The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-06-22


the reception he met with in PainesviIle and
remarks which had heard from numerous 9th
er sources. and among them the remark about
dancing without floor. This last, was sorry
for and ashamed of not because it was not
true, but because it was low slang remark
which makes the matter of hanging subject
of vulgar contempt. and ought not to have
quoted it anywhere. Tt was and is the only
remark that I regret. / have heard man
contend that we ought not to wait the slow
and uncertain process of the law, but to take
the punishment of such mel into our own
hands. This Christian men reprobate, be-
cause we know a higher law, one statute of
which runs thus: Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves. but rather give place unto wrath,
for it is written vengeance is mine, I will re-
paw saith the Lord
The Statesman, and those connected with
him, ought to know, that it is the respect for
law and its ministers formed in the minds Of
the people of Northern Ohio by the preaching
of Higher Law clergymen that keeps these
feelings of indignation under control, and en-
ables Judge Wilson to sit on the bench of the
court. to try men for alleged crime who are
better than himself. with as much safety as in
his own house, and that allows Belden TO vomit
out his bile upon men who are on trial before
court of Justice, y to the disgust of decent
men. A gentleman not of the Association of
Michigan said TO me at Detroit. I wonder they
do not drag him Wilson from that seat, and
expressed the conviction that it would be
right.
Another thing that I attempted to show
was that ministers and Christian men 10 North
ern Ohio we're very much one, in their view OF
this law snd its execution and that we lad
deep sympathy with the men now suffering
under it's penalties. You say I remarked
We will not obev that law 1 did say that
very thing. We will not obey that law. No,
never, come bonds and imprisonment, come
life or death, we will not obey that law. We
have higher law, whose letter and spirit are
against this fugitive law That law commands
u.s. under pain of condemnation by the Just
Judge, to do to others as we would wish them
to do to US. We must then. if the fugitive
comes to US hungry. feed him; if weary, fur
nish him place of rest; if pursued, help him
on bis way That law says to us, Thou shalt
not deliver unto his master the servant that
is escaped from his master unto thee he
shall dwell with thee. even among you, in the
place which be shall choose. where it liketh
him best, thou shalt not oppress him. But
above all this, we believe that no law holding
men in slavery is binding Inasmuch as it
| deprives men of rights, which our fundamental
law declares inalienable, we think them IN.
constitutional, null and void; and inasmuch as
those laws give to men such authority over
men, as belongs TO God only,we think that the
holding of slaves is at the same time a usurp
alton of mans rights and of Gods authority
and is both inhuman and impious 1t is nc
trines have Taught them also in Columbus
and in diverse ard sundry other places
But what surprises US most is. that these
should be thought new doctrines. They have
| HUG UDiy uCSu taught SItCo tiiC JliI6 vi uFlSI
hut at least fifteen hundred years before his
time, this higher law was taught and lived
up to in despite of human enactments Pha
rao, King of Egypt, commanded the midwive;
10 DESTROY the male children of the Hebrews
Elk. l: II But the midwives feared God, an6
did not as the King of Egypt commanded, but
saved the male children alive. 20. Therefore
God dealt well with the midwives Nebu
chadnezzar commanded certain Hebrew cap
tives to worship golden image, but they
refused. He forbid Daniel to pray but he
would pray. The council of the Jews forbade
the apostles to teach or to preach in the nant
God to hearken to you more than INTO Coo
Judge ye. they answered, and continued tc
preach. Our fathers refused the ceremonies
imposed by the British government, and be
came outlawed and exiled for conscience sake
But for long season the people of thi:
country have been governed by laws which
do not contravene Gods law. They may mo-
always have been polite, but it was not wrong
to obey. But by usurped power, as unknown
TO the constitution as the edicts of the Empe
ror of France, the Congress of the United
States have enacted laws contrary to Godi
law, and as we think to the United States
Constitution; for the guardianship of persona
rights and private property was never com
mitted to the United States government. L
is the usurped power of an oligarchy, in con
spiracy against the liberties of the people, ant
we will not obey.
A nd it is refreshing to find that there ar,
. men, who will stand up for the right in spite
j of prisons and fines, and to know that the olt
spirit of loyalty to God is alive yet, notwith
standing the supposed degeneracy of the age
1t gives strength and courage to have gooc
evidence that millions of men and women are
of like mind. But this, says the editor, il
contrary to your pretense in the beginning
that the men of Oberlin thought these mel
kidnappers. Not OF all. We choose to kee,
the law if we can, and to do our duty unde
its protection, therefore the persistent and ex
Ipensive efforts to obtain legal redress.
: But my time and your patience would fail
If should follow all the windings of this edi
torial. 1 shall close, after the custom o
preachers, with some brief rem arks.
t l. When a government undertake to over
: ride and crush ont the censciences of people
they undertake a difficult task. Charles
, attempted it; SO did James II, of England
/ The old Whig party dashed itself to death b
r the enactment of the fugitive slave law. Wba
effect the attempt to execute it will have o.
the Democratic party, 1 do not know. ! ar