The Republican journal., 1874-01-08

pluck by resisting Il tyrannical order, and the
people rushed to their rescue, the decree was
revoked The higher law inyades only the
rights OF the weak and the dnfenceless.
Called by other names the higher law was
prarticed often before it was introduced here
Anurath securing his throne by killing all his
brothers and unclcs; 1lerod >laughtering the
Nero prosecuting the Christians;
Nine. de Pompadour filling the Bastille with
victims of her petty spite: Lola Montez setting
her dogs on the students at Munich for doubt
Ing the political wisdom Of the King mistress
all these acted upon the same kind Of law
that Mr.. Seward declared to be higher than til
American Constitution. 1t reduces free GOVERN
ment to 4 personal despotism. The citizen
who voluntarily submits 10 it is slave in his
soul
Ii will not do to say that the higher law was
SET up merely to meet the cXigencies of the war,
and had but Il temporary reign. That Mr.. Sew
ard stabbed the Constitution in the back only
after secession had struck it 4 blow i'll the face
would net he valid excuse if ii We're true.
nor a true one il II Were valid In point Of fact
the higher law was proclaimed. urged and ad-
Nocated bv him and hy others 4, early Is 1880.
II time of profound peace, and without refer
cnce 10 wars or rumor> OF Wars. lis worst
acts were done before the war, after the war.
and AT places whore War never existed In
lSiI. two wears after the peace, II emho'led
itself in the ''reconstruction laws which dld
MOI leave one 7.ngic provision of the Con,titu-
tion unViolated. At the present moment ii is
adhered 10 with as much tenarity rs ever. DO
you know any member Of the dominant party
who abjllrc~ it, Or processes to have been con-
Ncrtel to the doctrine ol legal 81 olcdicnrc! Have
Nou the least reason to doubt that the abolition
lists would tomorrow Unite in compact body
to tramplr down the plalnc>t Constitutional
rights Of their opponents. \or'h or South. it
that We're necessary to win supreme power. to
retain possession OF il, or t. u1ei a dangerou,
opposition? j'hry max act Wihjl the forms of
4
where law that cam be uNerhornc ,tandS in their
WAY. What reason j. there to believe that they
will respect il: Let me tell yo fact. In
lSti1 months after the peace, al the political
metropolis of the nation. i'll full sight of the
Executive Mansion, the Capitol and the City
Hall. where the courts We're in session, a per
ttctIN innocent and most respectable woman
was laWlessly dragged away from her family
and brutally put to death. without Judge or
jury, upon tile mere order Of certain military
officers convoked for the purpose. 1t was. take
it for All IN all. a. foul a murder H> ever black
cned the face of Gods skv. But it was done i'll
strict accordance with higher law. and the law
department of the United State approved it.
Now mark }olt; Within les than three months
last past tle present Al ,rury-t,en nral ofirial-
ly referred to thi- H. q precedent entirely lit tp
be- followed. This may not he very important in
Itself, but it i significant ~ ~howiag that the
reign of higher laW i not over yet. tau HVu
promise that it ever Wlll be- l. There mat re:t-
The streams oi Justice:
In every institutional Gol crmncnt, whether
it be- Il republic or Il limited monarchv the dele
CATION OF its powers is coupled with an express
condition that they shall bc exercised only IN 4
pr"rcrihrd WY, and Within certain dehhed
limits The Violation Of thl~ condition lmdcI
any prrtenr, What '0eYer ha% always every
Where, ahd hE idl lolrfapA honest men, Petn
regarded as ba~e and IreacherouS breach oI
the moNl 1a'frd tfusl thal can bc TohHdt" u
human hand~. Anong u no man gan gr' pos,
session ot any oihrIai authority without hr.'
making solemn covenant Wllh "od anu M
| country that ne VIII hr iallhiui to the tulda
J mental law, and he must seal that covenant
| with IN oath. an anNthIh9 be more dannIh-
| than th" doctrine which teaches men I" (tel
| oitrr amt 1ale thI' oath WIN prrd"trfhln;l
| tom 10 break lt* T. amy species "l Wiilul
| doitbtrat, Wt corrupt nclluIN NJ once - tie
| ba~ing amt ~ lnl9chinNou>
rt lli| author aud hniNhef OF thI> allorIGu
| tlith i. your model Of statesman. You ILL,
! Your highest standard of politicH! orthodoxy II
| his precept and his example. The men Wh'
| made the constitution ami took it a lamp Il
| thvM I'rt ami Il guido To thel l'ath C"mmAn'
| nou' "t r"ur respect. jefferson. the grra
apostle ot liberty, secured amt re%nlAJrd by
1I