L W. W L. L ..................... wmr & AZDERON..

E. W. BLAKE & CO.

INDEPENDENT IN ALL TRINGS-N-EUTRALIN NONE.

E. W. BLAKE, :: : : : EDITOR.

HOUMA:THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 18~5.

0?r We are gratified to announce that,in the course of "a few days," the editor

of the Ceres, who has been recuperating

his health, at Last Island, for a fortnight

past, will return to his post, with renewed

health and vigor, to attend to the duties of

his station.

The Higher Law.

WE propose, as briefly as possible, todiscuss this much agitated question. Gov.ernments, whatever their form, are insti-tuted in order to aid and and protect thosewho are subjected to them. The compli.cated interests, passions, the contradic-

tory opinions necessarily arising from thesocial relations, require for 'their regula-tion, a supreme authority, vested with theright of absolute and unappealable decis-ion. Says Sir William Blackstone: "How.ever they (the several forms of govern.ment) began, or by what right soever theysubsist, there is and must be, in all ofthem, a supreme, irrisistible, absolute, un-controlled authority, in which the jurasummi imperii, or the rights of sovereign-ty reside," Notwithstanding this explicit,admirable enunciation of the essence ofgovernment, the great Expounder of theCommon Law seems elsewhere to admitthe obligatory force of a law superior tothe legitimate human authority, to-wit, thelaw of nature, of which he says that "nohuman laws are of any validity if contraryto this." The fallacy of such a restric-tion of the power of government and ofthe duty of obedience, has frequently beenshown. The learned Senator Seward,by his speech delivered in 1850, dnringthe Compromise agitation, in which he at-tempted-to establish the existence of a"higher law," a-t gave the doctrine pro-minence in, the political. metaphysics ofthis country. It had theretofore beenconsidered by many a harmless error,which, like other fine theories, might beleftdormant among the books. But thedangerous consequences which it involved,the treason which it might sanction, thenbecame glaringly apparent to the conser-vative satesmen of the nation.. The doc-trine was attacked, argued, refitted, andthe supemlacy of the laws of the repub-lic triumphantly vindicated.

-moo man will deny that there is a lawof Gad to which human legislators areconicientiously bound to 'conform in theexercise of their functions-their interestsdictate such a conformity and they alonearemorally responsible to the SupremeBeing for every violation of such a clearduty.

1• virtue of the power delegated, orsupposed to be delegated.; to them by thepeople, theyareautherized to devise what-e umeasures of public policy they maydeem conducive totdli public interest, theyieingto if l practical intents and purposesthi sol, s•upeme arbiters of their accor-daece or dieorsdance with the willof God.Now what doesticomtsrary opinion inev-itably lead to?- What does the existenceof a "higheilaw,"oinb of superior obliga.ti6 to humap legislation, necessarily andparctically imply' 'there being no other

method of ascertaining the dictates of thatir " than through the medium of

ipdividuaj woncice anead reason, the in-d iidual is under .s obligation li yield to

-e mrindates of theti Bate until he has4siutedhlis reason and conscience, andia ed their decisions. If his reasontale ti that the law of the Stlte, violatesthel•l of God.-accord• l to the legiti.

-thofse Seward doe-

. .. eat

into practice, legislatures, instead of be-

ing deliberative bodies, with power to de-

cide, would be reduced to mere machines,whose sole active function would be to

propose laws to the people, that each in-dividual might decide for himself whether

they should go into effect or not. The mi.I nority, or the single dissentient, would in.variably invoke the "higher law," and re-

pudiate the decisionof the majority. All

subjection would he at an end, govern-j

ment would be annihilated, man would re-

lapse into the individual sovereignty of the

savage. A principle which in its inevita-

ble, logical resultsproduces such flagrantabsurdities, which leads to the destructionof society itself, must be essentially vi.

cious. Religious observances and institu-

tions not being possible without that peaceand security which a strong government

can alone guarantee, the doctrine we as-

sail is not only unreasonable and anti-so.

cial, but profoundly irreligious.

But if Government, in the constitutionalexercise of its powers, commands the gov-

erned to do an act which outrages con-

science, which the moral sense indignant-

ly repels, what then? Must he submit?

The alternative is evident and inexojable.

He must obey, or quit the State. The rightsof locomotion and expatriation are sacred,

and always present a sure refuge against

legitimate tyranny. The individual can-not disobey and resist, because by becom-

ing a member of a particular society, he

has virtually promised entire obedience to

to the constituted will and power of that

society, to its government. By disobeying

he would be guilty of the moral dereliction

involved in the violation of plighted faith.

