The republic., 1850-12-06
Rn.rnN. Nov o. Ishl

Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER; Dear sir-In reply to
your inquiry, will state such facts as within
my knowledge concerning the proceedings which
took place here for the arrest Of William Crafts
alleged fugitive slave. On the 22d of October Mr.
Seth j. Thomas, a counsellor at law, Of this city
called upon me at my office, between the bours Of
one and two o'clock, and desired TO know whether
as commissioner Of the United States courts, /
would be willing to attend TO a Of fugitive
slave. My reply was, that could not answer an
inquiry whether ! should be willing 10 do my
duty under the law Of the land; that when n case
was presented to me II would be for me 10 decise
On the facts whether IL proper case for a war
rant. Mr.. Thomas then left the room, and in a
few minutes returned with two men, one Of whom
he introduced to me as Mr.. Hughes, and the other
as Mr.. Knight. Mr.. Hughes, was informed, was
the agent or attorney Of somo person in Georgia,
who wished 10 reclaim fugitive slave supposed TO
be in Boston, and Mr.. knight was a witness to the
identity. inquired of Mr.. Thomas if a complaint
had been prepared and sworn 20. lie answered
that this had not been done, and that he did not
suppose it to be necessary. ! observed, that the
statute did not in terms require IT, but that IL was
the proper foundation for warrant Of arrest, and
that SHOULD require IT, The parties then left my
ofiicc, TO prepare a complaint and were 10 zee me
again at 4 O'Clock. No earlier hour requested
by them, and no earlier appointment could have
been made by me, If they had requested IL.
At O'Clock met them again at my Office and
understood that complaint had been prepared
and sworn to. then stated TO Mr.. Thomas that
in my judgment, the best interests of this commu.
nifty, of the law ITSELF and OF his clients also re
qured that this warrant should be issued by the
Circuit Court Of the United States, then in session
in the court house, which is, az you Familiarity
know on the other side of the street, directly op-
posite my office My reasons for this opinion must
be obvious TO any one who knows the infia mmable
material which existed at that moment in this city;
for ii ia but too true that there fanatics and mis-
chievously disposed persons who had encourag ged
direct resistance TO the law. Such resistance was
TO be anticipated, and in my opinion 10 be provided
for. Under these circumstances knew perfectly
well that no commissioner could give proper sup
port 20 the marshal and il was therefore perfectly
clear to me that, If arrest to be made, Il
ought TO be made on warrant Issued under the
seal OF the court, and that the hearing should be
in the circuit court under all the forms Of law.
know need not say 10 you that ] could have had
no other motive for advising application 10 the
court than desire for the safe and certain execu-
ton of the law in the fret that TO arise in
this community.
Mr., Thomas concurrcd in all these suggestions.
aud added that he should much prefer 10 have the
warrant issued by the court, but that application
bad already been made to the judges privately, and
that they could not grant a warrant, which might
involve summary hearing Of several hours on &C.
count OF the tendency Of an important patent cause
then on trislbefore jury, which had already lasted
several days, and was likely to continue for several
days longer. To this, replied that, in my opin-
ion this matter ought TO be prescnted to the Judges