The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-08-26
nG The Volksbote contains column

B6- The Volksbote contains column or
two of scurrilous ribaldry upon Mr.. ]. w.
Foster and the Journal, for insisting upon
the execution of the liquor and Sunday law,
which is without point wit, argument, or
truth, and though intended by its author to
be very smart is in our esteem beneath ne
tice. The following sentences show the
writer's ideas of law: ests.s,'F 50
This good man, laboring under load Of
fanaticism, assists in passing laws which he
is willing to observe, and because he is SO,
he would compel others to do likewise. Is
this right? We are told it is our duty 10
observe the law. In certain cases this holds
good; but were it eternally and universally
obligatory, what q glorious time despots
would have, and how infamous George
Washington would be for assisting to free
his countrymen !; how odious would not the
"Chief of Men be for overturning pagan
ism, with which, before his advent the
world was enyeloped, and which was the
"LAwp of the land, and the LAW" of their
Godsl All law, to be efficacious, must have
Of those who have to observe it, or it must
have coercion as an assistant. If the law
be just, people will willingly obey it; but
if il be unjust, it is not worth the paper
upon which it is written, and the Scion who
got it up Is but fool for his pains. A law
regulating my conduct on the Sabbath has
no efficacy, because l disregard it; and if
you punish me because will not observe it,
you may say you are doing your duty, but
will say you are an oppressor.
This prescriptions and ignorant repudia-
tor and villifier should be taught that indi-
viduals in this country are not constituted
interpreters of the laws for themselves
That the laws, as the will Of the majority of
the community, are to be obeyed 4;
whether that majority be Puritans or Lib
ertines; whatever it enacts within the
powers granted to it by the Constitution,
must be submitted to implicitly; and if the
rule of the majority in this State, or this
city, be deemed oppressive to certain gen.
tleman of licentious principles and habits
they are at liberty to leave its jurisdiction
by the same road by which they entered it
They are not compelled to remain, but they
will not be permitted to construe the laws
.or violate them at their pleasure. We have
a sovereign as potent and absolute, here, a:
any that rule in Europe, and that is, the
enacted will of the people; and when il
takes the shape of statute, it cannot be
de6ed, set aside, or repealed, except by the
power that established it.
He attemptS-without authority we sus.
pect-to exonerate Mayor Baker from the
charge, made by the rum sellers, of an at.
tempt to enforce the liquor and Sunday
laws. We don't believe His Honor will
thank him for the following undeserved and
gratuitous vindication:
In this connection, | would beg leave to
state that those who blame Mayor Baker,
and charge him with having either advised
or promoted the dirty work in which this
young man Foster is industriously engaged,
do him great injustice, and were il my "DU-
TY" wide JOurnat) to defend him, would
hazard the assertion that the movement has
not even bis appreciation. However, as he at
tends TO his own business, am inclined to
be Of that opinion.
The Mayor, We think, will beg TO be spared
from such champions and friends.