Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-12-04
muu uosros AFFAIR.

NJ, urnur,. as we'll as his companion KNIGHT,
Ia, published an account OF his treatment IN Boston,
willis, there as the agent of Mr. COLLINS OF Georgia
f.. tho arrest Of two Of his slaves. The narrative
will be read by many persons with some grams Vi
allowance, on account of his office and his erraho'
Blu, admitting this we cannot bu! perceive, ro" Tic
principal facts Of the case that most OBVIOUS l"'u
y characterized the proceedings OF some OF Tie OH
cia parties to whom his application was made Al
this WE are not surprised. Whilst we would by no
means defend this manifest backwardness in duty on
tho mart If those whom official oaths morally reqnir-
ed to he prompt and faithful ministers Of tie law, The
great difficulty lies in that wrong public sentiment
which too extensively pervades that community
II would be hard to find, anywhere, officers OF such
stern devotion to official duty as TO be insehslble to
the popular lrown. Our own Culpepper case is
recon, example But we know no apology for those
active and revsrend agiiators who threw so many
positive obstacles in Mr.. HUGHEs' way. In stirring
up @cerain ewd fellows Of the bsser sort" 10 tumulI
and sedon, we regard them the ministers Of Satan
and pests of society.
The late public meeting at Boston is said to have
represented the sober sentiments OF large majority
of the respectable portion Of The people on the sub
iect of obedience TO the law. We hope it is so but
il is 10 be regretted thai The reaction did not occur
sooner, or that the wabiding citizens did not see
fit to speak on, and exert their influence at an earlier
day.
In his speech in this place on Monday week, Gov
| tho belief hat
tive law would be executed in Massachusetts and the
North generally lie based his belief, not only on
the assurances of Mr.. WEBSTER and Others to that
effect, bu, also on his knowledge OF The New Eng
land character He referred to the Embargo laws
passed BY Congress during the last war with Great
Britain. No one, he said, could read the accounts
of The distress occasoneJ in New England by those
laws without being moved almost 10 tears. The sui
fsrers pe,i,ioned Congress for relief vain and then
instead of attempting resistance, calmly submitted 10
the laws OF the land SO it would be in reference to
the fugitive law. Some opposition was anticipated
al fist, but the law would ultimately be acquIesced IN
rs The Richmond Enquirer has assalled the President In
hitter terms because mob Boston prevented the re cap
,pred Of two fugitive Slaves Malice sometimes overreaches
itself and it has done 50 in this case-the magny which
prompted the assault is too papabe to produce any affect
What the President could have done at loss to
know. There was evidently occasion for his ordering
the military to Boston to aid in executing the law But
he has not removed The Marshal from office account Of
his failure to arrest the gves The Attorney General
however, who cannot be suspected rsympahisng with
oboonis.s has given his opinion that there evidence
ofsufcient neglect ofduy tojusy removaand HuGHEs
the agent employed by the owner to recover the ugves
declared that "he had no complaint to make" against HIM
This should satisfy any reasonable man but The Enquirer
is not satisfied and abuses The President oundy for not
doing somehing-we don't understand exactly what The
Times says, while this ungenerous course is pursued Il
must be padOned for also keeping party somewhat in mind
and refers TO the conduct Of Judge Woodbery one OF The
most prominent Democratic asprants for the Presidency
whose daorness conspicuous than that oil any
officer concerned with the affair."
CoNeREss-The session of Congress which commenced
on Monday will probably be as stormy as the last 1t was