The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-06-14
Wise and Timely Counsel.


The venerable Bishop Morris, the
senior Bishop Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, has issued an
address on the duties OF the crisis.
tho wisdom Of the counsels Of which
is only equalled by the perspicuous
brevity, the terseness and force with
which they are inculcated. The
document appears ia the Central
Christian Adcocate, published q,
st. Louis. lts topic ia obedience
to Law" The Bishop thus defines
his terms:
Law is a rule OF action precribeC
by the supreme constitutional nu
thority of 4 state or nation, ant
obedience is compliance with its re
quirements."
A definition could not be NOR,
simple, yet it is ample, and clear al
sunlight. Equally true is it tina
without wholeso ne law, properly
enforced, we have No security tina,
our domestic, social, civil or religioul
liberties will be safe tor one day OF
hour. Any law, even Martial law
10 preferable to anarchy. 1t woult
I be better to live in conquered
province where law is respected
than to live under the best theoreti
cal form of government, in nam,
only, where characterization il
openly avowed and mob violenc,
prevails," as it docs nov in the re
volted states. The venerable Bishol
thus further presses home his timel,
counsels:
Amy combination OF men call /
"A Vigilance Committee, or what yo'
please--to supersede the law anc
take the administration into thei
own hands is a mob, an irrasponsi
bic, lawlcss mob, and the peace sn'
safety OF the country depend on q
successful resistance OF all such.
All party strife about Republican
ism and Democracy, about abolition
and pro slaveryism, ETC., should b.
suspended. The choice now is be
tween law and anarchy. Tho ques
ton at issue before tho American
people, is government or no govern
mcnt! It has but two sides, and W
can employ hut two parties. lie
all tho friends Of God and thei
country take the affirmative side G
/, the question, and the rest may tax
the negative side or no side at all, u
they like. Ile that is not for us i
, against us. There is no middl
ground. Every friend to his countr
can render her some aid. Some ca
, take the field, and others can con
tribute toward doiraying the expen
SEES, anil they who can neither fgli
, nor give, can pray.
1t may be asked, 10 there any ex
ception to tho rule, "Let every sor
be subject unto tho high powersp"
answer. Yes. When q government
becomes 40 corrupt as to deprive i,
citizcns OF their natural and acquires
, rights, in an unconstitutional an
reckless way, the government ma
be changed by constitutional mean
il practicable, or by fore il necessary
But this exception ia not applicabl
to the case now pending. No al
{ tempt is or has been made by the tee
, cral governmental deprive the Seces
sionsts Of any right secured thct
by tho Constitution OF the Unite
States. On the contrary, tho favor
OF the government have been lavist
1 oil upon them in undue proportion
, Secession, therefore, il rebelliC
= without any plausible excuse, al
!, will result in tho destruction Of i
q authors and leaders, and many
!. those engaged in it.
y Such an appeal as this from Il
y Bishop of the Methodist Episcop
3 Church, proverbial for his moder
9 ton and modesty, cannot fail to ha'
a wholesome effect throughout tn
large AID influential denomina;io
. His are emphatically the words
truth ant soberness, and We feel gu
. that their sentiments will find /;
8 echo from the Methodist communi
u which will bs potent for tho 'use
e law and order, and Tor tho supr
Z macy Of constitutional government