The Placer herald., 1862-03-29
The Higher-Law Ventilated.

endorse any usurpatiOn OF power under The
plea of necessity, while we stand ready to
oppose acts in conflict with th. Constitution.
We hold that the man, who openly rebels
against the Constitution an the laws and he,
who covertlv does the same thing, are guilty
alike: only it is more manly to make the
attack in the broad light of day than it is to
stab in the back under the cover OF darkness.
When man openly pro :lams he is an
enemy of the Government, that he VIII no
LONGER abide by the Constitution and the
laws. we understand him. He ceases to be
dangerous except so far as he is able to resist
the Government. Bat when he assumes n
vrtuous countenance, shouts loudly for the
Union, accuses every one o.! disloyalty to the
Government who happens to disagree with
him on questions of policy; and, at the same
time, is gradually and insiliously unde mn'
ing the Government, he is more dangerous
than an avowed enemy. Mr.. A. Wlcklltfe
made speech in Congress recently IN which
be elucidated this matter so clearly that we
are constrained to make the following ex
tract from his remaaks. He sald
"The man who proposes to depart from a
plain provision of the Constitution is, IN
certain sense, transgressor OF the whole
We are told that he who violates one plain
command of the moral law is transgressor
of the whole; so he who would violate one
plain provision of the Constitution Is, IN the
same sense. a transgressor against the whole
lie shows his disIoyalty to his Maker if he
is willing to violate one provision OF the
Divine law, and demonstrates that he is
making war against the government OF
Heaven: and so, if be violates the Constitu
tion of our country wIlfully and knowingly,
he is making war against this Government.
This is higher law; law higher than the
Bible: higher than the oath to support 1t.
There is no proposition more monstrous ,nah
this: none fraught with greater evil. why,
sir. what is it but revolution 10 attempt TO
lepislate with reference to any higher law
than the Constitution of the country! What
but rebellion against the government OF
Heaven to attempt to regulate religion and
morality by higher law than the bibleE
Where did this law come from? Why, sir
it male its appearance at the time the
Mormon Bible came up; 1t seemed to rise
with it, AS if resurreced; but not so; 1t has
been in the world long time; and it is upon
this principle of higher law which subor
d;nates government and "dominates ouer c'ril
re1ohons" that fierce mobs have armed them
selves and madly rushed on to bloooshed
and riot, to the breaking open OF prisons,
and to the destruction of human life Wi hout
evidence Of trial This is mob law. This
higher law Why. sir, it was the spirit OF
this higher law that put forth its sacFeI'g'ous
hand and plucked
THAT forbidden fruit
Whose mortal taste brought death into the world
And all our woes"
Sir. it was this higher law spirit which
dominated" over France in that fearful
REIN of terror, and mi de her streets run with
blood. 1t is the rawlings of that impons
spirit in the North which declares the Con-
stitution, framed by our patriotic ancestors,
to be "a league with death and covenant
with hell" 1t is the spirit which moved the
Abolition Disunionists Of the North to
gather up and furnish the fuel with which
the ferv Secessonists of the South have
lighted up that fearful and burning contla
grafton, which is now consuming and desc
ating the whole land in its wild and sprea'l
ng flame. 1t is the spirit determined "to
rule or ruin" its motto is "beter reign in
hell than serve in heaven" 1t is this higher
law spirit that lately took possession Of the
once calm and conservative John Cochrane,
changing his whole character; making him
as fierce and wild as the man who dwelt
among the tombs, and could not be chained
or confined; and causing him to cry out in
wild fury, "Plunge the whole Southern
people, black and white, into a sea of nlis
crimina,e carnage and blood!" Sir, it is the
spirit which has "hitherto worked, and now
works, in the children of disobedience.
PurTINa HIS COMPLAINT IN HIS Pocket -
The following note was found in the pocket
Of pair of pantaloons among some new
uniforms received the other day at Paducah:
81 make these pants for the pitful sum of
thirty cents. If tiey last the wearer no
longer than this sum of money lasts the
maker, he will be naked before cold weather"
A BETTER Christian THAN SCHoLAR.-A
Canadian paper SAYS that one of their 9th
GERS, on hearing that the militia were to be
called out, sent his commission to his Lieu
tenant Colonel, endorsed as follows: "deer
Cornel, beg TO resine mi commission. Be-
ing disciple of Krist, cannot take up the
sord."
There is a rumor afoat in Washington to
the effect that Getfrard, the President of
Havt in view of the anticipated recognition
of his government by the United States, has
decided to send white man IS his repre-
sentative at Washington. The New York
Evening Post is in doubt whether this course
is to be considered as a concession to Amer
ican prejudce., or simply hint to our Cow
ernment that Hayti would like 10 have its
.4al L., LILO and