The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-01
LAW AND ORDER.
sPEEcH oF Los. J. JAoKsoN,

Dy,rsa IN tld Hose Of Representatives. Fs5,uary TO- 1859
The House being In Committee of the Whole on the
state Of the Union
Mr. JACKSON rose aud said
Mr. CHAIRMAN: gentlemen have discussed with ability
and eoduoncc the political and commercial necessity Of
he acquisition OF the island Of Cuba and visions OF the
future growth OF American domain and of the ultimate
g,ry Of American empire have been freely indplged. In
response TO this necessity and to these visions my own
bsad beats warmly and my Judgment nothing in
our complex yet haunoniously adjusted system OF gov
outnents federal and State--incompatble with the in
definite extension of present vast dominion. But
underlying these forms OF government, which are the
mere organs through which the vital energy of great
country breathes and acts, the people themselves
the sovereign people of these States 1t becomes, there
foe the prudent political thinker, whilst allowing his
eve TO wander with patriotic hopes regions yet To be
purchased with money conquered by valor to
turn that eyc with the GOODNESS of impartial criticism
upon national inner man the heart and iifeblood OF
our vast organism-thc people themselves AMI though
the task be hankcss and his reward snecr If he detet
there tie seeds OF disease which, unchecked must throw
the entire system into convusons aud end in DEATH 1t
is his duty to expose that disease and assist far as he
may be able the great heart Of the nation to throw 1t
of fear Mr.. Chairman that disease is Mt this time
ureyng upon the ritals of our system mot, trust,
among vast majority OF the people, but among large
aud increasing numbers of them aud il is my purpose
to call the attention Of the committee and il my voice
shall reach thc of the country to what conceive to be
this alarming evil.
II disposition to set up caprice passion preu
dice INTEREST," each under the guso of higher law,
called conscience, abopo tic trr8 TO worship on 'high
places at aars other than that of the constitution
erected by fathers, and sprinklcd and sancted with
the blood OF the revolution In word il Il spirit
OF insnborlnption to law and order The seed sown
many years ago by cunning thought suggested by an
arlul mind ia the other wing Of the Capitol. Ihut
thought was that in each man there ID law higher than
the constitution itself the law OF conscience, and the
responsibility Of that conscience alouc TO God thus at
tempting aniu the decree Of Almighty, who when in
the human form Of Jesus, said render unto a-ar the
things that Caesar $, and unto God the things that
are Gods," What is conscience Too often from hu
nau depayty, but self consoling excuse for unhaow
ell desire artful pretcxt for unlawful enterprise
What this law of conscience IL is of absolute
sovereignty placed upon the brow of every man. submit
ting TO his optou obedeucc disregard Of every law
under the plea that The thing he calls conscience will not
permit him TO obey this law, forces him to disregard
that. II involves reputation of man social nature
and civilized society and subyerts the foundation OF en-
lightened government Everybody knows that this
foundation is laid on Tue sacrifice Of portion Of indyid
,ial liberty for the benefit of the community, aud of
the Individual hinsellas member of the community But
be taught that the conscience of each is above the
law ALL aud act out the lesson in practical life then
indeed does "a multitude Of tyrans become the worst OF
tyranny: security of life, person. and property, the OBJ
et OF all government is gone; the law, longer fixed
huctuatrs With the changing breath of each mans CON
science anarchy has begun, and despotsm follows rapid
ly in its
Yet this doctrine thus pregnant of evil, has found
foothoil in midst an is marching with rapid stride
all the land Its footprints in the refusal
Of large portions Of the northern people to enforce the
plain provision of the constitution for the rendition OF
fugvcs from labor in the resistance of mobs and
murftcs and entire States to the execution OF the tugt-
tive slave law. What is the universal excuse? The pre-
texts many but the simplest analysis reduces them
all TO the higher law of conscience. That inward, un-
written unseen law does not suffer them to capture a
slave but forces them TO eonuye ut his escape, assist
him in his fight, and thus defy the highest law OF the
and--thc constitution o their country.
Mark the track of the higher law again the plains
nC NTH
powder and ball. and Sharpcs rifles old song, at
the repetition Of which my taste rcvolis Pardon me,
b or brief ailuson to it, 1t lay right in the path OF
my thought, and may not pass it by disgusting as is
the sight to Enigants, armed TO the teeth for civil
wal, went to their work of and murder with the
blessing OF God invoked upon them by professcd priests
and followers oi the meek and nercfu Jesus Yes sir,
the blessing of Him, who proclaimed his mission to he
love- who repudted the pop and proves of arms, and
relied vr the triumph of His kingdom alone upon the
principles lie nculcaed and the vet all pervadng
Spiiit Which lie sends 10 cniighen every His bless
ing with zeal eluacd only by its profanity, was invok
cd upon this crusade of rapine and murder. What is
again the excuse Conscience whispers it was great
wrong to repeal the Missouri restriction, shuts out the
thought that the organic law OF the Territory right
wrong Is the law OF the land and forces preachers of the
Gospel to bless those who migrate for the purpose of
Oistng its execution with fire and sword Oh, what an
unsafe guide is enlightened Christian conscience,
when, for moment il loses sight of its polar STAR Me
rrfea rord Of Cod
The disposition to elevate the law of conscience
above the law OF the land is stringy exhibited,
perhaps in the progress of that singular Mormon super
stiton which, driven from its earlier settlements in Hi
nos by the advancing tread of better civilization found
stronger foothold in the Territory of Utah There,
under influences congenHl TO the savages who roamcd
around it, it ted and tttcued Prompted by lust, or de-
lulcd by superstition unworthy of the age, thousands
locked TO its standard and the immunity Of conscience
from the restraints OF law the that first per-
mittcd the nduterous crcsy hc planted upon the soil
OF Christian nation, we'll the apology for il in
every stage Of its growth though the most careless OBJ
server could not ia TO that lis noxious fruit must
poison the moral atmosphere and infect society TO
cndanger the chastc relation of husband and wife, the de-
pendent relation of parent and child and the peace and
purity of the family circle The principle of the higher
law led there 90 its logical and Inevitable result. The
entire Territory yielded to the dominion Of man,
claiming to be Gods yicegerant upon earth and pre-
cptaed into open rebellion against the federal autheri-
Ties aud the law OF the land
This dangerous hcresy thus originating IN northern
mind aud practically acted out ia the North aud West,
ound no spot upon southern soil congcnia to its develop
ment for than sixty years. The southern states
man, upon the floor of Congress could proudly point TO
her entire record and dciy her bitteres maigncs TO
show one blot upon her honor, single violation of
Constitutional law by her. Observing all the compacis
O the constitution herself, she cuCd demand and did
uemnd with irresistible moral pewcr the observance OF
them all by Others.
ltpains me- therefore Mr. Chairman to bc constrained,
y truth, to say that this higher law doctrine has NJ
ast found advocates IN her midst has beou openly actc
out by portion Of her people is apologiDd for by others
anu unless checked by her of right will
detnouize her lofty character aud destroy that
1--WE influence which she has hitherto maintained in the
conederacy II might have been reasonably supposed
mat The origin Of the thought coming, as 1t did from