Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-18
OBEY THE LAWS.

Vo HaVo TecenCly IelL IL Clmely ana necessary,
on more occasions than one, to lift our voice in
favor of rigid and answering adherence to the
laa0s, as well by those who, expound and enforce
them as by those who are subject to them in the
private walks Of life. Tue law is the atmosphere
in which a free people live and move and have
their being If this atmosphere is vitiated by
any cause, the national health is impaired, even if
death do not ensue. And if the law is like an at
mosphere in its relations to the wholesome and ma
tural workings of free institutions, it is equally
like an atmosphere in the uniformity and univer-
salty Of its pressure 1t applies to all alike. The
President may not disregard the laws which it is
his sworn duty to execute, for in executing them
he must do it lawfully The Judge in dispensing
Justice must not undertake, As Coke has it, "to
be wiser than the laws" and thus modulate his de-
cisions according to the conceived necessities of
the Executive department, for in SO doing he fails
properly to magnify his Office and make it honor
able 1t is not expected of the jurst on the bench
that he SHALL in foul any more than in fair weather,
give his ermine to pad the coat Of the soldier.
And as with men in public place so also is it
with men in private station. The strength of the
former and the safety of the latter are alike to be
found in obedience to the laws. The times are
rife with spirit of giddiness and revolt One
whole portion Of our country has renowned its
allegiance to the Constitution and even within the
Loyal States there are signs of unrest which may
well excite the attention if not the apprehension of
the thoughtful patriot. In two States, Pennsyl-
Tcl, he AZ
ment act has already encountered resistance at
single locality in each, accompanied with acts
of waylayiDg ard assassination which deserve to
move the indignation Of all law-abiding citizens
However unpopular this law may be in any of its
sanctions it is the law Of the land and as such, it
must be enforced if it is not Loyalty obeyed If
the law is constitutional as we believe it to be, it
has right to claim the voluntary obedience of the
citizen until it is repealed If it be unconstitu-
onal the courts are open and justice can be sought
at their hands. There is no other alternative.
There ought to be no other in free Government.
The following is the section of the enrolment
act providing for the arrest and punishment of any
person who shall resist the draft or counsel resist
ance to the same, or who shall "obstruct any off,
Ger in the performance Of any service in relation
thereto" A refusal to give the required informa-
ton to enrolling officers is considered an obstruc-
ton" within the meaning and intent of the law:
" Sec o. And be IL further enacted That il persons
shall resist any draft Of enrolled under this act into
the service Of the United States, shall counsel aid
any person to resist any such draft shall assault OBJ
sruct any officer 10 making such draft in the perform
of any service in relation thereto shall counsel
any person to assault obtruct any such officer shall
counsel any drafted not to appear at the place
devious wiluly dissuade them fr the performance
of military duty required by law such person shall be
subjected to summary arrest by the Provost Marshal and
shall be forthwith delivered to the civil authorities and
upon conviction thereof be punished by ne exceed
ing five hundred dollars or by imprisonment not exceed
ing two years, or by both Of said punishments."
1t will be seen that the Congress was careful to
provide that offences under this statute should be
tried by the civil authorities, and not by court
martial.