Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-30
LAYING DOWN THE LAW.
Yaom Tn. rrrrssUnsH DAILr sAzrrrr.

LAYING DOWN THE LAW.
FRoM rIrTsBURGH DAILY GAZETTE.
JUICE GREER AND THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.
At the opening of the United states Circuit Court,
on Tuesday morning last Judge GREER announced
the appointment by the Court Of Samuel E. Hench,
Esq. of Juniata county, Adolphus d. Wilson, Esq.
of Lycomng county, and J. b. Sweitzer, Esq. OF
Allegheny county, as Commissioners OF the Court;
and at the same time took occasion to request the
members of the bar present and others to recon-
mend to him gentlemen in the neighboring coun-
ties who were competent and willing to perform
the duties of the Office. He said that the late act
of Congress concerning fugitives from labor had
imposed it as duty upon the Court to make such
appointments in places where their services were
likely to be needed. That he was much grieved to
find that some who had heretofore been appointed
to this office had been compelled by threats and
denunciatons, through fear of injury to their pro-
fession, property, persons, to refuse the execu
ton of the authority conferred upon them He did
not meanAo censure any who, under such clrcum-
stances, had felt unwilling to run the risk OF injury
odum in the service Of their country But he would take
this occasion observe that the time had when those
who proessed obedience the awswho DESTROYS OF
the prosperity of this UnoA-who were anxious to AVOID
disunon and civil with all its horrors, must take tne
stand and longer shrink from their duty good citzens
Heretofore those who had been accustomed TO hold their
meetings and conventions to howl forth and denunca
ton against the institutions Of country both civil and ecce
sas.ica had been treated harmless fanscs-with PHYS
not contempt But when their railing and vitupeaon were
becoming successful of intimidation against the
honest and portion Of the community-when mobs OF
were urged on to Madness and counselled to
themselves for the purpose rebellion against the laws and
were bounded on to murder its ocessuch diseased
~ hoJo he vvihc
tempt or indifference. And while this subject he would
say that this city, which contains many excellent and vau
able citizens whom he had long esteemed and respected has
been the subject Of much libel and SANDER abroad false and
unfounded he would fondy believe He referred not to
the standing and Jest of peculiar taste with regard to the
place from which selected Chief Magistrate, Closeup
Bake but much serious accusation affecting some
Of most honored and respected citizens VAST possible
that such men, possessing property character and the reu
taon of sanity could far have forgotten their duty as
christians and citizens be found harangung large
sembes Of negroes and Others urging them to arm themselves
to oppose execution Of the laws with violence and to muir
officers Did such persons not know that those who
exhor Others commit murder themselves accessories to
the murder that those who others unto reasonable
opposition their Government themselves traitors
If poor negro, driven to madness by such harangues
should murder an officer Of the law he be hanged and
his white adviser go clear Such would not be found to be
the law and it certainly would not be justice He would
say that il the addresses imputed to certain Of our citizens
were not grossly msated and exaggerated Gas he believed
and hoped they were they may be thankful that the ne
groe either through Of opportunity the possession
Of prudence and honesty than their white advisers have
not followed their wicked advice for they had he should
probably have had painful duties to perform with regard
to Them and which he hoped by these remarks to avert in
future; otherwise they might rely it that those who
posed the execution of the laws with violence and bloodshed
should most assuredy be punished and those who recss
advised and tempted them to their ruin, should share IN
their pushment let their ,oeah and stGading in the COM
nsu,ty be ,ohat it might In conclusion, the Judge e1-
pressed hope that the commissioner appointed by the Court
would, when called upon to execute the law, do it Nth i'm
partially and rmness, regardless Of threats and denur-
Citations .n.. ,#sa ..@.,..