Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-10-19

distractions. We cannot theorize upon The prin.
of our Government og of slavery The
All our only gaide.'
"If conscientious, honest copyictiOns tiss
may be. Of what Is right or wrong. are 10 be sub
sfiiuted as 4 rule of action ia disregard of Ian.
we shall soon be without laws and without proL
lection. And the same plea Of the right OF con.
science aud the high motive Of duty will be as
serted. however absurd, everywhere. in jnsti6ca-
ton OF wrongs. In this way society NAV be re-
solved into IL original elements, and then the
governing principle viii be force. EterY av
Proclamation TO this state is az war with the social
President Lincoln. in bis inaugural address,
said: IA ara
There ls much controversy about the deliver
ing up Of f~ugitiyes from service or labor. The
clause We now read IS a. plainly written in the
Constitution a. any other Of its provisions. We
omit the clause. "a vs have quoted il above.
IL il scarcely questioned that this provision was
intended. by those who made il. for the reclaim
ing Of what we call fugitive slaves: and the in
tention Of the awgiver is the law"
"All the members Of Congress swear their
support TO the whole CONSTITUTIONAL this prOyi-
sion As we'll ~ any other. To the proposition,
then, that slaves whose cases come within the
= IL ~ Nuo GAluNEs -I1h " ntiAftlC1 ~
their oalhs sre unanimous. Now. IA they would
make the effort IN good temper, could they not,
with nearly equal uDanimits. frame and pass a
Law by mems OF which, to keengood that mani
nous Oathi"
This language il plain and undoubted he
not only declares that the laws shall be exc
cuted, but he admits that the Constitution re
quires Congress 10 pass a law on this subject.
But this promise of Mr.. Lincoln is like all the
balance. IL has not been kept, but has been VIC
lated.
In his annual message - Congress, December
ls62, be modiies MS sisws on Ihis subject very
much. Hear what he says:
1.-The fugitive slave clause o: the Constitution
and the laws for The suppression OF the foreign
! slave trade, are each a. well enforced. perhaps,
a. any laws can ever be in a community where
the moral sense of the people imperfectly sup.
port the laws itself. The great body OF the PEG
pie abide by the dry legal obligation in both
cases. and a few break over in each.
4 Here he talk Mt the Diseased and depraveC
noral sense "a. New Englsnd fapaFca In
bic inaugural addrAshe s~pokeiof the eonstitu.
tional obligation. In this message he speaks o.
the "Gry legal obligation" But admit there wa,
nothing but a "dry legal obligation" in favor o
the enforcement of this law, how could he satisf,
his conscience ana oath Of office to approve of
law repeating this law, that had been passed bl
Congress for the enforcement of this constitu
tiOnal and legal obligation.
The truth is that he has Yielded to the demanC
OF his masters, the radical abolitionists who shap,
his policy and govern him with an iron hand
"The old guard OF abolitionists" held a Nationa
Convention in August. 1863, at Buffalo, N. Y.
when aud where the following resolution wa
adopted:
II Whereas. The third clause of the second sec
ton of the fourth article OF the Constitution o
the United States. when construed as providin,
for the surrender OF a fugitive slave, does res
upon such a basis: in that it is d contract to rol
a man of a natural right. namely. his netura
right to his own liberty; aud is, therefore, ALSO
|. lutely void. Therefore,
Resolved, That we hereby give il To be dis
tinctly understood By This nation and the world
that as abOlitionists. considering that the strengt
of our cause lies in its righteousness, and gu
hope for il in our conformity 10 the laws of God
aud our respect for the rights of man. we owe
to the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, as
T proof of our allegiance to Hum. in all our ciyi
relations and offices. whether as private citizen
or as public functionaries sworn 10 support IN
Constitution of the United States, to regard an
treat the third clause OF the fourth article of tha
instrument, whenever applied TO the case OF
fugitive slave, as utterly hull and void, and con
2 sequently as forming no part of the Constitution
Of the United States, whenever we are Gale
upon or sworn TO support it
/ lt is not the sound doctrine and pure mOralit
TO be taught by a party who profess to be gov
erued by a high moral sense of duty. and VIII
| proclaim that the strength Of their cause lies j
it, righteousness" This is the fatal heresy tina
r has been undermining the Constitution and sap
r ping the foundation of our morals, known as tn
2 higher law dOctrine-a law that is higher and o
greater obligation than the Constitution and tn
laws made in pursuance thereof. This doctrin
destroys the very idea of government, for
leaves each person to determine for himself whe
/ tier n constitution or law has any binding force
They boldly proclaim that they will commit viii
full and corrupt perjury.
Think of h. old CLAY Wings. who have al wa
I denounced the Abolitionists. Think OF It, Cor
sentative Republicans, who have always sal
f that the Abolitionists had no power or ~infiuenc
with this Administration. Think of it you wh
q profess to be followers of Christ.
Will the repeal of the fugitive slave la
strengthen the devotion to the Union in Ket
lucky. Missouri. Maryland and DelawareG Wi
il induce the rebels to return to the Union!
B..