Union would
by miserable dodge have evaded the performance Of
solemn agreement given and accepted part Of the
sderation TO that Union. In life such conduct
would be called knayery Not 10 mmce words IL would
be no better in public lifc-it would he knavery still
That the law Is repugnant the sentiments OF north
generally does not alter the question IL Is only
when laws affect the interests the preudices the sympa-
hies the PASSIONS that tempted to break them
all There is little merit in obedience when IL involves
sacrifice Our fathers considered the blessings Of the
Union great and its advantages TO liberty nesma-
BILE that they willingly paid the price Of this rendition Of
ngtives unpleasant rs II was to them Nor were the
Of that day who made this remarkable concession below
those Of this either in wisdom in patriotism What they
agreed to- in behalf cannot In fulfilling II is
question must remember not of the liberty of the AZ
these States Nayl deeper interests still at stake IL
Ia question OF the perpeuiy Of this Union, whichwe
do not exaggera,e in sayinghang the liberties Of the
whole world for # the experiment Of free government
fails here and through dIssepsions there Us
spot left earth where 10 he renewed a least FOR
ages. $50.