The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-06-30
For tie Guardian
QUAsouEToN, June %. 1850

For the GUARDIAN
QUAsouEroN, June %, 1859.
Mr.. EDITOR Permit ME to say a
word or two in defence of the General
Association of Iowa, touching our reso-
lutions at Muscatne, as we are charged
with dabbling in politics.
We were very unanimous in condemn
ing the officers and others concerned in
the case OF the rescuers in Ohio. | could
easily show that even honorable forms Of
law-yea, of a law we do not respect as
Observation-Disclosures not observed in the
case. But wish just to show you our
rules of conduct, or, rather, through
you, | wish to give our reason for " dab
bling in politics." Here you have them
First, From the Bible, as the Express
d Herald thinks we ought to respect that
grand old Book.
I" He that steaeth man and selleth him, or
if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be
put to DEATH
This settles the moral and political
question with us, and tells what we think
of the trade, from the sale of Joseph
down to the last sale.
"Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the
servant which is escaped from his master unto
! thee"
This is our Fugitive Slave Law.
Execute Judgment in the morning, and de-
liver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the
oppressor, lest my fury go forth like fire and
burn that none can quench it.
Thus saith the Lord, execute we Judgment
and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out
of the hand of the oppressor'
This touches the case in hand, and ac-
cording to our political friends, this
must be, for us, good authority for the
rescue. They think we ought to 90 by
the great Law Book, and here we have
it, and resolve to put it through !; and it
is surprising that the Express O. Herald,
or any other friends, should think we
stretch beyond our measure. If we 90
by the Bible, what will you have us do +?
Here some of our kindred, our brethren,
have carried out the very letter Of the
divine directions, and it seems to us that
those political men who have bounced
upon them are dabbling with our relig-
ious rights and duties. If you will not
allow us to practice the morality of the
Bible, you ought not to exhort us to fol-
low those high counsels.
If thou forbear to deliver them that are
drawn unto death and those that are ready to
be slain If thou sayest behold we knew it not ;
doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it,
and doth not he that keepeth thy SOUL doth not
he know it and shall not he render to every
man according TO his works 2?
| would here respectfully ask what po-
litical editors would have us to do--how
they would have US carry out our princi-
piles. Would they respect us as faithful
to Gods humanity if we sheer around
the very letter of our commission |
have given some scintilations of the
Higher Law that political men hold us
bound to respect.
l could appeal to the Declaration Of
American Independence, our State Con-
slitution and the Constitution of these
United States, and could from all these
sources Justify our course. But if do,
some of our political writer's will be
charging me with dabbling in politics,
and | forbear for the present, and only
give warning that if l am crowded, l
shall take the position that when joined
my heart to the kingdom that is not of
this world, l did not resign my rights as
one of the propretors of this govern
ment. Nor did l pledge myself to res
pect law that conflicts with the funda-
mental laws of morality. still live in
Gods own world, and ask no leave of
man to be. | know we'll that all the
right any government has to exercise au-
thority, is obtained from Earth's proprie-
| tor aud Mans Lord and l have vet to
learn that the largest majesty has author
lzed any government to trample on his
authority or inal:enable rights. If po-
litical gentlemen wish to take the field
and war with the General Association of
Iowa, or other friends of freedom, let
them know, once for all, they meet
united phalanx.
Yours on hand if the battle of freedom
must be tough: over again,
BENNETT ROBERTS,
One of the General Association of Iowa