American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-08

system of human slavery, and course OF
robbery of the liberties of the poor, help
less and despised of another race, under
the ignorant pretext Of adherence Of col
or-such an embodiment Of pride and per-
sonal selfshness, and hater and despiser cf
the rest of the human race, can be reb-
ell The devil was such at the beginning,
and all rebels possess his spirit, and are
like him. Their end is not peace, but de-
struction, death, and hell.
But submission to ordinances and the
laws of the land, implies, also, submission
to the ruler in person, as the magistrate
and executor of the laws. Therefore,
says the apostle Paul to Titus: (3:1 "Put
them in mind to be subject to prncipali-
ties and powers, to obey magistrates and
be ready to every good work" Every or
dinance of God to man has been repre-
sented by living personality. Moses
was the mouth of the Lord, and to him
Pharaoh and the children of Israel were
to pay special obedience. The prophets
Of old, 'spake as they were moved by the
Holy Ghost" and were living oracles Of
the will of God, and were to be heard and
obeyed. Christ as person taught the
way the truth, and the life, and is to be
obeyed in all things. Persons give life
to principles-what is dead and lifeless is
made alive by persons. So it is with the
law and human ordinances-they are dead
and useless, unless there are persons to
carry them out, to execute them speedily
and faithfully. Says Solomon; (Iic. s:
IL Because sentence agains: an evil
work if not executed speedily, therefore
the heart of the sons of men is fully set
in them to do evil" Presidents, govern
ors, kings, magistrates, executives, repre-
sent the law, therefore the submission is
due to them, They as persons are also to
be obedient to the law, as any other per
son or subject; but subjects in general,
are to be obedient to their persons, be-
cause of the law. This is to be done, al
though the rulers may in themselves, not
be as good men as they might and ought
to be. The personal morality or immo.
rality of another, adds or subtracts moth
ing to or from the dignity of our pers n
alduties Kings may become cast-aways,
while the subjects may be saved, and
kings may be good and faithful, while sub
jects may reap ruin. Therefore the good
Titus submitted even TO the Cretian rul-
ers, who we're idoaters. Paul and Peter
submitted to the Roman powers, who were
idolaters and Jesus, the ever holy ex-
ample of all righteousness submitted to
the person of PLATE, the representative Of
the Roman Caesar, who was an idolator;
aud as lamb is led to the slaughter. so
he offered up himself as an example of
obedience to the law of God aud man.
Then submission is due especially to per-
sons, and no personal objections to the ru-
ler, will justify rebellion, the subteriuge
of wicked and rebellions men, infdels and
unbelievers.
4. But finally, it appertains, as duty
to be rendered to cesar. that he should be
be defended The chief magistrate stands
for the common defence of all the people
and, reciprocally, alb the people stand ioi
his defence. In him they are one, ptu-
rjGus un"n,, and if thus united in per-
feet harmony, are terrible to all enemies
s. as an army with banners" and especi-
ally so, if for king and people, God is the
Lord. Every good thing, in this world,
Of which good government is one OF the
best, requires that its objects should not
only be promoted, but its interests de-
Tended. Good governments, like every
thing else, have their enemies, internal
and external, l,-enemies in principle, and
enemies in practice-enemies in the way
Of error, wrong thinkig and wrong
planning-undutiful citizens within, and
hostile foes without. Caesar must be de-
Tended against all his foes.
Its principles Of government must be
defended by the understanding, the wise,
and the good. Is it republican in form,
where the voice of the people is the voice
Of the ruler, or the will of the people is
the will of the ruler, then it must be dc.
Tended against all monarchial sentiments,
where the reasoning isquite different. In
monarchies, the voice of the ruler, who
has obtained his station by the accidents
of royal birth, BY ecclesiastical sanction,
by the power of wealth, or military pow
er, is the voice Of the people, In repub-
lies, the judgment of the whole people, is
the judgment for all, expressed through
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