If his conscientious scruples will not per-mit him him to bend his neck willingly toan authority which he himself has freely

recognized, then, consulting expediency,it would be wise in him to abandon a so-

ciety of which he is a dangerous member,and thus release himself from the fulfill.ment of an obligation which is repugnantto his moral feelings. Of course, in ex-

amining these questions, certain clear dis-

tinctions are to be observed. Despoticgovernments having mostly originated infraud and violence, there is not on the

part of the subject the same acquiescenceor tacit promise to render entire obedienceto the supreme power, as is given in demo.cratic governments, and therefore, resist-ante to them is a mere question of expe-

diency, having no moral character other

than that implied in the fact that rebels are

morally responsible for a useless effusionof blood. But the advocates of the "high-er law" turning against us our line or ar.

gument, driving us to the ultimate resultsof our theory, may annul the alternativewhich we have presented, viz: that of ex.patriation, by supposing the whole world

to be subjected to the dominion of a singlegovernment. In their brilliant and erraticvisions of the future, they may predict, for

instance, the Constitution of the "UnitedStates of the World." Supposing thatthe Congress of that universal confedera-cy, acting within the undoubted limits ofits constitutional powers, should passa law dearly and undeniably viola-tire of the moral code inscribed bythe Divinity on the heart of the in-dividual--must that individual tamelysi•unit, or must he draw the sword andinvoke the God of Battles? If the law

wounds the moral sentiment of but a sin.gle citizen, or of a small minority, resist-ance would only result in unproductiveslaughter, and would therefore be an 'ob-vious infkaction of that other natural law

that blood iaust only be shed in case of

absolute necessity. We must not losesightof the -fact that passive resistance isan absurdity, that man is created to act,

and that if he has a rightto resist, he is

nmrallybound to do so vi et armis. Butwaiving the objeetion arising from the

ssorat ine pediency of any resistance atall by a powerless' minority, we assert thateven if such minority could reasonably an.

ticipate a successful revolt, they could notengage in it without contracting the guiltwhich we have spoken as the result ofbretkipg the ipedge which they have ta-

en becoming members of society andsvernrment. T'he minority in

ag received the advautages

organization, governmenta contract, guarded

and the pursuit ofa debt which can

S obdieoce to

is oppoied

to the conscientious belief of the majority,

the same reasons apply, and they must

obey until the law is repealed in legal

form. The rulers, the legislators are an-

swerable, and they alone are answerable

for the criminal consequences of compli-ance with the laws ti.ey may ordain-the

governed is void of all offence toward God

or man. when he has fulfilled the duty ofd

cheerful obedience to legitimate authority,whatever it may command.

The reader will observe that we are

here repeating, in substance, what hasbeen expressed in a previeus portion of

these remarks. Such must necessarily bethe case in trcaing the various applica-

tions of a general principle; these very

repetitions showing that the doctrine we

advocate has the simple and never-varying

character of a a real and true principle.Happily, in our country such questions,

or at least the necessity for their decis-

ion in such extreme cases as we have

supposed, can never arise. Yet it is wellthat error should be detected wherever it

may lurk, and exposed to the light of rea-

son. Our unrivalled system of govern-

ment, combining as, it does the advantages!of every 'form of polity which has yet

been devised, contains those safe.guards,

self-corrective agencies which will always

prevent the creation of any legislationwhich would attack thr rights of con-

science. Jf such a misfortune should ev-

er happen, the frequent recurrence ofelec.

tions, the frequent renewal of the person.nel of government, would soon remedy

the evil. Notwithstanding the occasionaldepravity of popular ;passion and preju.dice, the moral sense is something so en.ergetic, so all-pervading, all-controlling,in its intense action, that popular suffrage,docile to the voice of reason, soon expels

ephemeral mischief, "purges off the baserfire, victorious," and vindicates the su.

I premacy of reason and conscience by em-bodying them in the law.

0-"7 Education, in the estimation of adistinguished member of the Bar of theparish of Terrebonne, is the curse of civ.ilization. "O tempora! 0 mores!" Wepredict a brilliant future to the off-springof this enlightened sage, should he evermarry. No one possessed of Americanfeelings in his bosom, or imbued withAmerican principles in his heart, couldever seriously utter such a sentiment asthis.-Thibodaux Minerea.

A noted member of the Lafourche"bar" exhibits a marked preference forR. G. Whisky over the genuine, life-giv.ing Monongahela,

"- Which one sips,Just as if bottled velvet tipp'd over one's lips."

