Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-19
Ahnlitionism Txrlainad No 70.
6 HIGHER Law.

The higher law, or natural law, or law of
nature. or moral law, is the foundation of all
our ideas Of right and wrong. 10 say an act
is right is to say it conforms to the higher law,
and we cannot condemn an act as wrong, except
in view of that highest of all laws which for
bids the act. An act Of justice always con-
forms to the higher law, an act of injustice al
ways violates it. Ignorant and unprincipled
politicians sheer at tn. idea that government
has anything to do with the higher law, and
yet they would raise an instant howl of griey-
ance, should government depart from the re-
QUESTIONS of the higher law against them In
sustaining claim against government, they
would not fail to show, if possible, that the
claim was right, and that would be only show
ing that it was sanctioned by the higher law
Civil Government is SO far from having nothing
to do with the higher law, that it might almost
be said it has nothing to do but to sustain its
requirements. The mission of government is
to secure rights, but only through the higher
law can they be known. Abolish the higher
law, and there will be an end of civil govern
ment, because there will be no criterion by
which government can know what acts to sup
press and what to encourage. In short, there
will De no such things as right and wrong.
The validity of contracts rests on the higher
law. In other words, contracts are binding,
because The issser law requires us to perform
our engdgsmpnts Contracts are reliable in the
degree in which contracting parties feel the OBJ
legations of the higher law, or law of right
But who trusts the engagements of one noto-
rious for disregard of this law? The Fedora
Constitution is popular contract in which
every individual Of the Union makes engage
hents to all the rest. At least, this is tech
nically true, and on this technical truth thu
General Government ie warranted to proceed
1t is plain that whoever claims the benefit O
4 the Constitution, makes this popular contrac
his own and takes the obligations it imposes
Reverence for the higher law will make us res
pect the Constitution as an instrument of right
but if we magnify the Constitution above tn
higher law, We feel no profound regard fo
either. The reason why the Constitution is 81
little regarded is because the supremacy OF tn
higher law ID so little felt.
Contracts being valid on the ground of tn
higher law, can never be valid against it,
Wicked contracts have no binding force. Il
violate such contracts is no breach of faith, be
cause there is no ground of faith in them. Tn
less reliable wicked contracts are, the better 70
the world. 1t is not the policy of government
to encourage fidelity among wicked consprators
One such conspirator turning States evidenc
against others, is regarded with IMMUNITY. !
the Federal Constitution favors Slavery, it
the instrument of a wicked conspiracy agains
the rights of the defenceless, and Mr.. Garrison
in seeking its overthrow, is doing his duty.
The true strength of a government consists i
Righteousness or conformity to the higher law
On no other ground than this conformity can
be firmly seated in the confidence and affection
of the people A government not guided b
the higher law supports crime instead of SUI
pressing it, and is itself criminal with no bel
ter claims to respect than any other criminal.
l. SMITH.