The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21
FROM BOSTON.
BosToN, EJraary IS, 1850

BosTOS, EIraary IS, 1850.
To The Editor eCthe National Era:
St Valentines Day has come and gone so have
Valentines, and that by the thousand. The num-
Der Of these sportive missives that have flown
about our streets is almost incredible and far sur
passes any former occasion The observance of
the joyous day is becoming more and moro gen.
eral, from year to year, throughout New England,
and our sober, Flooding, mOney-making Yankees
have got quite into the spirit of the thing Some
of the members Of the Legislature received very
palpable hits through this medium, alike ludi-
crous and vexatious one gentleman, a rival in
bodily proportions to- hate bdftet States Sena-
tor received an execrably faithful facsimile of his
own fair form; while another, of the broad
brimmed order, was presented with prim, starch
ed Quakeress. The Secretary of the Legislative
Temperance Society was presented with q nom
descript portrait of genius who, with his thumb
on his nose, informed him significantly Of the
fact that he was pledged man,
vote was taken yesterday in the House upon
the question ofaccepting report giving leave TO
withdraw several petitions for the secession of the
State Of Massachusetts, from the Union. The vote
WIS t1kVu ny yehs anu nays, anu StoOu-Ior leave
to withdraw, 25S; against il, /.
new bill relative to marriages, now before
the House, provides that a person intending mar
rage shall give three days notice to the Clerk of
the town or city where he or she may reside--a
certificate Of such notice. delivered TO the clergy
man, authorizes the performance Of the ceremony
by him. The punishment is thus wholly done
away with, as the notice Of intention may be pri-
waite, being merely for the purpose of recording
the same by the clerk
The Republican, Of .his moyHipg contains call
for a State Mass Convention Of the friaeds OF
Free Soil, TO be held in Faneuil Hall on the 9th
instant. The Convention is called by the State
Central Committee, in compliance with vote
requesting them TO that effect by q meeting held
on the sth instant, and composed of the Free Soil
members of the Legislature, and others interested
in the cause The Convention is to be an open
one, and not by delegates, and is called in view
of the present aspect of the Slavery Question, and
the efforts making by the supporters Of the I'M
hallowed system for it's further extension.
1t is to be hoped that by this time Senator
Clemens is beginning to understand something Of
the condition of Northern slavesp The straight
forward manly answers 10 his letters of inquiry
are at least explicit enough, If not satisfactory
and show that he has gone to the right quarter
for his much-needed information. Should there
still be any doubts in his mind on the subject it
would be we'll for him to take his cnlighteners at
their words, and give them a visit in proprid per-
soma and thus qualify himself to discourse more
intelligently hereafter on Northern Slavery. 1t
is pity that "a few more Of the same sortp Of
Southern sympathzcrs do not exhibit a like laud-
able thirst for knowledge respecting the objects
of their lackadaisical pity. G. F. ID.