The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-26

in spite of the recent discoveries of Doctor
lieye that these phrsses, 80 long familiar t.
their tongue and ear, are not quite destitute o
meaning. They consist of the word right
singular or plural-used as q noun, and pre-
, fixed by a modi6er. The modifer human
represents the righn-whatever they be-a.
belonging to the race individual, denotes thai
they pertain to some single person; and
natural, describes them by reference to their
source, or origin. The word right, whether
substantive or attribute, has its necessary cor
relative sorong; and The use of these words
necessarily implies the acknowledgment OF
some standard by which these qualities are to
be ascertained. That standard, by common
consent, is called a law. Law, in its broadcast
definition, is "a rule of action Law, in its
application to the actions of men, is either mu-
nicipal or moral. The municipal law, says
Blackstone, is "a rule of action, prescribed
by the supreme power in the State, command
ing what is right, and forbidding what is wrong"
This, which we think is generally acknowl
edged to be correct definition of municipal
law, assumes that there was standard of right
and wrong sntecedent to itself, and to which it
is bound to conform. That pre-existing stand
ard is the Divine law. otherwise called "the
higher law" +" natural law moral law &c.
1t is this law which imposes upon all men,
both in their public and private relations, what
is called moral obligation" The Declaration
| of Independence, in the paragraph which we
are considering, assumes the existence and OBJ.
legation of such law and when it says that
all men are endowed with certain rights, and
that among them are life, liberty, and the pur'
suit of happiness" it means that life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness, are privileges
given to all men by their Creator, and guar
antied to them by the provisions of his law, and
that none can deprive them of these privileges,
or violate their enjoyment, without mourning
the penalties by which the Divine law will en-.
force its claims. To express the idea in fewer
words, it means that, according to the Divine
law, it is right that I" all men F" should enjoy
undisturbed their life, liberty, and pursuit of
happiness; and that to disturb or prevent
such enjoyment, is to transgress that law. The
Congress of PIG believed this proposition to be
true; Dr. Ross asserts that it is false. Per.
haps it is, bat time, think, will vindicate i.s
truth; tyrants alone are interested to prove its
falsehood.
We think the Doctor has failed signally in
his attempted analysis of our declaration of
rights. He has made it, as we have shown
above, to consist of four propositions, and these
ga chain of four links" each dependent on
the preceding, and all 30 connected, that if one
is broken, the chain is destroyed But we do
not 80 read the Declaration. As we understand
it, it asserts, LIST, "that all men are created
equal;" I'd, that they are endowed with certain
rights Sd, that these are the gift of their Gre
ator; 4th, that they are unalienable 9th, that
among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness 9th, that Governments are institu-
ted for the protection of these rights; 7th, that
from the consent of the governed; 9th, that
whenever any Government becomes destructive
of such rights, "it is the right of the people to
alter or abolish its" 9th, that it is their right
to institute new Government, and any such
as they may think shall best secure their safety
and happiness; and 10th, that all these propo-
sitions are selfevident.
Thus, this enumeration of rights, instead of
forming a chain of four links" consists of at
least ten distinct propositions; instead of con.
stituting links of q dependent chain, the first
six and the tenth are separate and independent
of the other three, and partly of each other.
Perhaps these ten propositions may be as false
and as infdel as DR.. Ross represents them but
we hazard nothing in saying, that it will re-
quire better logic or deeper sophistry than he
has yet employed, to shake the faith of the ma
ton in their truth and power.
But what is the object of DR.. Ross in seek.
ing to overthrow the doctrine of "human
rights" as set forth in our National Declare.
ton of Independence Is it not, by thus sap.
ping the foundations of Liberty, to establish
more firmly upon their ruins his favorite system
of American Slavery? "Slavery Ordained of
Gcd is the title of his book, and to sustain
the idea that it is 30 ordained, appears to be
his leading object. His argument begins with
asserting the Divine institution of human gov
eminent, and ends with inferring the righteous
ness of personal slavery. Briefly, it might be
stated thus God has right to establish Gov
ernments over men. He has ordained the in.
stitution of human government; therefore, it is
Just and right for the strong to enslave the
weak. We believe that this, though somewhat
condensed, is fair representation of his argu.
ment. Should we copy all that intervenes be.
tween his premises and conclusion, we think
the logical connection would be no more obvi
Gus. Such arguments need not be overthrown,
for they have not strength enough to stand
alone. The stakeholder may lay them as a
+" Aattering JUNCTION to his conscience, while
his grasp is strong upon his defenceless slave
bat when he shall give an account of himself
to God" he will never dare plead them in jus
LITIGATION of his oppression.
WARRINGTON ITEMS.
Official intelligence has been received that
the supplies of mules and horses, 80 much
needed in Oregon and Washington Territories,
Lono ho.x, 1;.o.tobsd b.tL.- e..