The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-06-04

tent-that we may know how it is to b.
met. And, whilst profess to be no pol
ltician nor statesman, believe it to b,
the duty of both the statesman and tn,
citizen to look not merely at the surfac,
OF things, but to grasp the principle.
which underlle all grea. movements
great in their conception and tendency t.
bless all mankind--or great, like the pres
ent revolution, in their very infamy, and
in all the disastrous consequences which
they portend.
III. The destruction of the foundations
OF this Government would be a great ca
lamity.
1. Civil government is Of divine or.
igin. This is evident from the constitu.
ton which the Creator has given TO man
evident from all the conditions Of his
being in the present state. Such are the
very conditions of our existence that So
cial and civil communities will arise
among men. In these communities
rules and regulations will be found ne.
cessary and an administration to carry
them into effect. Here then we have the
essential elements-the fundamental ideas
of civil government. So that it is
manifest from the very conditions of our
being in this world, that our creator de-
signed the existence of civil governments
among men.
The truth thus inferred from the laws
of God in nature, is also more clearly
taught in Revelation. There we learn
that for every community which He has
instituted, whether the family, the church
or the state, He has appointed a govern.
ment. The old question of =" the divine
right Of kings" ought to have been stat.
ed as the divine right of governments" ="
As thus stated, the affirmative may be
maintained beyond all controversy. The
Bible does not indeed delineate any par
ticular form to be adopted by every ma
tion and in every age. No one form
would be applicable to every civil COM
munity. Whether, for instance, mon
archical or Republican form is prefera-
BILE in any particular case, must be de-
termined by the condition Of the people
for whom it is designed, always keeping
in view the fact that the reasons for dis
turbing an existing government must be
welghty-the exigency very pressing.
The Republican form Of government we
believe 70 be Of all Others tho best theo-
retically and the best practically for a
people whose condition-including his
tory, associations, general intelligence
and virtue-corresponds. General intel
ligence and virtue are especially necessa-
ry in Republic, in order that the peo-
pie may be neither deceived nor corrup-
ted by designing demagogues, who are
the curse Of all popular forms of govern
ment.
The Divine Wisdom is then manifest
ed in not delineating any particular form
OF civil order to be adopted in every ma
tion, since no particular form would be
suited to every people, and to every stage
Of national life. At the same time, there
are fundamental principles laid down in
Gods word that are applicable to every
government which the Supreme Ruler
could sanction.
Now while We do not claim perfection
for our own government any more than
for anything human, We believe it to be
the best government on the face Of the
globe. And We believe that the special
providence Of God has been exercised in
its origin and preservation, with all its
untold blessings to our nation. What,
then, would be the duty of citizens. as
viewed in the light of Gods Word. un-
der such government We quote, as
sufficient for our present purpose, a pas
sage from the twelfth chapter Of the Z pis-
tie TO the Romans:
" Let every soul be subject to the higher pow. !
ers. For there is no power but of God the !,
powers that be are ordained Of God. Whose
ever, therefore resisteth the power resisteth the
ordinance Of God and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation. For rulers |
are not terror 10 good works, but ~ the evil. |
Wilt thou then not he afraid Of the power Do |
that which is good, and thou shalt have praise /
Of the same for he is the minister of God to
thee for good. But if thou do that which is
evil. be afraid for he beareth not the sword in |
vain, for he 10 the minister Of God, a revenger
% execute wrath upon him that doeth evil |
" therefore, We must needs be subject not only |
Tor wrath. but also for conscience sake. For, |
Tor this cause pay We tribute also /; for they are
iod's minister's attending continually upon this |
very thing. Render therefore to all their dues
tribute. 10 whom tribute is due; custom, to
whom custom fear, to whom fear honor, to
whom honor"
How does the course Of those engaged
in the secession movement correspond
with these inspired teachings? Does it
not violate them in every particular, both
in letter and in spirit? II is therefore
rebellion. not only against the constitu-
ion aud laws Of the country, but also
against the government Of the Great Su-
preme. The triumph Of such move
nent. and the destruction Of such a gov
must. from this point Of view.
DO regarded rs dire calamity.
2. The destruction of the foundations
II our government must appear to be a
great calamity. il We consider the privi-
eges which have been enjoyed under this
government, and which would thus be
Some of these have been
,oticed. We cannot dwell upon them
low. Indeed il would be impossible to
'numerate them all. We little know,
ny friends. how much under God we
I'VE TO the government under which We
i've. From our infancy il has spread the
,road ags Of its protection over us. II
h., ~ Il