New Orleans Republican., 1873-02-09
THE HIGHER Law AND MORAL NULL1FI,

IN his conscience contrary 10 lhe hi6h0i
law Of God. Tried by republican :est'
this sort of ethics was fallacy. In a re-
public every citizen is . party to the con-
tract of government. lie is bound ~
honor TO submit to and execute the terms
Ct that contract. SO long =: he remains +"
constituent. Oneterm OF that coh'E"c' ~
that laws shall be enacted by representa-
tiyes, interpreted by courts, ana PAL ~
force by an executive. II. then. member
Of the constituent body is Of OPINION !ha'
the law il contrary 10 the contract, or 10
any higher authority. Il is his right to re-
fer that question 10 the department aF'
pointed by his.own consent to "d.nd'cate
it. We may suppose q Pc:so', mo ''e',lsS
the ,;alt of taxation, %. OF taking life
fo, crime, TO make such . case. The
decision is, in contradiction Of Ais
individual judgment. Is tia: per-
son absolyed from obligations to
obav that decision: Assurediv not.
because it was apart Of his compact that
such differences Of opinion should be 50
adiudicated 1t would be faSrant
breach Of morality to evade compliance
with an agreement t.. which he was thus
a free party. But tie question o mora.
OBLIGATION TO 60 an ac! which the citizen
thinks in his conscience wong is equally
s;mnla. 4 citizen is commanded to exc
cute anv decision which he deems Illegal.
For this decision lie Is not responsible Ill
law or morals, for it is the decision OF an
arhiter If there be moral llegahty III
the decision the arbite. is responsible il
f6yo coascie,d'o. Il IS as If soldier
should be detailed to shoot comraGc
whom IL. thinks innocent OF the ot!enSc
for which he is 20 die. The moral respon-
sibility OF the death rests with the court
martial. The soldier is bound by the
sentence and is exoncratei frou. mora!
wrong by his contract Of military service.
which bound him in advance. to obey OF
ders, ,esorving a right OF appea! to an
aereed adjudicature. IS this hardship
to compe! q man 20 dc that which has
been decided by his own appellate tn
bQnal 10 be within the terms Of his own
compact? !; may take the pound OF
fesh. but it IS $50 nominated in
the bond Of the constitutional compact.
The republican citizen can readily absoirc
himself o! the obligation 70 obey the laws.
lie can. having compile! with a! his
antecedent obligations o: citizenship. eX-
e.cise the great republican right Of expa-
triation. He may denat:onalizc himscl!
and become q citizen or subic:: of some
Other eoverrmen. that suits him better.
But If he remain IN a republic, he crnno:
b. -. law unto himself" IN The sense
stated. Some consequences 0: thi: per.
.onai discretion a;e obvious. Fox and
Penn wen. 70 pliso" With conviction
.ha: The law 70 which they '"ere required
10 submit was ot mona: ..lega!ity. Per.
soma! sacrifices are generally a tes: Of sim
cerity. But while good men would only
inter; ose this plea in iiu case. the nlur-
dore. would deny. :.t the bar, the righ: 0:
,c!cty t. take life. and the THE: "onid
undoubtedly declare tina: il. his mora! lie.
let .lle.c w.. 10 .i.h: .: ".oper:: "!!s:.
sOev.:.
III. "'re..t.' seem. e :" v":si:c nroI
thi. ..ol:T.nc o.. :. higher Jaw. when j:
Claims :ol. tie tay.aye. a right 70 .ieiua'4G
.uca application o! Lis payments as satisfy
Lin. that they are honestly and wisely 81.
.ain:stered. i admits 1.-The duty o: :he
citizen 10 contribute .ac! III. lawful quot"
% III. common sUupOlt. V: W: inicT
from: the phrase .,:u.ai below that. ia -
opinion, the obligation Of the citizen to
Jay this quota dep.:.d' n!'"n his con'ic-
ton that it viii be properly applied The
notice Of Administrator Schneider ;5,:H-
"a..s that CIR city licenses aye to be directly
applied. as we Wn'ers''3.9. to .-;i',t'a IL"
tour italic.1. With this ex-
preston Of confidence uttered by 2 news
paper, .'our community i advised to pay
the license ta,. TLis is. Il. least. what
We extract from the following somewhat
mixed metaphor o! 'eoa."t..>. "so'.!' =
and "carcaSses:
The repugnance which i!as hitherto bar.
red the way TO the counter Ct the city
finance department, sprang trol:: Tie ap-
prohension that when h" taN was paid IL
part--tho sole p&y!n substance
was "law charged" or "dra!na%eA' or
Nv harfcd" or .'carted' away :" some para
disc of improvements, while only It's vivid
carcass, tho retired ar! lefuUc: certificate
OF appropriation. after its il!-sl2nt life. was
al! that remained moaldeIin.-. ,.nh"Iored,
III the wEitcd sepu!chre rt some .id!n.n-
istratOr's report.
The people may no" !ay :he:- liens:
tax.
Now that this apprehension !. remo"ed.
there Will be something more than the
ghost Of chance that the Fiscal Agent
shall sec and touch the aetna! and entire
revenues, and the c0untenanccs ii our
substantial taxpayirg citizens wi. gladly
light up the deserted corridor ~ 'he
Finance Administrator, who IS known %
cut his coat to suit his ol0th, and VIXEN
Droadcioth il given hin - cut. does a"t e.-
change il for shoddy.
We grasp all thi. thu: :. Il {: nlar
chooses 70 say that he mistrrsts the hon"s.
OF his taxes lie may withhold
their payment. ;. That the taxpayer may
properly pay his license Ia. 20 .,dmini,-
traitor Schneider, bat, ~ inference I. j.
under no obligation TO pay his State taxes