Proh Pudor! Such total depravity oftaste should be held up to public indigpa.tion. We are aware that old fogies willmurmur contemptuously about bad taste,and "meddling in other people's privatebusiness and conversation." We nMowthat others will say that the citizens ofLafourche understand each other, andcan themselves correct their home abuses.But we, as independent Terrebonne jour-nalists, soar high above such paltry con-siderations, and we denounce the breachof that "decent respect due to the opin.ions of mankind," involved in the habitof imbibing the R. G. in question as un.worthy of an American freeman. A mangiven to.such noxious potations, mzat be"imbued" with any thing but American"principles in his heart." Not that wecherish feelings of animosity against anyliquor, per se, but against the quality, SirOracle, the bad quality thereof: We pro-pose that the dee-stinguished barrister becondemned to fellowship with the RussianBear, and be forever forced to suck lager.beer through a quill from the AustrianEagle.

O The Paris correspondent of thePhiladelphia Ledger says he has exam-ined a type.setting machine; in operationin Paris, owned by a Belgian, which willset from. 150,000 to 180,000 ems eachday, or as much as 20 compositors .couldset in the same time. We have a "con-stitutional" objection to doubting anythingnow.a-days, still we can't "take in" theabove statement. The only practicaltype-setting machine that ever was, or ev*er will be invented, was invented aboutsix thousand years ago, and as the patenthas long since expired, any one may en.gage in their manufacture.

O Ex-Governor Wilson. Shannon, ofOhio, has been appointed Governor of theTerritory of Kansas, in the place or Mr.Dawson, who declines the appointment.Itis aotyet kown that Mr. Shannon willaccept.

• Johlnson, Democrat, has been elec.

ted Governor of the State of Tennessee,

by a majority of two thousand over Gen.

try, his Know-Nothing opponent. To

Congress, six Know.Nothings and four

Democrats are chosen. The Know-No-

things have a majority iii he Legislature

of three on joint.ballot.

(} Vice Admiral Kreuger, of the

Swedish Navy, has invented an instru-

ment by which the force of wind can bhe

measured with great facility, and with the

utmost exactitude, and by order of the

Kig of Sweden, it is to be exhibited at

the Univeral Exhibition of Paris.

O: Santa Anna, it is stated, has comr.

missioned an agent in New York to pur-

chase for him a number of valuable hous-

es, in the upper part of that city. Whether

these real estate speculations are in view

of a contemplated flight from Mexico or

not, no one knows, but the fact, neverthe-

less, is a veiy suggestive one. Who

knows but what old Santa may yet be a

Congressman from the City of New York?

This question is also very suggestive.

10" From the Fayetteville (N. C.) Ob.

server, we learn that there never was a

finer prospect for an abundant crop of

corn in North Carolina than the present.

(am The Baton Rouge Advocate is out

in favor of Es.Vice President George M.Dallas for the Presidency.

Or It is stated that a Mr. Ten Broeck,

of this State, has offered, in the city of

New York, to bet 850,000 that General

Pierce will obtain twenty States, and

$50,000 more that he will be elected Pres-

ident at the next election, if nominated by

the Democracy.

fj We see it stated that the Trustees

of the old Bank ot the United States will

will wind up its affairs finally on the 20th

of September next, when the concern will

cease to exist in any shape. It has taken

fourteen years to wind it up.

0() The committee of the British

House of Commons appointed to consider

the subject, have decided that there has

been nocontract between the Government

and the Rothschilds in general, or Baron

L. Rothschild in particular, within the

meaning of the statute of 1782, which

can prevent the Baron from holding his

seat in Parliament as member for the city

of London.

0•" The Democrats of Iberville and

West Baiob Rouge have nominated James

N. Brown for the State Senate, in place

of Louis Hebert, resigned.

O r The following oath was adminis-tered to a little boy, ten years old, in the

Iowa Legislature, chosen to do up the

documents :-I do solemnly swear to sup.

port the constitution of the United States

and this State, and to fold papers accord-

ing to the best of my ability-so help meGod."

Vn•••:xA.-The complete official re.

turns of the late election in Virginia have

at last been published." The aggregatevote cast for Governor was 156,668; that

for Henry A. Wise, 83,424; Thomas S.Flournoy, 73,244. Majority for Wise,

10,180.

WF~sVTEN GownrH. -- The present

population of Milwaukie, Wis., is 30,149,whish is an increase of more than 10,000in the last five years. The population ofthe city and county of Milwaukie is 42,950;in 1840 it amounted to only 5,700.

SA--TA AXNx.--the Washington cor-respondent of the New York Journal ofCommerce says he has private informa-tion from Mexico of the probability of aspeedy change in the Mexican Govern-ment, and the voluntary retirement olSant Anna from its head. This, it is un-derstood, will be arranged by a compro-mise between him and his opponents.

