The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-21

Iic officer is by oath bound to obey it. Every
adopted citizen is, by his solemn oath, made
when he received the rights and privileges of
an American citizen, bound to obey it. Every
native borncitizeD is bound by his birth to
obey it. If the Constitution is wrong, the
people who made the Constitution hav, the
right and the power, acting through the legi-
innate means to alter it. Ifthe Fugitive Slave
Law is wrong, with the people rests the law
| making power; and thank God, they have the
right, acting through their representatives, to
repeal that or any other law. Bnt no individ-
ual man has right to ignore that law; while
it is the law, you and and all the citizens of
this country are bound by it. IF, therefore,
we as President, or judge, or lawyer, or magis-
trate, or naturalized citizen, aid or abet, coun-
tenance or encourage the violation of that law,
or wink at its evasion, we are perjured 1 de-
| fly mortal man to contradict this. IF it be not
so law is worthless, and oath is bagatelle.
| Unless an oath is to have some solemnity and
sobligation, unless the Constitution and the
laws are to have some binding force, we may
as well throw up the game and let all go.
After these general predatory remarks,
now take mp that questions, "Can this Union
be perpetuated?" 1 answer, yes. BY what
Iueans, then !? By taking the bible for our
rule. This, as have intimated, is the sheet
anchor of our hope. If this be faithfully
watched ana Suarueu, the snip VI Otatc Heeu
fear no peril The winds may blow, the po-
litical sea may rage, the wrathiul waves may
mount, the political heavens may gather black
ness, the lightnings may fash, and the thun-
derbolts may be dashed down; but 1 tell you,
my brethren if this Bible be followed, strict
ly, prayerfully, earnestly, no, storm that earth
or he'll may raise, no tempest that crowned
heads or despotic sceptres can invoke, will ever
throw our ship upon the lee shore or put cut
the light of this American Union.
In considering the means by which this re-
public is TO be preserved, would remark, in
the first place, that government is of Divine
appointment If we turn to the 18th chapter
of the Epistle to the Romans, we shall find
this question definitely and absolutely settled:
We there read: "Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers" (the civil authorities.)
''For there is no power but of God: the pow
ers that be are ordained of Cod" God has
appointed civil government. do not say that
God has given us absolutely any specific form
of government. 1 do say, fearlessly say,
that the who claim the Divine right of
kings, claim "a right which God gave in His
wrath. God did give king to Israel; but
God gave him in His wrath. That, however,
is merely by the way.
In government of the people, the laws are
of their own selection. We are subject to a.
ny OURSELVES. 1HS lOI-
nation of that Constitution was an object of
long solicitude to wise heads and noble hearts.
You remember that those large minded patri-
OTIS in the Constitutional Convention expended
upon their task five weeks of anxious thought
and consultation; yet satisfactory issue SEEM
ed still far distant; no daylight appeared to
break upon them. Then, Franklin, (thongh
he has been suspected of rather skeptical views
on the subject of religion,) made his grand
proposition. He rose and said that the Con-
vention had been laboring in the dark, trying
to get along alone; he desired that they should
tget some light from Gods and proposed that
prayer be offered. The proposition was adopt
ed and, if I recollect Alright, in three days
after that, the Constitution of the Uniled States
was completed and signed.
The next point I would notice is the duty
that all men owe to the Government. Every
citizen of our country, whether an official man
or unofficial, whether born or adopted, owes
allegiance to the constitution and laws of the
United States, as he does also to the constitu-
tiou and laws of his respective State, and to
themunicipal authorities. In this great COM
pact, as citizens, we are bound. Obedience to
the legal authorities is not mere matter of
option. We may not say, sI will as please;
I will obey or not obey, as suits my wishes or
my convenience" You are bound, my breth-
ern. The official man is bound by his oath;
the adopted citizen is bound by his oath; the
native born citizen is bound by his immediate
birthright.
What are the teachings of the bible as to
the duty which all men owe to the Govern
ment? The great Teacher, the grand Reform
er, the mighty Missionary from the skies, who
made Judea's hills resound with the eloquence
of his sentiments and the divinity of his doc
trine, was on one occasion applied to by some
persons who were anxious to ensnare him
9sIs it lawful" said they, 'Eto give tribute to
government; Jesus was ameRable to Cesar's
laws. Had the son of God answered ono"
instantly the charge of treason would have
been brought against him. But he, knowing
their hypocrisy, said unto them, "Why tempt
ye me? Bring me penny, that may see
it." And they brought it. And he said unto
them, "Whoseis this image and superscription?"
and they said unto him, "Cosars." What,
then, did Jesus say? Did he say, "Never
not worthy of obedience; paw, or not pay, as
you like; and if they attempt to force you to
pay, then fght?" Did Jesus say thatl Not
a word OF it. "Jesus, answering, said unto
them, sRender to Caesar the things that are
Caesars and to God the things that are Gods"
In the teachings of Jesus Christ, there is,
you perceive, no interference with the civil in
stitutions of the land-no attempt TO excite
the people to riot or bloodshed. Christ says
in effect, "Go meet the claims of Government;
you may not like it, but you are under it, and
you are bound to it."
The Constitution and laws of this country
are made by ourselves We may not be en-
trely satisfied with them if so, there is le-
gitimate and orderly mode by which they can
be altered The adopted citizen has no right
to complain if our Constitution and laws do
not suit him. He came to this country of his
own choice; he voluntarily went before the au-
thorities, and laying his hand upon this glori-
GUS book of God, pressing it also to his lips as
an evidence of fidelity, he took solemn oath
that he would obey the Constitution and laws
of the United States or he solemnly affirmed
that he would do so. Did he not assume this
obligation voluntarily? Has he any right to
interfere in opposition to our laws 2' Does he
Ccr, p, Ia.,