Page:Speechofrevsamue00mays.djvu/17

 defend the people from the law, and the lawgiver from himself."

Under a righteous government, and with such men on the Bench of Justice, as alone are worthy to be there, a conclusive argument, showing that the law which had been violated, was itself subversive of natural right, unjust, cruel, contrary to the moral constitution of man—I have not a doubt, that a conclusive argument to this effect, would draw from the Judge a charge to the jury, that they must find the prisoner not guilty, because the law itself was one too bad to be obeyed. What decision, ever given, has been more applauded than that of the Vermont Judge, when a man was brought before him and claimed as a slave. After hearing all the testimony the claimant could adduce, "nothing," said he, "can satisfy me, that this man is the property of another man, nothing less than a bill of sale from the Almighty."

But we are told that our government is what it is—not perfect, though the best that exists upon the face of the earth—and that while we live under this government, enjoying its protection, we are bound to obey its laws. I reply, in the first place, as to protection, we are very much less indebted for that to our government, than we are to a correct moral and humane sentiment, prevalent throughout the community—and, that if our law makers, expounders and administrators are doing what tends to corrupt that public sentiment, to obscure the people's vision, and blunt their sense of right, they are doing the worst they can, to undermine our security, and expose our property, reputation and life, to unprincipled men.

But granting that we owe to our government, all that is alleged—it demands too much in return, when it requires that we shall set God's law at naught, and trample upon our common humanity.

Then, say some, leave the country and escape from your obligation, by going beyond the reach of the power which oppresses you. But, I reply, we shall not be likely to better our condition. Other forms of wrong and tyranny might meet us, wheresoever we may go, that we should be equally bound to withstand. Besides we owe our country, which, with all her faults, we dearly love, we owe our country something more and better than desertion, in this hour of her utmost trial. Never have the principles on which the civil institutions of our country were founded, been put to so severe a test, as at this day. The encoachments of the despotic