O" It appears by the United StatesTreasurer's statement that the amount inthe Treasury on the 23d ult., subject todraft, was $18,606,650. The AssistantTreasurer, New Orleans, had $273,470,and the Branch Mint, New Orleans, had$3,210,448. Transfers of $100,000 hadbeen ordered to the Assistant Treasurer,New Orleans;

S- The New York Express recentlysawa .luirp of solid silver from the minesoa .tis l Isthmus of Panama, weighingtweaty.five pouds, and supposed to beworth $3000.

The LonlSville Bio

The papers of the country are te.iwith accounts of the disgraceful riot thattook place in Louisville on the day of teelection. A vast deal of falsehood aotmisrepresentation in relation to the riots,has been put in cir culation by the pati.zan press of Louisville. This is evident,from the conflicting character of the state.ments which appear in the different papersof that city. It is impossible to determinewho were the aggressors. We do notknow who were at fault, but we do knowthat such scenes are a disgrace to anycountry, and the perpetrators should re.ceive the condemnation of all law and or-der loving citizens. The press is alone

to blame for this disgraceful outbreak.The incendiary appeals to the passionsand prejudices of the reckless mobocracyof Louisville, by her own press, werewell calculated to bring about the resultswhich followed.

NORFOLK AND PORTSsOUTII.-The yel.low fever continues its ravages at Ports.mouth and Norfolk, Va. The merchantsof Philadelphia and Baltimore have held

meettngs for the benefit of the sufferers.Madame Parodi and others propose giv.ing concerts in the city of New York, theproceeds of which are to be appropriatedto the same purpose. At last dates there

were only about fifteen hundred persons

remaining in Portsmouth.-- vyu-

Otr Thomas Hail was recently convict.ed of grand larceny at Rochestor, K. N.,for neglecting to take measure to find theowner of package of money containing$1600 which he had found. Finders ofvaluable packages will please take notice.

O$r The present Brazilian Minister atWashington, Senhor Carvalho F. doMoreira, has just been appointed to theCourt of St. James. Senhor Andradahas arrived to take the place of S. Moreitaas Charge d'Affaires. The salary of the

Brazilian Minister at Washington is $11,.000; at London it is $16,000.

Ozr A correspondent of the National

Intelligencer proposes that all the nations

now at peace shall hold a Congress "at

Vienna, or Berlin, or Stockholm, or Mad.

rid, or Washington, and if this congress

finds that peace may be honorably madc,

it shrll prescribe the terms on which it

shall be made, and repudiate the beliger.

ents now at war if they do not make

peace."

OZ It is reported that an optician inLondon has made an improvement in tbheconstruction of telescopes of great impor-

tance. On his plan, a very small instru.

ment, which can be easily carried in tierest pocket,, magnifies so powerfully, it is

said, that at the distance of fifteen miles

the head of a pin may be clearly seen.

0:r Great preparations are being made

by the Democracy of Houma for a grand

demonstration on Saturday nest. Several

distinguished speakers are expected, andit if the weather continues fair and pleas-

ant, as at present, a large crowd and as

interesting time is expected.... ~-.9 - ....-

A BOSTON LIQUOR TRIAL.-A man

named Parker was tried in Boston, a few

days ago, for violating the Maine Law,

when a witness testified in this wise:

Government-" Have you drank asathing at Mr. Parker's within the latamonth ? "-Witness-" Yes, water." G-"Have you drank any thing else ?" .-" Yes" G.-"Any rum, or brandy, orgin "" W.-"No." G.-"What didyoudrink ?" W.-"I don't know." G.-

What did you call for ?" W.--"I calledfor Frank Pierce." G.-"Didyou get it"

W.-"I did." G.-"What did it lo0klike ? " W.--"It looked like FrankPierce." G.-"What did it smell like !"

W.-"It smelt like Frank Pierce." G."What did it taste like ?" W.-"It taked

like Frank Pierce." G.--"Mr WitneS"

on your oath, what do you believe you

drank ?" W.--"I believe I dhank FrankPierce."Amid a general explosion, in which the

Court and Jury and Chair joined, the Di

trict Attorney said to his assistant: "Mr.

Hornor, pay this man's witness fee and

let him go." and he went.

O(r A "seven shooter," se y the s0tb.ern papers has been invented. It is CS"

ed "Beal's Patent. Tbhe charbes" •

placed in revolving cylinders. By Uin

an extra cylinder fourteen shots e

Smith and Brown rniob g*ways round a corner struck ,eutad"Oh, dear," said Smith," "bo~P '.

my head ring." That's a sig Sitsaid B. "Didn't yours riug ,~ s"No," ",That's a sign its