The southern press., 1850-11-02

homogeneous from the. New York Herald:
TaE FUGITIVE SLAVE HUNTERS AT BosToS.
-RosroS, October 81, 1904 constable pro-
ceeded TO the United States Hot this morning,
armed, with a warrant for the arrest of Hughes
and Knight, on criminal charge of attempting
to kidnap Crafts and his wife, with orders to
take them before the police court. The keeper
of the hotel assured the officer that they left for
home yesterday morning.
THE FUGITIvE SLAVE DTFIcULTIEs.-THE
Bosroy AGITATION SPRINGFIELD, Oct 81, 1880.
. ---Messrs. Hughes and Knight, the persons who
created so much excitement at Boston, by at
tempting to reeapture fugitive slaves, passed
through here to-day, on their way to New York
Thus ends in the capital of New England, the
attempt to assert an unquestionable Constitu-
tional right of the South. The citizens OF Geor-
ola. who appeared in that city, clothed with tie
authority of law and Constitution, were perse-
cuted as criminals for asserting their rights, were
three times arrested on frivolous suits, and held
10 enormous bail, and after giving that, were
pursued from the Courthouse door by mob,
were hunted at their own lodgings in "a United
States Hotel,n by committee of vigilance and
were finally compelled to leave the city and the
field in the possession ofthe aggressors. These
things were the work of several days, and whilst
they were going on, were announced by teie-
graph at the seat of Government and throughout
the Union. M.a"'5. r.e@ ssrE 4n#"
Thus pershes in the most fragrant and en-
phatic manner, the modicum of justice to the
South, which the Compromisers have SO much
extolIed, and for which they gave the countless
gold of California, and the dismembermcnt OF
Texas We said from the beginning and have
steadily maintained it, that the Fugitive slave
law would never be enforced. s
During the week Of these transactions at Bos-
ton. we have had several intimations of the re-
solution of the President to employ military
force, and to issue proclamation. We have
had no faith in the efficacy of any such expe-
dent There We're United States troops em-
poyad to guard the authorities and Jail, at De-
troit. But the owner of the fugitive compro-
missed and abandoned the suit. How could he
have conducted captive in safety through the
State of Ohio. 1t is doubtful whether regi-
ment could do it, The Free-soiers understand
this difficulty, as appears from the following ar
tice in one of their organs, the New York Eren-
ing Post: ~..
The INTERFERENCE OF THE Mn1TARY-In one
or two journals we perceive the remark, lnnno-
Gently made that the fugitive slave law is now
certain to be obeyed, because the President, ac-
eording to telegraph report from Washington,
has expressed determination to support the
United States Marshals by the military force OF
the United States, in case they meet with forci-
bic resistance in executing the law. @'
No doubt the part of the President is, when
ever the execution of any law OF the land is
withstood by violence, and it can be enforced
by no other method, to call out the troops of
the United States. Every body understands
that and takes it for granted, that when crcum-
stances shall occur, which plainly cast this duty
on the President, he will perform it. 1t will
occur, however, to any man who reflects on the
subject, that case can hardly arise under the
fugitive slave law, in which the military could
effectually interpose. ... vi p. ....a..
Suppose a slave is harbored, fed, concealed,
assisted to get out of the reach OF his pursuer.
This is not case for the interference OF pla
toon of soldiers Suppose the Marshal com
mands posse to assist him in capturing the
runaway, and the people refuse to turn out, and
the slave slips beyond his reach. There is no
cause here for ordering out the troops Sup
pose the slave is actually rescued from the per-
sons attempting to seize him, as one was the
other day rescued by the butchers in Williams
burgh, and suppose that in ten minutes he is
placed beyond the reach of pursuit would be
an idle affair to bring over company OF men in
uniform on this account from Governors Island
Suppose there is a riot at Northampton IN Mas
sachusetts, to liberate slave whom the Marshal
had put in handouts, and the negro is set free.
The next day, a man in epaulettes, accompanied
hy score or two others with muskets on their
Oh from hbprhOOd
Boston to help to execute the laws He comes
twenty-four hours too late.
These examples show how little can be done
by the military when law is enacted in direct
opposition to the public opinion of the country
where it is to be pat in execution. threat to
order out the military under such circumstances
should not, we think, have been thrown out
since it will only make men reflect how little
power the Government has to coercc the people
into practical cooperation with the civil au-
tl,orities, without which the law is but a shadow
and mockery. .u. ...'.. s..
We do not look, therefore, to see the military
ever called out to aid in the execution of the fu-
gtve slave law, and yet we expect to see the
difficulty of its execution so great that few will
ever be sent back underit We do not counsel,
we have never counseled resistance to the law,
we-have on the contrary advised against it, but
we cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that law
so detested, has TO chance of being obeyed
The general adherence of the law, is not likely
to be miigated by threat to shoot men down
who are aiding in the escape of fugitive. To
us it appears very likely that the principal effect
of such measure will be to make the proceed
ngs of those who may attempt rescue, far
more summary and expeditions.
The futility must be obvious of attempting in
this country, or in any country, to enforce by the
bayonet any law or Constitution in opposition,
not merely to general opinion of community,
but to religious or fanatica principle. Com
n,issioners have already resigned in many of
the States, rather than execute this law. The
past notice is as follows: a.- .~.
RESIGNATION UNDER THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
p.urrcnr-ncr Oct 90 l2kl R ende Washinn=