The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-07-18
Obedience to Law, is the Soul
of Liberty.O

q nallty the laws Of Congress. We had T
supposed that that doctrine had been put at
rest. General Jackson was just the man to
assert md preserve the dignity and proper J
authority of the United States in saeh a
case.
But this is the day for reviving old hum.
bugs. which have been sleeping almost fr
centuries. The battle Of religious liberty
must be fought over again. The principles
Of the Alien and Sediton laws must be a
gain condemned and set at rest. Nullitica-
ton, TOO, must again be shown up in its
true colors. IL any Of our laws, are bad,
let them be repealed; but, until repealed,all
good citizens are in duty bound 70 obey
them. The following from the Philadel'
phia Ledger meets our views exactly;
The Rights of States.
"The law passed at the recent session of
D the Legislature OF Massachusetts,, intended
to nullify that part of the Federal Constitu-
/ ton which STIMULATES for the return of iugi'
8 tive slaves, is essentially revolutionary -
/ Though enacted by a people protesting to
be the especial advocates of claw and Or
der" it is not only in violation of law, but
strikes at the very root of social order.
y 1t will not be denied that a free common
e wealth is a political partnership between the
different citizens, entered into for the pur-
pose of seeking the greatest good for the
i. greatest number. AS in all other partner
ships, SO in this. a majority must determine
p the articles of agreement. These are what
? is called the constitution. BY this contract
N or constitution, every member must abide,
70 or else withdraw from the partnership. So
n long as men accept the protection which a
State affords, SO long as they take adyan-
tage of the order it preserves to prosecute
a their fortunes, so long as they are as much
(. bound. morally as well as legally, to obey
Or the constitution and the laws, as partners in
a firm to fulfil the articles Of partnership.
as If it is thus between citizens, how much
Ir more is it between the States and the Uni
on. For the latter is a partnership entered
n into by the States, in order TO conduct ma
or tional affairs to the best advantage. .Expe'
rience sooa taught the States, after the val
of Of independence was, that unless some sucl
u partnership was contracted, in order to reg
Llate commerce, navigation, the imposts in
of ternal trafick, the relations with foreign
q powers and other matters of common con
a Germ, there would arise such endless confu
Ii sion, iealousies, and cumitles, that allena
ton between The States, if not civil war, an
ad archy and despotism must inevitably ensue
5, But 10 form such a partnership it became
H. necessary that each State should make con
N. c~essions. In consequence Of this great dit
of 6culty was experienced in completing the
terms of partnership, but finally the necersi
fe- ty of a Union prevailed over every othe
d. consideration, and the federal constitution
was the result. An integral part of thi
of contract is the stipulation to return fuyltiy'
ate slaves. With much unwi .lingness on til
part of the North, was this agreement con
ing scented to; but it was consented to, and con
flu. sequently it is binding on all the States S
the long as it remains a part Of the c,asdtutlor
r.. II follows That Massachusetts, has n
right to seek, either directly, OF indirectly
to prevent the return of fugitiyes. A Stat
hia law, creating a high tarif,or one abolishin
&C ..E, -
! to all duties, would be just as Constitution
81 as this late act. We know it will be sal
TIA. by the apologists Of Massachusetts,, that Il
for Fugitive Slave Law Of 1850 goes furtht
htv than the Constitution, and that ~slerefo
citizens, much less States, are not bound
oy- obey it. Bat this a sophistry. By Il
al. terms of the constitution, the right of d
50. claring what laws Of Congress are unconsti
lin. ~tutional rests with with the supreme coul
and not with a State; and until the supreu
court pronounces the fugitive slave law al
mar constitutional, which it has not yet done ,e'
,ol;. cry citizen and every State must obey it,
the law of the land; for, when a coastitut
- authority enacts a law, the presumption
/ =. till an adverse decision is had, that the Ia
ia. is constitutional, otherwise there would
! If. no such thing as order in society, for eve
man would obey law or not as he please
:. which would be anarchy.
This law Of Massachusetts, is said, by
misguided advocates, to favor liberty; but
strikes, instead, tile deadliest blow at lib
~, for it violates those cardinal princip
which lie at the base Of social order wi
out which order there can be no liberty.
-. fact, the enacting Of this multiplying law is
attempt at desposism, for + sets up the
!, ofone State against that Of many.
AMusrse,--To see an old wing in Cad
from who has heretofore been one Of the stron
! of est pro-slayery hunkers in the county, II
were ming round just now and making great f
Let about the repeal of the Missouri Comp
wise. mise, and all the abolition claptraps that :
be thought Of It is sail he is after an
fcs. We shouldn't wonder. Them ki
Of cattle are generally after office VII
- they are acting the hypocrite.
Ezy-In looking over the list Of the