The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-05-01
The Slave Excitement at the Capital.

Iron the Correspondence of the Baltimore Sum- 22d ult
WASHINGTON April 81 1S4S
twas well remarked by some of those who took
part Ill the exciting debates of yesterday, that there
had been no mob in this city. / have been every
night an observer of the crowd, and ! have seen
nothing like mob yet There is truth in the taunt
thrown out by Mr.. Hale, that we cannot create
mob here; that we have not the material for one ;
that it takes nonslaveholding city, like Boston,
raise mob and burn defenceless ediice, and turn
Its unoffendng inmates into the street.
Property and life are better protected here than
anywhere; and in no city in the country would
Congress be so safe as in this. The persons Of its
members are more safe here from the effects of
popular indignation than they would be anywhere
In other cities and especially in the non-slavehold-
ing communities, members of Congress could not.
with the same immunity, hold language and commit
acts offensive to the citizens and dangerous TO their
interests.
The organ of the ant-slavery association has been
tolerated here for sixteen months. and while it ad-
heres to its legal and fair course which the editor
has laid down for it, it may still continue to be
tolerated 1t would be idle, indeed, to suppress
that publication, while the most extravagant and
seditious language is daily held in Congress and
published in our daily papers, and sent, with light
ming speed, into every part of the Union.
The other day, Mr. Giddngs made speech to
encourage the slaves in running away from their
masters; told them that no one had right to arrest
them and bring them back; and that if a slave
Killed his master IN a struggle Tor his freedom III
the State of Ohio there was no law to punish him
for it and he (Mr. g. would call him good fell
low While such language as this is uttered in the
House, and everywhere published, what is the use
Of suppressing the publication of the Era,'' the
tone Of which is moderate, and the means recon-
mended by which are Constitutional and legal.
The laws of this District are adequate to the
punishment Of the persons who were engaged in
entcing the slaves TO elopement if we can catch
them. We have caught those who Were the instru-
ments of their abduction, and may yet catch the
nstigators of its nstigators. If they are not ade-
quate, this is fit occasion to enact the law ofWhich
Mr.. Johnson, of Maryland has given notice. The
constitutional privilege of a member does not ex-
tend to a case of felony.
The story got up by the Herald man, and useless
y reported by reckless correspondent that the
treaty documents We're procured at the So Union
office, is without theieast shadow of foundation.
p. S.--Snce writing the above, / learn that we
had last night still stronger evidence ofthe mode |
ration and good feeling of citizens. Two hun
dred of those most determined upon vengeance,
about 10 O'Clock, evaded the conservative crowd, |
and waited on DR.. Bailey, the editor of the Era, |
and informed him, through their leader, that they |
had come to tar and feather him and destroy his |
press. DIR. B. appeared alone unarmed, and was |
permitted to speak His remarks satisfied them, ard
MIR. Radcliffe coming up, moved an adjournment,
after few words land the whole mass went quietly |
away. Ion.