The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-21
THE sopHrsrRIEs OF ABoLlrIoNIsm.

THE S0PHISTRIES OF ABoLITIONISM.
Great efforts have been made during the last four years.
to educate the public mind that it shall break from its
allegiance to the constitution and, without any compunc
tons of conscience throw off the binding force of the
preme law of the land 1t has been generally held to be
the duty Of morasts to teach to keep their plighd
faith redeem their honor and fulfil, in all justice and
integrity their promises But carry political partisan
ends the public mind has been filled with sophsms the
public faith has been weakened and with fratricida
hands have sought to stab the fair form of consu
tonal freedom in the "house of its friends The PRESS
the yceum, the public hail. and the church of God
have been filled with declarations calculated to weaken
national obligations and make it just and imperative
for US refuse submission to the supreme law of the
land if Of its provisions do not suit our fancy and
these declarations the chief instruments relied upon
spread the abolition sentiment through the land and if
possible, to sever this Union.
The prominent idea forth is that the persons who
fancy themselves aggrieved by the operation of law
they have to respect and obey at any moment
relieve themselves from the duty obedience the
sponsbliy of rebellion, by announcing that their
science taught to disobey, and not enlightened obey
orbids the compliance which the law demands OF course
no government would be possible in community which
is law to himself has higher law" of his to
control him than that which the will of the majority has
sanctioned disorder would necessarily be the rule and
der the exception 1t is difficult imagine how the Phil
pses and Garrisons and Parkers and others like them
could make up society which they could live in comfort
ably themselves The very restraints against which they
constantly railing they receive daily the benefits Of
in their persons their freedom, and their own
property In return for the protection which they thus
receive they unquestonaby obedience to the estab
shed authorities And they guilty of bad faith when
they make it the business of their lives to interrupt the
harmonious and effective action of these authorities and
to break down all the sanctions which give them their
power Unquestionaby, there ia right of revolution;
but is absurd to talk of it with reference to political
system like ours which has successfully demonstrated
its value by its results and which provides ample
for It's own peaceful amendment So it is easy to i'm
agine existing law to which good citizen may be
honestly opposed. In such case, doubts his
right agitate in all reasonable methods for its repeal
but in order accomplish this end he is liberty
weaken the social fabric attempt to pull down the gov
ernment While the law exists, moreover he is fairly
pected obey it, and what the free will of the majority
has pronounced just and righteous the will of
ia dangerous member of society who breaks habualy
the laws of his country in Difference to hgher law
which nobody sees but himself and which he expounds
according his pleasure OF course such plea would
avail him in the practical business of e The penalties of
the law must be visited upon the breakers of the law If
man commits murder he must be punished for murder, in
spite of any ancu theory which he may have to the con-
trary steals his neighbours goods he must expect to
be imprisoned although he may have believed that his
neighbours property needed depletion while he himsefwas
suffering with poverty So if he is guilty of treason, So
ciey bound protect ITSELF and to punish the traitor
at aedp said his servant to Zeno, that should
steal" eyes the reply shut it was faed also that
you should be whpped for stealing There is no other
rule upon which the affairs Of government be safely
administered. Revolution against tyranny is always
usfable; but when every carries about with him
little revolution of his own to be used in defence of any
thing he may choose to do not do it quite time
that society should vindicate its authority and prevent
itself from falling into utter anarchy. ..
Our Union composed of sovereign equal States To
form this republic each State yielded up something
and received larger good in return The powers of the
general government defined and specific and result
from the compacs and provisions of the constitution
and these compacts to be faithfully kept by each
State and by each individual composing the State The
oath support the constitution of the United States
is taken by all the governors and legislators of the
several Staesby all who admitted to practice at the
bar-and by various other classes of American cii-
is daily renewed in spirit when letter is taken
from the post Office customs paid into the treasury
the beneficial action Of the government is felt any way
whatever and man. from the nsgations of his own will
from pque political prejudice has right to
break the least commands Of the constitution than he
has repudate his lawful debts dshonor because
he has conscientious scrupes about meeting the obga-
tons he has given
We need incubation of the duty of national faith
and honor. The air has been impregnated with sophsm
and fasehood the subject of obedience to authority
Leaves csuntess the forest foliage have been scattered
abroad poisoning the sources of national life and the
fountains of intelligence Men almost walk through the
States on sheets of paper filed with nammatory articles
calling upon the people to repudiae their compacts and
refuse to meet their constitutional obligations Tho time
for sound and healthy instruction has come In the re-
pose of this hour and the reaction from unwhoesome
element which II brings, find ft time for renewedly
impressng the people their constitutional duties for
in this in other relations the price Of liberty is eternal