Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-26
Abolitionism Explained, Mo. Is.

that in this number we shall preach Nullifca-
ton. Odious as Notification may seem, there
are things that ought to be nulliGed. When
two laws, or two things called laws, come in
conflict, one requiring and the other forbidding
wicked actions, one or tho other must be multi
fed, since both cannot be obeyed, In case of
such conflict, which ought to be nullifed?
Some years ago, the New York Tribune de-
MED the applicability to slaves of that constitu-
tonal provision which relates to fugtivescrvants,
and, if We mistake not, it denounced the Fugi-
tive Slave Act of 1850 as unconstitutional and
wicked. Yet in Its weekly issue of Oct 9, in
opposing the election of Gerrit Smith, it held
the following language:
Z" Mr.. Smith would seem to hold very loose
and dangerous notions as to the extent and
limitations of executive power. He stands
pledged, if chosen Governor, to use the whole
militaryas well as civil power of his station to
prevent the return of a fugitive to Slavery. In
other words, he would place the State, so far as
he should be able, in an attitude of nulilca-
ton, hostility and rebellion towards the Federal
Governnent-and for what Would the end
Justify the anarchy, confusion. bloodshed, and
general misery, sure to result from such
procedure?
From the above extract the Editors of the
Tribune would seem to hold " that there are
cases in which the protection of the weak
against outrage may cost too much and in
which Il State Government should, for the pub
lie safety, allow wicked enactment to take
effect and the law of right to be nullifed, and
that governor sworn to support the Constitu
ton, should suffer it to be violated, when its
support would nullity an unrighteous and I'M
constitutional Federal statute. Smith, on the
other hand, held views opposite to those Of the
Tribune. Which was correct? One would
think that the sel-evidence of such a question
would at once decide it in Smiths favor.
But sucl mental perversion prevails on this
subject that Aboltionists have found it neces-
sary to prove what seems too evident for proof.
70 this end they have collected fund of au-
thorities showing that all enactments against
right are null and void. There is room but for
few of them.
LAw.-The rule and bond of men 8 actions;
or it is rule Tor the we'll government of civil
society, to give to every man that which doth
belong to im.-JacOb'S Ldw Dictionary.
Whatever Is just is also the true Ialo nor
can this true law be abrogated by any written
cnactments.- Cicero
No law but that of justice should be either
proclaimed as law or enforced rs law.-Ihe
same.
The precepts of law are to live honestly, to
hurt no one, to give to every man his due
Just,nian and Blackstone.
The essence of all law is justice. What is
not just is not law, and what is not law ought
not to be beyed.-Hampdcn.
Municipal law is properly defined to be a
rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme
power of IL State, commanding what is right,
and prohibiting what is wrong.-Biackstone.
Political law is the authority Of any society
stamped upon moral duty.- WBerforce.
Hear the causes between your brethren, and
i Judge righteously between every man and his
brother, and the stranger that is with him.
Moses.
All laws derive their force from the law of
nature, and those which do not are accounted
as no latcs Chancellor FOrtescue.
It is generally laid down that acts of Parlia
ment contrary to reason are Void Lyttdcton.
All the above-quoted writers, including
Moses, the highest legal authority, were null
tying gentlemen IF, according to thom, no.
thing is law which is against right, the paradox
that thing unlawful may be legal, cannot
stand Even shareholders, since they have
fanced that slaveholdng is natural and moral
right, maintain that laws against that right
have no validity, and claim to carry their
slaves into the free States. With them the
Constitution is no longer compromise, but an
instrument of justice and right securing to them
what they think is their rightful property nc
cording to higher law. ]. SMITH.
-