The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-27
From the Mobile Dailu Register.

The President Of the United States has causeda
letter TO be addressed from the State Department
to DIR. Collins, the owner of the fugitive slave
Crafts, in reply TO one from that gentleman COM
planning of the recent nefarlous proceedings at
Boston. IL seems that Dr. Collins informed the
President of the facts OF the refusal OF the mar
shall TO execute the warrant of arrest of the mis-
treatment which his agents received IN being APP
pretended under various warrants as kidhappers,
and for other frivolous pretences, and held 70 I'M
reasonable bail in sums for more than S2O,OOo |;
and that he demanded from the Executive an en-
forcement of the law TO this reasonable and
lawful demand, the reply, after dealing IN lew
general abstract principles, exceedingly lair ana
specious on their face, gives refusal, on the
ground that he has not been furnished with any
authentic evidence Of the occurrences mentioned.
Although several strips from newspapers, contain
ing accounts of these matters, Of which the Presi
dent, in common with the whole country, was
fully advised, he does not choose 20 regard them
as sufficient proof of the alleged transactions
This we cannot but regard as exceedingly dis
ingenious upon the part OF Mr. Fillmore, ~ Is
made his duty, by the Constitution, to take care
that the laws be faithfully executed" Was he
not already appraised, to moral certainty that
this had not been done, but that Their execution
had been prevented by forclble as well as frauda-
lent means and gross violations OF the Constlta.
ton and laws perpetrated! Yet how does ne act
He puts off the complainant by asserting the IN
sufficency of his proofs, and by referring HIM to
his remedies by action against the marshai, ana
the individuals who had mistreated his agents.
This part Of the letter we consider gross insult
to DR.. Collins, and to the Southern people. What
it the Fugitive slave law Is practically nuilihed al
the North, are we not TO. have the aid OF the Gov
eminent in its enforcement, anti we establish by
Judgments obtained in the courts of our enemies,
the fact Of such notification? Such seems to be
the construction Of the President, when he refers
to the remedies against the marshal, and other In
divlduas resisting the law.
This is the kind of proof he wants from Dr. Col
Inns, and he tells hm 90 But your letter contains
no proof OF this kind, and therefore seems to re-
quirre no action" The marshal is not to be re-
moved, nor any steps taken to execute the law,
until record proof Of judgments is submitted to the
Executive.
Certainly this is strange construction of thH
constitutional duties OF the President, and gross
derecton as to the lights Of the Southern people.
All our remedies are left in the hands of our enc
mics They who have outraged law and justice,
are to sit in judgment on their own acts, and give
yerdicts of condemnation on themselves, before
our injuries can be redressed, the constitutional
laws OF the United States enforced, by President
who while he tells us this, is prodigal In declara-
tons Of his determination to execute the laws, in
good faith to all parts Of the Union.
This certainly was not the mode, or the spirit
with which President Fillmore proceeded IN the
Texas and New Mexican difficulties. Then he
was prompt enough to reach forth the military
arm of the country to enforce submission: Then
lis message was given forth, " in double quick
time, to awe the insurgents, and TO assert the SUI
premacy of the laws.
That however was a movement gratifying to the
Northern mind Southern slavehoding people
were to be reduced to subordinaon. But here the
venue is changed. The anti-savery population Of
Boston are now the offenders, and redress is asked
by citizen of sapehodng Georgia 1t ma ies
all the difference in the world! and the injured
party is put of with vague defamation and shall
low homiies upon the Presidents sense Of his Of
fetal duties.
Our people are not to be deluded in this way.
They will look into the matter, and see, when they
ask for bread, if they to be thus snubbed of
with stone, however invest. it may be with the
moss of Presidential rhetoric.