The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-11-22
LETTER FROM THE PRESI-
DENT!
Robert CoWns. Macon, Ga
I1TF " " IN VT " T's
WASHINGTON. Nnv. OH. 1850.

dent to inform YOU that Your letter of
the Cd inst, addressed 10 him. encIos.
ing several slips from newspapers, in
reference to the proceedings of p pr.
ton OF the community in ioston. Tn
the SUBJECT Of the Fugitive Slave Law,
was received by him yesterday, and
that be has given to the letter and its
enclosures, u careful perusaI.
You state. in substance, that you
are the owner of Crafts, one of the
Fugitive Slaves for which warrants
of arrest were issued in Boston. and
call the Presidents attention to the
enclosed slips taken mostly from
Northern papers, by which he will
perceive the manner in which your
agents were received and treated for
merely asking that the slaves be re-
turned according 10 the laws of the
United States. That they have been
arrested under various warrants, as
kidnappers, and on other frivolous
prelcnccs, and unreasonable bale de.
maudcd; and that your friend, have
become surelies for more than $2O;-
600.
You also say. that the manner in
which the officers have performed
their duty will appear by the slips;
and that the warrants now lie dead in
the Marshall's olicc. You then speak
of the pernicious effect of such pro.
ceediugs. and Of their tendency to dis
turb the harmony of the Union, and
of the great Importance of having the
law faithfully executed; and, finally,
enquire whether it IL not in the pow.
err. and is not the intention of the
Executive of the Uni,cd States to-
cause that law 10 he faithfully and
properl Y enforced pr
70 this the President directs me to.
reply, that you cannot be more deep
~ impressed tham he is, with the i'm.
portance If having every law faith-
fully executed. Every statute. in this
country, passed in accordance with
the provisions of the constitution, must
be presumed to embody the will of a
majority Of the people of the Union=
and as such, is entitled to the respect
and obedience of every true American.
citizen; and the constitution which the
President has sworn to support, has:
made it his special duty ITO take care
that the laws be faithfully executed"
He has no thought Of shrinking from
his duty, in this or any other case;.
but will, to the utmost of his ability
firmly and faithfully perform it.
But how is he to cause the laws to-
be executed! First, by appointing
proper officers to fill the various offices
and discharge the various functions
with diligence and fidelity; and if any
shall be found incompetent or unfaitfr.
full, by removing them, where he has
the power of removal, and appointing
more competent and faithful! officers
in their place. And secondly, in ex.
IRENE cases, whenever the laws of
the United States shall be opposed, or
the execution thereof obstructed, by
combinations too powerful TO be sup.
pressed by the ordinary course Of
Judicial proceedings" or by the pow.
ers vested in the civil officers with the
posse which the law authorizes and
requires them to call to their aid, it
would be his duty to call forth the
militia, and The army and navy for the
purpose Of overcoming such forcible
combinations against the laws. But,
in either case, prudence and justice
require that there should be more
satisfactory evidence of official delin.
quency, or forcible resistance, than
mere rumor, or newspaper statements;
and yet these are all which have been
furnished in this case.
II any Marshal neglect to perform
his duty, the law gives right of &C.
ton to the nggreved party for the
injury which he may sustain; and if he
refuses TO perform it, the statute has
imposed upon him severe penalty.
But if he refuse or wlfuIIy neglect 10
perform it, when this shall be salts.
factorly made to appear TO the Presi.
dent, then, in addition TO his liability to
the agglieved party. it would doubn
less be the duty Of the Executive 10
remove him from office, and appoint
another in his place. But your letter
contains no proof Of the kind, and
therefore seems to require no action.
1t is equally clear that no case is
presented justifying a call upon the
militia, or the use Of the army TO exc,
cute the laws; and the President has
so much confidence in the patriotism
and devotion 10 the laws which have
always characterised large majority
Of the people of Boston. that he can.
not for moment believe that it will
ever be necessary to call in any ex.
traordinary aid to execute the laws.
in that community.
individuals may become excited.
and may in the heat of the moment,
offer resistance 10 the laws, but he has
| no tloubt that in snch an ovont u