Si _la peste_ avoit des charges, des dignités, des honneurs, des bénéfices et des pensions à distribuer, elle auroit bientôt des théologiens et des juris-consultes qui soutiendroient qu'elle est de droit divin, et que c'est un péché de s'opposer à ses ravages. ABBÉ DE MABLY, _Droits et Devoirs du Citoyen_, Lettre II. _Cleanthes._ What, to kill innocents, Sir? It cannot be. It is no rule in justice there to punish. _Lawyer._ Oh, Sir, You understand a conscience, but not law. _Cleanthes._ Why, Sir, is there so main a difference? _Lawyer._ You'll never be good lawyer, if you understand not that. _Cleanthes._ I think, then, 'tis the best to be a bad one. MASSINGER, _The Old Law_, Act I. Sc. 1. Among the assemblies of the great A greater Ruler takes his seat; The God of heaven as judge surveys Those gods on earth and all their ways. Why will ye, then, frame wicked laws? Or why support the unrighteous cause? ISAAC WATTS. When Mr. Sumner entered the Senate, he found what were known as the Compromise Measures already adopted, among which was the odious Fugitive Slave Bill. These were maintained by the constant assumption that Slavery was a national institution, entitled to the protection of the Nation, while those who opposed them were denounced as Sectionalists. These words were made to play a great part. Both the old parties, Whig and Democrat, plumed themselves upon being _national_, and one of their hardest hits at a political opponent was to charge him with _sectionalism_. Mr. Sumner undertook, while showing the unconstitutionality and offensive character of the Fugitive Slave Bill, to turn these party words upon his opponents, insisting that Slavery was Sectional and Freedom National. The title of the speech embodies this fundamental idea, which was generally adopted by the opponents of Slavery. In making this effort Mr. Sumner had against him both the old parties, fresh from their National Conventions. The Democrats had just nominated Franklin Pierce for the Presidency, and the Whigs General Scott; but the two parties concurred on the Slavery Question, and especially in support of the Fugitive Slave Bill, which was named in both platforms. The Democrats, in their platform, declared as follows:-- "That the Democratic party will resist all attempts at renewing, in Congress or out of it, the agitation of the Slavery question, under whatever shape or color the attempt may be made." The Whigs, in their platform, declared as follows:-- "That ... we will discountenance all efforts to continue or renew such agitation, whenever, wherever, or however the attempt may be made."